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 1955-1959 > Part 28
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424,163.50
Total Taxes Assessed
$460,773.45
Number of Horses assessed
15
Number of Cows assessed
47
Number of Yearlings, Bulls and Heifers assessed
45
Number of Swine assessed
37
Number of Fowl assessed
2,455
Number of Acres of Land assessed
8,477.42
Number of Dwellings assessed
1,246
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MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE-1957
Number of Cars assessed
2,300
Total value of Cars assessed
1,039,750.00
Total Excise assessed
55,006.72
Average Value assessed per car
452.01
Average Excise assessed per car
20.39
FARM ANIMAL EXCISE
Number of Horses assessed
8
Number of Cows assessed
778
Number of Yearlings, Bulls and Heifers assessed
31
Number of Fowl assessed
16,922
Number of Chicks assessed
2,300
Number of Turkeys assessed
1,200
Tax Rate per $1000
$5.00
EXEMPTED PROPERTY
Real Estate
Trustees of the Howard Funds
$66,350.00
Old Bridgewater Historical Society
15,500.00
Baptist Society
11,750.00
Methodist Society
13,800.00
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston
36,100.00
Unitarian Society
13,500.00
Cemeteries (Privately owned)
4,540.00
Town Hall and Lot
15,500.00
Fire Station and Police Station
42,000.00
Highway Garage and Lot
9,500.00
Forestry Garage
2,000.00
Library
3,400.00
School Department (Land and Buildings)
736,800.00
Parks
8,800.00
Water Department
22,000.00
Cemeteries (Town owned)
600.00
Various Lots owned by the Town
14,225.00
Property of the Commonwealth
4,648.00
Total Value of Exempted Real Estate
$1,021.013.00
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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
Library
30,000.00
Fire Department
8,000.00
School Department
12,000.00
Junior-Senior High School All Other Schools
10,000.00
Highway Department
4,000.00
Town Hall and Offices
3,000.00
Moth Department
2,000.00
Police Department
1,500.00
Sealer of Weights and Measures
250.00
Tree Warden 100.00
Total Value of Exempted Personal Property $381,350.00
Total Value of All Exempted Property $1,402,363.00
WILLIAM W. PHILLIPS
HERBERT A. HOLMES ELMER L. ANDERSON
Board of Assessors
INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND SLAUGHTERING
There were 14 dogs quarantined for biting persons. Seven in- spections were made of each dog before it was released from quarantine.
There were eight visits of inspection of interstate cattle, with one reactor. In the case of a reactor, the barn must be sterilized and trips made to see if this work has been done properly.
Forty-seven barns were inspected and most were found in ex- cellent condition. Reports on each barn and the number and con-
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dition of the cattle were sent to the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture.
The census was:
GRADE PUREBRED
Milk Cow's and Heifers
(Two years old or older) 749 376
Heifers (One to two years)
45 23
Heifers (Under one year)
75 46
Bulls
4
Horses
17
Goats
2
Sheep
34
Swine
102
Cattle were found to be clean and free from contagious diseases.
There were no Slaughter Houses in town during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
O. PHILIP PEARSON, Inspector of Animals and Slaughtering
VETERANS SERVICES DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
This Department handled 35 cases during the year, assisting 47 adults and 24 children. Twenty-two of these cases were of a temporary nature, due to illness or unemployment.
Figuring the 1957 budget, using 1956 as a basis, it looked as if the budget could be $2,000.00 less than in the previous year. The increase in the number of cases made it necessary to obtain S2,000.00 at a special Town Meeting, and a transfer of $638.24, with a refund of $22.00, to complete the year.
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The following amounts were expended for assistance:
Food, Rent, etc.
$13,165.46
Fuel 1,383.38
Doctor
411.00
Hospital
672.77
Medicine
769.03
Nursing Home
735.60
Hospital (Out-Patient)
10.00
Braces
38.00
Eve Glasses
25.00
$17,210.24
I found that I could not give the necessary time to care for the increased work in this Department, so I tendered my resigna- tion to take effect December 31, 1957. This was accepted and Ervin G. Lothrop was appointed Veterans' Agent to take effect January 2, 1958.
I wish to thank all who have assisted me in the years that I was Veterans' Agent, and assure you I will do what I can to assist the new Agent.
Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM W. NOYES, Veterans' Agent
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Tested scales under 100 lbs.
