USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > West Bridgewater > Town annual reports of the selectmen, overseers of the poor, town clerk, and school committee of West Bridgewater for the year ending 1940-1944 > Part 34
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The records of financial transactions of the several departments receiving or disbursing money for the town or com- mitting bills for collection were examined and checked.
The books and accounts in the town accountant's of- fice were examined and checked in detail. The recorded receipts
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were verified by comparison with the treasurer's books and with the records of the several departments making the original charges. The disbursements as recorded were checked with the selectmen's warrants authorizing the treasurer to disburse town funds and with the payments as shown by the treasurer's books.
The appropriations and transfers as shown by the records of the town clerk and the finance committee were checked to the accountant's ledger. The ledger accounts were analyzed, and a balance sheet, which is appended to this report, was pre- pared showing the financial condition of the town on December 31, 1944. This balance sheet indicates that the town is in excellent financial condition.
The books and accounts of the town treasurer were examined and checked. The recorded receipts were compared with the records of the departments making payments to the treasurer, while the payments by the treasurer were checked with the select- men's warrants authorizing the disbursement of town funds.
The treasurer's cash balance on January 6, 1945, was proved by reconciliation of the bank balance with statements fur- nished by the banks of deposit and by verification of the cash in the office.
The payments on account of maturing debt and in- terest were verified by comparison with the amounts falling due and with the cancelled securities on file.
The savings bank books and securities representing the investment of the trust and investment funds in the custody of the town treasurer were examined and listed, the income and withdrawals being verified.
The tax titles on hand were examined and listed, the amounts transferred to the tax title account were compared with the collector's books, the redemptions were verified, and the out-
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standing tax titles were reconciled with the accountant's ledger.
The books and accounts of the collector were examined and checked in detail. The tax and water accounts outstanding at the time of the previous examination and all subsequent commit- ment lists were audited and reconciled with the warrants issued for their collection. The collector's cash books were footed, the payments to the treasurer by the collector were checked to the treasurer's and the accountant's books, the abatements were com- pared with the assessors' and the water commissioners' records of abatements granted, and the outstanding accounts were listed and reconciled with the accountant's ledger accounts.
The departmental accounts receivable outstanding according to the previous examination were audited, and all sub- sequent charges were proved. The payments to the treasurer were checked with the treasurer's recorded receipts, and the outstand- ing accounts were listed and proved.
Verification of the outstanding tax, departmental, and water accounts was obtained by mailing notices to a number of persons whose names appeared on the books as owing money to the town, the replies received thereto indicating that the accounts, as listed, are correct.
The records of licenses and permits issued by the selectmen and the town clerk were examined and checked, and the payments to the State and to the town were verified.
The surety bonds of the town officials required to fur- nish them for the faithful performance of their duties were ex- amined and found to be in proper form.
In addition to the departments mentioned, the books and accounts of the sealer of weights and measures and the library department were examined and checked and the payments to the treasurer were verified.
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Appended to this report, in addition to the balance sheet, are tables showing a reconciliation of the treasurer's and the collector's cash, summaries of the tax, tax title, departmental, and water accounts, as well as tables showing the transactions and condition of the trust and investment funds.
While engaged in making the audit, co-operation was received from all the town officials, for which, on behalf of my assistants and for myself, I wish to express appreciation.
Respectfully submitted,
HERMAN B. DINE, Assistant Director of Accounts.
HBD.CAH
85
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I herewith submit my report for the year 1944.
Maintenance
I have gone through the same routine as in the past years scraping and gravel patching the few gravel roads that still remain in Town. I have also done a great deal of Tarvia patching on the black roads.
The following streets were Tarvia Seal coated:
Sand Street, the entire length; 600 feet of this road was re- built and the grade of the road was raised over two feet and then a black top was applied. Pleasant Street about 500 feet. Scotland Street about 3/4 of one mile. Bryant Street 200 feet in length. Wal- nut Street was black topped for a distance of 3/4 of a mile making the road a black top road the entire length. Manley Street for a distance of 300 feet. Forest Street was built and a black top ap- plied for a distance of 4/10 of a mile.
