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 1950-1954 > Part 30
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Moved :- That the sum of $1,000.00 be raised and appropri- ated to be used for Gypsy Moth Aerial Spraying. So voted.
Article 24. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $1,700.00 to purchase a Mist Blower for the Tree Warden Department.
Moved :- That the sum of $1,700.00 be raised and appropri- ated for the purchase of a Mist Blower, and that the Tree Warden be authorized to purchase the same. So Voted.
Article 25. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $301.00 to purchase a Power Saw for the Tree Warden Department. Motion made to pass Article without action. So Voted.
Article 26. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $524.00 to install new street lights on Howard Street, Keenan Street, Matfield Street, North Main Street, Plain Street, South Main Street, and West Center Street.
Moved :- That the sum of $524.00 be raised and appropri- ated to install street lights on Howard Street, Keenan Street, Matfield Street, North Main Street, Plain Street, South Main Street and West Center Street, at locations recommended by the Street Lighting Survey Committee. So Voted.
Article 27. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $800.00 to purchase a Power Plant and Power Saw for the Fire Department.
Moved :- That the sum of $800.00 be raised and appropri- ated to purchase a Power Generator and Power Saw for the Fire
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Department, and that the Fire Chief with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, be authorized to purchase the same.
Upon Vote of 95 Yes and 54 No-Motion carried.
Article 28. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate a sum of money for the purchase of a new cruiser for the Police Department.
Moved :- That the Board of Selectmen be authorized to pur- chase a new car for the Police Department, and to transfer, de- liver and expend the present car therefor, and raise and appropri- ate the sum of $700.00 for the balance of the purchase price. So Voted.
Article 29. To see if the Town will vote to continue the Street Lighting Survey Committee.
Moved :- That the present Street Lighting Survey Commit- tee be continued for the coming year. So Voted.
Article 30. To see if the Town will vote to accept Roosevelt Ave. (By Petition).
Moved :- That the Town accept Roosevelt Avenue as laid out by the Selectmen. So voted.
Article 31. To see if the Town will vote to close all Town Offices and Departments the week of the 4th of July each year.
Moved :- That the Town Offices and Departments be closed for the week of July 4th this year as in the opinion of the respec- tive department heads may be advisable. Upon vote motion carried.
Article 32. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to dispose of, by sale or otherwise, the former Cochesett School Building, or take any other action relative thereto.
Moved :- That the Board of Selectmen of the Town be, and they hereby are, authorized, directed and empowered to lease,
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rent free for a period not exceeding five years, to American Legion Post No. 66 the building heretofore known as the Cochesett School to be used, occupied and enjoyed as headquarters for such post, subject to such terms, provisos and conditions as said Board of Selectmen may deem necessary or advisable, provided, however, that said lease shall contain a provision that it may be terminated by the Town upon sixty days' notice in writing given by the Town to said post, when, and if in the opinion of the Board of Selectmen the interests of the Town require other use of said building for any municipal purpose. Upon vote motion carried.
Article 33. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $200.00 to close up the Matfield and Jerusalem Schools.
Moved :- That the sum of $200.00 be raised and appropri- ated to close up the Matfield and Jerusalem schools. So voted.
Article 34. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $16.00 for the payment of a 1952 bill rendered by Hobbs and Warren to the Board of Assessors. Upon motion article carried.
Article 35. To see if the Town will vote to name the new Junior-Senior High School, or take any action relative thereto.
Moved :- That the new Jr .- Sr. High School be named the "West Bridgewater High School." So voted.
Article 36. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate a sum of money for the study of plans for a combination Fire Station and Police Station, or take any action relative thereto.
Moved :- That the sum of $200.00 be raised and appropri- ated, and that the Moderator appoint a committee of five to make a study of plans for a combination Fire and Police Station, and report at the next annual meeting. So Voted.
Article 37. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate a sum of money to survey the elementary school housing problem, or take any other action relative thereto.
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Moved :- That the Moderator be authorized to appoint a committee of seven, including the Superintendent of Schools, to study the elementary school housing situation, to report at the next annual Town meeting, and that the sum of $200.00 be raised and appropriated to defray expenses of the survey. So Voted.
Article 38. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Assessors to take from available funds in the Treasury a sum of money to be used for the purpose of reducing the tax rate for the current year.
