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 1960-1963 > Part 15
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Twenty-three applications for subdivision of land, facing on approved Town Roads, were received and approved for recording at Plymouth. Four preliminary plans, for subdivision of land requir- ing the establishing of new roads to service the subdivisions, were received, reviewed, and the applicants were advised of such changes as were needed to meet the minimum requirements for approval. All applications for removal of soil, sand or gravel were referred to a joint committee, consisting of members of both the Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen, who, after a careful inspection of the area designated in the application, submitted a written report to the Board of Selectmen, giving the recommendations of the inspection committee to the issuing authority.
After a Public Hearing the Planning Board adopted higher minimum street and sidewalk requirements within subdivisions. The minimum width of street right of way is now fifty (50) feet and shall include type I, blacktop sidewalks on both sides of the street of not less than four and one-half (41/2) feet. The paved surface of the street shall be thirty-four (34) feet in width and finished with type I blacktop.
The Board arranged for interested members to attend a Semi- nar for Planning Boards, sponsored by the Bureau of Government Research, University of Massachusetts, held in Middleboro, on April 18th and 25th, and May 2nd and 9th.
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In its recommendations to the Board of Selectmen, the Board recommended a more realistic charge for all permits, that they would come nearer to the actual cost to the Town.
Much time, thought and research has been given by the Board to future needs of the Town in long range planning for the best interests of the Town, and accordingly have entered several arti- cles in the Warrant including Sidewalk construction, the services of a Civil Engineer on a per diem (day) basis, amendments to the Zoning By-Law to establish regulations for business and industrial districts, together with an article, by petition, to change the Trailer By-Law.
Respectfully submitted,
H. EDWARD PARRY, Chairman RUSSELL P. ROBERY MERTON H. OUDERKIRK FRANK S. MILLER
Planning Board
STREET LIGHTING COMMITTEE
The Street Lighting Committee recommends the following:
The installation of a new 2500 watt light at the Spring Street Elementary School.
Change the light at the corner of West Center Street and Prospect Street to a Mercury light.
Install a 250 watt light on Walnut Street.
Install a 250 watt light in front of the Imperial Woodworking Co. on Pleasant Street.
Install two, 250 watt lights near the Harvey property on South Street.
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In an emergency move the Street Lighting Committee recom- mended Mercury lights in front of the High School on Howard Street. Also, changed the light in back of the school to a higher watt. Installed a new 2500 watt light in the Spring Street School yard. Also, one 250 watt light on Highland Ave.
The recommendation was approved by the Selectmen and completed.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH SALHANEY LESTER REYNOLDS FRANCIS CHEYUNSKI Street Lighting Committee
LIBRARY BUILDING COMMITTEE
The $50,000 voted by the town to build a new town library, based on the estimate of the architects, proved to be inadequate when the bids were opened. We needed approximately $18,000 more. This expenditure was approved by the townspeople at a special town meeting, September 14, 1961.
Within the next ten days a contract was signed by this com- mittee and the general contractor, George Marshall & Sons of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and work was started on the new library.
The building is progressing most satisfactorily and if nothing unforeseen occurs, we should be able to occupy it earlier than anticipated.
Respectfully submitted,
KENNETH L. BUKER, Chairman GEORGE HOLLERTZ WARREN ANDERSON Library Building Committee
77 POLICE DEPARTMENT
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I herewith submit the Annual Report of the West Bridge- water Police Department for the year 1961.
