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 5
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We continue under Inter-Library loan to borrow books for college students and any adult taking special courses. These books are mostly specialized and too expensive for our budget.
In April the staff attended a "Library Weeding Workshop" sponsored by the Massachusetts Division of Library Extension, for small and medium sized libraries, at the Berkley Public Library. A lecture was given on the principles governing the discarding of books at the morning session, and in the afternoon the actual weeding out of the Berkley Library took place. Much helpful in- formation was received.
In November the Old Colony Library Club met at Plymouth. Speakers gave us more information on our early history and where to find it.
The Annual "Book Weeks" were observed with appropriate material on display and many of the new books for both adult and children put in circulation at that time.
Children came from all the town schools in groups during
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"Children's Book Week," because of the crowded facilities of our Library.
This year 175 old and worn books were discarded and many replacements were made of standard books. These replacements are printed on sturdy paper, well bound and in a more readable type.
In the spring the Library purchased a new 50 star flag, replac- ing our old flag. The Library has had the old G.A.R. flag for many years. It was not in any condition to be preserved so the American Legion Post of West Bridgewater kindly disposed of the flag with appropriate ceremonies.
Again this year the K. A. Club made us a present of a sum of money with which we purchased a new typewriter table, with drop leaves, which we have needed for some time.
In the summer a new stove pipe and clean out cover was installed in the heater.
The Library has had several gifts of books on various subjects during the year which are now available on our reference shelves.
We gratefully thank the Trustees for their cooperation and advice, and hope that we can actively carry on our services to our patrons until we will have more adequate room.
Respectfully submitted,
HAZEL C. FLETCHER Librarian
STATISTICS 1960
School Circulation
Elementary Fiction
2265
Elementary Non-Fiction 2329
Total Elementary
4594
Secondary Fiction
2037
Secondary Non-Fiction
1810
Total Secondary
3847
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Total Elementary
4594
Total Secondary
3847
Total School
8441
General Circulation
Adult Fiction
8654
Adult Non-Fiction 2540
Juvenile Fiction
6096
Juvenile Non-Fiction
1858
Magazines
2792
Total
21,940
Books Purchased
Adult
317
Juvenile
141
Total
458
POLICE DEPARTMENT
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I herewith submit the Annual Report of the West Bridge- water Police Department for the year of 1960.
Complaints
1020
Investigations
1180
Investigations other departments
51
Breaking and Entering night time, Larceny
8
Larceny
51
Illegitimacy
1
Arrests Male 116 - Female 12
Breaking and Entering Night Time
4
Assault and Battery
1
Illegitimacy
1
Drunkenness
22
Disturbance
3
1
81
Using car without authority
Operating under the influence
6 9
Operating so as to endanger
14
Operating unregistered
5
Operating uninsured
3
Leaving scene of accident after causing property damage
2
Operating after revocation of license
2
Operating after suspension of license
7
Speeding
39
Failing to slow for intersection
4
Failing to stop on signal of officer
4
Operating with faulty equipment
1
Failing to stop for stop sign
8
Attaching license plates illegally
1
Allowing an improper person to operate
1
Operating with no registration in possession
2
Operating with no inspection sticker
4
Operating with no license
13
Setting fires in the open
3
Burning in the Night time
3
Affray
5
Larceny of Motor Vehicle
5
Violation of probation
1
MISCELLANEOUS
Times in District Court
79
Times in Superior Court
15
Grand Jury
3
Business establishments doors and windows found unlocked
243
Street Lights reported out
128
Summonses served for other departments
86
Fire calls covered by police
47
Fires reported by police
2
Road hazards reported
15
Water leaks reported
15
Wires down
18
Trees down
17
Utility poles down
1
Emergency messages delivered
10
Other messages delivered
33
Missing persons reported
4
82
Missing persons located
Lost child reported
Lost child located
4 4
Runaways located
Gas leak reported
1
Emergency resuscitator calls
5
Emergency truck called by police for lights
4
Assistance to other police departments
57
Assistance to disabled motorists
45
Stolen cars reported
7
Stolen cars recovered
6
Attempted Breaking and Entering
2
Lost articles reported
