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 1945-1949 > Part 10
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On motion this article was carried.
Moderator's Salary
$ 25.00
Finance Committee
15.00
Selectmen Salaries
750.00
Selectmen Expense
600.00
Town Accountant
915.00
Treasurer's Salary
975.00
Treasurer's Expense
500.00
Collector's Salary
1,600.00
Collector's Expense
587.00
Assessor's Salary
1,380.00
Assessor's Expense
630.00
Other Financial Officers
25.00
Town Clerk Salary
825.00
Town Clerk Expense
117.50
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Election and Registration
1,100.00
Law
100.00
Town Hall and Offices
3,058.00
Police (Including out of State)
4,000.00
Preserving Old Records
50.00
Dog Officer
60.00
Fire Department (Including out of State)
2,650.00
Hydrants
1,490.00
Sealer of Weights and Measures
100.00
Moth Suppression
2,500.00
Tree Warden Salary
400.00
Tree Warden Expense
700.00
Health
2,400.00
Inspector of Animals
125.00
Inspector of Slaughtering
500.00
Visiting Nurse
300.00
Diphtheria Clinic
100.00
Well Child Conference
50.00
Highways
15,000.00
Road Machinery
2,000.00
Snow Removal
2,000.00
Street Lights
3,793.68
Public Welfare Salary
150.00
Public Welfare Expense
465.00
General Welfare
5,000.00
Old Age Assistance Administration
880.00
Old Age Assistance Expense
20,000.00
Aid to Dependent Children Administration
179.00
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Aid to Dependent Children Expense
3,000.00
Soldier's Benefits
2,200.00
Schools
68,340.50
Library
1,943.00
Monument Grounds and Parks
850.00
Care of Cemeteries
250.00
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Town Reports
707.55
Memorial and Armistice Days
200.00
Insurance
1,465.82
Interest 100.00
Reserve Fund
3,000.00
Water Department Salary ( From Water Revenue ) 550.00
Water Department Expense (From Water Revenue)
15,500.00
Water Bonds and Notes ( From Water Revenue ) 2,000.00
Interest on Water Bonds and Notes
(From Water Revenue) 10.00
On separate motions, each of above appropriations was carried.
ARTICLE 5.
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from unappropriated available funds in the treasury, a sum of money for Chapter 90 Highway Maintenance, or take any action relative thereto.
Moved that the sum of $1,500.00 be raised and appropriated to meet the Town's share and the cost of Chapter 90, Highway Maintenance and that, in addition the sum of $3,000.00 be appro- priated from surplus Revenue to meet the State's and County's share of the cost of the work, the reimbursements from the State and County to be restored, upon their receipt, to the Surplus Revenue Account.
Motion carried.
ARTICLE 6.
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or transfer from available funds in the treasury, a sum of money for Chapter 90, New Construction, or take any action relative thereto.
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Motion made that the sum of $2,500.00 be raised and appro- priated to meet the Town's share of the cost of Chapter 90, New Construction and that, in addition the sum of $7,500.00 be ap- propriated from surplus revenue to meet the State's and County's share of the cost of the work, the reimbursements from the State and County to be restored upon their receipt, to the Surplus Revenue Account.
Motion was carried.
ARTICLE 7.
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of $100.00 for a clinic to immunize school children and preschool children against diphtheria.
Carried.
ARTICLE 8.
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $50.00 for a "Well Child Conference."
Carried.
ARTICLE 9.
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $100.00 for the use of Plymouth County Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture (Plymouth County Extension Service) and choose a Town Director as provided in Section 41 and 42 of Re- vised Chapter 128 of the General Laws and act thereon.
Article carried and Clifford Carlson selected as director. .
ARTICLE 10.
To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer
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in his discretion, but with the written approval of the Board of Selectmen, or a majority thereof, to sell any land acquired by the Town through foreclosure of a tax title and to execute and deliver in the name and behalf of the Town all deeds necessary to effectuate any such sale.
Article carried.
ARTICLE 11.
To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Assessors to take from available funds in the Treasury a sum of money not to exceed $15,000.00 to be used for the purpose of reducing the tax rate for the current year.
Carried.
ARTICLE 12.
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate an amount ($15.71) to pay bills of April 1 and September 30, 1945 to Dr. A. O. Belmore.
Carried.
ARTICLE 13.
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate an amount ($64.00) to pay bill of October 23, 1944 to A. L. Cedergren.
Carried.
ARTICLE 14.
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $50.00 to be used, with balance on hand, for Christmas decor- ations at the Monument.
Carried.
