USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1946-1950 > Part 28
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Perley J. Hewey, Chief Roland C. Reed, Sergt.
Patrolmen
R. Kenneth Grady, John Chriscola, Romeo Borgatti, Louis Tatro, Stanley Rhodes, Roland Ruelle and Douglas Carr Arrests of the Year 1948
Abuse of Female Child
1
Assault with Intent to Rape
1
.
Assault & Battery
4
Assault of Officer
1
Auto Violations
383
Breach of Peace
6
Cohabitation
2
Desertion
2
Drunkness
42
Fugitives
4
Illegal Sales
1
Indecent Exposure
1
Indecent Assault
1
Larceny
13
Lewd & Lascivious Cohabitation
1
Non-support
2
Runaway Boy
1
Selling Horse Meat
1
Slaughtering (no insp.)
1
Suspects
12
Vagrants
1
Violation of Probation
6
Total number of arrests
487
Convicted
471
Defaults
2
Turned over to other police
11
159
Pending Total Number of Accidents Total Number of Ambulance Calls Property Recovered
3
137 ยท
85 $13,615.60
Total Amount of Fines Collected $ 5,777.00
I wish to state the year 1948 was a busy one. Al- though crime statistics reveal a general increase in major crimes throughout the country, I am pleased to state that Agawam has been fortunate in escaping this national trend.
The great increase in the operation of automobiles on our highways has presented this department with a serious and constantly growing problem. In fact the con- trol of traffic constitutes the major work of the police department. With the heavy traffic that this town has experienced within the past year it gives me great pleasure to announce at this time that we have had no fatal accidents, and a sizable drop in the number of accidents from 1947.
The equipment of the department is in fairly good condition. We have a new 1949 Ford, 1948 Motorcycle, 1947 Chevrolet, and a 1946 Chevrolet. I would recommend, from now on that the department should have at least one new cruiser each year to replace the older car.
The Town ambulance is doing plenty of business which requires as a rule, two men for its operation. I be- lieve the people of Agawam appreciate the work this am- bulance is doing for the community.
In conclusion, I wish to express my appreciation for the valuable and generous cooperation given during the year 1948 by the Board of Selectmen, the members of the department and all other town departments and citizens who have assisted us in any way to make Agawam a better and safer community in which to live.
Respectfully submitted,
PERLEY J. HEWEY Chief of Police
160
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
We are pleased to report that the Seagrave Pumper for the Feeding Hills Station has been received, and also that the Fire Engineers have signed a contract for a new pumper, for the North Agawam station, which should be delivered in the very near future.
We feel that the town should have a permanent man on duty, in each station, twenty-four hours a day, every day, for better protection.
CALLS DURING 1948
North Agawam station No. 1 61
Feeding Hills station No. 2 44
Agawam Center station No. 3 73
Total
178
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK T. GOSS, Chairman RILEY S. FARNSWORTH RAYMOND D. LEWIS Fire Engineers
161
REPORT OF THE Sealer of Weights and Measures
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
I herewith submit my annual report as Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year ending Dec. 31, 1948.
Adjusted
Sealed
Not Con- Sealed demned
Platform Scales, 5,000-10,000 lbs.
14
31
1
1
Counter 100 lbs. or over
1
Counter under 100 lbs.
6
Beam 100 lbs. or over
1
3
Beam under 100 lbs.
1
Spring 100 lbs. or over
1
8
Spring under 100 lbs.
16
34
1 2
Computing under 100 lbs.
11
29
1 2
Personal Weighing (Slot)
5
Prescription
1
Avoirdupois
111
Apothecary
4
Metric
4
Vehicle Tanks 100 Gals. or less
7
Vehicle Tanks - 4500 Gals.
4
Liquid - 1 Gal. and under
40
Met. over 1 In. Inlet G.M.S.
38
1
Oil Measuring Pumps
8
1
Grease Meas. Pumps
41
1
Yard Sticks
2
Taxi Meters
1
Cloth Measuring Devices
2
Totals
43
381
4
7
162
Trial Weighings on Measurements of Commodities Sold or Put Up for Sale
Total No. Tested
No. Correct
Incorrect Under
Over
Beans
22
20
2
0
Bread
84
75
0
9
Butter
235
159
68
8
Confectionery
72
66
0
6
Dry Commodities
84
80
0
4
Flour
20
20
0
0
Fruit and Vegetables
20
18
2
0
Grain and Feed
16
14
0
2
Lard
24
22
2
0
Meat and Provisions
110
88
1
21
Potatoes and Onions
53
34
5
14
Dry Goods
0
0
0
0
Olive Oil
8
8
0
0
Totals
748
604
80
64
Retest on Peddler's Scales-Total 17, Correct 15
Retest on Junk Dealer's Scales-Total 5, Correct 5
Retest on Proper Markings-Total 56, Correct 56 Peddler's Licenses-Total 9
Road Inspections-Total 62, Correct 62
Field equipment tested and found correct-Weighing De- vices 58, Measuring Devices 8
One court case was found guilty and case filed.
