USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1951-1955 > Part 43
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11
Board of Selectmen
Agawam, in 1954, on the eve of its centennial, showed greater growth. in many directions, than in any other previous year.
About three hundred permits were issued for new dwellings, more than any former year. The expansion in building alone forced your Board of Selectmen to prepare for a full-time Building Inspector.
On the business and industrial front, we saw the start of a new industrial development in the area of the South End Bridge, the erection of the Royal Crown Bottling Plant, the completion of Tinti's Frozen Food building, the establishment of several new retail and industrial concerns in the Ramah project, the sale of the Worden property for business use, the announcement that Buxton, Inc. is moving to Agawam, the office and retail expansion in the Center Shopping area, plus other new facilities being erected, ex- panded, or under consideration for the future.
Perhaps the outstanding event of the year was the completion and dedication of the new South End Bridge. With it, can also come even greater growth.
The bridge across the Westfield River is now under construction. It is anticipated that this, plus the new highway across the Agawam meadows will be completed during the year 1955. This will provide greater trans- portation in and out of our Town.
In 1954 we saw the completion of the Agawam portion of Route 57. which began at the Agawam - West Springfield Bridge and is now rebuilt beyond the Southwick line.
At the request of the Board, who saw a need for better surface drainage on River Road, the State has just approved funds for construction of same early in the new year.
Details on sewer construction, sanitary and surface, road surfacing. sidewalk repair and construction, are carried in the reports of the Super- intendent of Streets and the Town Engineer. We have carried on our program of constructing mains and tying in laterals, also surfacing the streets where work has been done, as in the past.
A new packer has been added to aid in rubbish pick up and a new street sweeper to do that very important work.
The new fire truck for Agawam Center station was purchased and is now in use. Fire whistles have been ordered for North Agawam and Agawam Center, to meet the requirements of the Fire Insurance Rating Board. These whistles will save, on single and two family houses, about 15% on the buildings and 11% on their contents.
Speed zoning, started several months ago, is now in effect on Routes 57 and 75 with several other through streets also now under study.
This year we started having meetings with town department heads to discuss problems of mutual interest, including long range planning.
12
Several special committees have completed their work and others are expected to report at the forth-coming Annual Town Meeting.
We have actively supported legislation before the General Court and have filed bills to be heard at the forth-coming session.
With growth comes increased needs. High on the list of those now required are:
1. A continuation of our sewer and road programs.
2. Better roads, sidewalks and street lighting in new high school area.
3. Increased parking facilities.
4. Traffic light installations at O'Brien's Corner and Springfield and Walnut Streets.
5. A Fire Chief.
Not too far away from us are:
1. Relocation of the town barn.
2. Buying of land for location of other future town buildings.
3. New fire stations, with relocation of Police Department to be considered in conjunction therewith.
It is our duty, as your servants, to present our needs and problems to you, as we see them.
We are ever grateful for the excellent cooperation of all units of our town government. To all town departments and to the people of Agawam we say "thank you." Our Board will continue to try to merit your confidence.
Maintenance and resurfacing of streets goes on endlessly
Photo by Fred C. Emerson
Town Accountant
RECEIPTS GENERAL REVENUE
Taxes:
Current Year
$ 906,600.74 55,731.48
Previous Years
$ 962,332.21 2,627.78
In Lieu of Taxes
Tax Titles
459.84
Tax Possessions
175.00
634.8-
From State:
Income Tax
57,025.65
Corp. Tax - Business
41,391.26
Meal Tax
2,351.53
Aid - Teachers Salaries
56,700.00
Reimbursement - Loss of Taxes
8,033.11
165,501.5.
Licenses and Permits:
Liquor
13,045.00
All Other
3,534.00
16,579.0(
Fines and Forfeits:
District Court Fines
1,015.55
Plan Forfeits
105.00
1,120.55
Grants and Gifts:
From Federal Government:
Old Age Assistance
41,860.79
Aid to Dependent Children
8,432.61
Disability Assistance
2,783.66
Smith Hughes and George
Barden
School Funds
1,054.70
54,131.7.