8
Stolen property recovered (amount)
$8.176.10
Prisoners transferred to Plymouth
6
Prisoners transferred to Youth Service Board
1
Foxboro State Hospital
7
Dogs hit
43
Dogs killed
22
Dogs missing
14
Stray dogs reported
9
Parties bitten by dogs
19
Escorts given
76
Notices posted
4
V. A. Hospital elopee located
1
Attempted suicide
1
Gas leak reported
1
Missing bicycles reported
4
Persons dropped dead from heart conditions
3
Persons injured other than auto accident
56
Persons injured and taken to doctor, other than auto accident
3
Persons injured other than auto accident
and taken to hospital 53
Assist person stricken ill
TRAFFIC REPORT
Accidents
80
Persons injured
82
Persons killed
3
N+
Missing bicycles located
To Boston to pick up prisoner
83
Persons injured taken to hospital Persons injured taken to doctor Accidents, property damage only Hit and run accidents
59
6
35
Auto violations
416
Traffic violations taken to court
96
Traffic violations sent to Registry
269
Violations placed on file
46
Violators warned only
116
TRAFFIC VIOLATION REPORT
Speeding
254
Passing in restricted area
37
Failing to stop for stop sign
36
Failing to slow for intersection
57
Failing to keep to right of road
9
Operating after drinking
67
Drunk
6
Operating under influence
6
Operating so as to endanger
9
Using motor vehicle without authority
4
Failing to stop on signal of an officer
9
Causing excessive noise
8
Operating not being licensed
7
Operating with an expired license
5
No license in possession
17 14
No registration in possession
2
Leaving the scene after causing property damage
3
Racing
8
Giving a false name
1
Operating with no inspection sticker
9
Throwing rubbish on highway
3
Allowing an improper person to operate
7
Operating after suspension
5
Operating after revocation
4 5
Operating uninsured vehicle
Operating unregistered vehicle
7
Operating without lights
3
Towing unregistered vehicle
1
Operating with faulty equipment
14
84
Using vehicle to commit larceny Attaching plates unlawfully Larceny of a vehicle Failing to stop for a school bus
4
1
5
15
TRANSFER OF MOTOR VEHICLES
Motor vehicle transfers
163
Class I 85
Class II 77
Class III
15
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-oper- ation and untiring efforts to make West Bridgewater a safer and better place in which to live.
Respectfully submitted,
DOUGLAS EATON, SR. Chief of Police
BILL OF RIGHTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
The Right of Every Youngster To Leave His Childhood Be- hind. If there's anything a youngster hates, it's to be reminded that he's a child, or was one, only yesterday. Yet it's characteristic of parents to fight against the fact that their children are growing up. There's always conflict. But in these particular times, some teenagers take extreme means to prove that they're grown up, and there we have one cause of juvenile delinquency.
The Right To Have A Say About His Own Life. Some par- ents are determined to decide the lives of their children. Well, young people feel that they want to make that decision. And if too much pressure is brought against them, you can expect trouble.
The Right To Make Mistakes And Find Out For Themselves. The process of growing up has many pitfalls. Children make mis-
85
takes, and sometimes parents laugh at them. There's nothing worse than that to widen the gap between a teenager and his family.
The Right To A Fair Chance And Opportunity. This simply means that if a youngster wants to go to a certain school, there should be no barrier put before him because of race, color or creed. And the same holds true if he wants to get a job. If older people practice discrimination and injustice, young people will follow their example. This leads inevitably to juvenile delinquency.
The Right To Question The Ideas Of Their Elders and ex- pect intelligent explanations.
The Right To Have The Rules Imposed Upon Them Ex- plained and justified, whether it's a ten o'clock curfew or going out with a certain boy or girl.
The Right To Develop A Philosophy Of Life without being expected to follow blindly the way of thinking of the older gen- eration.
The Right To Professional Help, outside the family, when the youngster is stuck for an answer to a problem which may affect his entire life. This can come from a vocational guidance expert, a psychiatrist or a spiritual adviser.
The Right To Have Fun And Companionship. If the parents or the community don't provide an opportunity for that, you can depend upon the teenager to find it in his own way, and some- times the wrong way.
The Right To Be At A Romantic Age. No matter what grownups think about puppy love, it's an important crisis in a young person's life. Handle with understanding and sympathy.