27
Tested scales over 100 lbs. 7
Tested weights 27
Tested gasoline pumps 36
1
Tested grease pumps
19
Adjusted scales and pumps
Package reweighing of Commodities 22
WARREN A. TURNER,
Sealer
83 REPORT OF THE STREET LIGHTING COMMITTEE
The committee has taken under consideration all requests and suggestions brought to our attention and recommend the fol- lowing changes:
Norman Avenue
Install two 1000 lumen lights. There are six poles on the street and a present light on pole #2. New lights are suggested on poles #4 and #6. Yearly increased cost- $34.00
Manley Street
Near Walnut St .- Install 1000 lumen light on pole #16/29, one stretch north of Walnut St. Present light on the corner to re- main. Yearly increased cost- $17.00
Emerson Avenue
The committee has been petitioned by the residents of Emer- son Ave. for lights on this street and recommend that a 1000 lumen light be installed on pole #44/3. Increased yearly cost- $17.00
South Street
We have been asked by the residents of the lower end of South St. for more lighting and after investigating recommend that 1000 lumen lights be installed on poles #35/53 and 56. Yearly in- creased cost- $34.00
Bryant Street
There being no lights at the lower end of this street it is rec- ommended that 1000 lumen light be installed on pole #18/3. Yearly increased cost- $17.00
Elm Square
The committee recommends that the present 4000 lumen in- candescent lights on poles #8/33, 341/2 and 35 on West Center Street and pole #1/77 on North Elm Street, corner of West Center Street be changed to 7700 lumen mercury lights; and that the
.
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present 1000 lumen incandescent lights on poles #8/38 and 41 on West Center Street be changed to 4000 lumen mercury lights. Increased yearly cost- $126.00
Total net increased yearly cost $245.00
The above changes include only those which the committee thought necessary at this time. The committee wishes to thank the Police Department and Mr. Fred Mason of The Edison Com- pany for their assistance.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANCIS W. LaBRACHE, Chairman LESTER W. REYNOLDS FRANCIS CHEYUNSKI SUMNER OHLSON JOSEPH A. SALHANEY
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS
The Board of Appeals submits its Annual Report to the Citi- zens of the Town of West Bridgewater, for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1957.
The Board held its organizational meeting April 4, 1957, elect- ing H. Edward Parry, Chairman, and H. Kingman Burrill, Secretary.
All decisions of the Board were considered on their merits, the good of the town and the general laws of the Commonwealth. In every instance the decision of the Board was unanimous. The Board heard and acted upon thirteen (13) appeals for variance under the Zoning By-Law. Eleven of these appeals were approved and two denied.
March 16, 1957-An appeal, by Carl R. Ohlson, Jr., 157 Spring Street, for a variance allowing the placing of a trailer at the rear of his lot, was approved.
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April 4, 1957-An appeal, by James A. Murray, to erect a gar- age forty-two by fifty-two (42 x 52) feet on his property at 200 South Street, was approved.
May 15, 1957-An appeal, by J. Milton Drake of 26 Ellis Ave., to increase the size of two lots by dividing a third and adding same to the lots on either side, was approved.
May 22, 1957 -- The appeal, of H. Roy Hartshorn, 19 Ellis Ave., for a variance to allow him to place an oversize sign on a manufacturing building in the rear of his lot, was denied because of the opposition of those living in the area.
May 22, 1957-An appeal, by Irving L. Steffen, 14 Norman Ave., for a variance in the required building lot size to approve three building lots on Norman Avenue that were just under size, was granted inasmuch as it was the best possible division of the property and not inconsistent with the spirit of the By-Law.
July 1, 1957-An appeal, by Jean Kyhn, 107 Matfield Street, that the ruling of the Planning Board denying the right to sub- divide without providing an approved way to service the lot, be reversed, and that his plan be approved as an approved building lot, was denied inasmuch as this was clearly inconsistent with both the letter and spirit of the sub-division control law, and would be- come an expense to the Town.
July 1, 1957-An appeal, by Manuel C. Travers, Copeland Street, for a variance to allow the division of a plot of land on Grant Street containing two separate dwellings, be divided with one dwelling on each lot, was approved.
July 31, 1957-An appeal, by Edwin Piver, 92 Copeland Street, for a variance in the required lot size to allow division of his prop- erty on Copeland Street into three lots containing less than the re- quired area, was approved as it was the best possible division and not inconsistent with the By-Law.
July 31, 1957-The appeal, by Norman W. Roscoe, 67 Pleas- ant Street, for a variance in the set-back regulations to allow him to erect a porch on the front of his home, was approved.
July 31, 1957-The appeal, of the Bridgewater Savings Bank, for a variance in the size of signs permitted in the business area in
86
order to erect an advertising sign in connection with their new Savings Bank on West Center Street, was approved.
