USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1946-1950 > Part 6
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Total Number of Temperature, Pulse, Respiration 281
Total Number of General Care, Baths, etc. 492
Total Number of Mothers and Babies 92
Total Number of Pre-natals 61
Total Number of Miscellaneous 196
1,341
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES
Number of Mumps 70
Number of German Measles 14
Number of Regular Measles 143
Number of Whooping Cough 31
Number of Chicken Pox 18
Number of Scarlet Fever
15
291
Appointments Made for Tonsils, etc. 67
Patients taken to Westfield Santorium,
Springfield Hospitals, Doctors and Dentists 47
Our Diphtheria Immunization Clinic was held April 11, May 2, and May 24. There were 48 children immu- nized and 44 received the booster dose. Dr. E. Langer, the school doctor, was in charge, assisted by Miss O'Brien, school nurse, and Miss Williams, Board of Health Nurse.
The Vaccination Clinic was held June 6, with 43 pre- school children receiving their vaccination.
On May 29, 132 pre-school children were examined.
The Free Diphtheria Clinics for 1947 will be held in the Town Administration Building, April 3, 24, and May 15 from 9 to 11 a. m. The Vaccination Clinic will be held
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again in the schools. A fee of $1.00 per child is to be charged. All pre-school children must be vaccinated and examined before entering school in September. The pre- school examination for children entering school in the fall will be held in the schools at a date to be announced later.
Any member of the P.T.A. who is willing to give her or his service at the Clinics, please call Miss O'Brien, school nurse or Miss Williams, Board of Health Nurse, be- fore April 1, 1947.
An X-ray Clinic will be held in the High School the first week of March for all students in the 9th to 12th grades, High School personnel and all Town employees. Please contact Miss O'Brien or Miss Williams for appoint- ments.
On March 3, in the Red Cross Room a Free Well- Baby Clinic will begin. Dr. Langer will examine babies and advise mothers every first Thursday of the month at 9 a. m., and has offered his services free of charge. On the third Thursday of each month babies will be weighed by Miss Williams.
This year we were very fortunate to have Mrs. Bell Nygren substitute for me during my two weeks' vacation.
Again I wish to thank all the Town Officials and Townspeople for their co-operation.
Respectfully submitted,
CLARA H. WILLIAMS, R. N. Town Nurse
105
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, 1946.
Cond-
Adjusted Sealed demned
Platform Scales, 100-5,000 lbs .. .
15
40
Counter, 100 lbs. or over
1
1
Counter, under 100 lbs.
1
6
1
1
Beam, 100 lbs. or over.
2
Spring, 100 lbs. or over
5
Spring, under 100 lbs.
15
33
1
Computing, under 100 lbs.
8
31
1
Personal Weighing
2
Avoirdupois
117
Vehicle Tanks, 100 gals. or less. .
4
Liquid, 1 gal. and under
34
1
Meters, 1 in. inlet or less
36
1
Oil Measuring Pumps
18
1
Grease Measuring Pumps
46
Yard Sticks
2
Taxi Meters
2
Cloth Measuring Devices
3
Totals
40
382
4 7
Trial Weighings on Measurements of Commodities Sold or Put Up for Sale
Total No. Tested
No. Correct
Incorrect Under
Over
Beans
50
50
0
0
Bread
127
97
28
2
Butter
81
60
16
5
Dry Commodities
216
195
15
6
Flour
23
22
1
0
Fruits and Vegetables
16
10
6
0
Hay
6
1
5
0
Grain and Feed
15
8
0
7
Not Sealed 4
106
Lard
23
23
0
0
Meats and Provisions
18
7
10
1
Potatoes
53
26
21
6
Dry Goods
30
15
1
14
Liquid Commodities
7
7
0
0
Totals
665
521
103
41
Retest on Peddler's Scale - Total 3, Correct 3.
Ice Scales - Total 5, Correct 5.
Proper Markings of - Total 204, Incorrect 204.
Reinspections of Gas Pumps - Total 14, Correct 11, Incorrect 3.
Peddler's Licenses - Total 3, Correct 3.
