USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1946-1950 > Part 18
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353,613.80
Motor Vehicle and
Trailer Excise : Levy of 1946 $ 373,05
Levy of 1947 1,243.55
1,616.60
Special Assessments : Unapportioned Sewers Added to Taxes 1947 $ 144.15 Committed
Interest 9.02
153.17
Liabilities and Reserves
Payroll Deductions for Feder- al Taxes $
144.41
Unpaid Warrant 10.15
State Parks and Reservations Assessment 544.78
State Municipal Auditing As- sessment ยท 693.04
County Tax
17,663.05
County Tuberculosis Hospital Assessment 60.51
Dog Licenses-Due County 366.00
Payroll Deductions for Retire- ment Fund 485.36
Sale of Real Estate Fund
20,050.00
Tax Sale Surplus 51.40
Road Machinery Fund
2,177.69
Trust Fund Income : Phelon Library Fund $ 33.43
Old Cemetery
168
169
Tax Titles $ 1,778.85 Tax Possessions 98,153.72
Fund 76.48
Maple Grove Cemetery Fund 45.01
99,932.57
Departmental :
Sewer $ 43.00
Highway
83.00
Old Age
Assistance
Cities and Towns 44.34
170.34
State Aid
to Highways $ 2,393.31
County Aid
to Highways
1,196.67
3,589.98
Water:
Rates $ 6,508.22
Miscellaneous 1,660.30
8,168.52
Estimated Receipts to be Collected
65,621.07
Committee 300.00
Fire Equipment 10,500.00
Sewer
Construction 47,179.39
Sewer
Venturi House
2,160.00
154.92 5.02
Tailings Federal Grants : Aid to Dependent Children : Aid $ 331.81
Administration 268.81
Old Age Assistance: Assistance 4,245.20
Administration 317.78
School Plans and Engineering 4,400.00
9,563.60
Unexpended Appropriations Balances :
General
$249,417.36
By-Law
Highway
Equipment 5,000.00
Highway-
Cooley Street
Construction
1,125.88
Highway
Boundaries 433.58
Veterans Me-
morial Park 2,701.14
318,817.35
Reserve Fund-
Overlay Surplus 31,212.00
Overlays Reserved
for Abatements : Levy of 1946 .. $ 3,641.75
Levy of 1947
9,544.83
13,186.58
Revenue Reserved
Until Collected :
Motor Vehicle
and Trailer
Excise
$
1,616.60
Special
Assessment 153.17
Tax Title and
Tax Possession 99,932.57
Departmental 170.34
170
State and County Aid to Highways 3,589.98
Water 8,168.52
Revenue 1947
Surplus Revenue
113,631.18 12.00 110,056.47
$638,885.51
$638,885.51
171
DEBT ACCOUNTS
Net Funded or Fixed Debt : Inside Limit $ 40,000.00
Outside Limit
20,000.00
Town Administration Building Loan $ 40,000.00 School Loan 20,000.00
$ 60,000.00
$ 60,000.00
TRUST AND INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS
172
Trust and Investment Funds : Cash and Securities : In Custody of Town Treasurer $119,434.48
In Custody of Trustee 14,899.35
Whiting Street Worthy Poor Fund $ 6,462.05
Desire A. Pyne Charity Fund 2,308.01
Mary Phelon School Fund
4,792.58 Mary Phelon Library Fund
505.00
Charles Palmer Davis Library Fund 14,899.35
Old Cemetery Fund 707.00
Maple Grove Cemetery Fund 1,419.84
Post-War Rehabilitation Fund 103,240.00
$134,333.83
$134,333.83
REPORT OF THE AGENT AND DIRECTOR OF VETERANS' BENEFITS AND SERVICES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I herewith submit my annual report as Agent and Director of Veterans' Benefits and Services.
Beginning January 1, 1947, this department operated under the New Chapter 584 General Laws of 1945. This law amends Chapter 115 which we have worked under for so many years. Among the changes that are impor- tant in the law, is the fact that each case history with records must be sent to the State House, and if approved by the Commissioner, part of the expenses will be borne by the State. This means a great deal more work for this office. However, it is hoped that nearly half of the expenditure for aid in the department will be paid by the State from cigarette-liquor tax, not by direct taxa- tion to cities and towns.