Sealer's Fees $97.70
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK DRAGHETTI Sealer of Weights and Measures
163
REPORT OF THE Building Inspector
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
I herewith submit my annual report as Building In- spector for the year ending December 31, 1948.
Estimated Cost of Buildings
$1,167,240.00
Number of Permits Issued
376
Number of Inspections Made
732
New Homes
140
Alterations & Additions to Homes
94
Temporary Home
1
Temporary Office
1
Garages
43
Business Places
8
Public Rest Rooms
2
Club Additions
3
Barns
6
Aircraft Shop
1
Addition to Business
1
Addition to Barns
2
Alteration to Clubs
2
Alteration & Replacement to Misc.
38
Demolitions
10
Moving
5
Miscellaneous
19
Respectfully submitted,
ERNEST R. HALL Building Inspector
164
Forestry Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
During the past year the Forestry Department has removed a number of dangerous trees, most of them poplar trees which keep drying off every year and require removal. On South Park Terrace alone 22 poplars were removed. The freak storm we witnessed this past sum- mer caused considerable damage to the Agawam Center section and left our departments funds rather depleted. It was during this period especially that we realized the importance of having a chain saw available. With this piece of equipment we were able to quickly open roads and remove fallen trees. A considerable amount of trim- ming was also done this past season, but still more re- mains to be done in the future. We have tried especially to keep views at intersections from becoming obstructed by low hanging branches.
This past year was our first in combating Jap Beetles and this town had plenty of beetles to combat. This dept. sprayed 65 parcels of property infested with beetles and we also loaned hand sprayers and gave materials to others requesting them. In some sections of the town we sprayed almost every single piece of property on the street. This service was very much appreciated by the townspeople and we hope to do more in this respect in the coming year.
We also removed 19 Elm trees infested with Dutch Elm disease on private properties. We have 37 more to remove and we hope funds will be made available to re- move them as soon as possible in an effort to help control the spread of Dutch Elm disease. We have been fortunate in so far as none of the Elms on the town highways have been infected and we believe this is largely due to spray- ing. We have sprayed 400 Elm trees twice during the past year.
In conclusion, we have been removing trees every
165
year from our highways, but we have done nothing about replacing them. The fact that Dutch Elm disease is spreading rapidly may soon find many of our streets with few or no trees remaining in the very near future. We should plant new trees now, for a town with no trees is a town which has no beauty.
Respectfully submitted,
DANIEL DI DONATO Tree Warden
-
166
REPORT OF
The Town Nurse
JANUARY 1, 1948-DECEMBER 31, 1948
Total Number of Nursing Calls 2624
Total Number of Dressings 484
Total Number of Temperature, Pulse, Respiration
202
Total Number of General Care, Baths, etc. 1050
Total Number of Hypos 605
Total Number of Miscellaneous 207
Total Number of Special Calls 76
Fees Collected for Nursing Service $737.15
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES REPORTED
Mumps 55
Measles
60
Whooping Cough 15
Chicken Pox
84
Scarlet Fever
4
Dog Bites Reported
35
243
Appointments made and patients taken to Westfield Sanatorium, Springfield Hospitals and Doctors and Dentists. 16
Assisted at Home Operations 1
Total Number Well Babies Attended Clinic under
Dr. Diamond from March to August 50
Due to Dr. Diamond's illness our baby clinics are dis- continued until the near future.
The Vaccination Clinic was held April 14, and 72 preschool children attended. A fee of $1.00 was charged for the Doctor.
On April 7th, 106 preschool children were examined by Dr. Diamond, a total of 79 defects were found.
The free Diptheria Immunization Clinic was held
167
May 5-26, June 16 and July 7th. There were 104 children immunized with 3 doses and 154 received booster doses, and 19 did not finish clinic. Dr. Diamond, School Doctor was in charge assisted by Miss Mary O'Brien, School Nurse, Mrs. Parady and Miss Williams, Board of Health Nurses. Free Diptheria Clinic will be held in the Town Administration Building. The Vaccination Clinic will be held in the schools, a fee of $1.00 will be charged. All preschool children must be vaccinated and examined before entering school in September. All these dates will be announced later.