All drains and catch basins were taken care of. Many stop and traffic lines were painted on the black roads; also, a great many signs and fences were repainted and rebuilt.
We have carted a great deal of gravel on Francis Avenue hop- ing to put a black top on this street this year.
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Chapter 90
Under Chapter 90, the Highway crew has seal coated West Street from the Easton Line to the line where the Town Farm was formerly located.
On East Center Street a mixed in place stone and Tarvia road was laid; also, shoulders were dug out and refilled with gravel making the 18 foot road a 24 foot road.
Above is a summary of the work done by the department but it is impossible to give an account of all of the work which has been done.
I want to thank the Board of Selectmen, department heads and laborers for their cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE G. TUCKER,
Superintendent.
87
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
Because of war-time restrictions, there were no barns in- spected in 1944.
Twenty-eight trips were made for routine rabies check-ups after dog bite.
There were no slaughtering licenses issued during 1944.
Respectfully submitted,
DAVID DAILEY,
Inspector of Animals.
88
REPORT OF TOWN TREASURER
The financial transactions of the Town for the year 1944 may be briefly summarized as follows:
Cash on hand, January 1, 1944 $ 70,868.81
Cash on hand, December 31, 1944
66,371.88
Received from Collector
120,899.96
Received from other sources
81,373.80
Total Receipts
$202,273.76
Payments during the year 1944
$206,760.69
Payments on Water Bonds
500.00
Payments on Water Notes
2,000.00
Payments of interest on Water Bonds and Notes
60.00
Outstanding Water Notes December 31, 1944
4,000.00
Tax Title Accounts December 31, 1944
1,708.81
Tax Title Redemptions
1,471.65
Tax Title Partial Payments
295.00
Tax Title Added Interest
279.28
Tax Title Releases
126.00
Total Tax Title Receipts
2,171.93 $
Purchased U. S. War Bonds, Series G. Rehabilitation Fund
20,000.00
Added cemetery trust funds
Flora M. Snell Care of Joseph Vosmus Lots-Pleasant Hill Cemetery 100.00
Myra A. Clapp, Care of Woodward Lot-Pleasant Hill Cemetery 400.00
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The report of the expense of the Treasurer's office, and a de- tailed account of the Library Trust Funds, the Cemetery Trust Funds, the Scholarship Trust Fund and the Rehabilitation Funds may be found in the Town Accountant's Report.
Respectfully submitted,
ORVIS F. KINNEY, Town Treasurer.
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REPORT OF RATIONING BOARD Annual Report-1944
. In 1944 your local rationing board continued the broad gen- eral pattern of activity carried on during 1943. The only real change in personnel was the loss of the services of our able Chair- man, J. Russell Hemenway, who left for higher service with Uncle Sam's Navy, and the choosing of Raleigh A. Holden from among our members to take his place. Also, Horace E. Swann, was trans- ferred from the regular Board onto the Price Panel as Chairman, and Mrs. Charles Gardner, and Mr. Henry E. Andrews were elected as Price Panel Assistants.
During the year several items, such as Automobile Tubes, Bicycles, and Typewriters were removed from the rationing list, but since there were but few calls for such items, it made little difference in our work. As you all know, we were plagued during most of the year by the scarcity of tires, but our greatest head- aches still continued in the gasoline field. As far as we know, no one in town suffered from lack of fuel oil. Price Control activi- ties were greater than during 1943, but since we are primarily a residential and farming community, the work has not been exten- sive. In all our activities we have tried to be fair with everybody in carrying out the purposes for which we were appointed, and if at times we have seemed to be gruff and unsympathetic or unfair, we have not been that way intentionally. If you have troubles, come and tell them to us at our Board meetings on Tuesday eve- nings from seven to eight p. m.
Toward the end of the year, along with our neighboring com- munities, the actual mailing out of the gasoline coupons was trans- ferred to the Brockton Mailing Center. This gives us an additional
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reason to urge you to have your gasoline applications in our hands two or three weeks before the expiration date.