From State:
School Building Assistance
15,553.44
Vocational Education
6,933.35
22,486.79
From County:
Dog Licenses
2,174.3
14
rivileges - M. V. Excise:
Current Year
Previous Years
104,464.62 21,102.48
125,567.10
pecial Assessments: Sidewalk Assessments
596.97
Sewer Assessments
15,394.65
Assessments Paid in Advance
DEPARTMENTAL REVENUE
General Government ...... 998.52
own Clerk - Dog Licenses
2,689.40
3,687.92
'otection of Persons and Property
194.50
ealth and Sanitation:
Sewer Connections
12,870.00
All Other
1,750.33
14,620.33
ighways:
From State - Chap. 90
13,379.56
From County - Chap. 90
24,663.40
From Town - Road Machinery
8,887.80
From Individuals - a/c Receivables
159.11
Charities:
Welfare:
From State
4,148.22
From Cities and Towns
4,643.34
Aid to Dependent Children:
From State
5,134.67
Old Age Assistance:
From State
38,703.12
From Cities and Towns
2.717.36
Disability Assistance:
From State
1,191.80
56,538.51
Peterans Benefits - From State
3,396.75
'hools:
2,568.19
All Other
628.44
3,196.63
School Athletics
3,383.84
School Lunch
80,625.23
15
47,089.87
Tuition
15,991.62 1,184.80
Libraries - Fines
Recreation
UNCLASSIFIED
Rents
6,404.00
Housing Authority
833.56
Withholding Taxes
93,738.30
Contributory Retirement
17,164.56
Blue Cross
7,085.75
U. S. Savings Bonds
1,178.75
Petty Cash Returned
620.00
Tailings
89.74
PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISES
Water Receipts:
Rates
82,816.71
Connections and Deposits
10,550.00
Miscellaneous
4,875.41
98,242.12
INTEREST
On Deferred Taxes
1,764.77
All Other
446.81
2,211.58
LOANS
New High School Loans
2,100,000.00
Premium on Loans
4,651.50
2,104,651.5
AGENCY, TRUST AND INVESTMENT
Library & Cemetery Fund Income
929.65
Investment of School Bonds
10,649.40
Old Age Recovery
596.61
State Bottling License
10.00
12,185.6
REFUNDS AND REIMBURSEMENTS
Departmental
1,256.04
Workman's Compensation
112.50
Field House
1,236.63
a
2,605.1
16
130.70 54.88
127,114.66
Total Receipts Cash on Hand January 1, 1954
3,930,562.18 505,783.59
GRAND TOTAL ......
$ 4,437,345.77
PAYMENTS GENERAL GOVERNMENT
Moderator
25.00
Selectmen:
Salaries
5,809.20
All Other
1,026.45
6,835.65
Accounting:
Salary
4,150.00
All Other
312.24
4,462.24
Treasurer:
Salaries
3,263.00
All Other
1.486.67
Cost of Bonds - Appropriation
1,069.47
5,819.14
Cost of Bonds - From Premium
4,389.00
Collector:
Salaries
7,331.00
All Other
2.259.24
9,590.24
Assessors:
Salaries
9.278.00
All Other
1.622.89
10,900.89
aw:
Town Counsel & Prosecutor
2,000.00
All Other
435.55
2,435.55
Town Clerk:
Salaries
3,263.00
All Other
315.29
3,578.29
lection and Registration:
Salaries
3,333.25
All Other
1,640.17
4,973.42
17
Engineering:
Salaries and Wages New Transit All Other
10,393.40
613.00
981.22
11,987.62
Town Hall:
Salaries
5.897.00
Fuel, Light, Telephone
1,268.85
All Other
1,879.66
12,045.51
Other Town Building3
485.00
Town Barn
125.00
PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY
School Traffic Officers
3,381.25
Police:
Salaries
66.817.13
New Cruisers
1,840.00
Out of State Travel
4.12
All Other
7,975.21
-
76,636.16
Fire:
Salaries
51,837.22
Hose
1,422.50
Uniforms
597.00
New Truck
10,750.34
All Other
5,413.75
70,020.81
Sealer of Weights and Measures:
Salary
1,350.00
All Other