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ARTICLE 15.
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,500.00 to rebuild Keenan Street, and Bedford Street, from Keenan Street to Aldrich Road.
Selectmen Ralph Frellick spoke at length in favor. Charles White agreeing to use only that portion of Bedford and Keenan Streets that will be repaired for his heavy trucking.
On motion the Article was carried.
ARTICLE 16.
To see if the Town will vote to install 19 street lights on Walnut Street from Manley Street to the Brockton line, and raise and appropriate a sum of money for the same.
On motion this article was passed without action.
ARTICLE 17.
To see if the Town will vote to install 2 street lights on Francis Avenue, and raise and appropriate a sum of money for same.
It was moved that one street light be installed. The motion was amended that two lights be installed. On vote on the amend- ment the latter was so voted and the motion as amended was carried.
ARTICLE 18.
To see if the Town will vote to install 1 street light on Lincoln Street, near Cochesett School, and raise and appropri- ate a sum of money for the same.
Carried.
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ARTICLE 19.
To see if the Town will vote to accept Buttonwood Ave. as laid out by the Selectmen with provision as required by the Selectmen. (By petition. )
Carried.
ARTICLE 20.
To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 723 of the General Laws 1945. An act authorizing the establishment and maintenance of Municipal Departments and Districts for furnishing information, advice and assistance to Veterans of World War II or other Veterans.
Moved to pass this Article without action.
ARTICLE 21.
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to celebrate the return of the men and women who served in or were affiliated or associated with the Armed Forces of the United States in World War II.
Voted to pass without action.
ARTICLE 22.
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $4,200.00 from the available Water Surplus to lay a 6 inch water main on West Street from the existing main to the property of L. O. Tuttle, a distance of 1,700 feet.
Moved to pass this article without action. So voted.
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ARTICLE 23.
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to retain town counsel.
Moved by Selectman Fred G. Chisholm that the sum of $100.00 be raised and appropriated. Carried.
Article 2 was next considered. Reports of School Housing, and Water Investigation Committees were made and accepted.
ARTICLE 24.
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to acquire land for the development of a well field, for the construction of a standpipe and of a pumping station, in- cluding original pumping station equipment, to make the neces- sary pipe main connections of not less than six inches in diameter to connect the new supply to the existing system, to lay a pipe- line from Main Street to North Elm Street; determine whether the money shall be provided for by taxation, by borrowing, or by transfer from available funds in the treasury, including the Post War Rehabilitation Fund.
The engineer Howard was present and answered all questions referred to him. Plan number 4 was reported by Water Com- missioners, in detail. Wells driven off Cyr Street showed gener- ous supply pumped for 7 days and quality pronounced satis- factory for human use.
Lively discussion on this article resulted finally in motion + to proceed to vote as this Article would require a Bond issue. The Moderator informed the meeting that this required a Ballot vote. Distributors were appointed and distributed the yes and no Ballots. Counters were appointed and Ballots cast with the following results:
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Whole number of votes cast 332 Yes-125 NO-207.
As two thirds vote "for" was required and not cast, the Moderator declared the motion lost.
ARTICLE 25.
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,500.00 to be used with the existing balance to have plans drawn for a Six year Senior-Junior High School Building, and for any other expenditures necessary to the proper function- ing of the Special Building Committee.
Moved and seconded. Motion carried.
ARTICLE 26.
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum not to exceed $7,000.00 and authorize the Selectmen to purchase land as a site for a Senior-Junior High School.
Moved and seconded. Motion Carried.
ARTICLE 27.
To transact any other business that may legally come before the meeting.
Meeting on motion was adjourned due to the late hour until March 16 for the election by ballot, of officers and until March 25 to take up Article 27.
H. E. BRYANT Town Clerk
TOWN ELECTION-MARCH 16, 1946
A meeting of which the inhabitants of West Bridgewater,
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qualified to vote in election were duly warned, was held in Town Hall, on Saturday, March 16, 1946 at nine o'clock in the fore- noon and the following is a record of the doings.
The Meeting was called to order by the Moderator E. M. Roberts and Article 28 of the Warrant was read by Town Clerk H. E. Bryant, to elect the following officers by ballot.
The election officers were then sworn in by the Town Clerk to the faithful performance of their duties and were: Lulu Gard- ner, Grace Keenan, Gertrude Daley, Gardner Lothrop, Carleton Payne, Frank Dufault, Edward J. Brown, Anna Peterson, Helen Ross, Dorothy Williams, William Gibson, Charles Hill, William Noyes, Warden; Douglas Eaton.
