USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Harwich > Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1958 > Part 2
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HEATING SYSTEM:
1. New Boiler, Burner, Controls & Wiring
$4,600.00
2. 5,000 gal. Fuel Tank
850.00
3. Auditorium Unit Ventilator & Piping
4,000.00
4. Ductwork & Diffusers (heat supply)
1,200.00
5. Exhaust fan & wiring-auditorium
750.00
6. Ductwork & grilles (exhaust)
1,000.00
7. New radiation & piping (other spaces)
1,800.00
8. Subtotal
$14,200.00
9. Contingency (10%)
1,420.00
10. Freight & Travel (5%)
781.00
11. Overhead (17.2%)
2,820.00
12. Profit (10%)
1,922.10
13. Total General Contract
$21,143.10
14. Architectural and Engineering (9.5%)
2,008.59
15. Total Cost $23,151.69
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ELECTRICAL:
1. Auditorium Lighting
$1,200.00
2. Exit Lights
350.00
3. Revised Emergency Lighting
600.00
4. .General Lighting Other Spaces
1,250.00
5. General purpose convenience outlets
500.00
6. New stage lighting equipment
5,000.00
7. Subtotal
$8,900.00
8. Contingency (10%)
890.00
9. Freight & Travel (5% )
489.50
10. Overhead (17.2%)
1,769.00
11. Profiit (10%)
1,204.85
12. Total General Contract
$13,253.35
13. Architectural and Engineering (9.5%)
1,259.07
14. Total Cost
$14,512.42
PROJECT SUMMARY:
a. Exterior work-west side
$7,272.85
b. Exterior work-east side
7,377.54
c. Exterior work-south side
4,802.82
d. Exterior work-north side
6,756.57
e. Interior work-first floor
8,677.31
f. Interior work-second floor lobby area
13,068.01
g. Interior work-auditorium, stage & balcony
34,553.90
h. Sprinkler system
1,467.56
i. Heating system
23,151.69
j. Electrical
14,512.42
TOTAL PROJECT COST
$121,640.67
Under Article 11 the Selectmen are requesting $500.00 in order to reprint the town by-laws. There have been several amendments to the By-Laws since they were last printed. A good many more are proposed in this year's warrant. The present booklet should be rewritten to include all revisions. Furthermore, because of the many changes proposed this year, the Selectmen plan to have a supply of the By-Law booklets available at the Town Meeting. We have just about enough on hand to meet this plan.
Article 12 asks for $500 for bounding and surveying vari- ous town properties including roads. Unfortunately the town has not been in the habit of bounding its roads and properties as it has acquired them. Bounding is good practice in regard to the properties and required by law if requested for the
21
roads. The Selectmen would like to have an amount such as this available each year in order to catch up on the bounds that have been neglected.
The By-Law changes proposed under Article 18 serve two purposes. One is to rewrite those sections made inoperative when the local newspaper closed its doors. The other is to clarify two sections which have caused some confusion in the past. The amendments were written with an eye to protecting the voters against packed meetings and sparsely attended special meetings.
Article 21 calling for a Department of Waterways has been given a good deal of publicity. The main advantages of this plan are: 1. better supervision of the important water- front activities, especially the beaches and lakes. 2. consoli- dation of several part-time jobs into one to enable one em- ployee to give the town and its welfare his full time and effort. 3. coordination of the planning for and operation of these activities and the prevention of duplication.
Article 22 is an attempt to remedy a condition faced by many towns. The law is very specific in regard to road lay- outs and takings. Occasionally, the officials responsible for this procedure neglect a portion of it. In order to be sure of several takings which were made in the past, counsel sug- gested and filed this act.
Article 26 requests $1,100 for revising and printing 10,500 copies of the advertising map which was made available in 1955. Almost 7,000 copies were ordered at that time. They were very well received and have all been distributed. The Selectmen have provided the voters with an opportunity to renew this service to our summer visitors.