583.35
1.933.35
Building Inspector:
Salary
1,191.67
All Other
608.78
1,800.45
Building Code
318.75
Le
Electrical Inspector:
Salary
1.000.00
All Other
269.17
1,269.17
Gypsy Moth
329.7-
for
18
Forestry:
Salary and Labor
3.225.00
Equipment
999.65
Spraying
1,350.00
Tree Planting
1.000.00
Dutch Elm Trees
500.00
7,074.65
Forest Fires:
Labor
200.00
Truck and Equipment
299.99
All Other
174.40
Dog Officer
96.46
HEALTH AND SANITATION
Health:
Agent
5.140.00
Hospitals
2,818.49
All Other
1.674.26
New Plumbing Code
538.90
10,201.65
Nurses, Clinic:
Salaries
6,699.00
Baby Clinic
+80.00
All Other
1,562.3-1
8,741.34
nspections:
Animal and Slaughter
1.107.00
Plumbing
3.305.59
4,412.59
ewer Construction:
Meadow Ave. Drain
1,626.11
Cooper St. Drain
7.081.47
Cooper St. Sanitary Sewer
6.136.78
Silver St. Sanitary Sewer
8,761.14
Woodside and Samuel St. Sewer
8.492.16
Alhambra Circle Drain
600.00
Lealand Ave. Sanitary Sewer
9,215.18
Westfield River Sewer Plans
5,250.00
North Westfield St. Sewer
9,008.43
Highland St. Sewer
8,402.76
Homer St. Drain
8,896.31
North St. Culvert
4,984.52
674.39
19
Federal Ave. Drain
9,352.25
Carr Ave. Sewer
8,539.64
Letendre Ave. Drain
7,491.43
Senator Ave. Sewers
4,911.45
Hastings St. Drain
8,885.62
117,635.25
Sewer Maintenance:
Labor
11,973.83
All Other
8,185.57
1953 Bill - In Lieu of Taxes
249.30
Refuse and Garbage:
Rubbish Collection
6,626.38
Garbage Collection
8,938.14
New Town Dump
2,669.08
18,233.60
HIGHWAYS
Chap. 90 Construction 1951
15,844.52
Chap. 90 Construction 1953
2,759.17
Chap. 90 Construction 1954
16,826.75
Chap. 90 Maintenance 1954
10,100.10
Leonard St. Reconstruction
10,777.33
Highway Maintenance:
Salaries and Labor
20,107.97
All Other
12,178.30
32,286.27
Road Machinery Account
8,501.84
New Equipment
11,506.67
Sidewalks:
Springfield St.
1,309.17
Walnut St.
1,230.17
Southwick St.
3,170.75
Maintenance
4,493.10
10,203.19
Snow Removal
9,157.3.
New Oiling
17,469.6
Maintenance Oiling
16,597.4:
Repairs due to Water Dept. Work
1,770.9.
Street Lights
26,116.3.
CHARITIES AND VETERANS BENEFITS
Welfare:
Administration 1,501.90
20
20,408.70
1
1
Relief 1953 Bill
24,430.52 432.00
26,364.42
Aid to Dependent Children:
Federal Grant - Administration
299.48
Federal Grant - Assistance
10,749.08
Town - Administration
1,000.00
Town - Aid
6,000.00
18,048.56
Old Age Assistance:
Federal Grant - Administration
2,797.19
Federal Grant - Aid
39,071.69
Town - Administration
2,600.00
Town - Aid
51,721.70
96,190.58
Disability Assistance:
Federal Grant - Administration
439.93
Federal Grant - Aid
3,031.01
Town - Administration
500.00
Town - Aid
2,000.00
5,970.94
New Street Department Sweeper
Photo by Fred C. Emerson
Veterans Benefits: Administration Benefits
3,869.88
7,560.21
11,430.09
SCHOOLS
General Expense
13,510.61
Instruction
395,386.93
Tuition
7,267.37
Transportation
46,743.65
Buildings, Maintenance, etc.
67,668.24
Furniture and Furnishings
5,940.75
Health
6,706.54
All Other
10,690.87
Out of State Travel
26.00
1953 Bills
554,160.96 422.29
New Truck
1,402.73
George Barden-Smith Hughes Funds
1,300.38
School Lunch
76,906.22
School Athletics
6,453.30
Phelps School Field House
8,398.34
Police Department's 2-way Radio Communication System
Photo by Fred C. Emerson
-
!