Again we wish to thank the town officials, the school system, the garages, and stores, and last but by no means least, all the residents of our town and all others who have cooperated with us and helped us in our trying task.
Respectfully submitted,
RALEIGH A. HOLDEN,
Chairman. L. MERRILL CASWELL WALTER C. DUNBAR JAMES A. KEHOE SHERMAN A. PERKINS HORACE E. SWANN
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REPORT OF TREE WARDEN AND SUPERINTENDENT OF GYPSY MOTH SUPPRESSION
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
I herewith submit my annual Report for the year 1944.
In regard to the gypsy moth, we find the infestation greater than it was last year. In the center of the town it is very light, but in the wood land it is very heavy. We have sprayed all the trees on the roadside and also scouted for egg clusters all over town and have creosoted all that we have found.
As Tree Warden, we had a very difficult year; with two hur- ricanes we had more than the usual amount of work. However, with full cooperation of the Highway Department we were able to clean the Town in very good time. There were a large number of limbs broken; also many trees were blown down and uprooted. We are still finding some trees whose limbs were cracked. It will take a long time for the trees to recover from the damage.
Respectfully submitted,
CHRISTOPHER READ, Tree Warden and Moth Superintendent.
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REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
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During the year 1944 there were 62 reportable diseases sent to the Board of Health as follows:
1944
1943
Chicken Pox
23
43
Dog Bite
4
6
Erysipelas
1
0
German Measles
8
117
Measles
11
40
Meningitis
1
1
Influenza
0
2
Malaria
0
1
Mumps
3
44
Pneumonia, Lobar
0
1
Scarlet Fever
8
3
Whooping Cough
3
39
62
297
It is gratifying to note that there were only fifty-eight cases of contagious diseases in the community in 1944, as compared with 1943, when we had 290 cases, and as the previous year the majo- rity were school children.
The Diphtheria Clinic was held at the Town Hall in May of this year, under the direction and cooperation of the Board of Health, and assisted by the School Nurse. I gave three innocula- tions, three weeks apart, of Diphtheria Toxin-Antitoxin, to forty- four children. There were no reaction, results satisfactory.
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I have made inspections of the sanitary conditions of all the school buildings, rooms and lavatories and have found them in accord with the requirements of the Board of Health.
It is the opinion of the State Board of Health that too little attention is being paid to the seriousness of communicable diseases, and by so doing, expose other children to infection, not only in- fection but serious complications of diseases and even death to some other child.
Please report a case as soon as it is determined, to the Board of Health and take restrictive methods to stop the spread of the disease. Observe quarantine rules strictly.
A. O. BELMORE, M. D. Health Officer. JAMES A. HEMENWAY, Chairman.
WILLIAM W. NOYES FRED G. CHISHOLM
Board of Health.
A "WELL-CHILD CONFERENCE" FOR CHILDREN FROM 6 MONTHS TO 6 YEARS Held June 20 to 24, 1944
75 were examined 18 were not defective 21 repeaters
112 defects were found 52 had received diphtheria toxoid
22 needed dental care
14 had faulty eating habits
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13 had throat defects
3 had heart murmurs
7 had poor nutrition
1 had rickets 4 had tantrums
Bed wetting, nail biting, thumb sucking were personality defects.
Since then seventy-seven follow-up home visits have been made.
18 children entered school of whom 12 had had dental care. 3 had tonsils removed 20 made calls to their doctor 18 were vaccinated
Respectfully submitted,
LILLIAN M. HEWITT, R. N.
To the Board of Health
West Bridgewater
I hereby submit my report as State Field Nurse in West Bridgewater from August 8, 1944 to December 31, 1944.
Visits made are as follows:
Infants (under 1 year of age) 176
Pre-school (1-5 years, incl.) 41
Adult Hygiene (18 years of age and over) 14
Antepartum 12
Postpartum 25
Ineffective 28
296
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May I take this opportunity to express my sincere appreci- ation for your cooperation and interest in my program.
