USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1951-1955 > Part 51
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As your Plumbing Inspector, I would at this time like to express my appreciation for the cooperation shown me by all the plumbers and owners of buildings and homes in Agawam. I assure you that I will continue to do my utmost to make the Town of Agawam a clean and healthy place to live, and be a credit to all. It has been a pleasure to serve you. Your suggestions, help and advice are always welcome.
Animal Inspector
I herewith submit my Annual Report as Animal Inspector for the year 1955:
Barns Inspected
46
Number of Cows 356
Number of Calves 206
Number of Bulls
19
Number of Steers
56
Number of Horses
25
Number of Swine
621
Number of Sheep
30
Number of Goats 10
61
Cattle shipped into town (ear tags) 29
Dog Bites 44
Again in my coverage of the Town, I found barns and animals in a clean and sanitary state. It is very important that all persons bringing cattle into the town must be accompanied by a permit.
There was a slight decrease in dog bite cases this year which was gratify- ing to say the least.
I again caution all townspeople to report all cases of being bitten by a dog as we hope to be able to keep that dread disease of Rabies out of this part of the country.
I have kept in close contact with Mr. Francis Murphy, Health Agent, on all cases pertaining to his office and mine.
Commercial Slaughter Inspector
Mr. Artem Honchar had under his supervision the two commercial slaughter houses in Agawam. During the year he made ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections of the following animals:
Calves 1,220
Beef cattle 28
Sheep
124
TOTAL 1,372
Domestic Slaughter Inspector
Mr. Herbert G. Taylor made ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections of 245 swine. Two swine carcases were condemned.
Fire Department
The Fire Department answered a total of two hundred fifty one calls (251) as follows:
Buildings 67
Grass and Brush 145
Automobiles 23
62
th
h
False 4
Miscellaneous 12
TOTAL 251
A total of two hundred five (205) inspections were made as follows:
Oil Burners and Tanks 172
Gas Tanks 5
Propane Gas 28
TOTAL
205
As Chief of the Department I wish to express my fullest appreciation to the entire force of firefighters both regular and volunteer for their performance and abilities to arduous duties.
To the Board of Selectmen I also express my sincere thanks for their fullest cooperation.
To the Citizens we will strive to merit your confidence in us.
To the Police Department our sincere thanks for your cooperation to us at all fires.
All apparatus is in good condition at the present time, Stations No. 1 and No. 3 were repaired and painted by the men on duty and they have done a fine job of it. Station No. 2 is in very bad shape and repairs to this building would be a waste of time and money and I would recommend a new Station in the very near future. And again, I would like to express my thanks to all the men for their work at all Stations.
Due to the increasing number of calls I would like to recommend that additional men be added to this department.
Library Trustees
The three libraries have been open as usual except for the one at Feeding Hills which was closed twice because the heater did not function. A new heating system is badly needed there.
All the libraries have had a big increase in children's reading both for their entertainment and for studying.
It is gratifying to have the newcomers use our books.
Feeding Hills
Agawam 8,500
North Agawam
No. books
8,50
5,128
Borrowers
700
1,100
902
Circulation
4,920
21,506
11,294
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New Plant Under Construction for Buxton, Inc.
Industrial Development
The Agawam Industrial Development Commission. a 15 member body, was appointed in March, 1955, by town meeting vote to investigate business and industrial prospects within the town's limits.
Since its inception, the commission has become an active force inter- ested in the problems of present businesses and aligning formulae to lure acceptable business and industry to Agawam.
Industry, itself, cannot overlook Agawam's combination of facilities- choice sites, connecting state highways and proximity to relative industries. A recent survey of the Greater Springfield area located 7 out of 17 prime industrial sites in Agawam. Thus, the intentions of the commission lie in creating a proper disposition for the inevitable expansion and safeguarding present property values.
The commission's present concentrations deal with collecting facts re- garding local facilities and resources attractive to industry and putting those facts into a form for expedient presentation to industrial prospects.
Although the job of the commission calls for long-term planning, im- aginative and aggressive promotion, the commission hopes by interview studies to first determine the quality and degree of business and industry most desired. Presently. the Industrial Development Commission possesses a fully tabulated list of Agawam enterprises, large and small.
General committee meetings, held the last Thursday of each month, are open to the public. Separate committee meetings are held throughout the month, reporting their findings at the general session.