Complaints
1112
Investigations
1853
Investigations other departments
127
Breaking and Entering night time, Larceny
11
Larceny
27
Illegitimacy
2
Arrests Male 170 - Female 3
Breaking and Entering Night Time
3
Assault and Battery
1
Illegitimacy
2
Larceny of Motor Vehicle
3
Larceny
6
Drunkenness
23
Affray
3
Attaching license plates illegally
4
Operating under the influence
10
Operating so as to endanger
9
Operating unregistered
4
Operating uninsured
4
Operating after suspension of license
5
Speeding
35
Failing to Slow
3
Using car without Authority
1
Operating after revocation of license
1
Operating Reckless
3
Failing to stop at stop sign
7
Operating with no registration in possession
3
Operating no inspection sticker
2
Operating no license
3
MISCELLANEOUS
Times in District Court
144
78
Times in Superior Court
16
Grand Jury
6
Business establishments doors and windows found open
224
Street lights reported out
137
Summonses served for other departments
91
Fire calls covered by police
26
Fires reported by police
6
Road hazards reported
20
Water leaks reported
6
Gas leaks reported
1
Wires down
5
Utility poles down
1
Emergency messages delivered
5
Other messages delivered
55
Missing persons reported
4
Missing persons located
4
Runaways reported and located
4
Emergency call
67
Assistance to other departments accidents
17
Assistance to other departments
127
Assistance to disabled motorist
56
Stolen cars reported
5
Stolen cars recovered
6
Attempted Breaking and Entering
2
Stolen property recovered
$17,773.10
Prisoners transferred to Plymouth
2
Foxboro State Hospital
4
Dogs hit
25
Dogs killed or injured
33
Dogs missing
14
Stray dogs reported
11
Persons bitten by dogs
5
Escorts given
13
Bank Alarms
19
V.A. Hospital elopee located
2
Attempted suicide
1
Missing bicycles reported
3
Missing bicycles recovered
2
Persons dropped dead from heart conditions
4
Persons injured other than auto accidents
47
79
Persons injured and taken to doctor, other than auto accident 4
Persons injured other than auto accidents taken to hospital
43
Suicide
1
TRAFFIC REPORT
Accidents
92
Persons injured taken to hospital
62
Persons killed
2
Persons injured taken to doctor
5
Accidents, property damage only
51
Hit and run accidents
9
Auto violations
421
Auto violations taken to court
121
Auto violations sent to Registry
229
Auto violations placed on file
60
Auto violators warned only
11
TRANSFERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES
Motor Vehicle Transfers
463
Class 1
202
Class 2
261
Class 3
4
I sincerely express my thanks and appreciation to the Select- men and all other departments for their invaluable assistance in helping us to carry out our duties.
To the members of the department, thanks for your co-opera- tion and untiring efforts to make West Bridgewater a safer and better place in which to live.
Respectfully submitted,
DOUGLAS EATON, SR. Chief of Police
VETERANS' SERVICE DEPARTMENT
I submit herewith my report for my third year as Veterans' Agent. During 1961 24 cases involving 58 recipients were given
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financial assistance totalling approximately $12,650.00. Of these cases twelve were considered permanent on December 31, 1961.
The amount of financial assistance rendered dropped some- what from previous years. One permanent case was transferred to another city because the recipient had gained a settlement in that city. Five years' continuous residence in one city or town is considered a settlement. In some cases the recipient of benefits from this department resides in another community but the settle- ment, or last five-year period of continuous residence, still remains in West Bridgewater. On the other side of the problem there very likely are certain recipients of veterans' benefits from other cities or towns who, while residing in West Bridgewater at present, still hold their settlement out of town. Over the years such cases could become West Bridgewater cases by such a change of settlement.
Substantial hospital bills paid by this department were less this year than formerly. This is entirely a matter of chance; without warning 1962 could reverse this situation. Also, this department is not maintaining any recipients in nursing homes at this time; a per- manent case residing in a nursing home would constitute a greatly increased expense to the town.
Your Veterans' Agent, with the assistance of members of Post 66, American Legion, is maintaining a program of marking all veterans' graves in town cemeteries with suitable bronze markers. In 1961 $100 was allowed by the Selectmen for the purchase of markers. A similar amount is requested for 1962. The markers are left at the graves throughout the year, but on Memorial Day serve as holders for American Flags supplied by the Town. Some of our cemeteries receive many new veterans' graves each year; these graves must be located and suitably marked, in addition to the regular headstone.