Respectfully submitted,
MILDRED L. FOSTER State Department of Public Health Boston, Massachusetts
97
REPORT OF COLLECTOR OF TAXES
At the close of the year, 1944, our outstanding Taxes and Water Rates were the lowest they have been since 1934.
At the present time the outstanding Taxes and Water Rates were as follows:
1944
Poll Tax
$ 54.00
Real Estate 9995.75
Personal 1260.91
Motor Vehicle 220.84
Water Rates
1734.83
I do not attribute this condition to any one thing, but be- lieve it is the result of several, namely; personal relationship be- tween the Tax Payer and this Office, every citizen is Tax Con- scious, cooperation of the Mortagees, and some of our people are receiving living wages.
It is true our Town is a farming district, but this group as a whole have showed an improvement from a Tax Collector's standpoint.
Respectfully submitted,
WALTER C. DUNBAR,
Tax Collector.
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REPORT OF ASSESSORS
Total Appropriations at Annual Town Meeting March 20, 1944
$174,140.97
Total Appropriations made since 1943 rate was fixed
174,140.97
State Tax 1944
6,897.00
State Parks and Reservations Tax 1944
137.09
State Audit of Municipal Accounts
398.60
County Tax 1944 including over-estimate for 1943
6,149.13
Tuberculosis Hospital Assessment
2,162.06
Overlay
4,308.40
Total Amount to be raised
194,193.25
Less Total Estimated Receipts
56,130.32
138,062.93
Less:
Over-estimate on State Parks
and Reservations Tax 4.00
And Amounts taken from Available
Funds 40,000.00
40,004.00
40,004.00
98,058.93
Less Poll Taxes (1164 at $2.00)
2,328.00
NET AMOUNT TO BE RAISED BY TAXES ON PROPERTY 95,730.93
Property Taxes Assessed Subsequently
177.80
Poll Taxes Assessed Subsequently 60.00
99
TABLE OF AGGREGATES
Number of Persons, Partnerships, Corporations, etc., assessed:
On Personal Estate only
47
On Real Estate only
914
On Both Personal and Real Estate
152
Total Number Assessed
1,113
Number of Male Polls Assessed
1,164
Value of Assessed Personal Estate:
Stock in Trade
$ 10,100.00
Machinery
269,735.00
Live Stock
117,617.00
All other Tangible Personal Property
44,575.00
Total Value of Assessed Personal Estate
442,027.00
Value of Assessed Real Estate:
Land
669,485.00
Buildings
2,307,450.00
Total Value of Assessed Real Estate
2,976,935.00
TOTAL VALUE OF ALL ASSESSED
PROPERTY
3,418,962.00
Tax Rate per $1,000
28.00
Tax for all purposes spread as follows:
On Polls
2,328.00
On Personal Estate
12,376.76
On Real Estate
83,354.17
TOTAL TAXES ASSESSED
98,058.93
Number of Horses Assessed
75
Number of Cows Assessed
824
Number of Yearlings, Bulls and Heifers Assessed
147
100
Number of Swine Assessed
44
Number of Sheep Assessed
20
Number of Fowl Assessed Number of Goats Assessed .
34,752
16
Number of Acres of Land Assessed
9,055.84
Number of Dwellings Assessed 904
EXEMPTED PROPERTY
REAL ESTATE
Trustees of the Howard Funds in West Bridgewater
$107,250.00
Old Bridgewater Historical Society
15,500.00
Baptist Society
6,700.00
Methodist Episcopal Society
8,325.00
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston
24,100.00
Sunset Avenue Congregational Society
4,700.00
Unitarian Society
13,500.00
Cemeteries (Privately owned)
4,540.00
Town Hall and Lot
15,500.00
Fire Station
2,000.00
Highway Building and Lot
9,500.00
Library
3,400.00
School Department (Land and buildings)
66,100.00
Parks
8,800.00
Cemeteries (Town owned)
600.00
Various Lots owned by Town
5,265.00
Property of Commonwealth
2,523.00
Total Value Exempted Real Estate
298,303.00
PERSONAL PROPERTY
Trustees of the Howard Funds in West Bridgewater 7,000.00
Old Bridgewater Historical Society
8,000.00
101
Town of West Bridgewater:
Water Department
$152,000.00
Fire Department
15,000.00
Library
8,000.00
School Department
7,000.00
Highway Department
4,000.00
Town Hall and Offices
3,000.00
Moth Department
2,000.00
Police Department
500.00
Sealer of Weights and Measures
250.00
Tree Warden
100.00
Total Value Exempted Personal Property
206,850.00
TOTAL VALUE ALL EXEMPTED PROPERTY
505,153.00
MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE
NO. OF CARS VALUE
EXCISE
1st Commitment, Feb. 8, 1944
132
$ 19,440.