The Ballot box was inspected by the police officer in charge and found to be empty. The register was set at zero. One thou- sand ballots were delivered by the Town Clerk and receipt given for same.
At 8:00 o'clock P. M. the polls were declared closed. There were 263 ballots cast as shown on the indicator of the Ballot Box.
The Town Clerk announced the following results:
MODERATOR
E. Marion Roberts 212
Blanks 51
E. M. Roberts was declared elected.
TOWN CLERK
H. E. Bryant 217
Blanks 46
H. E. Bryant was declared elected.
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SELECTMEN AND BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
William W. Noyes 208
Blanks 55
William W. Noyes was declared elected.
TREASURER
Orvis F. Kinney 211
Blanks 52
Orvis F. Kinney was declared elected.
ASSESSOR
Robert G. Dean 210
Blanks 53
Robert G. Dean was declared elected.
TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY - 3 Years
Martha B. Mason
211
Robert G. Dean
212
Allen B. Foyė 205
Blanks 161
Martha B. Mason declared elected.
Robert G. Dean declared elected.
Allen B. Foye declared elected for two years on resigna- tion of John Seager.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
A. Phillip Erbeck 202
Joseph Young 219
Blanks 105
A. Phillip Erbeck declared elected.
Joseph Young declared elected.
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CONSTABLE
Edward G. Asack 216
Edwin T. Gibson 216
Blanks 94
Edward G. Asack declared elected.
Edwin T. Gibson declared elected.
WATER COMMISSIONER
Thomas B. Miles 202
Blanks 61
Thomas B. Miles declared elected.
TREE WARDEN
Harry Green 101
Elmer Hunt 157
Blanks 5
Elmer Hunt was declared elected.
H. E. BRYANT Town Clerk
The following Elected Officers were duly sworn in by Town Clerk H. E. Bryant, on March 18 to 25.
Moderator, E. Marion Roberts; Tree Warden, Elmer Hunt; Selectmen and Board of Public Welfare, William Noyes; School Committee, Joseph Young, A. Phillip Erbeck; Treasurer, Orvis F. Kinney; Constables, Edward Asack, Edwin T. Gibson; Asses- sor and Trustee of Public Library, Robert G. Dean; Trustee of Public Library, Allan Foye, Martha B. Mason; Water Commis- sioner, Thomas B. Miles.
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Officers appointed by Selectmen and Sworn in on March 25, 1946, were:
Town Accountant, 3 years: Alice M. Dean.
Superintendent of Streets: Daniel A. Penpraese.
Chief of Fire Department: Edward L. Bourne.
Chief of Police: P. Douglas Eaton.
Superintendent of Moth: Elmer Hunt.
Forest Fire Warden: Edward L. Bourne.
Sealer of Weights and Measures: P. Douglas Eaton.
Inspector of Animals and Slaughtering: David Dailey.
Dog Officer: Edwin T. Gibson.
Burial Agent: H. E. Bryant.
Public Weighers: Chester R. Ripley, Julia Burgess.
Registrar of Voters, 3 years: J. Edward Hurley.
Registrar of Voters, 2 years: Frank J. Dufault.
Deputy Fire Wardens: Edwin T. Gibson, Antone Sousa, Ed- ward G. Asack, Raleigh A. Holden.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, MARCH 25, 1946
Meeting called to order by the Moderator, E. M. Roberts.
ARTICLE 26.
Selectman William Noyes moved that the action taken on Article 26 be reconsidered. Mr. Noyes made an explanation of why the action of the previous Town Meeting, March 11, was illegal.
Moved and carried that the vote on the question of recon- sideration be taken by Ballot. Paul Lundgren, Allan Foye, John Eldridge appointed to count Ballots. Result of count Yes-150, No-33. Motion carried.
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Motion made by Selectman Frellick that Article 26 of the Warrant, To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money not to exceed $7,000.00 and authorize the select- men to purchase land as a site for Senior-Junior High School, be considered.
Amendment made to use Town owned land. This amend- ment lost by voice vote.
Mr. Frellick explained location of Building site thought most favorable by the committee is location at Howard, West Centre Streets and Center School Building.
A ballot vote was ordered by the Moderator on motion (Art. 26). Counters appointed were Paul Lundgren, John Eld- ridge, Allan Foye. Result of the Ballot announced by the Moder- ator, two thirds vote required to carry motion. Yes-144, No-55. Moderator declared motion carried.
ARTICLE 27. BUILDING BY-LAWS
To transact any other business that may legally come before the meeting.
