USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1936 > Part 19
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30
CHARLES A. HARDY, Treasurer. CLARENCE NEEDHAM, Accountant.
349
TOWN ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT
E. NELSON BLAKE LIBRARY FUND
1936
Principal of Fund.
$4,000.00
Increased Home Owners Loan Bonds 73.75
Receipts
Interest on:
$4,000 Home Owners' Loan
Corp. Bonds . $120.00
Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank deposit. 2.28
$122.28
$4,196.03
Payments
Paid Town for Disbursement
$122.28
$4,073.75
Investments
Home Owners' Loan Bonds, 1952, 3%. .
$4,000.00
Arlington Five Cents Savings
Bank Book No. 52201 73.75
$4,073.75
WILLIAM A. MULLER, CYRUS E. DALLIN, M. HELEN TEELE,
THERESE N. TURNER,
CHARLES J. WALSH, ARTHUR J. WELLINGTON, Trustees.
CHARLES A. HARDY, Treasurer. CLARENCE NEEDHAM, Accountant.
350
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
NATHAN PRATT LIBRARY FUND
1936
Principal of Fund $10,000.00
Receipts
Interest on:
Arlington Five Cents Savings
Bank
$276.88
$10,276.88
Payments
Paid Town for Disbursement . $276.88
$10,000.00
Investments
Arlington Five Cents Savings
Bank, Book No. 40850 $10,000.00
ROSCOE R. PERRY, ARTHUR J. WELLINGTON, ERNEST H. FREEMAN, VAL T. HANSON, W. D. CLARK, JR.
Trustees. CHARLES A. HARDY, Treasurer.
CLARENCE NEEDHAM, Accountant.
351
TOWN ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT
NATHAN PRATT HIGH SCHOOL FUND
1936
Principal of Fund
$25,000.00
Receipt
Interest on:
Arlington Five Cents Savings
Bank .
$332.25
332.25
$25,332.25
Payments
Paid Town for Disbursement .
$332.25
$25,000.00
Investments N.Y., N.H. & H R.R. Debenture Bonds 4% due 1955. $13,000.00 Interest suspended.
. Arlington Five Cents Savings
Bank, Book No. 40413
12,000.00
$25,000,000
ROSCOE R. PERRY, ARTHUR J. WELLINGTON, ERNEST H. FREEMAN, VAL T. HANSON, W. D. CLARK, JR.
Trustees.
CHARLES A. HARDY, Treasurer. CLARENCE NEEDHAM, Accountant.
352
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
E. NELSON BLAKE JR. MEMORIAL FUND
1936
Principal of Fund. $3,000.00
Receipts
Interest on Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank deposit. $83.06
$3,083.06
Payments
Paid Town for Disbursement.
$83.06
$3,000.00
Investments
Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank Book No. 12541 . $3,000.00
. ROSCOE R. PERRY, ARTHUR J. WELLINGTON, ERNEST H. FREEMAN, VAL T. HANSON, W. D. CLARK, JR.
Trustees.
CHARLES A. HARDY, Treasurer. CLARENCE NEEDHAM, Accountant.
353
TOWN ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT
NATHAN PRATT POOR WIDOWS' FUND
1936
Principal of Fund.
$5,000.00
Receipts
Interest on:
Water Loan 1925 note. 40.00
Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank. 111.00
$151.00
$5,151.00
Payments
Paid Town for Disbursement.
$151.00
$5,000.00
Investment Transactions in 1935
Water Loan 1925 Note 443 4% matured .. $1,000.00
.
Deposited in Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank . 1,000.00
354
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Investments Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank Book No. 40450.
$5,000.00
ROSCOE R. PERRY, ARTHUR J. WELLINGTON, ERNEST H. FREEMAN, VAL T. HANSON, W. D. CLARK, JR.
CHARLES A. HARDY, Treasurer. CLARENCE NEEDHAM, Accountant.
Trustees.