$ 698.78
2nd Commitment, May 2, 1944
697
78,630.
2,823.80
3rd Commitment, Sept. 5, 1944
251
39,310.
1,185.87
4th Commitment, Sept. 25, 1944
30
4,550.
92.35
5th Commitment, Dec. 22, 1944
40
3,480.
80.99
1,150
$145,410.
$4,881.79
Average Value Assessed per Car Average Excise per Car
$126.44
$4.25
ROBERT G. DEAN WILLIAM W. PHILLIPS ALBERT A. HOWARD Board of Assessors.
102
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
In compliance with the State Law, I herewith submit my Annual Report of the work done as Sealer of Weights and Mea- sures for the year 1944.
I have visited all the various places in Town known to have weighting or measuring devices and have sealed or condemned the same.
The following is a list of the work done:
Adjusted Sealed Condemned
Platform Scales
8
21
1
Counter Scales
8
17
All other Scales
1
17
1
Avoirdupois Weights
54
Liquid Measures
9
Gasoline Meters
17
1
Kerosene Pumps
1
Oil Measures Pumps
1
-
-
17
137
3
Fees received and paid to Treasurer
$28.85
DOUGLAS EATON, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
103
PUBLIC LISOLENY
REPORT OF SELECTMEN
The year 1944 has been another year of national effort to win the war. Your Board of Selectmen has cooperated in every re- spect with this effort.
Hundreds of our boys and girls are giving their services to the nation in the Armed Forces. Your Board is sincerely interested in their welfare now and upon their return home.
The auditors have been over the accounts and compliment the Town on the fine records and financial condition.
Your Board would normally have several recommendations to offer at the Town Meeting, but due to restrictions these must be held over until the end of the war.
The Board wishes to express its appreciation to the several departments and the citizens of the Town for their splendid co- operation during the year.
Signed
JAMES A. HEMENWAY WILLIAM W. NOYES FRED G. CHISHOLM
Selectmen of West Bridgewater.
104
REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I hereby submit my report for the year 1944.
Appropriation
$3,195.00
Payments
3,194.32
Balance
.68
Court fines returned to the Town
464.80
Stolen property recovered
1,552.75
Complaints and Investigations
154
Automobile Violations
252
Automobile Violations turned over to Registry
58
Automobile Violations on file
156
The following cases were disposed of according to the cases:
Automobile violators of executive order number 35
22
Operating under the influence of liquor
2
Operating so as to endanger
5
Operating without license
1
Attaching plates unlawfully
1
Failing to stop at stop sign
5
Failing to slow at intersection
2
Violation of probation
3
Assault and battery dangerous weapon
2
Assault with dangerous weapon in attempt to rob
2
Statutory rape
1
Fornication
1
Lewd persons
3
Fugitive from justice
1
Robbery
1
Larceny of automobile
1
105
Manslaughter
1
Drunkenness
6
Disturbance
5
Admitted to the insane hospital
1
Assault and battery
4
Escaped prisoner from State Farm apprehended
1
Delinquency by running away from home
3
Malicious mischief by setting fires
2
Larceny
6
MISCELLANEOUS
Automobile accidents
14
Automobile accidents persons injured taken to doctor
2
Automobile accidents persons injured taken to hospital
2
Automobile and bicycle accidents
1
Automobile and bicycle accidents persons killed
1
Persons ill taken to hospital
15
Persons injured taken to hospital
7
Suicide
1
Missing persons located
Fire alarms answered by police
37
Fires reported by police
2
Number plates returned to Registry
1
Summons served for other Departments
5
Investigations with other Departments
8
Emergency communications delivered
7
Investigations made out of Town
6
Arrests made out of Town
4
Road hazards reported
2
Street lights out and reported
11
Automobile transfer papers given out and received
101
The police car has traveled 22,461 miles in performance of duty.