Moved :- That the Board of Assessors be authorized to take from Surplus Revenue the sum of $15,000.00 to be used for the purpose of reducing the tax rate of the current year. So voted.
Article 39. To see if the Town will vote to accept a Trust Fund of $500.00 to be known as the Smith R. Kelley Trust Funds, for the perpetual care of cemetery lots of Philo Leonard and Mary Marshall in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
Upon motion article carried.
Article 40. To see if the Town will vote to accept Pleasant Street from West Center Street to Maple Street.
Upon motion article carried.
Article 41. To transact any other business that may legally come before the meeting.
Moved :- That the Selectmen be authorized to appoint a committee of five to study a suitable permanent World War II Memorial and present their recommendations at the next annual Meeting. So voted.
Moved :- That a committee of three, who hold no elective or appointive office, be appointed by the Moderator, who shall at a Special Town Meeting to be held on or before December 15, 1953, report their recommendations establishing a salary schedule for the Board of Assessors and the Chief of Police, effective January 1, 1954. So Voted.
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Moved :- That a committee of three be appointed by the Moderator, to survey the possibilities of combining any of the Town Offices and Departments, this committee shall report at the next annual Town Meeting. So Voted.
Article 42. To elect the following Town Officers by Official Ballot: one Town Clerk for one year, one Moderator for one year, one Assessor for three years, one Selectman and Member of the Board of Public Welfare for three years, one Treasurer for one year, one Water Commissioner for three years, one Water Com- missioner for one year to fill vacancy, two School Committee members for three years, one School Committee Member for one year to fill vacancy, one Tree Warden for one year, two trustees of the Public Library for three years, one Trustee of the Public Library for two years to fill vacancy, and two Constables for one year.
Moved :- That this meeting be adjourned to 9:00 o'clock A.M. March 14, 1953 for the election of town officers by official ballot. So voted.
ANNA E. BROWN
Town Clerk
Special Town Meeting July 30, 1953
Meeting called to order at 8 P.M. by the Moderator. 54 voters being present. Town Clerk read the warrant. Following is the action taken at this meeting.
Article 1. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of Two Hundred Seventy-one ($271.00) dollars to purchase a one-man power saw for the Tree Department; or take any action relative thereto.
Moved :- That the sum of $271.00 be raised and appropriated from available funds in the treasury for the purchase of a one man power saw, and that the Tree Warden be authorized to purchase the same.
Motion upon vote carried.
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Article 2. To see if the Town will vote to rescind its action upon Article 16 in the Warrant for the annual meeting held on Monday, the ninth day of March 1953, whereby it voted to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Thousand Two Hundred ( $2,200.00) dollars from Water Department surplus revenue to be expended for the installing of new wells for the Water Department; or take any action relative thereto.
Moved :- That the Town rescind its action upon Article 16 in the warrant for the annual meeting held on Monday, the ninth day of March, 1953 whereby it voted to raise and appropriate the sum of two Thousand two hundred ($2,200) dollars from water depart- ment surplus revenue to be expended for the installing of wells for the Water Department.
Motion upon vote unanimously carried.
Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate the sum of Two Thousand Two Hundred ($2,200.) dollars to be expended for installing new wells for the Water Department: or take any action relative thereto.
Moved :- That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of Two Thousand Two Hundred ($2,200) dollars from current water revenue receipts to be expended for the installing of new wells for the Water Department.
Motion upon unanimous vote carried.
Article 4. To see if the Town will vote to transfer the bal- ance of the Water Department "New Truck Account," an amount of $366.32, to a new Water Department account denominated "New Equipment and Supplies," to be expended for the purchase of a gasoline-driven pump and other equipment and supplies; or take any action relative thereto.
Moved :- That the Town transfer from water department ac- count denominated "New Truck Account," appropriated at the annual meeting in March of 1952, the entire balance of three hun- dred and sixty-six dollars and thirty-two cents ($366.32) to a new water department account denominated "New Equipment and
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Supplies" to be expended for the purchase of a gasoline driven pump and other equipment and supplies.
Upon vote motion carried.
Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of Nine Hundred ($900.00) dollars to be expended for the purpose of compromising and settling the claim of Robert A. Redmann for damages resulting from the taking of his land by the Town for water supply purposes; or take any action relative thereto.