355
TOWN ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT
E. S. FARMER POOR WIDOWS' FUND 1936
Principal of Fund
$5,000.00
Receipts
Interest on :
Arlington Five Cents Savings
Bank Deposit . 138.44
$5,138.44
Payments
Paid Town for Disbursement.
$138.44
$5,000.00
Investments
Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank Book No. 40379 $5,000.00
ROSCOE R. PERRY, ARTHUR J. WELLINGTON, ERNEST H. FREEMAN,
VAL T. HANSON, W. D. CLARK, JR.
Trustees.
CHARLES A. HARDY, Treasurer.
CLARENCE NEEDHAM, Accountant.
356
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
E. S. FARMER RELIEF FUND 1936
Principal of Fund
$5,000.00
Increase West End Bonds to Par 145.00
$5,145.00
Receipts
Interest on:
U. S. Treasury Bond . $33.75
West End Ry. Bond. .
50.00
Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank Deposit . 87.45
$171.20
$5,316.20
Payments
Paid Town for Disbursement.
$171.20
$5,145.00
Investments
U. S. Treasury Bond 1947 33/8% . $1,000.00
West End Ry. Bond 1944 5%. . . 1,000.00
Arlington Five Cents Savings
Bank Book No. 20873
3,145.00
$5,145.00
ROSCOE R. PERRY, ARTHUR J. WELLINGTON, ERNEST H. FREEMAN, VAL T. HANSON, W. D. CLARK, JR.
Trustees.
CHARLES A. HARDY, Treasurer. CLARENCE NEEDHAM, Accountant.
357
TOWN ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT
MARY CUTTER POOR WIDOW'S FUND 1936
Principal of Fund.
$613.11
Receipts
Interest on Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank Deposit . $16.98
$630.09
Payments
Paid Town for Disbursements.
$16.98
$613.11
Investments
Deposited in Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank, Book No. 15,105 . . $613.11
ERNEST W. DAVIS, HAROLD M. ESTABROOK, GEORGE H. LOWE, JR., Trustees, ex-officio.
CHARLES A. HARDY, Treasurer. CLARENCE NEEDHAM, Accountant.
358
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
MARTHA M. W. RUSSELL POOR WIDOW'S FUND 1936
Principal of Fund.
$1,704.23
Receipts
Interest on Arlington Five Cents
Savings Bank Deposit . 47.17
$1,751.40
Payments
Paid Town for Disbursement.
47.17
$1,704.23
Investments
Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank, Book No. 439 $1,704.23
ERNEST W. DAVIS, HAROLD M. ESTABROOK, GEORGE H. LOWE, JR., Trustees ex-officio.
CHARLES A. HARDY, Treasurer. CLARENCE NEEDHAM, Accountant.
359
TOWN ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT
WILLIAM CUTTER SCHOOL FUND
1936
Receipts
Principal of Fund. $5,354.00
Interest on:
Water Loan, 1925 $120.00
Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank Deposit.
65.92
185.92
$5,539.92
Payments -
Paid Town for Disbursements. . . . 185.92
$5,354.00
Investment Transactions in 1936.
Investments January 1, 1936. . . . . $5,354.00
Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank Deposit. 1,000.00
$6,354.00
Investments decreased :
One Water Loan note 444
matured
1,000.00
Investments December 31, 1936. . . $5,354.00
360
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Investments One Water Loan, 1925 Note, 4%
due Dec. 30, 1937 . $2,000.00
Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank Book No. 15,102. 3,354.00
$5,354.00
ERNEST W. DAVIS, HAROLD M. ESTABROOK, GEORGE H. LOWE, JR., Trustees ex-officio.
CHARLES A. HARDY, Treasurer. CLARENCE NEEDHAM, Accountant.
361
TOWN ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT
MARTHA M. W. RUSSELL SCHOOL FUND
1936
Principal of Fund.
$5,327.86
Interest on:
Receipts
Water Loan, 1925. $120.00
Arlington Five Cents Savings
Bank Deposit .