106
I sincerely wish to express my thanks and appreciation to the Selectmen and to all others who have cooperated with the Depart- ment.
I sincerely wish to express my thanks and appreciation to the Auxiliary Police Department for its cooperation.
DOUGLAS EATON, Chief of Police.
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107
REPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my Annual Report of the West Bridge- water Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1944.
VALUE LOSSES AND INSURANCE PAID
Assessor's value of buildings
$32,650.00
Insurance on buildings
44,365.00
Estimated loss on buildings
3,490.00
Insurance paid on buildings
3,458.00
Estimated value contents
13,700.00
Insurance on contents
14,300.00
Estimated loss on contents
1,665.00
Insurance Paid on contents
71.50
CALLS ANSWERED
Frame buildings
25
Grassland (32 acres)
22
Brush and woodland (42 acres)
31
Automobiles
8
Dumps
6
Rubbish
20
Cat in tree
1
Aid calls
2
Total calls answered
115
108
PERMITS
Oil Burner 7
Gas storage 2
Open Air Fires 163
The department has traveled 735 miles, pumped 651/4 hours, laid 33,475 feet booster hose, 3250 feet 21/2 inch hose, 750 feet 1 1/2 inch hose, raised 374 feet ladders and used 75 gallons of chemi- cals.
APPARATUS
One 500 gallon triple combination Buffalo Equipment on Di- amond T chassis, purchased in 1937.
One 500 gallon triple combination (Maxim) purchased in 1924.
One Chevrolet combination with 120 gallon water tank and pump used to extinguish grass and woods fires. Built in 1938 by the Fire Department.
This is a 1931 chassis given to us from a junk pile and had been over 200,000 miles. Should be replaced with new chassis this year if possible.
One 12 foot boat and trailer presented to the Town by the American Legion for emergencies.
CALL FORCE
The Call Force consists of one chief, one acting deputy chief, one captain, three acting captains and fifteen privates.
FIRE ALARM AND EMERGENCY SIGNAL
Siren and tapper system tested daily except Sundays.
FIRE DEPARTMENT TELEPHONE
CHIEF 4137
STATION
4137
109
ATTENTION - STATE LAW
No fuel oil burner shall be installed and no fuel oil in excess of ten gallons shall be kept or stored in any building or other structure without a written permit having been obtained from the Marshall, providing that the building is used for habitation such permit must be obtained from the Head of Fire Department.
All open air fires require a written permit from Cheif of Fire Department.
To keep your fire losses small, call your Fire Department im- mediately upon discovering a fire in a building, grassland or wood- land.
I wish to thank the Selectmen and all others who have in any way helped the Fire Department.
To the members of the Department I want to say thanks for your cooperation and good work.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD L. BOURNE,
Chief of Fire Department.
110
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
TRUSTEES
Elected
Term Expires
Ada M. Wood
1942
1945
Basil M. Soule
1942
1945
Robert G. Dean
1943
1946
Martha B. Mason
1943
1946
Winfield C. Leavitt
1944
1947
Jane Bartlett
1944
1947
BOOK COMMITTEE
Martha B. Mason
Ada M. Wood
Jane Bartlett
Basil M. Soule
EXECUTIVE OFFICER Basil M. Soule
Librarian's Report
To the Trustees of the Public Library of the town of West Bridge- water:
I herewith submit the report of the Librarian for the year ending December 31, 1944.
We are pleased to find a slight increase in our circulation mainly in elementary school circulation and adult fiction.
111
Under improvements we purchased a new two drawer oak card filing cabinet and an indoor thermometer.
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