Sealing Fees $75.19
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK DRAGHETTI
Sealer of Weights and Measures
107
REPORT OF THE WATER COMMISSIONERS
To the Voters and Taxpayers of Agawam:
The Board of Water Commissioners submit the fol- lowing report of the activities of the department for the year 1946.
Maintenance and Repair
105 Broken Services
45 Goosenecks
17 Services
26 Nipples
8 Broken Gate Boxes
9 Frozen Services
12 Repairs on Main Lines
15 Hydrants Repaired
6 Hydrants Replaced
101 New Services
254 Jobs on Accounts Receivable Construction
1250 Ft. 6-inch pipe on Suffield Street.
2250 Ft. 6-inch pipe on Shoemaker Lane.
We have changed from galvanized pipe to copper tub- ing because of the shortage of galvanized pipe. We believe the copper tubing will give longer service and better sat- isfaction.
The work on Accounts Receivable consists of cleaning present lines from the mains to the cellars where possible, or renewing them with copper tubing.
We have a number of streets with small lines. These lines are becoming filled with rust and new services are being added. Several of these streets have had to be cleaned in order to give the people an adequate amount of water.
Water purchased $14,905.29
Water rents 32,760.17
Received from water rents 32,776.55
Accounts receivable 5,181.79
Service connections 3,360.00
Respectfully submitted,
108
REPORT OF RECREATIONAL COMMITTEE
By vote of the last annual town meeting, the mod- erator was instructed to appoint a committee to investi- gate the need for recreational facilities in the town of Agawam and report to this town meeting. This commit- tee was organized shortly after the town meeting and proceeded to conduct such an investigation. Their in- vestigation covered many phases of the subject and its report, while limited, we believe will provide a basis for constructive action in the tne annual Town meeting.
The committee investigated and found a definite lack of available facilities and organized programs. The pro- grams in action, although commendable, are inadequate, being few in number and lacking in expert guidance. There is a definite desire on the part of school age chil- dren for additional facilities. Your committee conducted a survey in the school system to ascertain what programs would be desirable and be of greatest benefit to them. It was clearly established that they desire an organized program with supervision.
To obtain a cross section of public opinion in the town, the committee conducted a public forum on rec- reation on September 24. Miss Ruth Evans, director of recreation for the Springfield School System, spoke on recreation. From the questions asked by those present, it would appear that the people of the town are interested primarily in playgrounds, swimming pools, baseball dia- monds, tennis courts, dancing, Y. M. C. A. activities, can- teens, and some form of Holiday celebrations.
The committee recommends that a park and play- grounds commission be created by ballot at the annual town meeting in 1948; and that a suitable article be in- serted in the town warrants at the annual town meeting in 1947, creating such a board.
For immediate consideration, the committee recom- mends, (1) the use of present school facilities, if avail- able, and (2), the establishment of playgrounds under
109
proper supervision, and (3), the appropriation of suffi- cient money to inaugurate this program.
This report is limited in scope and not necessarily ade- quate. The committee feels that there is a much greater need than is covered in its recommendations.
The following includes some of the aspects of rec- reation that the people of the town should concern them- selves with for future action.
-
1. Land taking for recreational purposes.
2. Erection of Tennis Courts.
3. Creation of skating rinks.
4. Purchasing of equipment for program use.
5. Youth centers.
JAMES P. KANE
JULES K. DEFORGE
110
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS
During the year 1946 the Board received 46 petitions asking variations from the restrictions of the Zoning By-Law or the Building Code.
Nineteen meetings were held at which hearings on these petitions were given to the petitioners and other interested parties.
As a result of these hearings five petitions were with- drawn before decision was rendered and six petitions were denied absolutely. Relief was granted to 31 petitioners, in several cases such restrictions were imposed as were deemed necessary by the Board to protect the best inter- ests of the Town.
There are four petitions on file on which action is pending at this date.
Too many citizens have come to this Board with the idea that if the Board wishes to it may set aside almost any requirement of the Laws that interferes with some- thing they wish to do.
It should be understood by the citizens of the Town that the Board of Appeals cannot waive Laws of the Com- monwealth or By-Laws of the Town. Under certain cir- cumstances the Board has the power to grant limited relief by allowing minor variations of the provisions or requirements of the Zoning By-Law, the Building Code or certain acts of the Planning Board.