A Typhoid Clinic was held for Town Employees June 25, July 2 and July 9 under the direction of Dr. Diamond.
At this time I would like to thank all who helped with clinic work.
Visits made with S.P.C.C. Agents 12 Attended Court on Special Case 6
Remember our Loaning Closet is available to anyone. I do thank everyone who has given us donations to this service. Any equipment you wish to give to this cupboard will be gratefully received.
At this time I would like to express my gratitude to the Townspeople, Finance Board, and Selectmen in having Mrs. Parady, who is very efficient. I hope it will be pos- sible to have her as a full time nurse in 1949, as you will note the increase in our nursing calls and population is more than one full-time and one part-time nurse can handle.
May I again thank the Town Officials and Towns- people for their help and cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
CLARA H. WILLIAMS, R. N. Town Nurse
168
REPORT OF THE Plumbing Inspector
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Agawam :
I wish to state that the year of 1948 was as I pre- dicted in my report of 1947 a very busy year. Materials and fixtures are plentiful now and the prospects for 1949 are very good. I think we will have more new individual homes built this year than in the year 1948. During the year of 1948 I have issued about 490 permits for new homes, alterations sewer entrances, septic tanks, hot water tanks, heater and safety valves for a total cost of about $90,000.00. I have made over 700 inspections on all these permits issued.
I think that Agawam as a whole is progressing very well for a town of its size. I wish at this time to thank all plumbers and owners of buildings and homes for their cooperation in the past year. I also wish to state that it has been a pleasure and a privilege to be of service to them. I will do my utmost to make the Town of Agawam a clean and healthful place to live in and a credit to all of us. I shall be ready to serve and cooperate whenever called upon for suggestions and advice.
Respectfully submitted,
E. J. DESMARAIS Plumbing Inspector
169
Highway Department
Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :
The following is a report of the Streets and Engi- neering Department for the year ending December 31, 1948.
Highway Maintenance
A considerable amount of patching was necessary on every street due to the erosion caused by excessive snow falls and the resultant thawing and run-off. It was possi- ble, in an effort to try and stabilize a few short stretches of highway, to provide a base of gravel. This gravel will prove most beneficial during the spring thaws, when mud and clay suffer the normal rutting.
The amount of scraping of common dirt (unim- proved) roads can never be satisfactory because every rainfall results in the requirement of renewed efforts. It is hoped that more funds may be provided so that gravel may be layed on the unimproved roads so that their maintenance may be more satisfactory.
The following streets were graveled during 1948:
Franklin Street Cleveland Street Cooper Street (part)
Appropriation $18,000.00 17,997.22
Expenditures
Balance $ 2.78
Snow Removal
The snow fall in the first few months of 1948 was beyond normal expectation and resulted in an unusually high cost for the winter. The sleet storms of December were expensive items, since it is necessary to handle the icy roads with salt and sand combination.
With the two four wheel drive trucks available for
170
plowing, snow storms in the future may be handled with greater ease.
Appropriation
$8,015.09
Expenditures
8,015.09
Balance
0.00
Maintenance Oiling
This appropriation allowed for the oiling of the fol- lowing streets :
Washington Avenue
Alhambra Circle
Carr Avenue
Cooper Street (part)
Lealand Avenue
Edward Street
Liberty Street
Elm Street (part)
Albert Street
Cleveland Street
Harding Street Mill Street
Shoemaker Lane
Appropriation
$5,000.00
Expenditures
4,993.67
Balance
$ 6.33
Chapter 90 Maintenance
Shoemaker Lane, from South Westfield St. to Suf- field St., was given two coats of re-surfacing which did much to improve the traveling conditions that were very poor as a result of past years lack of funds for the care of the street.
Appropriation
$3,600.00
Expenditures
3,596.91
Balance
3.09
Chapter 90 Construction
Suffield St. was reconstructed from South St. to State Line with funds combined from the State, County, and Town. This piece of road has been closed year after year in the spring, due to the mud and clay conditions. It is a welcome addition to the towns system of highways to have this street available for use year round.
The County Commissioners & Commissioners of the Dept. of Public Works have discussed the reconstruction
171
of Springfield St. from the Bridge to O'Briens Corner. It has been agreed that this work will be done in 1949. Work by the State has already been started to provide for re-location of the highway to alleviate the hazards of the combined steep grade and curves.