65.19
185.19
$5,513.05
Payments
Paid Town for Disbursement.
185.19
$5,327.86
Investments
Two Water Loan, 1925 Notes 4%
due Dec. 30, 1938-39 . $3,000.00
Arlington Five Cents Savings
Bank, Book No. 9,373
2,327.86
$5,327.86
ERNEST W. DAVIS, HAROLD M. ESTABROOK, GEORGE H. LOWE, JR., Trustees ex-officio.
CHARLES A. HARDY, Treasurer. CLARENCE NEEDHAM, Accountant.
362
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
JULIA FILLEBROWN FUND
1936
Principal of Fund. $100.00
Receipts
Interest on Arlington Five Cents
Savings Bank Deposit . 2.76
$102.76
Payments
Paid Town for Disbursements. . . 2.76
$100.00
Investments
Arlington Five Cents Savings
Bank Book No. 15,841 . $100.00
ERNEST W. DAVIS, HAROLD M. ESTABROOK, GEORGE H. LOWE, JR., Trustees ex-officio.
CHARLES A. HARDY, Treasurer. CLARENCE NEEDHAM, Accountant.
363
TOWN ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT
PERPETUAL CARE FUND 1936
Amount of Fund January 1, 1936.
$116,743.00
Received for Perpetual Care of Lots 9,510.00
Increased West End Bonds to Par 650.00
$126,903.00
Income Account
Balance of Income Jan. 1, 1936 $13,927.44 Interest on:
West End 5% Bonds . . 250.00
U.S. Treasury 27/8% Bonds. . . 143.75
U.S. Treasury 314% Bonds. . . 162.50
Lake Street Loan
160.00
Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank
1,805.81
Menotomy Trust Co. Savings Dept. .
1,105.28
Boston Five Cents Savings Bank . .
103.92
Provident Inst. for Savings.
55.27
17,713.97
$144,616.97
Payments
Paid Town for Disbursement .. . $3,713.75
Rent of safe deposit box 7.50
3,721.25
Permanent Fund and Accumulated Income. $140,895.72
364
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Investment Transactions in 1936
Total investments Jan. 1, 1936. $130,670.44
Deposited in Arlington Savings Bank . $9,318.31
Deposited in Menotomy Trust
Co. Savings Dept. 1,097.78
Deposited in Boston Five Cents Savings . 103.92
Deposited in Provident Institu- tion of Savings. 55.27
Increased West End Bonds to Par 650.00
$11,225.28
$141,895.72
Investments Decreased
Lake Street Note 331 Matured . . $1,000.00
$140,895.72
Investments
Three Lake St. Notes 4% due 1937-39. $3,000.00
U. S. Treasury Bonds 278% 55/60.
5,000.00
U. S. Treasury Bonds 314% .
5,000.00
West End St. Ry 5% Bonds.
5,000.00
Arlington Five Cents Savings ings Bank . . 71,369.47
Menotomy Trust Co. Savings Dept . 45,038.17
365
TOWN ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT
Boston Five Cents Savings
Bank. .
4,235.22
Provident Inst. for Savings .. 2,252.86
$140,895.72
J. EDWIN KIMBALL, M. ERNEST MOORE, FREDERICK HILL, Cemetery Commissioners.
CHARLES A. HARDY, Treasurer. CLARENCE NEEDHAM, Accountant.
366
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
SAMUEL C. BUCKNAM CEMETERY FUND 1936
Permanent Fund .
$2,000.00
Income Account
Balance from 1935.
$28.07
Interest on:
Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank
deposit .
56.15
84.22
$2,084.22
Expenditures
Paid Town for Disbursement
56.15
$2,028.07
Investments
Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank Book No. 12,248. $2,028.07
J. EDWIN KIMBALL, M. ERNEST MOORE, FREDERICK W. HILL, Cemetery Commissioners.
CHARLES A. HARDY, Treasurer. CLARENCE NEEDHAM, Accountant.