This department is still operating without office space or desk space with resultant lack of privacy which on occasion proves embarrassing to certain veterans inquiring about their rights and privileges.
ROGER H. BURRILL
Veterans' Agent
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EXTENSION SERVICE
By Robert B. Ewing, County Agent-Manager
The Cooperative Agricultural Extension Service was estab- lished in 1914, when Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act. The question heard so many times since then is "What is the Extension Service, and what does it do?"
The answer to that question is clearly defined in the Act passed by Congress which states, in part, that the Extension Service shall - "aid in diffusing among the people of the United States useful and practical information on subjects relating to Agricul- ture and Home Economics, and to encourage the application of the same."
Each year agreements are written between the United States Department of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts and Ply- mouth County. The Federal, State and County governments co- operate in furnishing this service to the citizens of Plymouth County. Thus the name "Cooperative" Extension Service. Since the Plymouth County Extension Service was organized and estab- lished in 1915, information pertaining to Agriculture, Home Eco- nomics education, 4-H Club Work, has been given free to all citi- zens of Plymouth County. The Extension Service has always been known as the "educational arm" of the United States Department of Agriculture.
The Extension Service office is located in the Court House, Brockton and is staffed by agents who conduct programs in Agri- culture, Home Economics and 4-H Club Work by furnishing edu- cational information through farm and home visits, letters, news- paper articles, radio talks, meetings, office visits. The basic job of the Extension Service has always been the same and that is "to aid in diffusing among the people of Plymouth County, useful and practical information on subjects relating to Agriculture and Home Economics."
Funds for conducting the Plymouth County Extension Serv- ice are derived from three sources: Federal, State and County Governments. Along with these funds, most towns in Plymouth County make an annual appropriation which is used for the gen-
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eral expenditures of the Plymouth County Extension Service. Town Directors are appointed in those towns where an appropri- ation is made. These Town Directors are unpaid volunteer lead- ers who serve as the Extension Service representative in their respective towns.
For the commercial and part-time farmers, information is available in the following: agronomy, farm management, insect and disease control, marketing, production, rodent control and weed control.
For the home owners information is available in the follow- ing: Growing Vegetables, Flowers and Shrubs: insect and disease control: also information on lawns and household insects.
For the housewife and homemaker information and programs are available in the following subjects: Consumer education, home management, homemaking skills, and leadership development.
4-H Club Work is a youth program and is available to any boy or girl between the ages of 10 and 21. These young people are organized in agricultural and home economics clubs of all kinds.
Requests for information in agriculture, home economics or 4-H Club Work should be directed to the Plymouth County Ex- tension Service, Court House, Brockton.
While the Extension Service furnishes information, it is up to the individual who receives this information to make the deci- sion as to how it can be used to the best advantage.
Many Plymouth County citizens avail themselves of the op- portunity each year to secure this free help and information per- taining to the home, home grounds, 4-H Club Work and agricul- ture. As the Extension Service is supported by the Federal, State and County governments, all citizens should make full use of their Extension Service.
The Board of Trustees, appointed by the Plymouth County Commissioners, administer the Plymouth County Extension Serv- ice programs. It is composed of the following members:
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Gilbert Blackledge, Whitman, Chairman
Mrs. Harold D. Bent, Brockton Louis Billings, Plympton Mrs. Mabel Chandler, Duxbury Mrs. Gladys Gibbs, Hanover Robert Hammond, Wareham John Howe, West Bridgewater John W. Little, Marshfield John Prentice, Plymouth
SPRINKLER SYSTEM COMMITTEE
Our committee was originally authorized to study the need for adequate fire protection for our Sunset Avenue School. As a result of our findings, we were authorized by Article 12 of the warrant, voted on March 13, 1961, to install a sprinkler system at the forementioned school.