August 14, 1957-The appeal, by the Travelers Gasoline Co., North Main Street, for a variance in the size of signs permitted in the business area, was approved.
August 28, 1957-The appeal, by Ralph Swatz, for a variance in the size of signs permitted in the business area to allow the erection of an advertising sign on his golf range on South Main Street, of about three feet by twelve feet (3' x 12'), was approved.
October 23, 1957-The appeal, by the Nelson Tool Co., of 35 Plain St., for a variance to allow an addition to his plant, and to build closer to the lot line than lot size regulation allowed, was approved.
It is the unanimous opinion of the Board of Appeals that the restriction in the size of signs permitted in business areas should be left to the discretion of the Board of Selectmen, rather than re- quire that any variance for same be referred to the Board of Ap- peals, and have requested the Planning Board to enter an article in the Warrant at the Annual Town Meeting to this end.
Respectfully submitted,
H. EDWARD PARRY, Chairman H. KINGMAN BURRILL, Secretary CHARLES A. FREEMAN NORMAN W. ESTABROOKS HORACE SNELL MINOT EDSON EVERETT YOUNG
EXTENSION SERVICE
By Robert B. Ewing, County Agent-Manager
The Plymouth County Extension Service (Trustees, Ply- mouth County Aid to Agriculture ), is located in the Court House, Brockton. In cooperation with the University of Massachusetts
87
and the United States Department of Agriculture, it provides in- formation to Plymouth County citizens dealing with the Home, 4-H Club Work and Agriculture.
Increased requests for information about the Home and Home Grounds have come from the folks who moved into Plymouth County towns from the city. This information has been provided through meetings, news releases, radio, special activities, telephone, letters, etc.
Citizens of this town should realize that this is a service pro- vided by the County, State, and Federal governments and large numbers of people are availing themselves of the opportunity to secure helpful information concerning the Home, Home Grounds, 4-H Club work, and Agriculture. Requests for such information should be directed to the Plymouth County Extension Service, Court House, Brockton, Mass.
Funds for County Aid to Agriculture are derived principally from the County. Some Federal funds are also made available through the University of Massachusetts. Most towns in Ply- mouth County make a token appropriation which is used for the general expenditures of the Plymouth County Extension Service. Town Directors are appointed in those towns where an appropri- ation is made. These Directors are unpaid volunteer leaders who serve as the Extension Service representatives in their respective town.
The Board of Trustees appointed by the Plymouth County Commissioners administers the Extension Service program and is composed of the following members:
Gilbert Blackledge, Whitman, Chairman John Little, Marshfield Mrs. Harold D. Bent, Brockton Paul Lehtola, Bridgewater Robert Bowler, Plymouth Ralph McIlvana, Plympton Mrs. Roy Puddington, Hanson
Mrs. Herbert Wydom, Brockton Maurice Makepeace, Wareham
88
REPORT OF THE BUILDING CODE COMMITTEE
To the residents of the Town of West Bridgewater:
As a result of a growing feeling among many builders in the Town that the Building By-Laws should be revised, it was voted at the Annual Town Meeting in March 1957 that a committee should be appointed to submit a revised Building and Wiring Code and a Plumbing Code to the Town for consideration and/or adoption.
The following were appointed to this committee: Irving L. Steffen, Robert E. MacDonald, Antoine Sousa, Merton H. Ouder- kirk and H. Edw. Parry. At their organizational meeting, H. Edw. Parry was elected Chairman and Merton H. Ouderkirk, Secretary.
The Committee, from the very start, realized that a tremen- dous amount of research would be necessary before the actual drafting of the codes could be undertaken, and, accordingly, gave long and careful examination to the codes of a great many towns in the Commonwealth, also carefully studied the General Laws of the State pertaining to construction and installations, and the regu- lations of the Board of Standards, Department of Public Safety.
The committee, working as a team, have carefully compiled a set of codes that they believe will be of immeasurable value and as- sistance to the Building, Plumbing and Wiring Inspectors of the Town in requiring that all construction, plumbing and wiring will not only comply with the Laws of the Commonwealth governing such construction, but also will insure the health and protection of the citizens of the Town from danger or damage to life and proper- ty insofar as they are affected by those codes.
A public hearing on the proposed codes was held Thursday, January 16, 1958 at the Fire Station. Notice of this hearing was published in the Brockton Daily Enterprise, Tuesday, January 14, 1958, and was displayed, in a block by itself, next to the West
89
Bridgewater news, where it would be sure to be seen and read by the townspeople.