COLLECTOR OF TAXES
Following is a list of unpaid taxes and water rates as of De- cember 31, 1960:
1960 Poll Taxes $ 12.00 1960 Real Estate Taxes 23,228.19
86
1960 Water Liens added to Taxes 1,231.00
1960 Personal Property Taxes 2,858.46
1960 Farm Animal Excise 175.51
1960 Motor Vehicle Excise
8,415.89
1959 Motor Vehicle Excise 70.47
$ 35,991.52
1960 Water Rates
5,433.12
Total Gross Collections 1960
$660,527.65
WALTER C. DUNBAR
Collector of Taxes
VETERAN'S SERVICES DEPARTMENT
I respectfully submit the following report of my second year as Veteran's Agent. During 1960, 39 veterans were assisted; on December 31, 1960, ten veterans were receiving assistance on a permanent basis. Although nine more veterans were assisted during the year, the number of permanent cases remained the same. Two new permanent cases were acquired during the year, but two others were dropped for various reasons.
On July 1, 1960 a total of $8,999.00 had been expended for assistance. Had an equal amount been expended during the last six months this department would have been forced to ask the town for an additional $2,000.00. Fortunately only $6,181.02 was expended since July 1, bringing the total to $15,180.02, which is $819.98 less than the sum appropriated. Reasons for the decrease in rate of expenditure: (1) most requests for temporary assistance occurred during the first months of the year; (2) during 1960 prac- tically all large hospital bills were paid during the first six months.
This department is returning to Revenue the unexpended $248.43 in the equipment account. Plans originally called for the purchase of a $300 fireproof file and removal of the department to the second floor of the Town Hall. For reasons of space and con-
87
venience this plan was abandoned. A new portable file was pur- chased instead, and your Veteran's Agent is using desk spacc and equipment belonging to other departments. Until such time as new office space is found this arrangement seems to be the best possible. The overcrowding and lack of privacy in our town offices is not widely understood by the voters.
The sum of $1436.61 was returned to the Town Treasurer by this department during 1960 as a result of the discharge of lien on real estate belonging to a former recipient of veteran's benefits. One half of this will revert to the State.
ROGER H. BURRILL
Veteran's Agent
STREET LIGHTING COMMITTEE
After a physical survey and careful study, the following street lighting improvements are recommended by the lighting com- mittee:
Description
Net Yearly Cost
North Elm Street - Move 1000 lumen light from pole #1/49 to 1/50, one stretch southerly. no charge
Sunset Avenue - Install 1000 lumen light on pole #34/3 (near school). $17.00
Progressive Avenue - (corner of Highland Ave.) Install 1000 lumen light on new pole. $17.00
South Elm Street - Install 1000 lumen lights on poles #9/18, #9/21, #9/25. $51.00
Howard Street - Change present 2500 lumen lights on poles #7/15 and 16 to the 7700 lumen mer- cury lights (near school). 60.00
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Belmont Street -- Install 1000 lumen light on pole #14/4. $17.00
Total
$162.00
Respectfully submitted, FRANCIS CHEYUNSKI JOSEPH A. SALHANEY
WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL COMMITTEE
In submitting this report to the voters of West Bridgewater, we, the Committee, wish to apologize for the delay in setting in motion the plans for a suitable memorial to the Veterans of World War II.
Due to the many and varied suggestions that were proposed to the committee since its appointment, and the fact that so many of our townspeople were vitally concerned with the results of any plans suggested by this committee, we felt it necessary not to plan too lightly, or to act too hastily in planning a fitting mem- orial.
The Committee has finally decided to present the following suggestion:
A large field stone boulder which would be set up in a suitable location in War Memorial Park. The face of this boulder would be polished, and a suitably inscribed bronze plaque mounted thereon.
A suitable boulder is now in possession of the Town. At a relatively low cost, this boulder could be moved to the park, mount- ed on a cement base, and with the bronze plaque in place, be a suitable and fitting memorial to those Veterans that served in the armed forces of our Country during World War II.
Let us recall the words of Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg address when he said, "The world will little note, nor long remem-
89
ber, what we do here, but it can never forget what they did herc. It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfin- ished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced."
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM R. BROWN ROYAL K. SNELL CURTIS E. CARRIGAN
DOG OFFICER
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The past 3 years, I have been having a problem with dogs being abandoned by people along the new highway. These dogs mostly are old dogs, or sick dogs. They are left by the road by out-of-towners, and there isn't much to be done about it except pick them up.