Pine Street
Completed in 1947, balance paid in 1948 Contractor $5,144.01
Misc. 2.89
Total
$5,146.90
Suffield Street
Contractor
$24,992.12
Guard Post, etc.
435.18
Total
$25,427.30
January 1, 1948
$19,303.03
Appropriation during 1948
24,000.00
Total available funds
$43,303.03
Expenditures
30,574.20
Balance $12,728.83
Balance to be paid in 1949
Note : The Town's share of the above is only 25%
Sidewalk Maintenance
This appropriation allowed for the repair of a side- walk on Bridge St. and some repairs on Springfield St. Appropriation $250.00 Expenditures 208.00
Balance
$ 32.00
Road Machinery Account
The cost of replacement parts for the equipment of the Town has increased to a point where in an effort to keep the equipment operating, the Road Machinery Ac- count necessarily increases each year. The heavy equip- ment such as the grader, power loader, compressor, etc. are beginning to cost more each year for maintenance as
*
172
the parts wear. It was necessary during 1948 to go before a special Town Meeting and request additional funds to meet the added cost along with the increased price in gasoline.
Appropriation
$6,500.00
Expenditures
6,213.77
Balance
$ 286.23
Road Machinery Fund
The highway department purchased during 1948 a new 145 horsepower truck with four wheel drive and turned in its 1939 truck which was becoming a burden, due to its high maintenance costs. It is desired during 1949 to add a road sweeper to clean the accumulation of sand and debris along the highway because the cost of hand labor, using brooms is so excessive as to make it impractical to clear the roadsides.
The increase of traffic upon our highways necessitate center line, cross walk, and curve marking. The amount of this work is becoming so great as to make it very dif- ficult to keep up with the work by the use of hand paint- ing. If a portable road marker could be obtained during the spring of 1949 this work could be accomplished in a short while and adequate maintenance would be had.
Sewers & Surface Drainage
1948 saw a complete change in the handling of Sewers & Surface Drainage. Increased funds permitted the establishment of a separate three man crew, which was constantly engaged in the installation of house connec- tions and the maintenance of Sanitary and Surface Sewers. It was possible to spend time cleaning catch basins which were overloaded due to lack of funds in past years to provide for their cleaning. With the organization as set up presently, it is anticipated that as the number of sewer mains increase through our sewer construction pro- gram, this department will necessarily grow.
A total of 87 connections were made, 57 of which were installed by the sewer department, the balance of which were installed by contractors during the construc- tion of new sewers.
173
Engineering
The report of the Engineering Dept. is given in the following reports of construction and the laying out of highways.
Sewer Construction
Springfield Street Sewer:
The sanitary sewer from the end of the 1947 Con- struction was extended to Feeding Hills Center and north- erly on North Westfield Street, 400 feet. The sanitary conditions in this section have been greatly improved as a result of connecting many of the houses that have had overflowing drains from septic tanks into the open ditch located on North Westfield Street.
The old Feeding Hills School which will be removed within a year or so has been temporarily connected with the new sanitary sewer so that the old septic tanks may be removed in the process of the construction of the new school.
A new 24" storm sewer was installed to provide for draining surface and eave water from the new school site as well as provide an adequate outlet for the present surface drainage in Feeding Hills Center.
The construction of both sanitary sewer and storm drain was combined in one contract and was placed out for bid early in the spring. The bids received by the Board of Selectmen were made during a time when an exceedingly high ground water condition existed. This resulted in excessively high bids and as a result they were rejected and new bids called in the late summer. Contract was awarded to Scott Bros. and the construction was almost complete at the end of the year with only minor patching to be finished.
Expenditures
Contractor $21,532.10
Material, Police, etc. 14,860.81
Total $36,392.91
Homer Street:
A sanitary sewer from the junction of Homer and Springfield Streets to Gail Street was constructed during the fall of 1948. The response of the property owners throughout the length of the sewer proved that the opera-
174
tion of septic tanks in the area was faulty. One hundred percent of the adjacent properties connected to the sewer and this is perhaps the first time that such a response has resulted. A small portion of Homer Street is yet to be completed and it is possible that this will be done in the near future.
Expenditures
Contractor
$3,725.00
Material, Truck, etc. 2,161.83
Total
$5,886.83
Miscellaneous Small Sewers
It was deemed advisable by the Board of Selectmen to take advantage of certain opportunities on Public High- ways to make short connections within their jurisdiction so as to make it possible for other individuals to extend at their own cost, sewers which have become the property of the Town of Agawam. This type of work allows for a considerable extension of sewer facilities at a cost negli- gible in comparison with the gain.