367
TOWN ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT
SOLDIERS' MONUMENT FUND 1936
Permanent Fund .
$2,000.00
Income Account
Balance from 1935 .
$990.33
Interest on Arlington Five Cents Sav-
ings Bank deposit .
82.79
$1,073.12
$3,073.12
Expenditures
Paid Town for Disbursement.
40.00
$3,033.12
Investments
Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank Book No. 6977 $3,033.12
J. EDWIN KIMBALL, M. ERNEST MOORE, FREDERICK W. HILL, Cemetery Commissioners.
CHARLES A. HARDY, Treasurer. CLARENCE NEEDHAM, Accountant.
368
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
ROBBINS CEMETERY FUND
1936
Permanent Fund.
$5,000.00
Income Account
Balance from 1935
$425.14
Interest on:
Water Loan 1925 Notes 120.00
Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank Deposit. 67.89
613.03
$5,613.03
Expenditures
Paid Town for Disbursement.
. .
187.89
$5,425.14
Investments
Two Water Loan 1925 Notes, 4%
due 1939-40 . $3,000.00
Arlington Five Cents Savings
Bank Book No. 6758
2,425.14
$5,425.14
J. EDWIN KIMBALL, M. ERNEST MOORE, FREDERICK W. HILL, Cemetery Commissioners.
CHARLES A. HARDY, Treasurer. CLARENCE NEEDHAM, Accountant.
369
TOWN ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE ELBRIDGE FARMER FUND
For the Year Ending December 31, 1936
Receipts
10M Duke Power Co. 412%
Bonds, due 1967-Interest (to Jan. 31, 1936) . $75.00
5M Illinois Central R.R. 434s,
due 1966-Interest . 237.50
10M U.S. Treasury 3s, 1955 Interest . 300.00
Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank-Interest . 172.50
Menotomy Trust Company Sav. Dept .- Interest 319.28
Menotomy Trust Company In- come Acct .- Interest . 13.78
Boston Five Cents Savings Bank -Interest . 75.00
Provident Institution for Savings -Interest
75.00
Suffolk Savings Bank-Interest .
75.00
Franklin Savings Bank-In-
terest .
64.12
$1,407.18
Disbursements
Menotomy Trust Co. Safe De- posit Box . $5.50
Postage and Insurance Duke Power Co. Bonds. 1.44
Treasurer, Town of Arlington . . .
1,400.24
$1,407.18
370
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Investments
5M Illinois Central R.R. Co. 434s, 1966.
$5,000.00
10M U.S. Treasury 3s, 1955.
10,000.00
Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank . 10,000.00
Menotomy Trust Co. Savings Dept. 12,771.00
Boston Five Cents Savings Bank 3,000.00
Franklin Savings Bank . 2,782.77
Cambridge Savings Bank . 4,450.00
Provident Institution for Savings 3,000.00
Suffolk Savings Bank .
3,000.00
$54,003.77
JOHN A. BISHOP,
EBEN F. DEWING,
JAMES A. BAILEY,
JOHN G. BRACKETT,
WILLIAM D. ELWELL,
FREDERICK W. HILL,
Trustees.
371
TOWN TREASURER'S REPORT
REPORT OF THE TOWN TREASURER
1936
Cash on hand January 1, 1936. $142,480.00
Receipts, 1936. 3,862,330.12
$4,004,810.12
Payments, 1936.
3,882,897.96
Cash on hand, December 31, 1936 $121,912.16
TAX TITLES
Tax Titles are lots sold or taken by the Town each Fall on which the taxes for the previous year have not been paid. They are not taxes, neither are they titles, but simply liens on the properties. The Collector makes out a deed for each lien, has it recorded at the Registry of Deeds and hands the deeds to the Treasurer. Taxes of subsequent years with interest are added to each tax title without further sale.
