USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1963 > Part 22
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Respectfully submitted,
Ralph L. LaValle, Chairman Carl E. Barstow, M.D. Paul F. Burke, D.M.D.
1963
FINANCIAL REPORT APPROPRIATION
Personal Services
$33,836.75
General Expense
2,630.00
Communicable Diseases
12,000.00
Mosquito Control .
3,200.00
Premature Baby Care .
. 1,500.00
$53,166.75
EXPENDITURES
Personal Services
$ 33,685.93
Mosquito Control .
3,200.00
Premature Baby Care .
132.50
Communicable Diseases:
Hospitalization for Tuberculosis at Middlesex County Sanatorium $ 4,925.25
Hospitalization for Hepatitis at Somerville Hospital 1,009.28
Antirabic Clinics:
Vaccine $257.65
Expense 317.50 575.15
Sabin Oral Polio Vaccine Clinics.
101.60
Miscellaneous Expense
30.00
Total for Communicable Diseases 6,641.28
General Expenses:
Maintenance of office 50.03
Dental Clinic Supplies 296.73
228
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
General Expenses: (Continued)
Telephone
$ 342.42
Milk Inspection
280.00
Car Rental
300.48
Maintenance of Auto
291.41
Laundry Service.
66.00
Illuminating Gas.
47.82
Postage
120.00
Advertising
30.00
Equipment repairs
11.30
Miscellaneous
34.50
$ 1,870.69
TOTAL EXPENDITURES .
$ 45,530.40
RECEIPTS
Licenses and Permits issued:
Manufacture of Frozen Desserts (retail).
$ 20.00
Manufacture of Frozen Desserts (wholesale)
100.00
Massage and Vapor Baths
5,00
Collection of Meat Trimmings
4.00
Collection of Offal
2.00
To keep a stable.
1.00
Sale. of Oleomargarine.
27.50
Sale of Milk.
54.00
To operate Pasteurization Plants
20.00
Day Nursery Schools.
4.00
Receipts from licenses and permits.
$ 237.50
Receipts from Dental Clinic .
1,294.00
Receipts from Communicable Diseases
918.79
TOTAL RECEIPTS $ 2,450.29
Total Expenditures
$ 45,530.40
Total Receipts
2,450.29
Net cost to operate $ 43,080.11
Cost per Capita .86
Including debt and maintenance of
Middlesex County Sanatorium
$ 72,442.16
Net cost to operate . 43,080.11
$115,522.27
Cost per Capita $
2.31
REPORT OF DISEASES DECLARED DANGEROUS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH FOR THE YEAR 1963
Bites
Dog
178
Miscellaneous.
11
Chicken Pox
240
German Measles
386
Gonorrhea.
6
Hepatitis.
11
Measles
30
Meningitis.
2
Mumps .
263
Salmonellosis
19
229
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF DISEASES DECLARED DANGEROUS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH FOR THE YEAR 1963 (Continued)
Scarlet Fever (including "strep throat") . 104
Syphilis .
8
Tuberculosis (all forms)
2
Total 1,260
TUBERCULOSIS REPORT
Total number of cases as of December 31, 1963. 107
Deaths during the year
6
Case removals during the year 1
New cases reported
7
Contacts X-rayed.
40
Persons residing in Arlington hospitalized in 1963 as follows:
Middlesex County Sanatorium . 6
REPORT ON CLINICS CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD OF HEALTH
DENTAL CLINIC
Total number of patients .
450
Total number of operating hours .
702
Total number of sittings
1,760
Total number of operations
2,212
Extractions:
Permanent teeth.
0
Deciduous teeth
2
Treatments:
Prophylactic
347
Fillings:
Permanent teeth.
740
Deciduous teeth .
1,123
POLIO (SABIN ORAL) VACCINE CLINICS
Type of Vaccine
Pre-School and Kindergarten
Grade I through 12
Others
Total
I
437
6,115
145
6,697
II
3,776
8,302
451
12,529
III
625
6,343
213
7,181
TOWN EMPLOYEES' "FLU" VACCINE CLINIC
Police Department
47
Fire ..
48
Public Works Department
61
Other Departments . 28
(miscellaneous)
Total 184
230
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
DOG RABIES CLINICS Held April 15, 16, 17 and 18, 1963
Total number of dogs vaccinated . 958
REPORT OF MILK AND SANITATION INSPECTOR
MILK
Licenses issued:
For Sale of Milk and Cream 108
For Sale of Oleomargarine.
55
Plant inspections .
29
Vehicle inspections.