Bids were advertised as prescribed by law. On July 20, 1961, the contract was duly awarded to the lowest bidder, the Grinnell Company, Inc. Upon completion of the installation, the necessary inspections were made and approved.
The Sprinkler System was then connected to the Fire Station by certain members of the Fire Department at a substantial sav- ings to the town. This tie-in permits the Fire Department to receive a simultaneous alarm. It is our opinion that it would be very advantageous to tie-in the alarms at the High School and the Spring Street School to the fire station, too. This could be done at a very nominal cost.
After all expenditures have been paid, this committee is pleased to report a surplus of $137.59 which has been returned to the Town Treasurer.
The committee wishes to acknowledge the cooperation and assistance of the Water Department, Highway Department, For-
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estry Department, members of the School Department and Mr. Raymond White of the Brockton Fire Department.
Respectfully submitted, EDWIN T. GIBSON, Chairman MALCOLM A. MACLEAN JOHN S. NELSON
CIVIL DEFENSE REPORT, 1961
I respectfully submit the Civil Defense Report for the year 1961.
This office has been more active during the past year than for some time past, for reasons familiar to all newspaper-readers.
The town's Civil Defense office has been developing a form of organization which will enable Town officers and volunteers to coordinate their efforts in a practical manner. The framework which has been established is as follows:
Governing Body, Selectmen, and Area 2 CD Director Lou Saba; Local CD Office, Director, and Co-Director; Sections Utiliz- ing Towr Offices: Legal Section, Town Attorney; Water, E. Asack, W. Nickerson; Fire & Rescue, A. Sousa, E. Gibson; Wel- fare, Mrs. A. Dean; Public Health, Town Board of Health; Police and Manpower, Chief Eaton and Sergeant Lothrop; Engineering, H. Berglund, T. MacQuinn; Schools, Bert Merrill, T. Graffte, H. Bent, R. Chapman; Sections Utilizing Volunteer Assistance: Agri- culture, Howard Hayward; Medical, Panel composed of all pro- fessional persons in the Town, and Nursing Corps under Mrs. K. Buker; Communications, Richard Packard; Radiological, David Harvey, M. Ouderkirk, and E. Keeler; Transportation, Thomas Kemp; Supply, G. Hollertz, R. Hartshorn; Public Information and Intelligence, Mrs. John MacDonald, John Eldridge, Roger Burrill, K. Buker; Wardens, Charles Anderson; Federal Shelter Survey Coordinator, M. Ouderkirk.
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The above schedule represents largely a skeleton; a number of persons have yet to be brought in as staff for the several branches of the Civil Defense effort.
Indoctrination of these townspeople into the full aspect of their duties and responsibilities is going forward. When the whole plan has been thoroughly worked out to the full understanding and satisfaction of all concerned in the work, and when all sections have been fully staffed, a report will be made to the Town, in the form of a public meeting. When the final working-out of this organization has been completed, Town funds (already earmarked) will be expended for necessary equipment.
During the year under review, the Selectmen and Civil De- fense Director attended a number of meetings, in Boston and in nearby towns, for the discussion of Civil Defense problems. In Oc- tober, the Area 2 Director, Mr. Lou Saba, addressed the Spring Street PTA in an interesting talk on Civil Defense.
During the past few months, the over-all Civil Defense policy of the Nation and the Commonwealth underwent a change. Origi- nally it called for a massive evacuation of communities; currently all stress is being laid on shelters rather than removal. West Bridge- water's earlier expectancy of harboring the populations of Avon and Randolph, as mentioned in last year's Report, has disappeared, it seems. One phase of the current plan calls for a survey by Federal-trained engineers of all large public or private buildings in each community, to determine those big enough and strong enough to house 50 or more persons. The survey will be followed by stock- ing at Federal expense of such buildings, or of such buildings as can be made satisfactory at local expense, with food and certain equipment.