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Parks and Playgrounds
We are very pleased to be able to report a successful year under the limitation of the budget allowed this department.
We have enclosed the report given to the commission by the Director of recreation and feel it warrants your attention.
Playground Director
We again had an increase in attendance over previous years despite the slowdown of the last two weeks because of the polio epidemic. Our at- tendance for the year was 10,066, with the breakdown as follows:
Phelps, 2,801; Reed, 680; Danahy, 1,529; Shea's, 1,637; Pierce, 1,725; Granger, 1,694; a grand total of 10,066.
Our program of arts and crafts under the capable direction of Miss Barry, again was a huge success with approximately 1500 children taking part during the summer months.
Field days were held at each play area once a week and proved suc- cessful with an average of 300 participants each week in field day activity.
Upon advice of medical and health authorities, it was decided to cancel our Riverside Park outing this year. The park department felt that the health of the children came first and rather than risk the danger of polio which was prevalent in our town at that time, felt that it would be too dan- gerous to take large groups of children on such an outing.
We also were happy to help "Little League" officials in handling some of the younger boys in its midget leagues. We held informal games twice a week at the Phelps and Granger play areas for these youngsters.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Commissioners and play- ground personnel for their cooperation during the summer.
The commissioners plan to undertake the task of rebuilding Shea's Field, Robinson Park, now that the state has deeded the Town this much needed area for recreation. With the help of town officials and departments we believe we can meet the need for ball diamonds and picnic areas and the problem of adult evening softball and other recreational activities.
Noting that our field day events were successful this past summer the commissioners will instruct our director to increase this activity next summer with awards being presented to all event winners.
With the rapid increase in population in our town, we find that in the very near future, in order to meet the demand for recreational activities, our department must become a full-time operation. We request that the Board of Selectmen will give this situation your most devoted attention.
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Highway Department
The Highway Department has had a very hectic year with August and October floods to contend with, besides trying to get a normal amount of streets surfaced before cold weather.
Most unsurfaced roads were rough graded and an oil dust layer was spread; brush along roads cus and the usual patching done.
Chapter 90 work consisted of widening and resurfacing Maple Street; resurfacing the East half of Suffield Street from Cooper to Mill Street and putting shoulders on Springfield Street.
A variety of signs have been installed in connection with Town ordi- nances.
2,191 feet of paved streets were resurfaced. 9,006 feet of streets were reconstructed and surfaced with rock or stone.
The rubbish collection is increasing in number of stops weekly.
The garbage collection has been turned over to the Highway Depart- ment and with only one truck a satisfactory collection cannot be made.
The Sewer Department has opened up 98 house lines and installed 101 new services. We have built several new manholes and catch basins; cleaned several storm drains, main sewer lines and catch basins.
The Army Engineers helped up out by freeing some of our main sewer lines and the Worthy Mill canal. Listed below is the approximate total ex- pended by Army Corps of Engineers to date:
Cleaning Sewers Approx. $13,612.00
Cleaning Canal Approx. 6,000.00 Cleaning Brook at
Suffield Street & Mill 300.00
Approx. Total $19,912.00
The Town has been reimbursed $12,000.00 by the Army Engineers for temporary repairs and an additional $9,000 has been asked for. The State has contracted for permanent repairs for our highway and surface drains, approximately $24,000.00.
The two new highway trucks have been a big help in expediting the department's work as has the new sandspreader, especially in the last two storms.
Engineering Department
Some of the projects were only partly completed because of the August and October floods, which curtailed a great deal of our work which normally would have been completed.
66
Traffic lights were installed at Springfield and Walnut Streets and at O'Brien's Corner.
Sidewalks have been constructed on the following streets:
Springfield Street - Concrete River Street - Concrete Franklin Street - 590 feet Line Street - 3000 feet
Road construction has been done on the following streets:
Leonard Street - 1500 feet
Line Street - 3000 feet
South Street - 1500 feet gravel
Mill Street - 800 feet gravel
Cooper Street - 1990 feet gravel
Liberty Street - 2000 feet
Sanitary Sewers have been constructed on the following streets:
Cooper Street - 1990 feet
Liberty Street - 1500 feet South Street - 1500 feet
No. Westfield Street - 3030 feet
Mill Street - 860 feet
Homer Street - 640 feet
Ralph and Park Streets - 400 feet Line Street - 2000 feet
Storm drains have been constructed on the following streets:
Leonard Street - 1146 feet Valentine Street - 450 feet
The Chapter 90 account for Cooper Street was contracted by the State for new surface drain and paving the road from Mill Street to the brook, but because of the flood, it was too late to get the work done this year.