Pierce School Playground High School Driveway New High School Committee New High School Construction
6,841.56 900.00 777.23
and Taking - High School
601,374.21 12,000.00
libraries:
Salaries
750.00
All Other
2.418.52
3,168.52
Davis Library Fund
845.93
RECREATION AND UNCLASSIFIED
'arks and Playgrounds:
Salaries and Wages
3,433.52
All Other
2,527.52
5,961.04
Veterans Memorial Park
244.74
Unclassified:
County Aid to Agriculture
150.00
Memorial Day
390.40
Town and Finance Reports
2,099.39
Finance Expense
210.00
Liability Insurance
6,254.41
Surety Bonds
661.25
Widow's Annuity
600.00
Dog Licenses to County
2,689.40
Board of Appeals
246.38
Planning Board
154.95
1953 Bills
71.80
Tax Title Foreclosure
2.00
Withholding Taxes
93,738.30
Contributory Retirement
31,695.64
Blue Cross
7,085.75
U. S. Savings Bonds
1,162.50
Damages to Persons and Property
301.95
Land Taking
2,250.00
Insurance on Town Vehicles
2,556.06
Petty Cash Advances
620.00
Hurricane Carol
1,696.82
Civil Defense
5,940.80
Centennial
296.87
160,874.67
23
ENTERPRISES AND CEMETERIES
Water:
Salaries and Labor
26,299.50
All Other
23,751.04
Construction
15,462.99
Contract
31,983.42
Tractor - Loader
5,163.57
102,660.52
Water Main Reimbursement
2,750.00
Cemeteries
1,249.75
INTEREST AND DEBT
Interest on School Loans
34,395.00
Debt - School Loans
40,000.00
AGENCY, TRUST AND INVESTMENTS
County Tax
22,393.06
State Parks and Reservations
255.09
State Audit
2,057.99
Bottling License for State
10.00
24,716.14
REFUNDS
Taxes
3,996.63
All Other
1,127.23
5,123.86
Total Payments
2,421,670.65
Cash on Hand December 31, 1954
2,015,675.12
GRAND TOTAL
$4,437,345.77
0
Don't knock your brains out!
24
BALANCE SHEET December 31, 1954
Assets
Liabilities and Reserves
Cash:
Payroll Deductions:
U. S. Savings Bonds $
33.00
Non-Revenue 1,498,766.28
Tailings 183.93
Tax Sale Excess 17.90
Sale of Real Estate
5,575.00
Taxes:
Levy of 1954
Poll
306.00
Personal
3,597.89
Real Estate
56,503.11
Phelon Library 105.18
Old Cemetery 35.23
Poll
44.00
Personal
633.74
Motor Vehicle Excise:
Levy of 1954
14,474.69
Levy of 1953
1,357.81
Levy of 1952
50.25
Tax Titles
6,975.54
Tax Possessions
96,594.94
School Athletics 1,753.79
Special Assessments:
Federal Grants:
Unapportioned Sidewalk
573.03
Old Age Assist .- Aid 295.60
Old Age - Admin.
4,978.77
Unapportioned Sewer
14,216.67
Aid to Depend. Children Aid 1,733.51
Apportioned Sewer
added to 1954 taxes
133.81
Administrative
2,421.63
Committed Interest
60.21
Departmental Revenue:
Sewers
160.00
Public Welfare
406.70
Aid to Dependent Children
1,891.47
Veterans' Services
457.55
Schools
476.96
Appropriation Balances:
Assessors - New Map
11,000.00
Aid to Highways:
Town Barn 175.00
State
11,302.17
County
6,016.48
Fire - Air Horns 9,000.00
Water Department:
Building Code 381.25
Rates 13,192.23
1954 Sanitorium Bills
1,677.00
Miscellaneous
1.164.45
1953 Sanitorium Bills 622.14
Town Dump 530.92
1955 Revenue-Hurri-
cane Carol Fund 1,696.82
T.B.Hospital Assess-
ment
196.05
Westfield River Sewer Plans
1,750.00
Senator Ave. Sewers .. 835.56
$2,248,157.69
Street Sweeper
4,032.33
(continued on next page)
Accounts Receivable:
Water Guarantee De- posits 50.00
Trust Fund Income:
Levy of 1953
Feeding Hills
Cemetery:
General Care 12.18
Perpetual Care 22.35
Maple Grove Cemet'y 48.36
Revolving Funds:
School Lunch 8,312.81
Disability Assistance Aid
2,541.57
Administrative
237.02
George Barden School Fund 268.36
Smith Hughes
School Fund 102.83
F. Hills Fire Damage 1.341.46
Underestimates to be raised:
North and South West- field Sts. - Pipe ..