Federal pamphlets on shelters have been made available at the Town Hall, the Fire and Police building, and the Post Office for all interested persons. (The response has not been active.) While the Town authorities have decided that building permits, at no cost, are required for construction of shelters, very few have been requested. For people who wish to learn more about shelter-build-
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ing and available types of supplies and equipment offered on the market, the Civil Defense office has a full folder of commercial information from various manufacturers.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES S. MILLET Director of Civil Defense
VISITING NURSE
REPORT OF NURSING SERVICES FOR WEST BRIDGEWATER, 1961
Non-Communicable Visits
507
Adult Health Visits
30
Newborn Visits
60
Postnatal Visits
60
Prenatal Visits
3
Full Pay Visits
36 Patients
Part Pay Visits
16 Patients
Old Age Assistance
9 Patients
Total Visits 660
There were 12 children from West Bridgewater examined at the Well-Child Conferences.
Respectfully submitted,
M. FRANCES WELCH, R.N.
Visiting Nurse
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND Superintendent of Schools OF THE TOWN OF
WEST BRIDGEWATER
MASS.
6/656
COR
PULPIT ROCK
FEB. 16. 1822.
RPORATED
FOR THE YEAR 1961
88
MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATION OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE 1951 - 1962
Thomas Kemp, Chairman, East Street JU 3-7461
Term expires 1964
Erland Thayer, 16 Union Street Term expires 1964
JU 3-1402
Scovel Carlson, East Street JU 7-0312
Term expires 1962
George Noonan, Crescent Street JU 6-1971
Term expires 1962
Norman Churchill, East Street JU 6-0610
Term expires 1963
Leon Beaulieu, East Street
JU 7-2038
Term expires 1963
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Second Monday evening of each month at 7:45 P.M. in the High School.
SUPERINTENDENT
Bert L. Merrill
Office: High School JU 6-5094
Residence: 277 Spring Street, West Bridgewater JU 6-4428
Conference by appointment
SECRETARY
Mae E. Mather, 88 Bedford St., West Bridgewater JU 7-1310 Office hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Dr. Joseph Calitri, 17 Central Sq., West Bridgewater JU 7-0678
SCHOOL NURSE
E. Myrtle Howard, 272 River St., West Bridgewater JU 3-4302
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ATTENDANCE OFFICER Douglas Eaton, Prospect Street, West Bridgewater JU 6-9191
DENTAL HYGIENIST
Dorothy Soule, 510 Ash Street, Brockton JU 6-4917
WEST BRIDGEWATER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SCHOOL CALENDAR 1961-1962
Schools open Wednesday September 6, 1961
Thanksgiving recess:
Schools close Wednesday noon
November 22, 1961
Schools reopen Monday
November 27, 1961
Christmas vacation:
Schools close Friday
December 22, 1961
Schools reopen Tuesday
January 2, 1962
Winter vacation:
Schools close Friday
February 16, 1962
Schools reopen Monday
February 26, 1962
Spring vacation: Schools close Friday
April 13, 1962
Schools reopen Monday
April 23, 1962
Schools close Friday
June 22, 1962
HOLIDAYS
Columbus Day, Thursday
October 12, 1961
Plymouth County Teachers' Convention, Friday
October 20, 1961
Memorial Day, Wednesday
May 30, 1962
NO SCHOOL INFORMATION
The policy of the school department is to hold school on stormy days. The decision as to whether or not a child should attend school will be left to the discretion of the parent. In ex- tremely bad weather when it is deemed wise to have no school, such notice will be broadcast over WBET, Brockton, between 7
90
and 8 A.M. and between 11 and 12 noon, and over WBZ, Boston, between 7 and 8 A.M.
Fire alarm signals will be as follows:
1 long - 2 short blasts of the fire alarm at 7 A.M., no school grades 7 - 12 inclusive all day.