Although the return of the veterans reached its peak in the early months of this year, the veterans call- ing at this office for information and advice continues at a high level. During the past year 1,373 veterans or their dependents have been helped in obtaining veterans' bene- fits, pensions, insurance, hospital and medical care, edu- cation, employment and G-I loans. For the most part they entailed the filling out of application forms or securing some information pertaining to the particular needs of the serviceman. There are other types of aid difficult to list in detail.
This year a photostatic machine was purchased by the Town. Copies of discharges and other papers were made at a great saving to the serviceman and other town departments.
Cases receiving monetary aid paid entirely from town appropriation have not been too heavy this past year, but they are on the increase, and this is due to the
173
fact that we are aiding World War II veterans and their dependents as well as World War I veterans and it must be expected and planned that this load will get heavier steadily.
During the past year I have attended all State and Western Massachusetts Veteran Association meetings, keeping step with the many changes of veteran legis- lation.
This department is ready to handle all veterans' problems, Local, State or Federal. The veteran or de- pendents are asked to bring their problems here to be solved.
Respectfully submitted
LESLIE C. MILLER, Agent and Director, Veterans' Services.
174
Articles in Warrant for Town Meeting
FEBRUARY 28, 1948
Article 1. To choose two or more Fence Viewers, and two or more Field Drivers.
Article 2. To hear and act upon the reports of the Town Officers.
Article 3. To see what method the Town will adopt for the support of Public Welfare for the ensuing year.
Article 4. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the proper observance of Memorial Day, and provide for its expenditure.
Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $100. for Foreclosure of Tax Titles.
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the payment of a proper charge of an Insurance Company for acting as surety on the official bond of its officers.
Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the Liability Insurance of its employees.
Article 8. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for employment of a Dis- trict Nurse, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for enforcement of the dog law.
Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to appro- priate the sum of $233.80 for bills contracted in various departments in 1947 and not previously presented, and to provide for payment of same.
Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1948, and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within
175
one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period less than one year in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44 of the General Laws.
Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to transfer the sum of $2,500. from the Road Machinery Fund, and to appropriate the sum of $5,000. for the purchase of a new Highway Truck, pass any vote or take any action relative thereto.
Article 13. To see if the Town will vote to transfer the sum of $5,000. from the Overlay Reserve to the Re- serve Fund.
Article 14. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of $1,200. for Chapter 90 Maintenance of Highways with the State and County cooperating, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 15. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of $6,000. for Chapter 90 Construction of Suffield Street with the State and County cooperating, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 16. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of $100.00 to be expended in the Town of Agawam by the Hampden County Trustees for aid to Agriculture in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the Commonwealth.
Article 17. To see if the Town will vote to fix the salary and compensation of all elective officers of the town as provided by Section 108 of Chapter 41, General Laws, as amended, effective from January 1, 1948.
Article 18. To make the necessary appropriations for the ensuing year.
Article 19. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Assessors to use a sum not exceeding $25,000. from available funds for the reduction of the amount to be raised by taxation during the current year.
Article 20. To see if the Town will vote to appro- priate, by transfer from the Post-War Rehabilitation Fund, $50,000. for sewer construction, or to take any action relative thereto.
Article 21. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,160. for School Traffic Officers, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 22. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,729.00 for the contribu- tory retirement system of the Town.
176
Article 23. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum of money for the purchase of a new Fire Truck for the North Agawam station, pass any vote or take any other action relative thereto.
Article 24. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum of money to increase the per- manent fire force, pass any vote or take any action rela- tive thereto.
Article 25. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000. as recommended by the Parks & Playgrounds Commission, or any other sum, and provide for its expenditure.
Article 26. To hear the report of the Feeding Hills School Building Committee and take any action relative thereto.
Article 27. To see if the Town will vote to transfer to the School Department the sum of $684.20 paid to the town in settlement of damage done by fire to the Kath- erine G. Danahy School, or take any other action rela- tive thereto.
Article 28. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate to the School Department the sum of $3,000. for the purchase of additional bleacher seats for Memorial Field, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 29. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate to the School Department the sum of $2,500. for the improvement of the plumbing and sanitary facili- ties in the girls' section of the high school, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 30. To see if the Town will vote that the Town Clerk and Treasurer be elected for a three year term, beginning with the Annual Election of 1949.