933.16
General $ 516,908.84
25
BALANCE SHEET December 31, 1954
Leonard St. Construc.
16,492.15
Civil Defense - Other 586.30
Chap. 90 Construc. '54
23,173.25
Rebuild Maple Grove Cemetery
540.00
High Sch'l Bld. Com.
58.52
Overlay Reserve
84,589.83
Land Taking
Liquori - School
1,500.00
Land Taking High School
20,000.00
Land Taking
New School
10,000.00
New High Schol
1,498,625.79
Danahy School Addit'n
140.49
Land Taking - Drain
500.00
Land Taking
Drain - Elbert Rd. ..
2.00
By-law Recodification
400.00
Departmental
3,392.68
Land Damages -
R. Choinard
250.00
Water
14,356.68
Land Damages
Heirs D. Crowley
150.00
Overestimates:
Land Damages -
County Tax
1,152.00
John S. Sarat
1,500.00
State Parks and
State Census
500.00
Reservations 8.10
Establish Boundaries
Surplus Revenue
Agawam - W. Spfld.
300.00
(E. & D.)
320,457.50
Agawam Centennial
4,703.13
Civil Defense - Air
$2,248,157.69
DEFERRED REVENUE ACCOUNTS
Apportioned Assessments
Not due:
Sewer $7,529.75
Due 1955-1956 Inclusive $7,529.75
Sidewalk
58.68
Apportioned Sidewalk Assessment Revenue: Due 1955-1959 Inclusive 58.68
$7,588.43
$7,588.43
Overlay Reserved for Abatements:
Levy of 1954
27,315.00
Levy of 1953
677.74
Revenue Reserved
Until Collected:
Motor Veh'le Excise
15,882.75
Tax Title
103,570.48
Special Assessments
14,983.72
Aid to Highways
17,318.65
Raid Alert System ..
505.00
Apportioned Sewer Assessment Revenue:
Chap. 90 Main. 1954
1,099.90
26
Town Treasurer
CASH RECEIPTS
Balance January 1, 1954
From Town Collector
$ 506,783.59 1,280,840.75
From Commonwealth of Massachusetts:
Corporation Tax - Business
$ 41,391.26
Income Tax
57,025.65
Meal Tax
2,351.53
School Building Assistance
15,553.44
State Aid (Teachers' Salaries)
56,700.00
Vocational Education
6,933.35
O. A. A. - Federal Grant
+1,860.79
A. D. C. - Federal Grant
8,432.61
Disability Assistance - Federal Grant
2,783.66
Chapter 90
13,379.56
Miscellaneous
9,039.11
255,499.66
From County of Hampden:
Dog Licenses
2,174.32
Chapter 90
24,663.40
26,837.72
New High School Bond Issue
2,100,000.00
Premium on Loan
4,651.50
nvestment of Bonds in U. S. Treasury Bills
10,649.40
All Other Receipts
252,083.15
2,367,384.05
Total Receipts and Cash on Hand
$ 4,437,345.77
CASH PAYMENTS
To Hampden County:
County Tax
$ 22.393.06
Dog Licenses
2.689.40
Contributory Retirement
31,695.64
$
56,778.10
To U. S. Government: . .
Withholding Tax
93,738.30
Employees Savings Bonds
1,162.50
94,900.80
To Commonwealth of Massachusetts:
State Parks and Reservations
255.09
State Audit
2,057.99
27
State Bottling License
10.00
2,323.08
Municipal Debt
40,000.00
Interest on Debt
34,395.00
Warrants For All Other
74,395.00 2,193,273.67
Total Payments
2,421,670.65
Cash on Hand December 31, 1954
2,015,675.12
$ 4,437,345.77
MUNICIPAL INDEBTEDNESS
Purpose of
Year
Date of Re- Yearly Princ.