Article 29 is another in a series of proposed takings pre- liminary work for which was requested by the voters. As is the case in all of the takings recommended by the Selectmen, the owners of this property are willing to sell. Where the owners objected to the taking and where the price set by owners was too high; those properties were eliminated from the area to be acquired. The great majority of the approx- imately 50 different owners were most cooperative. Since we began work on this project we have received a great deal of encouragement and no criticism whatsoever from the people involved. We feel the cost is reasonable and suggest that the town would be wise to buy this land now for future use.
Article 30 is identical to one which was recommended to last year's meeting and was defeated. At that time there appeared to be some confusion as to the cost which was and remains $4,000. The $125.00 represents the cost of surveying
22
and filing. Another question, that of sand rights has been cleared up. Sand rights will be available with the purchase. The Selectmen call attention to the fact that with each pass- ing year available beach property becomes scarcer. Last year we suggested that the town purchase about 1/4 of an acre of beach. property adjacent to its Long Pond beach. The land was available at a cost of $1,000. The town defeated this pro- posal and during the summer the property was sold for $1,500. It is no longer available to the town. These beaches may not appear to be the finest in the town, but the fact remains that the owners are willing to sell. It is far better, in our opinion, to enlarge our shore front on this agreeable basis, and to make small yearly improvements. There has been some dis- cussion regarding a relocation of the railroad east of this Pond. If there are any such plans afoot this office has not been notified of them.
Article 31 represents an excellent opportunity for the town to acquire a public bathing beach and recreation area in the village of North Harwich. The land is undeveloped today but will certainly not remain in that state very long. In setting aside land for public use, the voters would do well to remember that they have the responsibility of planning for the people who will be living here 50 and 100 years hence.
Article 33 asks $575 for the purpose of providing a public landing at Skinequit Pond. There are several large ponds in the town which have no such landing. The Selectmen hope to remedy that condition by acquiring one or two landings each year until we are in a position to invite fishing and boating enthusiasts to all of our lovely lakes and ponds.
Article 34 proposes that the town lease the Allison beach land, which lies adjacent to the Bank Street beach, for a period of four months in the summer. Mr. Allison has been most cooperative with this office offering the town the use of this property free of charge during the past summer. He understands the town's problem in connection with its lack of beaches and, with the Selectmen, recommends this pro- posal as one that would be acceptable to all parties concerned.
Article 35 is another step in the improvement of Red River Beach as a first-class public beach. The Selectmen hope to make an amount of money available each year to continue these improvements. The appropriation requested here should complete the job of placing sand fill.
Article 36 similar to 35 is another step in the improve- ment of the facilities at this beach. It is hoped that the parking area can be extended the length of the entire beach at a width sufficient for parking and two-way traffic.
23
Articles 37, 38, 39, request money for much-needed im- provements to the town's boating facilities. The pier and ramp at Allens Harbor are inadequate and in need of major repairs while the landing at Herring River has had only $200 spent on it since it was acquired. The Selectmen recom- mend that the town try to keep abreast of the growing in- terest in boating and the public demand for the necessary facilities.
Article 81. In accordance with the policy adopted under the new By-Law on Roads, the Selectmen advertised and held hearings on all proposed layouts. At that time a date was set for the final inspection by the Highway Surveyor, Finance Committee, and Selectmen and all abutters were notified by mail. The inspection found five of the eight roads coming up to the requirements of the By-Law. These five roads have been recommended.