The Building By Laws suggested were read by the Moder- ator. Each section of each Article was read with the understand- ing that if no objections were raised it would be considered satisfactory.
Building By-Laws are as follows:
Article 1. This By-Law shall be known as the Building By-Law. Article 2. (1) The Board of Selectmen shall be responsible for the administration and enforcement of rules and regulations con- tained in this By-Law. The Selectmen shall employ such in-
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spectors as are necessary to insure proper compliance with the By-Law. Such inspectors shall be hired on a per diem basis as building activity demands and compensation shall be regulated by the Selectmen.
(2) The Selectmen, or an inspector appointed by them, may, so far as is necessary for the performance of their duties in the enforcement of this By-Law, enter any building or premises within the town at any reasonable hour.
(3) The Selectmen shall keep a record of all busi- ness transacted. They shall receive applications and issue permits for the erection and alteration of all buildings. No permit shall be issued until plans, specifications, and premises have been inspected.
They shall grant permits for such erections or alteration when plans and specifications are in conformity with this By- Law and the laws of the Commonwealth.
They shall cause to be examined all buildings reported dangerous or damaged by accident, or fire, and if it appears that such structure would be unsafe or dangerous to life or limb in case of fire or otherwise, it shall be deemed dangerous and they may have affixed in a conspicuous place on its outside walls a notice of its dangerous condition. No work of any description, including excavation for cellar or basement or for foundations, shall be commenced until a permit is issued.
(4) A Board of Appeals shall be appointed in accordance with provisions of General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 30. If the owner of any building or other structure, or an appli- cant for a permit to erect or alter a building or other structure is aggrieved by any order or decision of the Selectmen they may file with the Selectmen an objection in writing and thereupon the matter shall be referred by the Selectmen to the Board of Appeals
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who, within one week from said references, shall hear the parties, and after taking such expert opinion as may seem to the Board of Appeals to be necessary, give their decisions. In case the de- cision of the Selectmen be affirmed, the expense of such expert opinion taken by the Board of Appeals shall be paid to the town on demand by the appellant; otherwise such expense shall be borne by the town.
(5) Whoever performs or causes to be performed any work, or maintains, alters, or erects any structure, in vio- lation of this building Law or any part thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than twenty dollars ($20.00) for each violation.
Article 3. (1) Before work is commenced upon the construc- tion, alteration, removal, demolition, or repair of any building, the owner, lessee or representative of either, except for ordinary repairs, shall submit to the Selectmen on application blanks fur- nished by them a detailed description of the location, purpose, and construction of the proposed work with full and complete copies of plans of such work.
(2) Before the issuance of a permit for the erec- tion of a building, a plot plan must be submitted showing the location of the building on the lot, dimensions of the lot and re- lation of building to lot lines, and street lines and grades. Every person before proceeding to erect any foundation, building, or wall or to make any alterations in the external wall of any struc- ture shall first apply to the Selectmen for the lines and grades of adjacent public ways and the Selectmen, without charge, shall furnish the same.
(3) Before approval by the Selectmen of the de- velopment of a subdivision plot they shall require that ways laid out on such plot shall conform to the grade of existing, or pro- posed streets with which they may connect, and they shall require
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such provisions for the disposal of surface water as will prevent damage to the said streets and to other ways in the town.
(4) If changes are made after plans have been approved, amended plans shall be filed and approved by the Selectmen before proceeding with the work.
(5) The permit card issued by the Selectmen must be displayed in a conspicuous place on the premises and must not be removed until all work in the building shall have been approved.
(6) No use or occupance of a building or part of a building for a purpose other than that for which it is designed to be used as set forth in the permit upon which it was erected, shall be made unless upon application. The Selectmen shall deter- mine that the proposed use will not endanger the safety of the occupants thereof.
Article 4. (1) Ordinary repairs of buildings may be made with- out a permit, but such repairs shall not be construed to include the removal or cutting of any beam or support or the removal, change or closing of any staircase or any alteration made for the purpose of converting into a dwelling a building or structure con- structed or previously used for a different purpose.
(2) No building or structure may be demolished until a permit has been issued to the parties responsible for such demolition.
Article 5. No external wall of any frame building shall be less than 10 feet from any other building on the same lot.
Amended to read: No external wall of any frame building shall be less than 10 feet from any other building and more than five feet of boundary lines.
Accepted as amended .-
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Article 6. No building of frame construction shall exceed 40 feet or 3 stories in height.
Article 7. The roofs of all buildings in congested areas shall be covered with fire-resisting material.