Article 31. To see if the Town will take any action on Saturday closing of the Town Offices, in compliance with the provisions of Chap. 265, Acts of 1947.
Article 32. To hear and act upon the report of the committee appointed to make recommendations in refer- ence to the recodification of the Town By-Laws, pass any vote, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 33. To see if the Town will vote to continue the Recodification Committee for another year, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $750. or any other sum for the preparation and printing of the codified town by- laws and statutes.
177
Article 34. To see if the Town will vote to change the time of the Annual Election.
Article 35. To see if the Town will vote to change the time of the Annual Town Meeting.
Article 36. To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Section 103A of Chapter 54 of the Gen- eral Laws making the provisions of said Chapter relating to absent voting applicable to regular Town Elections held in Agawam.
Article 37. To see if the Town will vote to approve an extension of the Agawam Center Cemetery, pass any vote, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 38. To hear the report of the Airport Com- mittee and take any action relative thereto.
Article 39. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen, Treasurer and Finance Commit- tee to sell, for removal from the premises, the grand- stand, club house, restaurant and wooden office building located on property owned by the town and known as the "race track", for not less than the sum of $25,000. or take any action relative thereto.
Article 40. To see if the Town will vote to have the Moderator appoint a committee of five to investigate the advisability of building an addition to the Center School, to have plans prepared for the same, and to make its re- port at a special town meeting to be held not later than May 15th, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000. or any other sum, to be expended for the prep- aration of plans for the proposed addition to the Center School, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 41. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000. or any other amount, for the purpose of securing the services of an expert or experts to investigate and study the present and future building needs of the school department and make a re- port with recommendations at the next special town meeting.
Article 42. To see if the Town will vote to have the Board of Selectmen appoint a committee of six to act as a Finance Board, two for the term of three years, two for the term of two years, and two for the term of one year, the present elected members of the finance com- mittee to be appointed for the balance of their terms.
Article 43. To see if the Town will vote to appoint
178
a committee of fifteen members, to be appointed by the Moderator, to consist of five members from the Repub- lican party, five members from the Democratic party, and five members who are independent voters, to study the Town Manager form of government for adoption by Agawam, to initiate any necessary legislative action, and to report its recommendations and/or actions thereon at a subsequent Town Meeting, but not later than the An- nual Town Meeting in 1949; and to appropriate the sum of $300. to be taken from Excess and Deficiency Fund for expenses of this committee, pass any vote, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 44. To see if the Town will vote to pass a resolution requesting the Board of Selectmen to recon- sider its action and grant a drug store liquor license to Anthony Pasquale doing business as Agawam Pharmacy.
Article 45. To see if the Town will vote to accept Homer Street as laid out by the Board of Selectmen as a public street.
Article 46. To see if the Town will vote to accept Hall Street as laid out by the Board of Selectmen as a public street.
Article 47. To see if the Town will vote to accept Franklin Street as laid out by the Board of Selectmen as a public street.
Article 48. To see if the Town will vote to accept Pomeroy Street as laid out by the Board of Selectmen as a public street.
Article 49. To see if the Town will vote to change the zone of the following described land from Residence A and Residence B to Business :- Beginning at the north- erly end of the present Business zone on the easterly line of Suffield St. 380 ft. northerly of the intersection of Suffield and Cooper Sts .; thence running northerly on the easterly line of Suffield St. 362 ft. more or less to the southwesterly corner of land of one Ramah; thence east- erly along the southerly line of said Ramah's land 200 ft .; thence southerly in a line parallel with the easterly line of Suffield St. about 345 ft. to a point 50 ft. north- erly of the present Business zone; thence easterly about 64 ft. in a line parallel with the northerly line of the present Business zone to the northerly line of Cooper St .; thence southwesterly along the northerly line of Cooper St. about 50 ft. to the present Business zone; thence northwesterly along the northerly line of the
179
present Business zone about 250 ft. to the easterly line of Suffield St. at the point of beginning.