The Selectmen are indebted to the Finance Committee for the many hours which it worked on the proposed salary schedule. An article calling for a professional study of this matter was defeated at the 1958 Annual Meeting. It appeared to be the sense of the meeting that the town was perfectly capable of setting up its own policy without outside help. At the request of the Selectmen the Finance Committee under- took this difficult task. Although there are bound to be areas of disagreement, the Selectmen feel that the Committee has done a fine job, and that the results of its study are a definite step in the right direction. The report includes the recom- mended establishment of a Personnel Board to oversee the plan, give it further study, and iron out some of the objec- tions. The wages and salaries would continue to be a part of the budget and subject to the annual approval of the voters. The Selectmen recommend the acceptance of the following report:
SALARY AND WAGE SURVEY
Report of the Finance Committee to the Board of Selectmen
In accordance with your request of last spring, this com- mittee submits its recommendations of pay rates for the em- ployees of the Town in accordance with the attached schedule. This schedule is based on a 44 hour week for pipe layers and labor of the Water Dept. and 40 hours a week for all highway labor. It is recommended that this pay schedule when sub- mitted to the town voters, and if approved, be retroactive to
24
January 1, 1959. The additional cost to the town for the next five (5) years is as follows:
1959 increase $10,000
1960 increase 5,000
1961 increase
4,000
1962 increase
3,000
1963 increase
500
In order to arrive at these figures this committee checked salaries in other towns on the Cape and we feel that we have reached a Salary Schedule suitable for our town. In order that future Finance Committees may be able to function in their full capacity, it is recommended that an article be in- serted each year in the Town Warrant submitting these Salary step-ups to the vote of the Town Meeting, as we ap- preciate that over a period of five (5) years there might be changes that would affect these annual step-ups.
In connection with this Salary Plan your Finance Com- mittee suggests that the following benefits be specified for the understanding of all town employees.
SICK LEAVE
1. In the matter of Sick Leave it is felt that regular full time employees should be entitled to fifteen (15) days of sick- ness, or accident leave, exclusive of Sundays and Holidays, without loss of pay. If such sick leave allowance is not used in any particular year it shall accumulate for a period of six (6) years, up to a maximum of ninety (90) days, for use in any subsequent year. The date from which accumulated sick leave shall be computed, for all present full time employees, shall be the starting date of the employees current period of full time continuous service with the Town. Sick and ac- cident leave shall be payable only in cases of bona fide illness or accident not covered by Workmen's Compensation.
2. Employees who are absent because of such illness or accident for a period of more than two (2) days shall be re- quired to present a Doctor's certificate to their Department Head stating the reason and the period of time the employee will be absent from work.
3. This section is not to be construed by any employee or Department Head as a subterfuge for time off, nor shall it apply in the case of any sickness or accident caused by over- indulgence in alcohol or narcotics, or by the employee's misconduct.
4. Department Heads shall clearly indicate on their pay- rolls all payments for sick leave.
25
MILITARY LEAVE
Regular town employees shall be granted leave of ab- sence, without pay, for duration of tour of duty; and shall also be entitled to the vacation, with pay, due them under the vacation provisions of this plan.
VACATION
1. Employees shall be granted one (1) week's vacation with pay, if they have actually worked for the Town for thirty (30) weeks in the aggregate during the twelve (12) months preceeding the the first day of June in the first year of em- ployment and two (2) weeks with pay in the following years.
2. Vacations shall be granted by the Department Heads at such time as, in their opinion, will cause the least inter- ference with the performance of the regular work of the department. Vacations must be taken in the year in which they are due, and shall not accumulate from year to year.
3. In the event of termination of employment which is caused through no fault of the employee, provided the em- ployee has been in the continuous full time service of the town for at least one (1) year; or by reason of retirement; the employee shall be paid, or entitled to time off with pay, for any accrued vacation at the rate of one (1) day's regular pay for each full month since the employee's preceeding vaca- tion, not to exceed two (2) weeks pay. In the event of death of an employee any such accrued vacation pay shall be paid to his estate.
HOLIDAYS
1. All regular full time employees shall receive time off without loss of pay on the following State Legal Holidays provided they fall on, or are observed, on a regular scheduled work day:
New Years Day Washington's Birthday
Patriot's Day
Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day
Veteran's Day
Thanksgiving Day Christmas
In the case of Police and Fire Departments, or other de- partments whose personnel is subject to duty seven days a week, those regular employees who are assigned to duty on a holiday shall receive a compensatory day off.