This hearing brought out most of the contracting builders of the Town, together with other interested people, and after a gen- eral and thorough discussion a number of changes were agreed upon. Upon the adoption of the proposed changes, those present declared they were satisfied with the proposed codes and would support them.
The Building Code Committee submitted their proposed codes, as amended, to the Board of Standards, Department of Pub- lic Safety, for their review and suggested amendments before pre- senting same to the voters for their consideration. The code com- mittee was very pleased at the report on the proposed codes re- ceived from the Board of Standards, for, they not only approved the proposed codes, but also commended the committee. We quote in part from their letter of approval: "The Board of Standards wishes to commend the (Building Code) committee for the prepar- ation of a very satisfactory small-town building code."
The proposed codes, as prepared by the Building Code Com- mittee, have the approval and commendation of the Board of Standards, Department of Public Safety, the approval and support of the contracting builders of the Town, and, we sincerely trust, the support and approval of the voters of the Town.
The Building Code Committee therefore recommends that the Town not only accept the report of this committee, but also adopt as By-Laws of the Town the Building, Plumbing and Wiring Codes as hereinafter published.
Respectfully submitted,
H. EDW. PARRY, Chairman IRVING L. STEFFEN ROBERT E. MacDONALD ANTOINE SOUSA MERTON H. OUDERKIRK, Secretary
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BUILDING BY-LAW
ARTICLE 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Title. These By-Laws shall be known and cited as the Building, Plumbing and Wiring Code of the Town of West Bridgewater, Com- monwealth of Massachusetts, and shall be construed to insure public health, safety and the protection of property from accident or fire insofar as they are dependent upon building construction.
Section 2. Conformity Required. No building, structure or part there- of shall hercafter be erected, repaired, moved, added to, demolished, or . changed in type of use or occupancy except in conformity with the provisions of this by-law. Nor shall any plumbing, gas piping, water piping, drainage, heating, wiring or ventilation be installed or altered in any building or struc- ture except in conformity herewith.
Section 3. Demolition or Removal of Building. Whenever a building or structure is removed or demolished, the lot shall, without delay, be leveled to grade by proper sanitary fill, to cover any cellar or foundation hole and any rubble not removed.
Section 4. Grades. The finished grade line of all dwellings and cus- tomary accessory buildings shall not be less than six (6) inches above the highest point in the established grade of adjacent way or ways, nor less than three (3) inches above the established sidewalk line. On Town ways the Select- men shall furnish such lines and grades, without charge, upon application. In such cases as it may appear impractical to the Building Inspector to require compliance, he may, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, grant a variance and establish necessary alternate requirements to safeguard proposed structures from damage by waters from adjacent ways.
Section 5. Height of Buildings. No building of frame construction shall exceed forty (40) feet or three (3) stories in height.
Section 6. Light and Ventilation. Every building or structure herein- after erected or altered to be used for residential purposes shall comply with section 115 of the rules and regulations of the Board of Standards, Depart- ment of Public Safety, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Section 7. Temporary Toilets. During all alterations or building con- struction such temporary toilet facilities shall be provided and maintained in such forms and at such times as may be required by the Building Inspector.
Section 8. Alternate Construction. These By-Laws shall be decmed to present minimum requirements for frame type construction. In the case of other types of construction, the Building Inspector shall make such requirc- ments, in addition to thesc regulations, as may be deemed necessary to the public safety.
Section 9. Laws of Commonwealth. The laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts affecting buildings or structures shall be as fully complied with as if herein written. Except as herein otherwise specified, the minimum requirements under this By-Law shall not be less than the Basic Standards of Building Construction promulgated by the Board of Standards, Department of Public Safety, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Section 10. Zoning Laws and other By-Laws. No provision of the zon- ing law or other legal statute pertaining to the location, use or construction of buildings shall be nullified by the provisions of this code.
Section 11. Definitions. In the interpretation of this code, all words, other than the terms specifically defined under Section 101.0 of the rules and
91
regulations promulgated by the Board of Standards, Department of Public Safety, shall have their ordinarily accepted meanings as implied by the context. or as customarily used in the construction industry.
ARTICLE 2 EXCEPTIONS
The following shall be excepted from the provisions of this By-Law:
Section 1. Buildings owned or occupied by the United States. the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or any County therein.
Section 2. Bridges.
Section 3. Buildings less than eight (8) feet in length or breadth and seven (7) fcct in height, measured to the extremes in all diameters, provided that the location of such building conform with the zoning By-Law.