41
Analysis: Samples taken 112
Averages
GRADE
FAT
SOLIDS
BACTERIA
COLIFORM
PHOSPHAT ASE
"A"
4.10
13.12
3,500
0
Negative
"Homo"
3.86
12.59
4,042
0
Regular
3.93
12.66
4,017
0
Store
3.79
12.49
1,023
0
School
3.92
12.64
2,000
0
ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION
Inspections:
Bakeries
182
Candy stores .
36
Catering establishments
62
Dairy bars
36
Delicatessens
55
Eating establishments
510
Frozen Food Lockers
9
Fruit and produce stores .
94
Independent and Super Markets .
671
Laundromats
45
Pharmacies.
181
Public stations.
123
Sea food stores
57
Tenements
45
Variety stores
463
Investigations:
Sanitary landfill
19
Rodent surveys
13
Sub-surface sewege systems
6
Complaints
. 169
REPORT OF DUTIES OF PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE
Visits were made to the homes of certain patients, reported ill with or in contact with cases of reportable disease, in compliance with Board of Health or State Department of Health requirements.
231
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
Assisted at the various Clinics which were conducted by the Board of Health.
Made inspectional visits to Day Care Centers and Nursing Homes licensed to operate in the Town.
Administered the School Nursing Program of the Parochial Schools in the Town.
Prepared and maintained all records in connection with the duties of Public Health Nurse for the Board of Health, and as School Nurse for the Parochial Schools of Arlington.
Assisted in office routine as needed.
REPORT ON DUTIES OF BOARD PHYSICIAN
Administered "Flu" vaccine at clinics conducted for Town employees by the Board of Health.
Gave physical examinations to 532 pupils at Parochial Schools in Ar- lington.
Gave 164 heart "Checks" to Parochial School children participating in Intra Mural Sports Activities.
Released from quarantine all members of households, ordered quaran- tined by Board of Health regulations.
Examined and reported results of Bacteriological examination of speci- mens submitted to the Board of Health.
REPORT OF SLAUGHTERING INSPECTOR
There was no slaughtering done in the Town during the year 1963.
REPORT OF DOG OFFICER
During the year 386 carcasses of small animals and birds reported by the Board of Health and other Town Agencies were collected and disposed of in a prescribed manner. Assisted in attempts to determine ownership of animals classified as "strays" that had been impounded.
MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS
Licenses and Permits issued (no fee)
Burial Permits 448
Licenses (Funeral Directors) 14
Permits to keep poultry. 2
Permits to hold rummage sales . .
22
BIRTHS AND DEATHS OF ARLINGTON RESIDENTS IN 1963
Total number of deaths 680
Total number of births 848
Age of oldest persons dying in Arlington in 1963
Male 96 years
Female. 99 years
232
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
THE FIVE PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF DEATH IN ARLINGTON 1963
Disease
Number of Deaths
Number per 1,000 of population
Heart
285
5.7
Cancer
99
1.9
Respiratory System
93
1.8
Nervous System
90
1.8
Accidents
15
.3
233
REPORT OF THE TOWN COUNSEL
Report of the Town Counsel
Mr. Edward C. Monahan Town Manager Robbins Memorial Town Hall Arlington, Massachusetts
Dear Sir:
I herewith submit my report for the year 1963 in accordance with Sec- tion 3 of Article 3 of the By-Laws of the Town of Arlington.
There have been twenty-eight accident claims against the Town this year. Eight have been settled as authorized by the Town Manager and the Board of Selectmen. Eight have brought suit and twelve are in abeyance. Of the previous years' claims and suits, fourteen were abandoned without suit, three were abandoned at the time they were reached for trial, ten were settled as authorized by the Town Manager and the Board of Selectmen, and six are still pending. There were no verdicts against the Town.
Eighteen land damage claims against the Town arising from street widenings and storm drain installations were disposed of - sixteen by com- promise settlements authorized by the Town Manager and the Board of Selectmen, and two by trial in the Superior Court.
There was one case pending against the Town before the Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board petitioning for a real estate tax abatement. This case was settled when it was reached for trial.
A petition brought by former Police Lieutenant Philip A. Sweeney seek- ing a declaratory judgment against the Town, claiming that his compensation as Civil Defense Director should have been included by the retiring authority, the Board of Selectmen, in the computation of the amount of his pension based upon a service connected disability suffered by him in his work in the Police Department, resulted in a finding in the Superior Court upholding the action of the retiring authority that his salary as Civil Defense Director should not be included in computing his pension. The petitioner appealed this decision to the Supreme Judicial Court. This case was argued at the February, 1963 sitting of the Court, and in May, 1963, the Supreme Judicial Court affirmed the decree of the Superior Court upholding the action of the retiring authority.