26
JURY DUTY
If an employee is called to Jury Duty he shall receive an amount equal to the difference between his normal compen- sation and the amount (excluding any travel allowance) re- ceived for such duty upon presentation of evidence of the amount so paid.
LEAVES OF ABSENCE
Leave of absence may be granted for valid reasons by a Department Head, but shall be without compensation. In no event shall leave of absence be granted for the purpose of seeking, or trying out, another job.
PERSONNEL BOARD
1. It is felt by this committee that it might be well to have a Personnel Board appointed to administer the Salary administration plan, said Board to be appointed by the Moder- ator consisting of three (3) voters other than employees of the Town, or those serving the town regularly in any elective or appointive capacity. Members of the Board shall serve without compensation but said committee to have expense account not exceeding $150.00 annually.
2. The Personnel Board would from time to time review the work of all positions subject to this Salary Schedule. Such review should be so scheduled as to cover all such positions at intervals of not more than (3) three years.
3. Department Heads shall make recommendation an- nually on all phases of this plan as regards each employee.
4. All employees shall have the right to appeal to the Personnel Board from decision made by Department Head on matters included in this study and the decision of the Personnel Board shall be final.
Respectfully submitted,
Town of Harwich Finance Committee
27
#
Position
Min.
Max.
Elected
Step Up No Step
1
Selectman
$2100
Selectman, Chm.
$2200
Assessor
$1600
Welfare
$300
Tax Collector
$3850
Treasurer
$2400
Town Clerk
$1150
2
Clerk-Typist
$2340
$2808
$117/yr
Part-time clerical
$1.50/hr
3
Secretary
$2860
$3640
$180/yr
4
Life Guard
$60/wk
5 Laborer
$1.35/hr
$1.75/hr
10c hr/yr
6
Custodian
Town Office
$52/wk
$56/wk
$1/wk/yr
Custodian
Rec. Bldg.
$56/wk
$60/wk
$1/wk/yr
Custodian
Town Dump
$52/wk
$60/wk
$2/wk/yr
7
Grader Operator & Laborer
$1.60/hr
$2.00/hr
10c hr/yr
8
Loader Operator & Laborer
$1.50/hr
$1.90/hr
10c hr/yr
9
Truck Driver & Laborer
$1.40/hr
$1.80/hr
10c hr/yr
10
Fire Chief
$4500
$4900
$100 yr
Regular Fireman Call Fireman
$3600
$4000
$100 yr
11 Police Chief
$4500
$4900
$100 yr
Police Sgt. Patrolman
$3600
$4000
$100 yr
Special Police
$1.50/hr
12
Public Health Nurse
$4100
$4500
$100 yr
13
Water Dept.
$5100
$5500
$100 yr
Water Dept. Foreman
$4200
$4600
$100 yr
14
Accountant
$3600
$4000
$100 yr
15
Wire Inspector
$1000
$1300
$75 yr
16
Highway Surveyor
$2500
$2900
$100 yr
Plumbing Inspector
$3.00 Insp.
Animal Inspector
$50/yr
Slaughtering Insp.
$25/yr
18
Waterways Dept. Supt.
$5000
$5400
$100 yr
19
Sealer of Wgts. & Measures
$700/yr
20
Librarian Ass't. Librarian
$1.50/hr
21
Veterans Agent
$1800/yr
22
Tree Warden
$800
-
$4650
17 Bldg. Inspector
$4000
$4400
$100 yr
Pipe Layer & Laborer
$1.40/hr
$1.80/hr
10c hr/yr
$1.50/hr
Supt.
$300 + $1.50/hr
On March 21, 1958 at a meeting of the Selectmen and Park Commissioners, Mr. John Handren was elected by bal- lot to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Emulous E. Hall, Jr., from the Board of Park Commissioners.
28
Questions in connection with available liquor licenses have prompted the Selectmen to insert the following break- down:
Type
Avail- able
Used Holder
Cost
Package Store
2
2 J. F. Tobey & Son
$300.00
Annual
Ben's Package Store, Inc.