Article 50. To see if the Town will vote to change the zone of the following described land from Residence A and Residence B to Business :- Beginning at a point on the westerly line of Main St. about 300 ft. southerly of the intersection of Main and Elm Sts. (said point being the intersection of the westerly line of Main St. and the southerly line of the present Business zone), thence run- ning southerly along the westerly line of Main St. about 600 ft. more or less to the northerly line of property of the Agawam Cemetery Association; thence running west- terly along the northerly line of land of said Association about 127 ft .; thence running northerly in a line parallel with the westerly line of Main St. and distant 127 ft. westerly thereof to the southerly line of the present Busi- ness zone; thence easterly along the line of the present Business zone 127 ft. more or less to the point of be- ginning.
Article 51. To see if the Town will vote to change the zone of the following described property from Resi- dence A and Residence B to Business :- Beginning at the point of intersection of the northerly line of Cooper St. and the westerly line of the present Business zone at the intersection of Main and Cooper Sts .; thence running northwesterly along the northerly line of Cooper St. to a point on said line 378.71 ft. distant from a highway stone bound at the intersection of the northerly line of Cooper St. and the westerly line of Main St .; thence run- ning northeasterly 125 ft. at right angles to the north- erly line of Cooper St .; thence northwesterly 96.05 ft. along land of Edna W. Lloyd; thence westerly along land of said Edna W. Lloyd 238.72 ft. to land of one Guidi; thence northeasterly along land of said Guidi 24.81 ft .; thence northwesterly along land of said Guidi 75 ft .; thence westerly along other land of said Lloyd 108.94 ft. to a point at the northeasterly corner of land now or formerly of one Yacavone; thence westerly 99 ft. along land of said Yacavone; thence southwesterly along land of said Yacavone about 43 ft. to land of the Town of Agawam known as the old burying ground; thence north- westerly along said land 365.79 ft. to land of one Adams; thence easterly along land of said Adams 229.29 ft. to land now or formerly of one Hamblen; thence in an east- erly direction along land of said Hamblen about 357 ft.
180
to the westerly line of Main St .; thence southerly along the westerly line of Main St. about 875 ft. to a point at the intersection of the westerly line of Main St. and the northerly line of the present Business zone; thence west- erly and southwesterly along the northerly and north- westerly lines of the present Business zone to Cooper St. at the point of beginning.
Article 52. To see if the Town will vote to change the zone of the following described parcel from Resi- dence B to Business :- Beginning at a point on the south- erly line of Springfield St. at the intersection of said line and the westerly line of the present Business zone (said point being about 740 ft. westerly from the inter- section of the southerly line of Springfield St. and the westerly line of Mooreland St.) ; thence westerly along Springfield St. 183.8 ft. to land now or formerly of one Cross; thence southerly along said Cross land 102 ft. more or less; thence northeasterly 161 ft. more or less along other property of George J. Shortt to the south- west corner of the present Business zone; thence north- westerly 100 ft. along the westerly line of the present Business zone to Springfield St. at the point of beginning.
Article 53. To see if the Town will change the zone of the following described property from Business to In- dustrial A :- Beginning at the point of intersection of the northerly line of Silver St. and the southerly line of Garden St., thence running southwesterly along the northerly and northwesterly line of Silver St. about 4500 ft. to the intersection of the westerly line of Silver St. and the northerly line of Shoemaker Lane; thence run- ning westerly along the northerly line of Shoemaker Lane 500 ft .; thence running northerly and northeast- erly along a line parallel with the northwesterly and northerly line of Silver St. and distant 500 ft. there from to the southerly line of Garden St .; thence running southeasterly along the southerly line of Garden St. about 500 ft. to Silver St. at the point of beginning.
Article 54. To transact any other business that may legally come before the meeting.
181
Annual Report
of the
School Committee
and the
Superintendent of Schools
of the Town of AGAWAM, MASS.
M
INCORP
15.1855.