Substantial amounts of money for aid rendered by the Board of Health and the Symmes Hospital have been collected and turned over to the Town Collector.
Substantial amounts of money for aid rendered by the Bureau of Old Age Assistance have been recovered and turned over to the Town Collector also.
The Town Counsel has been available at regular and special meetings of the Board of Selectmen, has worked in close co-operation with the Town Manager, has rendered opinions as requested by the Town Manager, various Boards, Departments, Committees and Officers, has attended meetings at State Boards and Commissions, and has been vigilant in all matters affecting the interest of the Town.
For the kind consideration and co-operation extended to me by all the officials of the Town during the past year, and especially to the Board of Selectmen and Town Manager, I desire to record my sincere appreciations.
Very truly yours,
Joseph A. Purcell Town Counsel
234
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Annual Report of the Robbins Library for the Year 1963
TRUSTEES Robert T. Uek, Chairman Mrs. Maude Thompson Mrs. Molly F. Yood Robert J. Brosnan J. Milton Washburn, Jr.
HEAD LIBRARIAN Judith E. Stromdahl
PROFESSIONAL STAFF Elizabeth J. Hodges - Assistant Librarian Esther McQuaid - Supervisor of Children's Library Activities Yu T. Chiu - Supervisor of Technical Services Dorothy L. Hart - Reference Librarian E. Grogan Brown - Head of Circulation Evelyn Colcord - Branch Librarian - East Branch Helen W. Thompson - Branch Librarian - Dallin Branch Patricia Mahoney - Music Librarian Carol A. DiPesa - Young People's Librarian Luz Posada - Cataloger Marie O'Day - Senior Assistant Shirley Utudjian - Senior Assistant Susan E. Casey - Senior Assistant
Resigned, 1963 Elizabeth L. Toohey - Supervisor of Children's Library Activities Lucille Carpenter - Young People's Librarian Mary Stolar - Senior Assistant Luz Posada - Cataloger
Emily M. Glover Joan Lee
SCHOOL LIBRARIANS Dorothy F. Miller Judith L. Sanders Elisabeth S. Sussman, Resigned, 1963
Doris Schermerhorn Rita Girshman
LIBRARY ASSIST ANTS
Adelaide M. Bennett
Elinor S. Leonard Ruth G. Philpott
Muriel G. Chandler
Margaret J. Morash
Madeleine B. Woodbury Margaret M. Bowser,
Edythe R. Durgin Marilyn E. Kenney
Margaret V. O'Brien Alice D. Peggs Librarian's Secretary
Laura Boyden Joan Caterino Berniece Lopez
PART-TIME ASSIST ANTS Loretta Mahoney Virginia Rudd Cecelia Russell
M. Louise Sullivan Celeste Vincent
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE STUDENTS Frederick C. Dooe Michael Ducey
William S. Gillen
Rima Steponaitis
CURATOR - Robbins Print Collection Ellen P. Wiese
CUSTODIANS
George A. Capes, Senior Normand J. Paradis, Junior
Florey Corelli, Junior Arthur V. Galluzzo, Junior
Frederick H. Kendall, Junior, Temporary
235
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE ROBBINS LIBRARY
To: Mr. Edward C. Monahan - Town Manager
Dear Mr. Monahan:
It is with a sense of satisfaction that the Board of Library Trustees, through its report for the year 1963, can once more attest to the importance of the library to the community. Demands have been made upon its facilities which have taxed both space and staff as never before.
Personnel
A number of changes in the staff have taken place. Replacement, especially in the professional category was difficult due in large part to the low salary scale presently in force and to the shortage of qualified people available. Eventually, however, all positions but that of Cataloguer have been filled with well qualified people who are making their contributions to the library program.
In January, Mrs. Elizabeth Toohey, Supervisor of Children's Library Activities, resigned to become the Head Librarian of the library at Adams, Massachusetts. Mrs. Esther McQuaid, Head of Circulation at the Robbins Library, was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by Mrs. Toohey's resigna- tion, and Mr. Grogan Brown, a Reader's Adviser in the Circulation Depart- ment of the Robbins Library, was advanced to Head of that Department.
In April, Mrs. Carol DiPesa became the Young People's Librarian, filling a vacancy of three months standing. Mrs. DiPesa is a graduate of the School of Library Science at Simmons College, and has held positions in the Detroit and Brooklyn Public Libraries and served as Head of Circulation in the Robbins Library during 1955-56.
To fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mrs. Mary Stolar in May, Miss Shirley Utudjian was appointed as a Reader's Adviser in the Circulation Department in September. Miss Utudjian is a graduate of North- eastern University, did social work for two years, and came to the Robbins Library from the Boston Public Library where she had received her library training and had been employed for almost three years.