Moved :- That the Town appropriate the sum of nine hun- dred ($900.) dollars to be expended for the purpose of compromis- ing and settling the claim of Robert A. Redmann for damages re- sulting from the taking of his land by the Town for water supply purposes, and to provide for this appropriation the sum of one hun- dred eight-eight ($188) dollars be, and the same hereby is, trans- ferred from the appropriation voted under Article 2 of the Town meeting held on the 24th day of November, 1947, and the sum of seven hundred twelve ($712) dollars be, and hereby is, transferred from the account denominated "Excess and Deficiency Account."
Upon unanimous vote motion carried.
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to accept the pro- visions of Chapter 434 of the Acts of 1953 which is "an act relative to rent control," and whether the Town will declare that a sub- stantial shortage of rental housing accommodations exists in the Town of West Bridgewater and that control of rents in the Town is necessary to the public interest.
Moved :- That, inasmuch as there exists a substantial short- age of rental housing accommodations in the Town of West Bridge- water, and that control of rents therein is necessary in the public interest, the provisions of Chapter 434, Acts of 1953 are hereby accepted.
Motion upon unanimous vote passed.
Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro-
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priate the sum of Two Hundred ($200.00) dollars to be expended by the Zoning and Building Laws Committee to defray the ex- penses of advertising and printing incident to the holding of public meetings by such committee, the printing and distribution of proposed zoning and building by-laws and its report to the Town: or take any action relative thereto.
Moved :- That the Town appropriate the sum of two hun- dred ($200) dollars to be expended by the Zoning Committee to defray the expenses of advertising and printing incident to the holding of public meetings by such committee, the printing and distribution of the proposed zoning by-laws and its report to the Town, and to provide for this appropriation the sum of two hun- dred ($200) dollars be, transferred from the account denominated "Excess and Deficiency Account."
Upon vote motion carried.
Article 8. To transact any other business which may legally come before the meeting.
Motion made and seconded that the meeting be adjourned. So voted.
ANNA E. BROWN Town Clerk
Special Town Meeting December 29, 1953
A meeting of which the inhabitants of West Bridgewater, qual- ified to vote in election were duly warned, was held in the Town Hall, on Tuesday, December 29, 1953 at 8:00 P.M. with the neces- sary quorum of 50 present.
The following is a record of the business.
Article 1. To hear the report of the Committee to study Assessors' salaries, and take any action relative thereto.
Moved :- Karl Myers, chairman of the committee made a
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complete report of the study. Motion made and seconded the com- mittee's report be accepted. So voted.
Moved :- That the salaries of the members of the Board of the Assessors be paid on an annual basis commencing on January 1, 1954. So voted.
Article 2. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate the sum of $400.00 to be used by the Fire and Police Station Committee for plans for a combination Fire and Police Station.
Moved :- The sum of $400.00 be appropriated from available funds in the treasury for the purpose of completing plans for a Police and Fire Station. So voted.
Motion made meeting be adjourned. So voted.
ANNA E. BROWN Town Clerk
TOWN COUNSEL
The Town Counsel takes pleasure in presenting to you his first report and in summarizing some of the accomplishments of the past year.
No attempt will be made at this time to set forth specifically and in detail the many and varied matters in connection with which he has been consulted by various persons connected with the Town government during the year 1953.
Generally his advice has been sought frequently by the Select- men and by almost every other department before undertaking any action, which might involve the Town in litigation of any sort or jeopardize its interests in any way, and it is in the capacity of an advisor that he has functioned most largely.
There are extraordinary legal services, which he has rendered in connection with the preparation and execution of documents, the institution of suits in behalf of the Town and the defense of actions brought against the municipality.
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There were pending in the Superior Court for the County of Plymouth at the beginning of the year, petitions brought by Robert A. Redmann and Harold S. Lyon, respectively, against the Town for damages resulting from the taking of their lands for water supply purposes. The case instituted by Robert A. Redmann has been settled during the year last past and at the time he executed and delivered to the Town in connection therewith a quitclaim deed of the land involved. An arrangement has been made for a compromise of the so-called Lyon case; and the Town will be re- quested at the ensuing annual town meeting to provide the sum of money necessary for the retirement of this obligation. There is only one other action currently pending in said Superior Court against this municipality. The writ in this action was brought by one John Powers, a minor, who claims to have sustained personal injury on South Street as the result of an alleged defect in the high- way. There was considerable activity in this matter during the early part of the year 1953, but it has not been disposed of by trial for the reason that the plaintiff is in the military service of the United States.