Respectfully submitted,
HAROLD C. ATWATER, Chairman JAMES P. KANE, Secretary JAMES H. KERR
111
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN AND BOARD OF HEALTH
The year 1946 has seen the return of most of our veterans of World War II, for which we are very thankful. We have a Veterans' Center in the Town Administra- tion Building with a suitable office, and we wish every veteran to feel free to go there and consult the Director, about his or her rights and benefits, or any problem which he or she may have. Mr. William Walsh, a veteran of World War II, was the first Director of veterans' services, and established the Center. Mr. Walsh resigned this sum- mer to take up the study of law at Boston University. His resignation was accepted with regret. Mr. Leslie Miller, a World War I veteran, was then appointed, and is now in charge of the Center. Mr. Miller has had long experi- ence in veterans' affairs and a sympathetic understanding of all the problems of the returned veterans.
The housing situation in Agawam, as in many other cities and towns, is very acute. However, there is a great deal of building going on now, and we anticipate much more as materials become available. The year 1947 should show a great improvement.
As more houses are constructed, our town is fast becoming a residential instead of a farming community, and the demand for more hardened roads, sewers, and sidewalks is being met as fast as possible. The sum of $50,000 was appropriated for sewers last year. New sewers were built on High, Monroe, Elm, North, and Mill Streets, which nearly used up this appropriation. The Selectmen have recommended another appropriation of the same amount this year, to be spent for sewer con- struction under the direction of the Planning Board, which has made a careful study of the sewer problem. Mr. Philip Bond, of the firm of Tighe and Bond of Holyoke, has plans and specifications all drawn for our interceptor sewer system which will eventually remove all our sewage from the Agawam and Connecticut Rivers and deliver it to the Springfield Disposal Plant. This was paid for by a gov-
112
ernment grant which we were able to secure from the Federal Government. If and when the government orders all sewage removed from our streams, the towns that have plans in readiness will be the first to get a substantial grant from the Federal Government. .
We are very much pleased with our new Agawam- West Springfield Bridge which was completed last fall. The structure was built with state and federal funds en- tirely. We wish at this time to thank the County Com- missioners and the Massachusetts Department of Public Works for their untiring efforts in getting this much- needed bridge built during times of scarcity of materials.
The Department of Public Works, now that the war is over and conditions are returning to normal, has started Chapter 90 highway work, and, as always, Agawam is receiving its share. Pine Street is now under construction. The money has been allotted for the completion of Suffield Street to the Connecticut state line. We are recommend- ing that the town appropriate its 25 per cent. Another Chapter 90 project, which after the completion of these roads warrants our consideration, is the building of Cooper and Mill Streets, opening a direct route through the center of town, from Feeding Hills to the South End Bridge. We are working to have Route 57 (Springfield and South- wick Streets), a distance of 5 miles, accepted as a Federal and secondary road. This means that when it is rebuilt, which should be soon, that the State and Federal Govern- ments would bear the cost.
We wish to call your attention to the careful study that your Finance Committee has given the requests for 1947 budgets, submitted by the various town departments. The cost of services, labor, and materials is high. Budget requests are high. Yet if Agawam is to continue to grow and attract the right people to build and make their homes here, a balance must be struck between these many de- mands for money and the resultant tax rate. Should the rate be too high, responsible people will hesitate to locate here. If necessary improvements are not made, the same will also happen. Your Finance Committee has weighed these arguments, one against the other, and we would advise that the voters think carefully before overriding their recommendations for the 1947 budget.
In closing, may we publicly express our regret at Mr. Henry E. Bodurtha's decision to retire from public office.
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He has served the town as Clerk and Treasurer for the past 35 years, always rendering faithful and courteous service. His wise counsel and advice have been a great help to the Selectmen. We wish for him many years of health and happiness in his retirement, and are sure that his cheerful disposition and devotion to duty will be an inspiration to all town employees for years to come.
GILES W. HALLADAY RALPH D. WALKER EDWARD W. TALMADGE
Selectmen of Agawam
114
Articles in Warrant for Town Meeting
FEBRUARY 24, 1947
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 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 appropriate a sum of money for the payment of a proper charge of an In- surance Company for acting as surety on the official bond of its officers.