In October, Miss Luz Posada, who has been on the library staff as Cata- loger for the past two years, returned to her home in Medellin, Colombia, South America. This position has not yet been filled.
Mrs. Rita Girshman, a graduate of the University of Buffalo, with gradu- ate work in library science at the University of Pittsburgh, was appointed to the School Library Staff in September, replacing Mrs. Elisabeth Sussman who moved to California.
In August, George A. Cape, reassumed his duties as Senior Custodian after a long period of illness and Frederick Kendall, following the action of the Town Meeting, was appointed to the Custodial Staff on a temporary basis, pending establishment of a civil service list.
Trustees
Mrs. Molly Yood was reappointed for a fourth term of three years as a library Trustee. In September, Mr. Robert Uek was elected to serve as Chairman for the ensuing year.
236
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
During the year, the Board held twelve regular sessions and met in numerous subcommittee meetings in the interests of the Friends of the Li- brary Program, Personnel, Building and Grounds, and for a special study of salaries.
In April, the Trustees planned a special celebration in observance of the 25th anniversary of the Dallin Branch Building. On this occasion a bronze placque was presented to the trustees by the Arlington Heights Study Club for the outside of the building.
Again in December, the trustees were hosts to the staff at a family Christmas gathering. A program of travel slides of the far West and the Far and Middle East was presented by Mrs. Maude Thompson and Robert Uek.
Renovation Program
The Renovation Program, as originally planned, is practically completed. A hand rail for the stairs from the Gallery to the Main Floor was installed, the floors of the Catalogue Room and Gallery work room were tiled, the building, including the marble of the Rotunda, was cleaned by Public Works Department Personnel, lighting fixtures were replaced in the stacks and the library hall and in December new charging desk units were installed in the Circulation Department and the Junior Library. Still most urgently needed is functional furniture for the Reference and Business Rooms and air con- ditioning in the Music and Art Gallery.
Building and Grounds
The program of building and maintenance consisted of repainting the lower level of the main building including the library hall, the Young People's Department and the Librarian's office. This work was done by the Public Works Department. Public Works carpenters also helped to install a com- munity kitchen in the cloak room for use of organizations meeting in the library hall.
Considerable work was needed at the East Branch. The outside of the building was pointed, repairs to the roof and chimney were made, a storm drain was installed and the interior was completely redecorated.
At the Dallin Branch new doors were installed and the Social Hall re- ceived a new look with the application of a fresh coat of paint.
Friends of the Library
The Friends of the Library held their annual meeting during National Library Week in April and presented Baroness Von Trapp and Munro Leaf to an interested audience which filled the Lowe Auditorium of the Arlington High School. Plans are already being formulated for the 1964 observance of this important event.
In October, the Friends sponsored a meeting in the interests of the new Business Department which was opened during the summer months in the former Music Room on the first Mezzanine Floor of the Main Library. The library hall was filled for this occasion and the speaker, Harry Baughman of Merchants National Bank, was well received. A special feature of this effort was the distribution of a list of business books prepared by one of the trustees, Mrs. Molly Yood.
Robbins Print Collection
Under the direction of Miss Ellen P. Wiese, Curator of the Robbins Print Collection, a series of monthly exhibits has been shown in the Print Gallery.
237
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
Displays have included the work of local artists as well as collections bor- rowed from various galleries and libraries. It has been a source of satis- faction to note the number of visitors who have been attracted to the library through these exhibits.
Grants-In-Aid
The Town of Arlington received a Grant-In-Aidfrom the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of $12,488.25, through State Aid to Libraries Legislation. As in the past, this money went directly into the Town Treasury as a cherry sheet item. New corrective legislation, however, passed in August of 1963, provides that beginning with the next fiscal year, July 1, 1964 - June 30, 1965, the twenty-five cents per capita - Grant-In-Aid for public library sup- port will come as new and additional money from the general revenue of the Commonwealth instead of being taken from the proceeds of the state income tax which was money that would have gone to the cities and towns in any case.
In addition to this money, the library returned to the town in 1963, $8859.00 collected as fines for overdue books.
Conclusion
The almost completed Renovation Program has partially relieved the strained conditions of the Main Library, but already the ever increasing use being made of the library and the normal growth of the book collection is again taxing the facilities. As the librarian's report will show, additional space is vitally needed. The Trustees are giving thought to this problem. Their studies indicate need for a number of long range plans. These include additional and enlarged facilities for the main building; conversion of the meeting hall at the Dallin Branch to a Children's Room; additional space at the East Branch where over a hundred thousand volumes are circulated dur- ing the year and where there is no provision for children's programs; and some solution to the parking problem created by the ever increasing use of the library by borrowers and organizations.