Edward Street Sewer:
A considerable number of new homes have been built during the past few years on the easterly end of Edward Street. The property owners in a community effort organized to carry out the excavation, laying of the pipe, construction of the manholes, and the back fill with the Town cooperating to the extent of supplying the pipe.
Expenditure $610.46
Spencer Street Sewer:
An extension was made of the Spencer Street Sewer by private individuals paying the cost of excavation, lay- ing of the pipe, and back fill with the Town supplying the materials.
Expenditures $143.40
Elbert Road Sewers :
The Town installed the sanitary sewer connection within the limits of Main Street so that the developer of Elbert Road might construct the sewer throughout the street at the developers own expense for the sanitary sewer in its entirety and in conjunction with this for a storm sewer in its entirety the Town having made a storm sewer discharge for the future sewer for Monroe
175
Street. The Town obtained from the developer an ease- ment provided for the discharge of such storm waters discharging from Monroe Street at no cost.
Expenditures for both Storm and Sanitary Sewers $1707.83
North Street Surface Drainage:
A culvert crossing North Street at the intersection of North and North Westfield Streets has been causing considerable amount of erosion over a long period of time. It was deemed advisable to eliminate the condition by con- necting the culvert crossing North Street with the one crossing North Westfield Streets. The headwall at the end of South Westfield Street was converted to a catch basin so that accumulation of debris could be removed and better facilitate drainage.
Expenditure
$629.91
Springfield Street Sewer "O'Brien's Corner":
The extension of the sanitary sewer from O'Brien's Corner to the top of the hill was practically completed in 1947. The balance remaining unpaid to the Contractor and for the repairs to the highway was completed in the spring of 1948.
Contractor
$1,694.66
Road Repair 826.60
Total
$2,521.26
Cleveland Street Sewer :
The Cleveland Street Sanitary Sewer was completed in 1947, but one sidewalk which was removed during the construction, was necessary to replace after the cold weather, was left until the spring of 1948. This repair to the sidewalk cost $120.00.
Highway Bounds
A number of streets were laid out for the Board of Selectmen with the required hearings having been held during 1948. Following is a list of the streets layed out and accepted in 1948.
176
Homer Street Hall Street Franklin Street Pomeroy Street Sherman Avenue
Annable Street Washington Street Colonial Avenue Ext. of Franklin Street Portland Place
Federal Avenue
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM D. RISING Superintendent of Streets & Engineering
177
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE AND BUREAU OF OLD-AGE ASSISTANCE
The Board and the Bureau were both organized early in the year with Mr. Cavanaugh as chairman of each division. The chairman called meetings when necessary and old age assistance had its share of discussion.
We have always tried to meet all the legal require- ments and maintain a high standard of efficiency in our department.
Respectfully submitted
JEREMIAH J. CAVANAUGH ANDREW CHRISCOLO RAYMOND J. DELOGHIA
REPORT OF THE WELFARE AGENT
All forms of relief showed an increase in 1948, both in case loads and expenses.
Desertions, separations and delinquency resulting in broken homes were the principal contributing factors in this increase in the General Relief category and made it necessary to take on many cases who would otherwise be self-sustaining. Court orders as well as jail sentences have been given out but have not solved the problem.
Some of these were veterans who by their actions have caused their families to lose their rights to veterans benefits. In some instances the mothers have no more to recommend them than the fathers, but they are the ones left with the children to care for. This condition may be
178
due in part to the war because post war periods are always the same.
Aid to Dependent Children cost more in 1948 than any year since it was instituted, this being due in part to the addition of some large families.
The Old Age Assistance law was not changed or amended last year although many bills were proposed, all trying to liberalize the program. Under the present system we had a marked increase in expenditures partly because of the high cost of hospitalization and medical service. The State Budget, used to figure all cases, was raised during the year to meet the rise in living costs. This year the legislature figure on doing a real job on re- lief laws; while no changes were made last year, a recess commission was working to frame a complete new set of laws. Now they have these prepared and want to abolish all the former relief laws and replace them with what they think are better ones.
The proposed law would give the state complete con- trol of all relief granted and in return they would stand 75% of the expense.
Many administrators especially in this part of the state are not in favor of this change and objections will be raised at a hearing to be held soon, but it is the opinion of your agent that the only thing able to prevent its adoption will be the inability to finance it.
Other administrators with whom your agent has talked feel that the whole program is too liberal now and fear if the trend keeps on in the same direction, serious financial difficulty will result, as it has in other states that have followed this plan too far.
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