Article 6. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for the Liability Insurance of its employees.
Article 7. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for employment of a District Nurse.
Article 8. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for enforcement of the dog law.
Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $65.98 for bills contracted in various depart- ments in 1946 and not previously presented.
Article 10. 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, 1947, and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period less than one year in accordance with Sec- tion 17, Chapter 44 of the General Laws.
Article 11. To see if the Town will vote any sum of money for the purchase of a new Fire Truck.
Article 12. To see if the Town will appropriate any sum of money to increase the permanent fire force.
Article 13. To see if the Town will raise and appro- priate the sum of $2600 for the building of a sidewalk on the Westerly side of Main Street, from Lealand Ave., Southerly to Elm Street.
Article 14. To see if the Town will appropriate the
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sum of $5000 from Road Machinery Fund to Road Ma- chinery Account for the purchase of a new Truck.
Article 15. To see if the Town will accept the gift of an ambulance from the American Legion Post, and make provisions for the management of the same.
Article 16. To see if the Town will take any action looking towards the adoption of Representative Form of Town Meeting.
Article 17. To see if the Town will vote that the collector of taxes be elected for a three year term.
Article 18. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the sale of old school property at 808 Suffield Street.
Article 19. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the sale of school property situated on North West Street.
Article 20. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriatee the sum of $600.00 for Surface Drainage on Suffield Street from Silver Street northerly to the Old School Property.
Article 21. To see if the Town will vote to release the Surplus War Bonus Fund of $2701.14 in order that a Veterans' Memorial Park may be established on Spring- field Street, between Taft and Mckinley Streets, Agawam, on land donated by Wilson-Thompson Post No. 185, the American Legion; said Fund to be expended by a com- mittee of three World War I veterans appointed by the Moderator.
Article 22. To see if the Town will authorize the Planning Board to approve the acceptance by the Town of existing streets which were established by record in the Hampden County Registry of Deeds (and on which houses have been built) prior to January 1, 1945 and which do not comply with the minimum requirements of streets for Town acceptance as established by vote of the Town; pro- vided that new street lines complying as nearly as possible with the Town's by-laws and regulations are established by and with the written consent of the owners of abutting property, and also provided that the new street lines thus established are to govern the location of buildings here- after erected thereon in accordance with the zoning by- laws of the Town.
Article 23. To see if the Town will vote to have a committee appointed to go over the Town records and recodify all by-laws of the Town except those pertaining to building, plumbing, and zoning, and to make a full re- port thereon with recommendations at a subsequent Town
116
Meeting, not later than the Annual Town Meeting in 1948, and to appropriate $300.00 for legal and clerical expense of this committee.
Article 24. To see if the Town will accept Liberty Street as a public street.
Article 25. To see if the Town will accept Senator Avenue as a public street.
Article 26. To see if the Town will accept Northwood Street as a public street.
Article 27. To see if the Town will accept Fruwirth Avenue as a public street.
Article 28. To see if the Town will accept Columbus Street as a public highway for a distance of nine hundred (900) feet from Springfield Street.
Article 29. To see if the Town will accept Melrose Place as a public street.
Article 30. To see if the Town will vote to accept Pomeroy Street as a public street.
Article 31. To see if the Town will vote to accept James Street as a public street.
Article 32. To see if the Town will vote to amend its zoning by-laws by adding a new paragraph to Section 3, General, as follows :
(1) In residence districts the removal for sale of sod, loam, clay, sand, gravel or quarried stone, except when incidental to and in connection with the construction of a building for which a permit has been issued, or except where it is to be used within the limits of the town, shall be deemed a non-conforming use of land and shall be permitted only if written permission of the Board of Appeals be obtained, and under such conditions as the Board of Appeals may impose and make a part of the permit. The Board of Appeals shall in each instance impose such conditions as will protect the neighborhood and town against permanent and temporary hazards be- cause of conditions which may be left after operations are completed or because of the methods of handling such materials at the site or of transporting such materials through the town.