The Trustees are cognizant of the devotion and cooperation of the Li- brarian and the entire staff in making the library program effective and far reaching, and are pleased with the general spirit of enthusiasm so clearly evidenced.
The Trustees wish to pay special tribute to the Town Manager for his constant support and cooperation, and to the Board of Selectmen for their interest in the library. Mention must also be made of the special assistance given the library by Mr. Frank O'Hara and Mr. Wilbur Roby in solving many unusual problems during the year, and to the personnel of the many town departments upon whose help the library is so dependent. Finally, the Trustees wish to commend the Friends of the Robbins Library for their sus- taining interest and active participation in the library program.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert T. Uek, Chairman Board of Library Trustees
238
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Report of the Librarian for the Year 1963
1963 has been a challenging year for the Robbins Library in many re- spects, a year during which past policies and techniques have had to be re- evaluated and new ones introduced in the interests of service, efficiency and economy.
When evaluating a year's work, an increase in the circulation of books and other materials is usually considered to be the most important criterion to use in indicating progress. For many years, since 1944 in fact, library reports have consistently shown such increases, indicating that the people of Arlington were making greater use of their library each year. But never before have young and old come in such numbers and for so many reasons as in the year just completed. One of the Mother Goose rhymes talks about the Old Woman in the shoe "who had so many children she didn't know what to do". At times, during this past year, the members of the Robbins Library staff have felt almost like this old woman. More people than the library could comfortably accommodate at one time have calledfor types and depths of service which have taxed library facilities and, at times, have almost overwhelmed staff assistants. The librarians oft-times have felt that to keep pace, they should be twins at least. Over and over again during the past year, in the afternoons at the close of school and in the evenings after seven o'clock, the staff members wondered how they could possibly help all those who came for assistance, or how they would find time to locate the material requested, locate the book needed, collect the back numbers of periodicals wanted and answer the one hundred and one other questions asked. In retrospect, the overwhelming impression of the past year seems to be of numberless patrons who came to use the library's resources within the building and to consult its books for reference purposes, on all levels, by all ages, in all departments, branches as well as main library. For cer- tain, library progress today cannot be measured by circulation statistics alone; for a true picture, other factors must be considered as well.
REFERENCE SERVICES AND PROBLEMS
The effective use of its reference services then, must be considered in appraising the measure of the library's progress. That these services were used in 1963 there is no doubt. Actually recorded during the year were 23,981 questions. Needless to say, many went unrecorded while in number- less instances, patrons acquainted with the library's facilities from past experience, found their own resource material.
Reference work on all levels is a challenge, and, upon occasion, time consuming. Answering questions, finding some elusive fact or locating and collecting desired information and material involves a considerable amount of research, including contacting of outside specialists, institutions and government agencies. Many times, in fact, it is almost like hunting for buried treasure and calls for personnel with a knowledge of reference books and sources and skill in their use. It is a truism that an ignorant assistant can render comparatively useless the finest collection of reference ma- terials.
Questions are as varied as the people who ask them and not a week goes by without a unique question of some sort being asked. Names of places doing research with dolphins, the making of synthetic rubies, information on the barn at the Alcott House, the first use of the word MANAGER, are samples. Current events stimulate many questions as, for example, when the late President was assassinated, the library received numerous re- quests for information on the origin of the 21 gun salute, the eternal flame and the use of taps.
239
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
Although there was a growing use made of the reference services by adults in the year just past, the real crush came from the students covering all ages. Changes in the curriculum and teaching methods in the schools, updating of course content, an increased emphasis on reading and pressure for individual excellence have made more demands on the students, and, in turn, on the library. To a large extent questions have become more special- ized, more specific and more serious than formerly, covering an ever widening scope. Interpreting the questions and helping the student who often comes to his research with no knowledge of the subject matter other than the "phrase outlining" given him by the teacher is common procedure for the librarians. All their professional skill and knowledge is needed in find- ing the information sought, and sometimes even these cannot help, as when material not yet in book form, is requested.
Not only have books been used by the students in their research work. Periodicals, too, have been in constant demand. Much stress has been placed on the importance of magazine articles. Fortunately, the Robbins Library keeps many of its magazines for periods varying from two to fifteen years. Each week literally hundreds of back issues are requested for use in the library in connection with research problems and papers. It can be said in truth, as never before, that all resources of the library have been utilized in dealing with the reference and research aspect of the work in 1963.
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