After two years the Treasurer must foreclose and take the property for the Town if the back taxes and costs are still unpaid. A partial payment, however, may be made consisting of at least one-quarter of the tax for which the property was sold, plus all costs and interest to date of payment, and this extends the time of redemption one year but no more.
Under a recent law the Town may sell Tax Titles. The purchaser secures an interest in the property superior to every other interest, subject only to the right of re- demption.
372
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
The holder of a tax title has no right to collect rents or do anything to the property, until it is foreclosed.
The partial payment plan cannot be adopted in the event the Tax Title is held by others than the munici- pality.
The foreclosures of our Tax Titles, after the time limit has expired, are kept closely up to date.
Our tax titles increased rapidly from $2,257.86 in 1929, to $156,790.93 December 31, 1935. The amount is charged against surplus. Our tax titles December 31, 1936, amounted to $153,489.44, representing about 400 parcels. We have borrowed against Tax Titles three times, once $100,000 in 1935, then $50,000, and this year $39,000. These amounts being paid back from the money received as Tax Titles were redeemed, are credited to surplus.
We reduced our loan on Tax Titles to $9,683.77 by December 31st.
We have foreclosed on about two hundred lots, mostly lots of small value, $50 to $300 or $400.
These are now Tax Possessions and three or four have been disposed of to builders. However, one block of four small stores was taken, value $8,050, one tract of land which was assessed for $17,650, and one house valued at $1,750.
Our funded debt has been reduced from over $2,000,000 to less than $1,000,000 during the past few years, and with a marked improvement in tax collections our fiscal condition is quite sound.
CHARLES A. HARDY, Town Treasurer.
373
FINANCE COMMITTEE
REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Finance Committee of 1935-36 held thirteen meetings from January 3, to April 3, and reported to the Special Town Meeting of January 29, the Annual and Special of March 18, and the Special Meeting of April 8, 1936.
The Finance Committee of 1936-37 was organized May 7, 1936.
Precinct :
1. Carleton M. Cobb.
2. Leo A. Murphy.
3. Francis A. O'Hearn.
4. Edward D. Buckley.
5. Maurice J. Geary.
6. Walter T. Chamberlain, chairman.
7. Lawrence Carrigan.
8. Roderick J. Peters.
9. Clifford D. Strout.
10. Harold N. Anderson, vice chairman.
11. James F. Younie.
12. T. Gordon Smith, secretary.
13. Clarence H. Conroy.
14. William E. Stevens.
Ernest Hesseltine was appointed clerk of the com- mittee.
Due to the pressure of business, Mr. O'Hearn offered his resignation at the organization meeting and James H. Young was elected in his place as a member from Precinct 3.
374
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Mr. Conroy resigned because of removal from town, and was succeeded by William S. Patterson as member from Precinct 13.
William E. Stevens of Precinct 14 resigned November 6, and Clarence B. Higgins was elected in his place.
Five meetings (May 7 to December 18) were held and reports made to three Special Town Meetings: May 13, October 19, and November 30.
The following transfers from the Reserve Fund were granted:
Appropriation $15,000.00
Selectmen :
Board of Appeal, Expenses. . $65.00
Town Accountant:
Personal Services ..... $14.00
Material and Expenses. 60.63
Equipment.
160.00
234.63
Elections and Town Meetings, Expenses 625.00
Robbins Memorial Town Hall:
Personal Services ..... $36.68
Material and Expenses 900.00
Maintenance of
Grounds. 225.00
1,161.68
Police Department, Maintenance of Building . 285.00
Fire Department, Material and Expenses 355.39
375
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Building, Plumbing and Gas In-
spection, Personal Services . . . 13.34
Traffic Signals, Outlay : 1 1/2-ton truck . 558.00
Welfare Department :
Personal Services . . . 13.34 Material and Expenses. 325.00
338.34
Maintenance of Menotomy Hall and Houses Owned by the Town: Menotomy Hall. .... $214.90 Robbins House and Cottage. 217.39
432.29
Joint Board, Selectmen, Public Works: Wire Department: Material and Expenses . . 80.00
Board of Survey:
Personal Services .
