Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1951-1955, Part 43

Author: Agawam (Mass. : Town)
Publication date: 1951
Publisher: Agawam (Mass. : Town)
Number of Pages: 1034


USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1951-1955 > Part 43


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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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


I


· d


T


32


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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