Out-
Loan
Issued Rate
tirement
Payment
standing
Inside Debt Limit:
Feeding Hills School
Ext.
1949
2%
Feb. 1969
$20,000.00
$299,000.00
Katherine G. Danahy
School
1952
1.70
Feb. 1962
5,000.00
45,000.00
Benjamin J. Phelps
School
1952
1.70
Feb. 1962
5,000.00
45,000.00
Outside Debt. Limit:
Benjamin J. Phelps
School
1952
1.70
Feb. 1972
10,000.00
190,000.00
New High School
1954
21/4
Feb. 1974
105,000.00
2,100,000.00
TRUST FUNDS
Whiting Street Worthy Poor Fund:
Securities and Savings Bank Deposits
Desire A. Pyne Fund:
Securities
2,000.00.
Mary E. Phelon School Fund:
Securities and Savings Bank Deposits
4,225.91
Mary E. Phelon Library Fund:
Securities
500.0
Old Cemetery Fund:
Savings Bank Deposits
700.0
Maple Grove Cemetery Fund: Savings Bank Deposits
1,405.7
Old Cemetery Ass'n. of Feeding Hills:
Savings Bank Deposits
280.0
Feeding Hills Old Cemetery Ass'n. Fund:
Savings Bank Deposits
160.0
Post War Rehabilitation Fund:
Savings Bank Deposits
82.9
28
$5,595.00
Town Collector
During the year the following balances and committments were col- lected and turned over to the Town Treasurer as of December 31, 1954.
TAXES:
Committed and Refunds
Collected
Abated
Out- standing Jan. 1, '55
LEVY OF 1952:
Poll
$ 54.00
$ 26.00
$ 30.00
$
Refund
2.00
Personal
2,011.43
1,734.68
276.75
Real Estate
260.75
260.75
Motor Excise
1,219.56
393.77
775.54
50.25
LEVY OF 1953:
Poll
308.00
156.00
108.00
14.00
Personal
1,165.37
3,531.63
633.74
Real Estate
50,219.17
50,022.92
195.75
Refunds
140.50
Tax Titles
141.00
Motor Excise
22,382.85
20,692.32
1,357.81
Refunds
361.75
694.47
EVY OF 1954:
Poll
7,752.00
6,594.00
856.00
306.00
Refunds
4.00
Personal
96,940.80
93,281.71
255.00
3,597.89
Refunds
193.80
Real Estate
878,403.34
806.725.03
16,342.95
56,503.11
Refunds
1,968.45
Tax Titles
800.70
Motor Excise
125.691.98
104,464.62
8,081.30
14,474.69
VATER:
Rates
95,559.34
82.354.61
12.50
13,192.23
Miscellaneous
6,180.85
4,875.40
172.00
1,164.45
Billings:
Refunds
31.00
Connections
6.350.00
6,350.00
50.00
Refunds
50.00
Refunds
1,328.63
29
DEPARTMENTAL ACCOUNTS:
Committed and Refunds
Collected
Abated
Out- standing Jan. 1, '55
Health &
Sanitation
$ 14,135.83
$ 13,975.83
$
$ 160.00
School
2,210.01
1,735.05
476.96
Veteran's
Benefits
2,474.00
2,016.45
457.55
Welfare
59,444.10
57,135.12
10.81
2,298.17
Miscellaneous
5.00
5.00
BETTERMENTS:
Unapportioned Sidewalk
1,511.50
581.97
30.00
899.53
Unapportioned
1,199.00
Sewer
42,136.98
14,160.53
187.50
Refunds
218.95
8,402.25
18,406.65
Unapportioned
Sewer added to
1952 Taxes
187.00
187.00
Committed Interest 1952
7.11
7.11
Apportioned
Sewer added to
1954 Taxes
984.33
859.62
133.81
Refund
9.10
Unapportioned
Sewer added to
1954 Taxes
187.50
187.50
Apportioned
Sidewalk added to
1954 Taxes
15.00
15.00
Committed Interest
1954 Taxes
409.79
352.31
60.2
Refund
2.73
Apportioned Sewer
Paid in advance
1,184.80
1,184.80
-
7 Added to taxes
¿ Deferred Revenue
30
Town Clerk
The year 1954 saw the efforts of this office being marshalled to handle the preparations, recording and subsequent notification to the proper Town and Commonwealth Officers of the results of three elections - Town, State Primaries and State Election - and four town meetings. A breakdown of the attendance figures at these various vital functions points up, unfortunate- ly, a definite lack of interest on the part of our citizens.