The Engineering department has had quite a strenuous year, with a considerable amount of extra estimates for the State and Army Engineers, including some inspections due to flood damages.
All the new streets under the Planning Board control have had physical inspections: Parker Street., Stewart Lane, Raymond Circle, Autumn, Deer- ing, Dover, Dartmouth, Florida Drive, South Florida Dr., Valentine St. Ex- tension and Sunset Terrace.
All betterments have been measured and computed for assessments, made up and recorded at the Registry of Deeds.
Miscellaneous work such as laying out public streets, street numbering, traffic control surveys, also preliminary surveys, drafting and estimates for new construction for the coming year, made up the balance of the activities of this department.
67
I
Water Department
The following report of the Board of Water Commissioners reflects the activities of the Water Department for the year ending December 31, 1955 and an outline of the proposed new construction work for the year 1956.
WATER CONSUMPTION:
Again the 1955 consumption of water showed a marked increase over any previously recorded period with a total volume of water used of 346,- 784,600 gallons. This averages 958,314 gallons per day, but the peak load in any one day amounted to 2,706,000 gallons, which was about three times the average. The lowest daily use recorded was 602,800- gallons.
REVENUE:
The year just ended showed total receipts for all functions to be $112,- 713.80. This was a little under $15,000 more than total revenue for 1954. Revenue was secured from following: Water Committments
$100,724.90
New Water Connections and re- placements 11,988.90
$112,713.80
New Water services installed in 1955 amounted to 196 against 288 in 1954. Of the total installed 96 were done by developers and the balance by the water department. The department also converted 54 old services from galvanized pipe to copper tubing.
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS COMPLETED IN 1955:
Footage
Main Hydrants
Cost
Bessebrook Street
500 lin. ft. pipe
6"
1
$ 1,356.50
Greenock St.
600 lin. ft. pipe 6"
1
1,699.48
Reed St.
530 lin. ft. pipe 6"
0
2,009.10
Fairview Ave.
500 lin. ft. pipe
6"
1
1,335.65
Garden St.
500 lin. ft. pipe
6"
1
1,053.60
Silver Lake Dr.
509 lin. ft. pipe
6"
1 1,557.07
Maynard St.
1,000 lin. ft. pipe
6"
2
2,813.41
Meadow St .- Crossing new highway, tunneling and relocating Ralph St.
1,086.90
No. West St. and So. West St .- 2 hydrant installations
600.00
$15,137.38
PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION WORK FOR 1956:
Rhodes Ave.
900 6"
2 hydrant
Bessebrook St.
500'
6"
1 hydrant
Silver Lake Drive
500'
6"
1,624.27
1 hydrant
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Maynard St. Sterling Rd.
1000'
6"
2 hydrant
600'
6" 2 hydrant
Riverside Ave.
500
6"
2 hydrant
The department is anticipating requirements involving the lowering of mains where streets are bing regraded, and the removal and relocation of hydrants in same locations. Likewise several hydrant installations will be required where presently hydrant spacings are not within the distances recommended by the Fire Underwriters. A $1500. appropriation is being asked to cover above.
The cooperation of the towns people is very much appreciated, par- ticularly when emergency conditions make it necessary to quickly shut-down water service without advance notice to home owners. Whenever it is pos- sible to give such advance notice the Water Department will make every effort to do so and reduce to a minimum any inconveniences that might re- sult.
Agriculture Department
According to Section 45, Chapter 128 of the General Laws of the Com- monwealth, any town may appropriate money to be expended by the Trustees for carrying out the provisions of the law under which they are appointed.
Agents of the Trustees have made contacts during the past year in your town either by public meetings, individual farm and home visits, group dis- cussions, demonstrations or otherwise in attempting to assist citizens toward improved farm practices, better home management and boys and girls in 4-H Club projects.