The other problem is dog tags. They are made of soft metal with a steel clip to go on the collar. The tag wears off in a short time on any dog that is running a lot. Maybe some day the higher- ups will come up with the idea that a steel eyelet pressed into the soft metal tag would keep the tag on a dog all year, and cut the number of strays, thereby saving the town's money paid out for stray dogs.
If people think anything of their pets - and most people do - I would appreciate it if they went to the Town Clerk and got a new tag when losing their tags.
All dogs that we have on record are licensed this year. Those that are not, should be licensed to avoid action being taken against them if I find that they are not licensed.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN L. DOWNS, JR. Dog Officer
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SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
SEALED
Scales under 100 lbs.
25
Scales over 100 lbs. 6
Gasoline pumps
35
Weights
27
Oil Trucks
2
Package reweighing
97
WARREN A. TURNER
Sealer
SPRING STREET SCHOOL ENCLOSURE COMMITTEE
To the Honorable Selectmen:
The Committee for the Spring Street Elementary School "A to C Block enclosure" awarded the general contract for work, to T. F. Crowell and Sons on July 11, 1960.
Except for minor details, the work was completed before the September school opening.
The School Committee voted to accept the enclosure at its October 11th meeting. Final payments were made to contractor and architect on December 1st, leaving a balance of $96.15 from the $6300.00 appropriation.
We hereby request that this Committee continue, in order that we may ask the voters' approval, at the Annual Town Meeting, to expend aforementioned balance for a "Black Top Apron" out- side the doorway of this enclosure, facing the playground, to lessen the amount of detrimental tracking.
Respectfully submitted,
DORIS C. CALITRI, Chairman HOWARD M. HAYWARD IRA E. STUART
91
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
The Industrial Development Commission looks hopefully ahead to 1961 after reviewing the accelerated activities at year-end 1960. A summarization of the highlights of our activity indicate the versatility of your commission.
A comprehensive zoning map was prepared for an industrial seminar held in New York City by our Governor and the Massa- chusetts Department of Commerce. This map contained pertinent information about West Bridgewater as well as displaying our com- mercial and industrial zoning.
The Commission inaugurated and did considerable fieldwork and negotiation for the extension of Interstate Route 495 to serv- ice the Greater Brockton area. Our presentation of the project to a meeting of the Brockton Chamber of Commerce Industrial Com- mittee has been most fruitful as they have assumed leadership in the Brockton area for this very necessary east-west highway link for future development of the region.
We cooperated with the Harvard Planning Study Group who formulated master plans and designs for future growth of all Brockton area towns. Their projections afforded us a unique per- spective of the possible future West Bridgewater.
The Commission members attended a Cerel-Perini Indus- trial Plant open house in Natick; Seminars held by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce; Massachusetts Department of Commerce Seminar in Stoughton; a Home National Bank spon- sored Brockton Chamber of Commerce area development planning session in Brockton.
We assisted in the arrangements for locating Congressman Keith in offices in the upper town hall.
We attended Board of Appeals hearings concerning location of business in certain areas requiring variances.
The Commission worked assiduously against allowing a go- cart racing area in one of our prime industrial sites. The spontan- eous uprising of the neighborhood was a deciding factor in refusal of the Board of Selectmen to allow this use in the area.
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Several complete site plans of prime industrial sites within the industrial zones have been prepared by your Commission at a fraction of the normal cost to the town. These plans have met with enthusiastic response by prospective clients looking for in- dustrial locations in West Bridgewater.
The Commission has designed and purchased a new letterhead which calls attention to our location on Route 24, our industrial zones, and several key industrial sites. This design is an attempt to be unique and outstanding among thousands of highly com- petitive industrial development groups all over the country.
Our most involved effort was the erection of two large signs on the Fall River Expressway calling attention to our most prom- ising industrial resource - land zoned for industrial use. The Com- mission saved considerable money for the taxpayers by buying the material and constructing and erecting the two signs them- selves. The lettering was done by a professional sign painter.
We have met with five of the large land owners in the indus- trial zones to help promote the best interests of the West Bridge- water of the future by better understanding of each other's points of view.
There have been four industrial developers of varying capac- ities who have been taken on field trips and with whom we have been working to help produce logical sensible development of the land resources of the town.