Article 33. To see if the Town will vote to change the zone of property on the easterly side of Suffield Street de- scribed as follows :
Beginning at a point on the easterly side of Suffield Street 200 feet northerly from the northeast corner of the intersection of South Street and Suffield Street; then running northerly along Suffield Street 200 feet; thence
117
easterly 200 feet on a line parallel with the north side of South Street; thence southerly 200 feet to the northeast corner of the present Business zone; thence westerly 200 feet to the place of beginning, from Res. B and Res. A to "Business."
Article 34. To see if the Town will vote to change the zone of the property on the northwesterly side of Spring- field Street described as follows:
Beginning at the southerly intersection of Springfield and Portland Streets, thence running along the westerly side to Springfield Street, to Annable Street; thence west- erly along Annable Street 200 feet; thence northeasterly, parallel with Springfield Street, to Portland Street; thence easterly 200 feet along the southerly side of Portland Street to the place of beginning, from Res. B to "Business."
Article 35. To see if the Town will vote to change the zone of the property on the easterly side of Walnut Street, described as follows :
Beginning at a point on the southerly side of Spring- field Street at the easterly line of property of one Taddia: thence continuing westerly along Springfield Street to a point about 340 feet easterly of Maple Street; thence southerly 200 feet at right angles to Springfield Street; thence easterly and parallel with Springfield Street to the easterly line of property of said Taddia; thence 200 feet northerly to the point of beginning; from Residence A to Business. Also beginning at a point on the southerly side of Springfield Street about 340 feet easterly of the intersection of Springfield and Maple Streets; thence southerly 200 feet at right angles to Springfield Street; thence westerly 100 feet to the easterly line of the present Business zone; thence 200 feet northerly along the east- erly line of the present Business zone to Springfield Street : thence easterly 100 feet along Springfield Street to the point of beginning ; from Residence B to "Business."
Article 37. To see if the Town will accept Franklin Street as a public street.
Article 38. To see if the Town will amend the by-law concerning the Board of Appeals by adopting the following :
To amend Paragraph 2 of Section 4 by striking out the words "at least one of the Springfield, Mass. daily newspapers" and inserting the words "a newspaper pub- lished in Hampden County having a substantial circula- tion in the Town of Agawam."
118
Article 39. To see if the Town will amend its zoning by-laws as adopted April 6, 1928, by changing from Resi- dential "A" zoning to Industrial "A" zoning the property of the Precision Engineering Corporation at 590 North Street, easterly of land of the Springfield Swiss Club, de- scribed as follows :
Beginning at a stone bound in the northerly line of North Street, at the southwesterly corner of the described premises, at the southeasterly corner of land now or for- merly of the trustees of the Springfield Swiss Club and running thence North 25 degrees East along last named land, 100 feet to land now or formerly of Mary Sulborski, thence South 69 degrees 57 minutes East, along last named land, in a line parallel to said North Street 150.00 feet to a point, thence South 25 degrees West, in a line parallel with the first course, 100.00 feet to North Street, thence North 69 degrees 57 minutes West, along North Street, 150.00 feet to the place of beginning, being the property conveyed to the Precision Engineering Corpora- tion April 6, 1942 and April 18, 1942 and recorded in the Hampden County Registry Deed Book 1735, P. 382 and Book 1736, P. 282.
Article 40. To see if the Town will accept Federal Street Extension as a public street.
Article 41. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $5000.00 for the payment of Don- ald M. Macaulay, Attorney's fees in the case of the bank- ruptcy of the Agawam Racing and Breeding Association.
Article 42. To hear the report of the committee ap- pointed to select a site and to bring in preliminary plans for a new school in Feeding Hills.
Article 43. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to procure by Eminent Domain or otherwise, a plot of land now owned by William Drenowski, consisting of 10 acres, more or less, on Springfield Street ; and to raise and appropriate the sum of $8115.00 or any other sum to pay for same.
Article 44. To see if the Town will appropriate any sum of money to prepare final plans and working draw- ings for the erection of a new school in Feeding Hills, or take any other action thereon.
Article 45. To see if the Town will vote to appoint a committee, or continue the same committee, to direct the preparation of working drawings and final plans and to report back not later than the next annual meeting in February, 1948, or take any other action thereon.
119
Article 46. To see if the Town will vote to transfer the unexpended balance of the Administration Building Construction account of $20.34 to the Available Funds.
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