125.00
Expenses .
70.00
195.00
Town Treasurer:
Personal Services .
3.00
Town Clerk: Personal Services 33.34
Expenses .
60.00
93.34
Board of Health :
Communicable Diseases 2,750.00 School Committee:
Vocational School Tuition .. .. 1,200.00
W.P.A. Projects (Art. 24, Annual Warrant 1936) 6,600.00
$14,990.01
December 31,1936. Balance in Reserve Fund
$
9.99
376
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Sub-Committees
Selectmen, Police, Fire Departments:
T. Gordon Smith, Chairman.
Edward D. Buckley.
Carleton M. Cobb.
Public Works Departments, New Streets:
Roderick J. Peters, Chairman.
Leo A. Murphy.
Clifford D. Strout. James H. Young.
Schools, Libraries, Parks, Public Welfare: Harold N. Anderson, Chairman.
Lawrence Carrigan. William S. Patterson.
Assessors, Board of Health, Cemeteries, and Incidentals: James F. Younie, Chairman.
Clarence B. Higgins.
Maurice J. Geary.
WALTER T. CHAMBERLAIN, Chairman. T. GORDON SMITH, Secretary.
377
REPORT OF SELECTMEN
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
At the annual Town Election held March 2, 1936, George H. Lowe, Jr., was reelected a member of the Board of Selectmen for a term of three years. The Board or- ganized with Ernest W. Davis as Chairman, and James J. Golden, Jr., as Secretary.
The regular meetings of the Board are held on Mon- day evening of each week. The Heads of Departments are interviewed; hearings on petition are given as required by law, and individuals and committees are given an oppor- tunity to be heard by appointment. Frequently additional meetings were held in order to make disposition of matters that had arisen.
Despite our fond hopes, the year 1936 saw a continu- ance of the depression and our unemployment situation parallel with that of the preceding year. However, due to the cooperation of the Works Progress Administration program and the employment so given, our case load has been lowered and the total expenditures show a substantial decrease over the preceding year for the first time since 1929.
A close liaison has been maintained between Clifford W. Cook, Public Welfare Agent, and Neil S. Peters, Works Progress Administration Administrator. This cooperation has enabled these two important Departments that directly contact so many of our citizens to operate in a manner with a keen regard for the individual, yet cognizant of the burden to our Town as a whole.
The Board therefore publicly commends Mr. Cook and Mr. Peters for the administration of their respective Departments.
378
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Reports in complete form of the Departments respon- sible to the Board of Selectmen will be found in this edition as reported by the Heads of Departments.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
The past year has been marked by no unusual de- velopments. The physical equipment has been maintained to a high degree of efficiency. A shooting gallery for the training of men in the Department has been modernized under a Works Progress Administration project. Likewise plans have been approved for an addition to the present garage to be constructed as a Federal project during the ensuing year.
On October 4, 1936, Officer F. Joseph Cahalin was retired from active duty upon attaining the age limit as prescribed by Chapter 439 of the Acts of 1936. A resolu- tion commending Officer Cahalin for the faithful perform- ance of his duties was adopted by the Board and presented to him.
On December 6, 1936, Reserve Officer John A. Ryan, ranking No. 1 on the Civil Service List, was appointed a regular officer to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Officer Cahalin.
The citizens are assured that their Police Department has functioned in a very desirable manner. The splendid morale, efficiency and deportment of the Chief and men are recognized by the Board. Law and order have been maintained.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The well established constructive work of this De- partment continued during the year. The men of the Department voluntarily on their day off duty maintained
379
REPORT OF SELECTMEN
the inspection of all buildings in the Town. The coopera- tion of the citizens during these inspections has been extremely beneficial. Chief Tierney and the men of the Department are commended for their efficiency and they should indeed be proud of the record made as reflected by the very low fire loss of approximately $15,000.