We have contacted five nationally prominent firms who have indicated their desire to find sites in this general area. After careful observation of these firms it is our opinion that they are still more desirous of paying the heavy premiums to locate on the Route 128 complex which has been given nation-wide prominence in trade and development circles. Time, the saturation of existing sites, and the ultimate watering-down of the labor pool in those areas are factors which eventually will favor our location. Meanwhile our continued activity and growing experience will serve us well when the tide turns in our direction.
There are five small local companies from the Brockton area with whom we have laid considerable ground work for relocation. Of these five, Hilltop Candy Co. has after a limited variance located
93
in the old church building on Sunset Avenue. The other companies to date have not moved to new locations.
Rustrac Engineering, Inc. industrial developers, have an ex- clusive promotion of the land area of Joseph Spadea. They arc cal- ling this acreage the Route 24 Industrial Park and are proceeding to plan and promote the site as a first-class industrial park. We have exchanged ideas with these developers and find them alert and efficient. In our preliminary opinion they will do much to channel desirable clients to the West Bridgewater industrial community.
As the year ended we were confronted with five so-called "hot leads" which your Commission tackled immediately with considerable promise. One is presently purchasing land upon which to build a plant off Pleasant Street. Another is negotiating with a land owner to purchase land. A third shows considerable interest in the new Route 24 Industrial Park. The Commission is presently preparing data for the remaining two, who are larger and more complex and will require our utmost effort.
We are proud of our past efforts and confidently look ahead to a new year of activity during which we will patiently and intel- ligently present the Town of West Bridgewater to the best of an ever increasing list of relocating industries.
Respectfully submitted,
Advisory Committee Leon F. Beaulieu
William W. Phillips
Edward D. Cross
Ronald Brodrick
Charles A. Freeman
Industrial Development Comm. Merton H. Ouderkirk, Chairman
Herbert G. Gordon, Secretary
George V. Hollertz, Jr.
Frank S. Miller
Francis LeBaron
TREE WARDEN
I hereby submit my annual report for the year 1960 as Tree Warden.
The Town Tree Nursery, started in 1953, at one end of the Town Forest, is now in complete operation. It contains approxi-
94
mately 500 shade trees consisting of Norway Maples, Sugar Maples, Thornless Locusts, Crimson King Maples, Flowering Crabapples, Dogwoods, Lindens, Pines, Oaks, Sycamores and Mountain Ash. From this basic supply, the department can re- plant our town's roadside, replacing trees removed each year and planting where there are no trees at all, such as in front of newly built homes. Each year the trees taken from the nursery must be replaced by saplings which, by careful cultivation, pruning and fertilizing, are ready in two to five years for roadside planting. During the past year, seventy-eight shade trees were planted and staked throughout the town.
Fertilizing of town trees by the generator and power drill still continues each year, using a complete commercial fertilizer. The trees cared for first are ones warranting it the most, specifically those showing a lack of vital nutrients.
In September, Hurricane Donna hit West Bridgewater with all her fury. From the lessons of the hurricanes of 1954, we were ready for her and at 9:30 P.M. of that day, all streets of the town were passable. The number of trees blown over completely was much smaller than in 1954. Because of being weakened by previous storms, many trees were stripped of their limbs and thousands more had broken limbs. About 450 town trees were lost and many more must be removed because of their danger to the public. Some of the added work brought on by the storm will not be completed until the end of 1961, as many broken limbs will have to be pruned and others bolted and cabled in an effort to save the trees. I would like to express my sincere thanks to all other town departments who pitched in and cooperated in cleaning up from Hurricane Donna. We can feel proud that there is such close cooperation between our town's many departments.
The mechanical equipment of the department consists of one two-man saw, two one-man saws, one portable generator with power drill and floodlights for emergency work, one 1956 plat- form truck which is also used by the Highway Department in its snow plow work, and a 1950 pick-up truck which is equipped for emergency work at all times. I am requesting that the pick-up truck be traded in at the annual meeting in 1961.
Brush-cutting was done along many roadsides both for road-
95
side appearance and to allow motorists a better view. Many blind corners were cleared. Where possible, roadsides were sprayed with 2-4-5T to kill the brush completely and stop resprouting.
The department removed eighty-six trees, other than hurri- cane losses, because of public hazard, disease or from complete death of the tree. Sixty-three of the trees removed were diseased elms having succumbed to the Dutch Elm Disease. Cavity work was done on twenty-three trees, some of this work being done on trees hit by automobiles.
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