In behalf of the Tax Collector of the Town, the Town Counsel instituted proceedings against Michael D. Fallon in the District Court of Brockton for the recovery of alleged delinquent automo- bile excise taxes. This suit was settled. There is one action now pending in said Court against the estate of a deceased person for the recovery of accumulated taxes with interest to date due from the deceased as a person to whom Old Age Assistance had been given. This matter will be adjusted very shortly.
It has been found necessary to bring a suit in the Superior Court for the County of Plymouth against Clark-Wilcox Co. of Boston for the recovery of 1953 personal property taxes assessed upon four Euclid dump wagons, which action is now pending.
Your Town Counsel wishes to thank the Selectmen and vari- ous officials of the Town for their interest and cooperation in the various matters with which they and he have been mutually con- cerned.
Respectfully submitted,
T. W. PRINCE Town Counsel
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BOARD OF ASSESSORS
Total Appropriations at Annual Town Meeting,
March 9, 1953
$492,803.55
Other amounts required to be raised
59,908.32
Total Appropriations made since 1952 tax rate was fixed $552,711.87
State Parks and Reservations Tax
420.76
State Audit of Municipal Accounts
508.27
County Tax. 1953
14,834.44
Tuberculosis Hospital Assessment
7,064.50
575,539.84
Overlay
18,038.32
Total Amount to be raised
593,578.16
Less Total Estimated Receipts
172,961.36
420,616.80
Less Amounts taken from Available Funds
74,908.32
Net Amount to be Raised by Taxes on Polls and Property
$345,708.48
TABLE OF AGGREGATES
Number of Persons, Partnerships, Corporations, etc., assessed:
On Personal Estate Only
50
On Real Estate Only
1266
On both Personal and Real Estate
166
Total Number assessed
1482
Number of Polls assessed
1378
Value of Assessed Personal Estate:
Stock in Trade
$ 44,650.00
Machinery
284,050.00
Live Stock
132,085.00
All Other Tangible Personal Property
415,175.00
Total Value of Assessed Personal Estate
$875,960.00
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Value of Assessed Real Estate:
Land
$893,938.00
Buildings
4.465,575.00
Total Value of Assessed Real Estate
$5,359,513.00
Total Value of All Assessed Property
$6,235,473.00
Tax Rate per $1000
55.00
Tax for all purposes spread as follows: On Polls
2,756.00
On Personal Estate
48,177.95
On Real Estate
294,774.53
Total Taxes Assessed
$345,708.48
Number of Horses Assessed
39
Number of Cows Assessed
664
Number of Yearlings, Bulls and Heifers Assessed
210
Number of Swine Assessed
110
Number of Sheep Assessed
9
Number of Fowl Assessed
35,630
Number of Goats Assessed
26
Number of Rabbits Assessed
25
Number of Acres of Land Assessed
9,082.15
Number of Dwellings Assessed
1,130
EXEMPTED PROPERTY
Real Estate
Trustees of the Howard Funds
$ 45,350.00
Old Bridgewater Historical Society
15,500.00
Baptist Society
7,250.00
Methodist Society
9,450.00
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston
31,500.00
Sunset Avenue Congregational Church
7,000.00
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)
481,600.00
Parks
8,800.00
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Water Department Cemeteries (Town owned)
12,000.00
600.00
Various Lots owned by the Town
7,545.00
Property of the Commonwealth
2,723.00
Total Value of Exempted Real Estate
$677,758.00
Personal Property
Old Bridgewater Historical Society
$ 8,000.00
Trustees of the Howard Funds
5,000.00
Town of West Bridgewater:
Water Department
297,500.00
Fire Department
15,000.00
Library
8,000.00
School Department
8,000.00
Junior-Senior High School All Other Schools
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 of Exempted Personal Property
$358,350.00
Total Value of All Exempted Property
$1,036,108.00
MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE - 1953
No. of Cars
Value
Excise
Fourteen Commitments
2295 $888,540.