1 long - 2 short blasts of the fire alarm at 7:15 A.M., no school for grades 1 - 6 inclusive all day.
1 long - 2 short blasts of the fire alarm at 11 A.M., no school for grades 1 - 6 inclusive in the afternoon.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
1961 Spent
1. Administration
1961 Budget 12,634.00
12,375.28
2. Instruction
Salaries
302,534.00
296,929.90
Supplies
15,210.00
12,583.76
Textbooks
3,300.00
3,276.07
T.V. Classroom Education
375.00
289.75
Contingencies
200.00
136.56
Field Trips
650.00
389.00
3. Operation
Salaries
24,775.00
24,381.36
Rubbish Removal
500.00
500.00
Fuel
8,000.00
8,267.31
Electricity
7,000.00
7,817.32
Water
400.00
347.44
Gas
800.00
899.03
Supplies
3,800.00
3,720.86
4. Maintenance
8,025.00
6,587.89
5. Auxiliary Agencies
Health
6,737.00
6,607.88
O.C.A.M.H.
600.00
521.55
Transportation
18,500.00
19,135.73
Tuition
3,500.00
5,003.09
Insurance
200.00
223.36
Miscellaneous
100.00
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6. Capital Outlay
4,919.00
4,082.57
TOTALS
422,759.00
414,075.71
REIMBURSEMENTS 1961:
Chapter 70
46,486.59
Superintendent's Salary
2,488.89
Transportation
12,358.76
Household Arts
3,514.80
Transportation Vocational
287.70
Tuition Vocational
1,074.36
Tuition & Trans. State Wards
1,998.91
Education of Physically and Mentally Handicapped
4,249.85
Tuition of Educational Therapy Pupils
2,940.00
National Defense Ed. Act
1,500.00
Public Law 874
7,405.00
Total
84,304.86
Net Operation Cost for 1961
329,770.85
SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP - OCTOBER 1, 1961
Elementary
1
2
3
4
5
6
Total
Sunset Avenue
34
34
28
30
126
Spring Street
95
95
87
64
111
452
Junior High
106
106
Special Class
13
13
High
7
8
9
10
11
12
High School
93
104
114
88
70
61
530
Total enrollment elementary and high school
1227
CENSUS REPORT
5 years of age or over and under 7
7 years of age or over and under 16
Boys
137
521
Girls
113
512
Totals
250
1,033
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of West Bridgewater:
At the annual Town Election Mr. Thomas Kemp and Mr. Erland Thayer were re-elected to the School Committee. The organizational meeting of the School Committee was held April 10, 1961. At that time Mr. Thomas Kemp was elected chairman and Mr. Bert Merrill was elected secretary. Mr. Erland Thayer and Mr. Norman Churchill were elected to serve with Mr. Kemp on the Raynham-West Bridgewater Union Committee for the en- suing year.
The matter of dissolution of School Superintendency Union No. 45 with Raynham was discussed. The committee voted to instruct West Bridgewater members of the Union Committee to vote for dissolution of Union No. 45 at the next annual meeting of the Union Committee. The same to become effective August 15, 1962.
The committee has periodically revised its salary policy in order to pay its teachers salaries consistent with those paid in communities of like size and valuation. This has enabled us to retain and attract well-qualified teachers.
We are pleased to report that Rich Brothers Construction Company has accomplished much so far, repairing roof leaks and caulking joints between durasol planking thus preventing contin- ual dropping of mastic compound. They will continue until the work is satisfactorily completed. The completion date by agree- ment is June 1962.
The Selectmen have been requested to allow the committee to acquire the old library building after the new building is com- pleted. It would be moved from its present location to an area adjacent to the new athletic field and used primarily for storage of athletic supplies and equipment.
Your committee has been advised of the forthcoming retire- ment of Superintendent Merrill effective August 1962. He will have
93
served the system for twelve years upon his retirement and it is with regret that we bring this to the attention of all whom he has so well served.
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