RA
JL
D
For the Year Ending December 31 1947
Agawam Public Schools
ORGANIZATION OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Term Expires
Warren C. Bodurtha, Chairman, Agawam
1949
Paul J. Adams, Secretary, North Agawam 1950
Sidney F. Atwood, Feeding Hills
1950
Hazel M. Cooley, Feeding Hills
1948
Edson A. Ferrell, Agawam
1948
Edward A. Johnson, North Agawam
1949
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS Stanley W. Wright Telephone 2-3592 Address: 571 Main Street
SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE
High School Building -8:30 A. M. to 5 P. M., School days 8:30 A. M. to 12 Noon, Saturdays Appointments should be arranged in advance
SUPERINTENDENT'S SECRETARY Emma Mellor Telephone : 4-1630
183
SCHOOL CALENDAR - 1948
Schools open - January 5
Schools close - February 20
Schools open - March 1
Schools close - April 23
Schools open - May 3
Elementary and Junior High Schools close - June 11
Senior High School closes - June 18
Schools open - September 8
Schools close - December 23 (tentative)
NO SCHOOL DAYS -1948
March 26 - Good Friday
April 19 - Patriots' Day
May 31 - Observance of Memorial Day
October 12 - Columbus Day
October 22 - Hampden County Teachers' Association Convention November 25-26 - Thanksgiving Recess
HOURS OF SESSIONS
Senior High School 9:00 A. M. - 12:45 P. M. 1:15 P. M. - 3:00 P. M.
Junior High School 9:00 A. M. - 12:00 Noon 12:40 P. M. - 3:00 P. M.
Elementary Schools 9:00 A. M. - 12:00 Noon* 1:00 P. M. - 3:30 P. M .*
*A Few variations are made in the elementary hours in the individual schools in order to accommodate the children in the cafeterias and to fit bus schedules.
184
Report of the School Committee
To the Citizens of the Town :
The problems of the School Committee are increas- ing. The increased cost of supplies and operating ex- penses, and the large number of homes being built are the most serious problems at this time.
A Building Committee has been appointed to bring in plans and specifications at the annual town meeting for a new school to be erected at Feeding Hills. The com- mittee hopes to see this building in the process of erec- tion by September. A new building at Feeding Hills will help to relieve the overcrowded conditions at Agawam Center. During the summer, the lunchroom at Agawam Center was divided to make another classroom. With the increasing number of new homes in this section, the school population is growing rapidly and will necessitate the using of the clinic room as a classroom next fall. An addition to the building will have to be erected in the near future.
The toilet facilities in the High School are in need of extensive repairs, which will require a sizeable sum of money. A few fluorescent lights have been installed in the Danahy School and in the High School and are prov- ing very satisfactory. This coming year we hope to install more of these lights in both buildings.
Due to new legislation passed by the Legislature in the last session the Town Treasurer is reimbursed for more than half of our transporation costs. Our total reimbursements from the State increased by $9,000 over that of the previous year. All money received from the State goes to the Town Treasurer and is not available to the School Committee.
We are sorry to have lost two of our older teachers this past year. Miss Cora Barnes, a teacher in the Junior High School, passed away last spring. Miss Barnes was
185
loved by teachers and pupils alike. Miss Katherine Danahy, who has been in the school system since 1899, retired in June. Miss Danahy's influence in her work in the schools and community will be remembered for years. We are happy that she is continuing her interest in community affairs.
We appreciate the cooperation of the police depart- ment in providing police protection at the intersections.
In closing we wish to thank the pupils, the parents and the teachers for their cooperation in helping to keep our schools at such a high standing.
Respectfully submitted,
WARREN C. BODURTHA, Chairman PAUL J. ADAMS, Secretary SIDNEY F. ATWOOD HAZEL M. COOLEY EDSON A. FERRELL EDWARD A. JOHNSON
1
186
Financial Statement
December 31, 1947
Town Appropriation EXPENDITURES $ 9,850.84
$232,050.00
General Expenses
Salaries of Teachers, Supervi-
sors and Principals
144,907.77
Text Books
2,200.31
Stationery and Supplies
5,842.57
Wages of Janitors
16,843.30
Fuel
8,003.70
Janitors' Supplies and Operating Expenses
6,692.07
Repairs and Replacements
6,811.95
School Libraries
177.51
Health
3,019.96
Transportation
14,443.20
Tuition - Trade School
2,593.42
Insurance on Buildings and Equipment
2,819.95
Miscellaneous Expenses
797.31
Outlay - Buildings and Equip- ment
2,802.68
Memorial Field
373.04
Agriculture
3,094.07
Vocational Household Arts
1,416.89
Total Expenditures
$232,690.54
Paid by Federal Funds :
Smith - Hughes and
George - Deen Funds
for Agriculture $552.40
Smith - Hughes and
George - Deen Funds for Vocational
Household Arts
$ 89.54 641.94
187
Balance on Hand
$232,048.60 1.40
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