$36,770.44
Average Value assessed per Car
387.16
Average Excise assessed per Car 1953 Rate per Thousand
16.02
50.42
WILLIAM W. PHILLIPS CLIFFORD H. CARLSON HERBERT A. HOLMES Board of Assessors
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MODERATORS' COMMITTEE To Recommend A Salary Schedule For The Board of Assessors
The recommedations of this committee are based on informa- tion and figures obtained from the following sources:
A. Personal interviews with:
1. Board of Assessors
2. Finance Committee
3. Massachusetts Taxpayers Association
4. Various town officials of other towns
B. Figures & statistics obtained from:
1. Massachusetts Department of Corporations (Division of Accounts )
2. Booklet entitled "Municipal Salaries in Massachusetts, 1950"
3. Town reports of various towns
Conclusions reached have been arrived at after weighing all possible factors.
I. Methods of Operation :
1. It has been the practice in West Bridgewater for the assessors to make two complete canvasses of the town, visiting every property each year for real estate valuation and making an- other tour on personal property.
There is no question but what our assessors are doing a fine job, but we believe it is not necessary to cover every parcel of real estate in the town every year. Other towns do this work on a dif- ferent basis: instead of checking every property each year, it is done only where new construction has occurred. This information is known to the assessors through building and alteration reports and permits.
In no other towns contacted do the assessors make a complete canvas every year.
2. Much of the detail now done by assessors can be handled by a clerk.
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3. Changes and additions on Town Map can be made more ef- ficiently by bringing in trained draftsman or engineer from time to time to make necessary revisions.
4. Board meetings, for convenience of taxpayers, can be reduced at certain times of the year.
It should be possible by following the above procedures to re- duce the number of hours given by assessors to their duties by approximately 50%.
II. Basis of payment in other towns:
1. Of 180 towns in the state of Massachusetts, as of 1950, 8 towns or 41/2 %, including West Bridgewater, pay on per diem basis; 9 towns or 5% pay on hourly basis;
161 towns or 901/2% pay on annual basis.
Payment on a per diem basis appears to be potentially the most expensive method of payment. An annual method encourages maximum efficiency at a set cost to the taxpayer.
2. Amount of Remuneration :
For purposes of analysis, 7 towns were selected in which size of population, total assessed valuation and area of towns are as close as possible to those of West Bridgewater. Of these 7 towns, all of which have a board of three members, the average salary paid in 1952 totalled $1612 as against a total of $3535 paid the assessors in West Bridgewater. Even in towns of much greater population and valuation, salaries were lower. West Bridgewater for 1952 paid more than any other town of equal size. We paid more than twice as much as the average in 1952.
In nearby East Bridgewater, for example, three assessors re- ceived $1564, total salary, and $1862.66 were the expenses of the department, total cost of Assessors Department, $3,426.66. Their population is 400 larger and total assessments, $6,812,616 as against our $5,103,718. Cost of West Bridgewater Assessors Department for 1952 was $3,535.00 salary, plus $1,054.81 expenses, totalling $4,589.81.
III. Conclusions and Recommendations :
In view of the fact that in West Bridgewater the cost of oper- ating the assessors' department is so much greater than in other towns of comparable size, it is obvious that the methods of the assessors as to operation should be changed and made more effi-
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cient. Method of payment should be changed to an annual basis as in 90% of the towns in the Commonwealth.
We, the committee, therefor unanimously recommend:
1. That an annual basis of payment should be set up.
2. That the total amount of salary paid to the combined board should not exceed $1,800.00 annually.
Submitted by:
MATTHEW OWENS MERRILL CASWELL KARL N. MYERS
December 29, 1953
TREASURER
The financial transactions of the Town for the year 1953 may be briefly summarized as follows:
Cash on hand December 31, 1953:
General Fund
$151,602.47
New School Construction Fund
2,830.84
Receipts from Tax Collector
407,206.49
Receipts from Other Sources
303,595.56
Payments of Selectmen's Warrants
741,206.78
Tax Title Account December 31, 1953
4,759.33
Tax Title Redemptions in 1953
1,934.60
Tax Title Redemption Releases
33.00
Tax Title Redemption Added Interest
57.46
Tax Title Redemption Recording Fees
3.00
Tax Title Possession Sales
300.00
Tax Title Possessions, December 31, 1953
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