$300.00
Seasonal Package Store
2
2 Downey's Liquors Inc. South Shore Package Store $175.00
$75.00
Wines & Malt
5
4 Hugo's of Harwich Port $75.00 Eddie & Mildred's General Store Hall's Package Store $75.00 Pleasant Lake Package Store
$75.00
Common Victuallers 2 Annual
2 Paul's Chuck Wagon Capetown House Inc.
$300.00
$300.00
Common Victuallers 7 & Inn Holders
7 Hotel Belmont Inc. Bishop's Terrace
$300.00
Seasonal
Old Chase House
$300.00
Thompson Bros. Clam Bar
$300.00
Country Inn
$300.00
New York Sandwich Shop Wequassett Inn $300.00
Clubs
5
3 Harwich Portuguese Men's Club Storyville Jazz Club, Inc.
$300.00
Wychmere Harbor Club, Inc. $300.00
There has been a great deal of interest in the town's debt picture due to the various building proposals. Payments on the current bonded indebtedness will run to 1973. They are given on a yearly basis on the following schedule which also shows the annual reduction of the principle.
DEBT SCHEDULE
Year
Debt Standing
Principle Payments
Interest Payments
Total Payments
1959
$1,011,000.00
$92,000.00
$23,055.00
$115,055.00
1960
919,000.00
87,000.00
20,970.00
107,970.00
1961
832,000.00
87,000.00
19,020.00
106,020.00
1962
745,000.00
87,000.00
17,070.00
104,070.00
1963
658,000.00
87,000.00
15,120.00
102,120.00
1964
571,000.00
87,000.00
13,170.00
100,170.00
1965
484,000.00
87,000.00
11,220.00
98,220.00
1966
397,000.00
77,000.00
9,355.00
86,355.00
1967
320,000.00
77,000.00
7,575.00
84,575.00
1968
243,000.00
77,000.00
5,795.00
82,795.00
1969
166,000.00
60,000.00
4,185.00
64,185.00
1970
106,000.00
46,000.00
2,745.00
48,745.00
1971
60,000.00
20,000.00
1,620.00
21,620.00
1972
40,000.00
20,000.00
1,080.00
21,080.00
1973
20,000.00
20,000.00
540.00
20,540.00
Totals
$1,011,000.00
$152,520.00 $1,163,520.00
$175.00
Beverages
Package Store
$300.00
$300.00
$300.00
29
It was with deep regret that the Selectmen received the resignation of Henry K. Bearse as Town Clerk and Treasurer. Mr. Bearse's decision to retire was, in his own words, based on "my aging years and the general declining in my health." It was his opinion that the interests of the town would best be served if he were to step down from the offices he has held since 1924.
The Selectmen are sure the people of Harwich will agree that the decision was a courageous one and that Mr. Bearse has earned the respect and admiration of everyone for a task well done. His record of faithful service to the town over a period of thirty-four years is one from which he should derive tremendous pride and satisfaction.
STEPHEN WEEKES, Chm. MILTON H. WELT ALTON E. WALKER
30
Report of the Assessors
To the Citizens of the Town of Harwich:
The Assessors are recommending that the same amount as last year-$5,000, be included in the Budget for the con- tinuation of the Assessors' Map Program. In requesting this amount, the Assessors wish to point out that under the present system, all the money appropriated under this head- ing goes into the Map Program. Money for surveys, formerly included in this item, is now provided for as a part of the cost in articles calling for such work.
The work on Assessors' Maps in 1958 was largely re- search work at the Barnstable Registry of Deeds and Probate. The information thus obtained has been organized, and a series of sketch maps drawn covering a considerable area in North Harwich, Pleasant Lake and East Harwich. While these sketch maps are not precisely to scale, they provide an ex- cellent indication of the location and size of parcels of land in these areas and their relationship to one another; and have been particularly useful in locating land which has not hitherto been assessed.
Work this year should include further research at the Registry to extend the area plotted in the sketch maps. At the same time, a certain amount of maintenance work is necessary to keep our present maps up to date. As new sub- divisions are brought in and new road layouts accepted they must be plotted on the appropriate maps, and necessary files and cross references established.