Section 4. Temporary structures crected for storage or offices during construction operations, provided, however, such structures shall be removed at completion of such operations.
Section 5. ORDINARY REPAIRS, replacements, shingling of roofs and such alterations as do not include or require changes in structural members or supports, means of egress, chimney, pier or foundation that would tend to wcaken the structure, providing, however, that such repairs, replacements or alterations do not violate any provision of this By-Law or of the general law's of the Commonwealth.
Section 6. Farm Buildings. The application of this By-Law to Farm- buildings and other non-residential buildings located more than fifty (50) fect from a dwelling, except garages permitted under the Zoning By-law in residen- tial arcas, shall be left to the discretion of the Building Inspector.
ARTICLE 3 INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS
Section 1. The Board of Selectmen shall annually, following their organi- zational mecting, appoint a Building Inspector who shall hold office for one vear, or until his successor shall take office. His salary or compensation shall be such as the Town may from time to time vote.
Section 2. Qualifications. He shall be a man qualified by thorough training and experience in the supervision or execution of building operations, and shall not be interested, either directly or indirectly, in any building con- tract in the town, or have any interest in the furnishing of materials, labor or plans for the construction or alteration of any building other than his own; provided, however, that he may, with the written approval of the Board of Selectmen, have such an interest if he wholly refrain from acting as Inspector in the given casc. In each such case, the Board of Selectmen shall appoint a disinterested substitute to act therein with all the powers and duties of the regular Inspector; and the compensation paid to such substitute shall be de- ducted from the salary or compensation that would otherwise be paid to the regular Building Inspector. He may be removed from office by the Board of Selectmen, for proper cause, after a public hearing of which at least five (5) days written notice has been given to all interested parties.
Section 3. Assistant Inspectors. When necessary, the Board of Select- men may appoint such Assistant Inspectors as they and the Building Inspector may dcem necessary. No person shall be employed who is not qualified by ex- perience or training to fulfill the duties required by the work involved. The compensation of Assistant Inspectors shall be regulated by the Board of Selectmen unless determined by a vote of the Town.
ARTICLE 4 DUTIES OF THE BUILDING INSPECTOR
Section 1. The Building Inspector shall be charged with the survey and inspection of all buildings and the enforcement of all ordinances relating to
92
the erection, alteration, repair, removal, demolition, or the safety of buildings within the limits of West Bridgewater. He shall pass on questions relating to the strength of structures and materials. He shall examine all plans and ap- plications for permits, inspect all buildings or structures under application to be removed, razed, enlarged, altered or built upon; making his recommenda- tions regarding same, in writing, to the Board of Selectmen, who shall consti- tute the Issuing Authority. The records of the Building Inspector and the Issuing Authority shall be available to and open to public inspection.
Section 2. Inspection. IIc shall inspect all buildings in the course of crection, alteration or repair as often as necessary and for this purpose shall have the right of entry at reasonable hours. He shall require that all workman- ship and all building materials be of good quality, and that the types and methods of construction shall be in accordance with generally accepted stand- ards of engineering practise and not inconsistent with law.
Section 3. Violations. He shall kccp a record of any violation of this By-Law, and shall give immediate written notice of such violation to the party responsible for the proper execution of the work. He shall order and compel the suspension of any work being donc in violation of the provisions of this By-Law and no person shall continue the work, or use any forbidden material in or about any building after the Building Inspector has forbidden in writing the continuance of such work, or the use of said material. Any material used in the erection of the building in violation of the By-Law must be taken down and replaced with material as called for by this By-Law. Such removal and replacement must be approved by the Building Inspector before any additional work may be started.
Section 4. Dangerous Structures. He shall report to the Department of Public Safety any violation of the regulations of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in relation to the construction of buildings, and perform such other duties as may be incumbent upon him under the laws of the State. He shall examine all buildings reported dangerous or damaged by fire or accident, and if it appears to him that such structures would be unsafe or dangerous to life or limb in the case of fire, or otherwise, it shall be deemed dangerous with- in the meaning thereof, and the Building Inspector shall affix in a conspicuous place upon its exterior walls a notice of its dangerous condition, which shall not be removed without authority from him. (G.L. Chp. 143, Section 6, et scq.). Hc shall promptly notify the owner, owners or agent of said building or structure to put such unsafe building, or structure, or portion thereof, in a safe condition or cause same to be razed. The Building Inspector, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, may order any building, which is in his opinion unsafe, or not provided with sufficient means of egress in case of firc, to be vacated forthwith.
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