The Department has again cooperated with the State Board of Education in maintaining a training school for firemen. The instructors for these classes are from our own Department with local and adjoining Departments send- ing their men for training. The Board is unanimous in its belief that these classes are of inestimable value.
GENERAL MATTERS
The Nineteenth of April (Patriots' Day) was observed in the customary manner. The Local Committee co- operated with the General Committee of Boston in arranging the program. The various local patriotic and military groups participated. Revere and Dawes, together with their escorts, visited the Town Hall and were officially greeted.
On May 18, 1936, at a joint meeting with the Board of Assessors, Mr. David A. Wilcox was elected Assessor to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Earl A. Ryder.
In order to conform to the provisions of new regula- tions adopted by the State of Massachusetts, the Board of Selectmen was instructed to establish a local Bureau of Old Age Assistance to be comprised of three citizens. Accordingly the Board appointed Harold M. Estabrook, Mrs. Semira E. Perry and George H. Lowe, Jr. The meet- ings of this Bureau are held twice a month and all matters pertaining to Old Age Assistance are discussed and de- cisions rendered.
380
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
During the year Robbins Memorial Town Hall has had some minor changes. The office of the Board of Selectmen has been moved to the rear of the building to the space formerly used as the private office of the Town Clerk. The room was newly furnished and is a decided improvement. It was also found necessary to replace the floor in the auditorium and stage. Superintendent Car- mody and his assistant have been very conscientious in their supervision and care of the building.
The Robbins House continues to be occupied on the lower floor by the Welfare Department. During the year a Medical Clinic has been maintained and operated under the supervision of this Department and Dr. Edward W. Feeley, Town Physician. Medical care has been rendered through the Clinic and, where practical, medicines have been dispensed through the Clinic rather than by prescrip- tion with a consequent saving of expense. In mid-summer a Dental Clinic was opened for the benefit of recipients of Public Welfare and has proven most satisfactory and like- wise has shown a substantial saving in expense. The second floor gives desirable space to coordinated activities under the Works Progress Administration program. Like- wise the administration staff of the Works Progress Administration occupies a portion of Menotomy Hall. A large sewing unit is maintained in the auditorium. Veteran organizations, the Welfare Council, The National Re- employment Service and the Girl and Boy Scouts also make their headquarters in this building.
The Town has made appropriations for the adminis- tration, personnel and the purchase of materials under the Works Progress Administration. The Board has en- deavored to cooperate with all other Town Departments in selecting work projects. It has conscientiously studied the ratio between the Town's material appropriation and the labor furnished by the Federal Government. This course of action has resulted in the completion of major
381
REPORT OF SELECTMEN
projects that will be of a permanent value to the Town and also reflects a consequent reduction in the budgets of various Town Departments.
The Board commends the Heads of Departments and their employees for their cooperation during the year. The Executive Secretary, James J. Golden, Jr., has courteously represented the Board and has been diligent and efficient in his duties. To him and the clerks in the Selectmen's office, the Board expresses its appreciation for the performance of their duties during the year.
ERNEST W. DAVIS HAROLD M. ESTABROOK GEORGE H. LOWE, JR.
Selectmen of the Town of Arlington.
382
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
REPORT OF BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
January 1, 1937.
Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Town Hall, Arlington, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report for the Welfare and Soldiers' Relief Departments and Bureau of Old Age Assistance for the year ending December 31, 1936.
In the administration of relief to our citizens in dis- tress, the Board of Public Welfare has been not only duly mindful of its obligations to those in need of relief, but also has been in complete realization of its stewardship and incumbent duties to the taxpayers. Adequate relief has been granted following a thorough investigation of each case, and every known means has been utilized in.order to provide adequate relief in accordance with accepted budgetary standards, and at the same time to protect the Town against fraudulent abuse of Welfare privileges. The visits of our Social Workers and Visitors have been supplemented in every case by Police investigations.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.