The Assessors have again inserted an article in the War- rant requesting funds for professional equalization or regu- lation of all the real estate and personal property of the Town. A similar article was defeated last year. In bringing the matter again to the attention of the voters, the Assessors realize that it is difficult to show the need for such a project without going into more detail than is possible or practical in a report of this kind. Nevertheless, affirmative action on this article is strongly recommended. Experience in several other Cape Cod towns has shown gratifying results. Certainly, fair minded individuals expect to pay taxes. Approval of this article would assure everyone that he is paying only his fair share.
31
HARWICH CONTINUES TO GROW
Valuation of Land
Valuation of Buildings
Valuation of Personal Property
Total Valuation of Town
Dec. 31, 1954
$2,681,970
$10,218,290
$1,045,350
$13,945,610
Dec. 31, 1955
$2,699,800
$10,434,590
$1,057,960
$14,192,350
Dec. 31, 1956
$2,723,060
$10,845,470
$1,201,220
$14,769,750
Dec. 31, 1957
$2,718,810
$10,954,600
$1,253,990
$14,927,400
Dec. 31, 1958
$2,758,620
$11,502,320
$1,292,240
$15,553,180
Valuation of the Town-Dec. 31, 1958
$15,553,180
Valuation of the Town-Dec. 31, 1957
14,927,400
Increase in valuation
$625,780
Valuation of land exclusive of buildings
$2,758,620
Valuation of buildings exclusive of land
11,502,320
Total valuation of land & buildings
$14,260,940
Valuation of Personal Estate:
Stock in Trade
$56,100
Machinery
29,000
Live Stock
500
All other Tangible
Personal Property
1,206,640
1,292,240
$15,553,180
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
Added Valuation-October 1958
Real Estate
$72,740.00
Personal Property
20,210.00
$92,950.00
Added Taxes levied :
Real Estate
$3,709.74
Personal
1,030.71
$4,740.45
32
Added Valuation-December 1: Real Estate $10,700.00
Added Taxes levied :
Real Estate $545.70
Number of acres of land assessed
7,574.19
Number of dwellings assessed
3,239
Number of livestock assessed: Chickens-50; Pigs-5; Goats-4; Cows-3.
RECAPITULATION
Total appropriation as certified by the Town Clerk
$1,024,805.33
Amount used from Available Funds
37,691.12
Debt and Interest Charges
1,310.00
Overlay Deficit
5,769.20
County Retirement & Forest Fires
6,816.41
State Parks & Reservations
3,043.24
State Audit of Municipal Accounts
1,040.91
Mosquito Control
9,680.25
County Tax
83,055.23
Overlay of Current Year
11,500.00
$1,184,711.69
Estimated Receipts and Available Funds
Income Tax
$47,025.12
Corporation Taxes
28,512.20
Old Age Tax Meals
1,959.37
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
34,000.00
Licenses
4,000.00
General Government
3,000.00
Charities (other than Federal Grants)
8,000.00
Old Age Assistance (other than Federal Grants)
19,799.82
Veterans Services
5,000.00
Schools (Funds from Income Tax not included)
11,000.00
Public Services (Water)
59,127.16
Court House Rent
1,350.00
Total Estimated Receipts
$222,773.67
33
Overestimates of previous year (County Tax) $4,683.72
Amounts taken from Available Funds
161,594.12
$389,051.51
Gross amount to be raised by taxation
$1,184,711.69
Total estimated receipts & available funds
389,051.51
Net amount to be raised by taxation
$795,660.18
Tax on Polls
$2,448.00
Tax on Personal
65,904.24
Tax on Real Estate
727,307.94
$795,660.18
MILTON H. WELT
ALTON E. WALKER
STEPHEN WEEKES
Assessors of Harwich
34
TOWN OF HARWICH ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT
MARCH 3, 1959
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Barnstable. SS:
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