Reg. Voters 6125
Attendance 3867
Pct. 63%
Town Election
State Primaries
Reg. Democrats
1010
404
40%
Reg. Republicans
1293
157
12%
State Election
7010
4919
70%
The figures for attendance at the four town meetings range from a mere 400 plus at the Annual Meeting at which was voted a total of $1,549,160.80 (including transfers) to a bare quorum (50) for some of the Special Meetings which voted an additional total of $99,137.74 for various purposes. Mone- tary matters are not the only business of town meetings as we acted upon 19 Zoning By-law changes, adopted a revised Plumbing Code, accepted sta- tutes relating to a Fire Chief, revised wage classifications and took action upon other matters too numerous to mention here. An interested citizenry is our best guarantee of a strong and resourceful town government.
STATISTICS
Births
275
Marriages
142
Deaths
95
Dog Licenses issued
1,182
Sporting Licenses issued
1,803
Chattel mortgages, business certificates, Board of Ap-
peals decisions and miscellaneous recordings .... 644
Auditor's Report and Letter
October 5, 1954
To the Board of Selectmen
Mr. Frederick C. Emerson, Chairman
Agawam, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
I submit herewith my report of an audit of the books and accounts of the town of Agawam for the period from November 16, 1952 to June 30,
31
1954, made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44, General Laws. This is in the form of a report made to me by Mr. William Schwartz, As- sistant Director of Accounts.
Very truly yours, HERMAN B. DINE Director of Accounts
HBD:EMH
Mr. Herman B. Dine Director of Accounts Department of Corporations and Taxation
State House, Boston
Sir:
In accordance with your instructions, I have made an audit of the books and accounts of the town of Agawam for the period from November 16, 1952, the date of the previous examination, to June 30, 1954, and submit the following report thereon:
The financial transactions, as entered on the records of the several departments receiving or disbursing town funds or committing bills for collection, were examined and checked in detail.
SELECTMEN: The records pertaining to licenses and permits granted by the board of selectmen and issued by the town treasurer were checked with the records of licenses granted and the payments to the treasurer were verified.
TOWN ACCOUNTANT: The books and accounts of the town ac- countant were examined and checked in detail. The receipts, as recorded. were checked with the treasurer's record of receipts and the recorded pay- ments were checked with the selectmen's warrants and with the treasurer's record of disbursements.
The appropriations, as listed from the town clerk's record of town meetings, were checked with the ledger appropriation accounts, the transfers from the reserve fund were compared with the authorizations of the finance committee, and all other accounts were checked with information in the departments in which the transactions originated.
The ledgers were analyzed, a trial balance was taken off and, after the necessary audit adjustments were made, a balance sheet showing the financial condition of the town on June 30, 1954 was prepared and is appended to this report.
TOWN TREASURER: The books and accounts of the town treasurer were examined and checked. The recorded receipts were analyzed and compared with the records of the departments collecting money for the
T
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town and with other sources from which money was paid into the town treasury. The payments were checked with the warrants of the selectmen authorizing them, and the cash balance on June 30, 1954 was proved by reconciliation of the bank balances with statements received from the de- positories, by actual count of the cash in the office and by examination of the United States Treasury Bills.
The records of payroll deductions for Federal taxes, contributory re- tirement system, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and savings bond purchases were examined. The payments to the Director of Internal Revenue, the county treasurer, and the Massachusetts Hospital Service, Inc., as well as for the purchase of bonds, were verified, and the balances in the general treasury on June 30, 1954 were listed and proved with the accountant's ledger.
The records of tax titles and tax possessions held by the town were examined. The registers were analyzed and checked with the collector's and treasurer's accounts and also with the records of the Registry of Deeds.
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