The following citizens have been of real assistance in promoting such assigned projects as have been conducted during the year:
Charles Baker, Mr. and Mrs. O. D. Baker, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Behrens, Mrs. Herbert A. Briggs, Mrs. Charles Brown, Jr., Mrs. Douglas Carr, Mr. and Mrs. Irving Dean, Alexander Fearn, Mrs. George Greenfield, Mrs. Claude Guidetti, Mrs. Ernest Hall, Mrs. Dwight Hawley, Mrs. Edwin John- son, Mrs. Hollis F. Kane, Mrs. Frank Kusiak, Mrs. Stanley Lipski, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Longley, Mrs. Alfred Martel, Mrs. Frank Pfersick, Mrs. Clif- ford Pond, Mrs. Frank Prew, Miss Cecelia Ramah, Mrs. A. D. Stebbins.
An expense of $161.27 was incurred by these local leaders for either travel or purchase of material needed in carrying on the various programs.
Any appropriation made by your town to the Trustees is held by the County Treasurer and used exclusively for reimbursing your own citizens
69
for any necessary expenses they may incur in performing such duties as may be assigned to them.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
1955 Appropriation
$150.00
1954 Unexpended Balance 76.88
Total Available for 1955 226.88
Total Expenditure in 1955 161.27
Balance Available for 1956 65.61
Appropriation recommended for 1956
200.00
Board of Appeals
Twenty-six petitions asking variations from the requirements of the Zoning By-laws or the Building Code were filed with the Board during 1955.
Twenty meetings were held at which hearings on these petitions were given to the petitioners and other parties deemed interested under the terms of the laws.
One petition was continued, five were denied and twenty were granted. In several cases where the petition was granted the Board included in the decision such restrictions as they considered necessary to protect the best in- terests of the Town and neighborhood.
We wish once more to remind persons considering the purchase of a building lot or existing buildings to make sure that plans they may have for future use of the property are in compliance with the various By-laws of the Town as wel las the various State laws involved. Lack of the consideration of the conditions cannot be considered a legal "Hardship." It is absolutely necessary to prove "Hardship" before any variation can be granted by this Board.
Veterans' Agent
I herewith submit my annual report as Agent of Veterans' Benefits and Services.
There is still a large increase in the Veterans population of the town. This increases the work of the agent especially in tracing settlements of the
70
veteran and his dependents who come from other cities and towns who apply here for aid.
Cases receiving monetary aid paid entirely from town appropriations have not been very heavy in 1955 as employment has been very steady.
This past year 12 veterans were admitted to the Soldiers Home for either out patient or domiciliary care. Five veterans with service connected dis- ability were admitted to the Veterans Administration hospital in Newington, Connecticut.
Three veterans were admitted to local hospitals.
Four veterans' dependents were admitted to local hospitals.
Eight Agawam veterans died in 1955. Grave markers were furnished by the town and placed on the veterans' graves.
Assistance was given the widows and next of kin in getting any Federal or State benefits or survivors insurance.
Photostat copies of all service records were made and placed on file.
185 Veterans with a 10% or more disability, their widows, gold star mothers or holders of the purple heart applied at the assessors' office for applications for the $2,000.00 real estate exemption.
I wish to thank the Board of Selectmen, all department heads and the veterans of all wars for their cooperation in making this department func- tion so effectively this past year.
Planning Board
The Planning Board, besides holding its regular twelve monthly meetings on the first Thursday of each month, had seven special meetings, four of which were inspections of completed or partially completed subdivisions.
Hearings were held for nine proposed zone changes and four sub- divisions. Three subdivisions were approved.
On the application of the Planning Board, a hearing was held on the revision of lot sizes for residential zones and at the Annual Town Meeting the changes were passed so that lot sizes now required in residential zones are as follows:
Residence A-1 -110' frontage 13,500 sq. ft. area Residence A-2-90' frontage 11,000 sq. ft. area
Residence B-80' frontage 9,600 sq. ft. area Agriculture - 110' frontage 15,000 sq. ft. area
An addition was made to subdivision requirements so that a developer must now grade, loam and seed the tree belts in his subdivision.
A combined meeting of the Planning Board and the newly formed Busi- ness Development Commission was held to hear Professor Gerald McLinden
71
of the University of Massachusetts talk on Planning as it applied to a town like Agawam. The Board welcomes the Business Development Commission as a valuable aid to its function of planning the future growth of our Town since Business and Industry is a big factor in our future.