Article 8. (1) No chimney shall be corbelled from a wall more than the thickness of the wall, nor be hung from a wall less than 12 inches thick. Every chimney shall rest on a proper footing of approved masonry. Concrete footings shall be at least 6 inches® wider than the chimney on all sides, and shall be at least 12 inches thick.
All chimneys shall be built of brick or other incombustible material, laid up in the best lime or cement mortar. All brick chimneys shall have terra cotta flue lining extending to the top of the chimney. The ends of such lining pipes shall be made to fit close together, the joints shall be filled with cement mortar; and the lining shall be built in as the flue is carried up.
Every chimney shall be topped out or capped with brick, terra cotta, stone, iron, or cement. Every chimney shall extend at least 3 feet above the highest point at which it comes in con- tact with a roof of the building. No part of any floor timber shall be within 2 inches of any chimney. No studding or furring shall be within 11/2 inches of any chimney and no floor timber shall be within 4 inches of the back wall of any fireplace.
Preceding paragraph amended to read: Every chimney shall be topped out or capped with brick, terra cotta, stone, iron, or cement. Every chimney shall extend at least 3 feet above the highest point at which it comes in contact with a roof of the building. No part of any floor timber shall be within 1 inch of any chimney; no studding or furring shall be within one inch of any chimney, and no floor timber shall be within four inches of the back wall of any fireplace.
Accepted as amended.
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(2) The jambs and backs of all fire places shall be of masonry, not less than 8 inches thick, if of brick, and not less than 12 inches, if wholly or partly of stone.
Brickwork or stonework over fireplaces or similar openings shall be supported by proper iron bars or by brick or stone arches.
All hearths shall be laid on masonry trimmer arches, or on bars of iron supporting a proper bed of masonry.
Article 9. (1) All buildings shall be fire-stopped so as to check effectively any draught from one story to another, or from the horizontal spaces between floor joists to the vertical spaces in walls and partitions. The spaces around chimneys inside of stud- ding or furring making air ducts are to be thoroughly fire stopped. No insulation shall be installed before fire stopping has been approved.
(2) No smoke pipe shall project through any ex- ternal wall, window or roof. No smoke pipe shall pass through any wooden partition without a safety thimble of fireproof materials of the thickness of the partition.
Paragraph (2) amended to read: No smoke pipe shall pro- ject through any external wall, window or roof. No smoke pipe shall pass through any wooden partition without a safety fire- pot and a thimble of fireproof material, one inch larger than chimney pot opening.
Accepted as amended.
No metal pipe used to convey heated air shall be placed within one inch of any woodwork unless it is enclosed in a metal pipe with air space between, or otherwise shielded with metal or asbestos, in a manner satisfactory to the Selectmen.
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Ducts for warm or cold air shall be constructed entirely of metal and no cold air ducts shall be carried from a garage to a dwelling. A clean-out door shall be placed in base of each chimney.
Motion was made that the proposed Building By-Laws be adopted and incorporated in our By-Laws. It was so voted by count 87-yes, 34-No. The Moderator declared the motion carried.
On motion and vote the meeting adjourned at 8:50 P. M.
H. E. BRYANT Town Clerk
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, MAY 23, 1946
Special Town Meeting, called to order by the Town Clerk at 7:40 P. M. and in the absence of the Moderator, Mr. Arthur E. Ryder was selected by vote to serve as Moderator, Protem. The Town Clerk read the warrant and as the required number of voters were not present upon vote the meeting was adjourned until 7:30 P. M., June 6, 1946. Sixteen voters were present.
H. E. BRYANT Town Clerk
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, JUNE 6, 1946
The adjourned Town Meeting of May 23, was called to order by the Moderator, E. Marion Roberts. The Warrant was read by the Town Clerk and Article No. 1 was then taken up.
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Mr. Sherman Perkins, Chairman of the School Committee made the following motion: Moved that the sum of $4,500.00 be ap- propriated from available surplus funds in the Treasury to be used by the School Committee to install two new hand fired furnaces at the Center School buildings and make other neces- sary repairs to the heating system.
Mr. A. Ryder requested an explanation as to the reason this matter was not brought up at the Annual Town Meeting. Mr. Perkins explained, as did Mrs. Caswell, that the condition of old heating furnaces was not known at that time. Upon vote the motion was carried.
Moved that the sum of $250.00 be appropriated from sur- plus revenue for flags and parks. Chairman Mr. Noyes, for the Selectmen, explained that it was apparent the Annual Town Meeting had not appropriated enough to meet requirements. Upon vote this sum was carried. Fifty-four voters present.
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