During the year a study was carried on sponsored by Future Springfield Inc. of potential industrial sites in Greater Springfield which included Aga- wain. Sixty-nine potential sites were mapped out in our town. At a joint meeting of the Planning Board and the Zoning sub-committee of the Busi- ness Development Commission and the chairman of the Board of Assessors these sites were considered individually and forty were decided to be im- practical for industrial sites but the remaining twenty-nine were judged to be good. These twenty-nine sites contain an area of 1812 acres.
The fact that outsiders are interested enough in Agawam's potential to spend money to conduct an industrial survey-the fact that an important nationally known business is building a new factory home in Agawam to join our expanding group-the fact that a wide awake group of local citizens is formed into a Business Development Commission to seek ways and means to attract more business to Agawam-These facts plus many other indications makes this Board more and more aware that our town, if its growth is guided wisely, can become very important commercially and industrially without impairing its desireability as a good place to live and own a home.
Civil Defense
Shortly after your present Director took office in mid-July, the rains and floods of August 19-20 came and created Emergencies that put the Civil Defense Organization and resources to the test. It is pleasant to report that all elements of the organization responded swiftly and efficiently, tribute to co the painstaking efforts of several years by former Director James A. O'Keefe a and Deputy Director James C. Atwater. The excellent work of registered s Civil Defense personnel and the many volunteers who reported for duty B drew favorable comment in the press and an official letter of commendation du from the State Civil Defense Director of (Western Mass.) Area No. 4. SU
An important lesson learned in the August incident was to maintain a ro relatively small, permanent organization of volunteers with specialized train- ing who can accept many untrained volunteers on short notice and assigr B them to useful and necessary tasks. It was also brought home, that genera en
purpose and versatile facilities and mobile communications will go far ir minimizing damage from disaster and in the efficient utilization of the man- power and resources at hand.
It is proposed to continue with a modest program of training in the usean
Th he
72
of the most necessary, specialized equipment directly usable in preventing loss of life or property in emergencies.
Renewed efforts are being made to develop a Medical unit, as well as Rescue teams and a Warden Service. Through these, and illustrated lectures before representative community groups, it is hoped that each resident of Agawam will have an opportunity to participate in and/or learn the basic methods of Civil Defense that are designed to insure our survival in the event of any future disaster or armed conflict.
Housing Authority
The board of directors of the Agawam Housing Authority respectfully submit the following report for the year 1955:
During the year major furnace repairs were completed in order to overcome engineering defects in the original installation. The tub areas of all thirty-two bathrooms in project 200-1 were covered with plastic tile. Arrangements were made with a local firm to collect rubbish from both projects on a weekly basis. The Authority has maintained its previous policy of systematic painting and repairing the interiors of the dwellings and in addition has been gradually replacing worn-out window shades in both projects. Due to the cooperation of the Town Officials it was possible to provide a sidewalk in front of the buildings on Franklin Street. Chair rails were provided in all the kitchens to prevent damage to the walls.
Plans for this year include a second request to the State Housing Board for permission to erect canopies over the back doors of the original thirty-two units. The State Housing Board has indicated that approval will be forth- coming. Also, plans are already under way to insure against a reoccurance of damages caused by water seepage in the basements during prolonged rain storms. Tentative approval has been received from the State Housing Board for the installation of a gas hot water heater to provide hot water during the summer months. It is contemplated that this will provide a substantial saving on fuel costs and also permit the furnaces and furnace room to be properly cleaned and prepared for the heating season.
The present admission and income limits as set by the State Housing Board are as follows: One minor dependent, $3,650.00; two minor depend- ents, $3,665.00, and three or more minor dependents, $3,900.00. The con- tinued occupancy limits are $3,900.00, $4,025.00 and $4,150.00 respectively. The average cost of shelter rent for two or three bedroom units (without heat or hot water furnished) is $42.45 per month. Each unit is furnished with an electric refrigerator and electric range. Eleven vacancies during the year
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were filled from applications on file. Of the eleven tenants which vacated, six have built homes in Agawam.
Our meetings have been well attended and we wish to thank our Execu- tive Director, Mr. Herbert C. Litchfield, Jr., our Accountant, Mr. W. Arthur Wyatt and our project Custodian Mr. Lorin C. Geoffrion, for their coopera- tion during the year.
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