USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Norwell > Town of Norwell annual report 1950-1959 > Part 67
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9. That the Central Elementary School Grounds be extended to the National Recreation standard of at least twenty acres.
10. That the Grace Farrar Cole School grounds be extend- ed to the minimum standard of twenty acres and that the pond be developed for winter sports.
11. That the High School field be extended and improved.
12. That the Recreation Commission be financed through a separate budget appropriation made at a regular Town Meeting.
VILLAGE COMMITTEES: The Recreation Commission recommends that each neighborhood organize a recreation committee. The Norwell Civic Association, with its excellent community activities, and the Church Hillers field day and tennis are examples of what may be accomplished.
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PILGRIM-PURITAN STATE PARK
One of the long-range projects is the proposed State Reser- vation in the vicinity of Bound Brook Pond, Mt. Blue, and Black Pond. The new fire tower on Judge's Hill is a move in that direction. It offers a superb view, 180 degrees of seascape and 180 degrees of the landscape of the Plymouth and Bay Colonies.
House Bill 787 was referred to the Department of Natural Resources for further study and will come up again in the 1957 Legislature.
Letters regarding the matter from individuals and organi- zations, should be sent to the Recreation Commission.
PUBLIC RELATIONS: The Recreation Commission recog- nizes that one of the great obstacles to the public support of recreation comes from a lack of understanding of what recre- ation is about. That is why all meetings of the Commission are open to the public, and why the work of the Commission is regularly given to the four papers that serve this area. Recre- ation is a continuous program for all ages and can only be provided by widespread knowledge of its value and good will for its financial support. There have to be facilities before there can be programs. Recreational facilities are Norwell's great necd. Because of the many demands on the tax dollar, it will take a long time to bring Norwell to a par with local communi- ties. The members of the Recreation Commission are also tax- payers, and have due regard for our finances. We have already seen how individuals and local organizations have rendered valuable service.
The Recreation Commission, or a representative, has met with the School Committee, the Planning Board, and the Ad- visory Board. James Robertson was elected to represent the Commission on the School Study Committee. The Planning Board Chairman believes that it is appropriate for the Recre- ation Commission to be represented at public hearings which are held prior to action on any proposed subdivision. This should prevent the re-occurrence of the predicament at "Nor- well Homes." It is also hoped that this report will indicate the breadth and intricate nature of public recreation and the need for a separate commission to handle the increasing public needs in the field of recreation. Before closing the report we would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to all those who have taken part in the marked and rapid changes in Nor- well's recreation life. There is ample evidence that Norwell citizens appreciate recreation on a high cultural level. We
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ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
solicit your continued interest and support. Without it, there can be no progress. The Commission is geographically distrib- uted, and your needs can be easily expressed to any member.
Respectfully submitted,
MARY OSBORN KNAPP, Winter Street, Secretary JAMES KING, Stetson Road JAMES ROBERTSON, Summer Street JOSEPH CREEDON, 120 Franklin Road WILLIAM G. VINAL, Grove Street, Chairman
Report of the South Shore Mosquito Control Project
To the Citizens of Norwell :
Submitted herewith is the report of the South Shore Mos- quito Control Project of its activities in the Town of Norwell for the year ending December 31, 1956.
The Town of Norwell appropriated $8,500 for mosquito control in 1956. This money was used for mosquito control in the Town of Norwell by the South Shore Mosquito Control Project, a cooperative effort embracing the City of Quincy and Towns of Braintree, Cohasset, Duxbury, Hingham, Hull, Marshfield, Norwell, Scituate and Weymouth.
Type of Control Program
The basic program of control continued to be based on drainage in the off-season and larvaciding of all areas found to be breeding during the mosquito season. This program was supplemented by application of D.D.T. dust to selected areas during the period when the swamps were frozen. This dust upon the melting of the ice and snow falls to the bottom of the pools and swamps and is in a position to be effective against the mosquito larvae. The use of a fog generator to combat flying mosquitoes supplemented the main program.
Encephalitis
In late August the public became aware of the disease Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis.
This disease is brought on by a virus and is transmitted by mosquitoes. It is a disease of birds which, under certain cir- cumstances, spills over to man and horses.
The disease was first recognized in man in Massachusetts in 1938. It has since been recognized southward along the Atlantic seaboard and in the Gulf states.
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The severe outbreak in humans and horses during the summer of 1938 in Massachusetts was followed by a lull until 1953 and 1954 when some horses were affected. Not until 1955, when four cases were recognized, did the disease in man reappear in this state. This past summer (based on virus re- covery, serological evidence, and clinical pictures) the disease was recognized in twelve humans and definite diagnosis is pending in one case. In addition, 41 horses and 17 pheasant farms were infected. A survey of wild birds revealed virus in six birds.
Immediately upon the appearance of the disease in a horse in the area, the Project began extensive fogging and larvacid- ing operations, starting in the area of the horse case. This work continued around the clock. Shortly after this, the Massachusetts Department of Health warned that danger ex- isted and that a program of aid from the Commonwealth was being set up.
Since this Project was the only existing agency in the posi- tion to supervise the needed work, insecticide and airplane service was provided to the Project for use in the ten town area. Spray material was provided for air spray, ground application by Project equipment, and ground work by any equipment made available by the towns through the local Boards of Health and the Town Departments possessing such equipment.
The overtime labor for the Project's part in this emergency work was paid for from the regular appropriations. This work was in excess of that planned, based on money available to the Project. This extra night, week-end, and holiday work severely strained the basic budget of the Project, and as a result, less ditching work than planned will be possible.
The results of such a program against such a disease are hard to determine since it is impossible to tell how many in- fected mosquitoes were killed and thus prevented from pass- ing the disease to humans.
With present knowledge of the disease, it is equally impos- sible to predict the future picture of the disease in this area.
Our only present attack is to reduce the mosquito population to as low a level as possible during the critical period. The following areas of action are steps in the right direction: En- couraging towns bordering the Project to attack the mosquito problem since area wide control is more effective than scat- tered work, urging all residents to help out on their own
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ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
property, and stepping up the Project's ability to combat influxes of mosquitoes on the wing.
Regarding this last point, the Commission has taken steps to acquire another fog machine since the one owned by the Project, although it has been used at every opportunity, is often needed in two places at the same time and was woefully inadequate during the past emergency.
Under the present financial conditions, the Project, as well as towns not in organized districts, will always have to turn to the Commonwealth for emergency funds in the event of en- cephalitis outbreaks. The alternative, which is an approach that makes a lot of sense, is more wide spread mosquito control in southeastern Massachusetts on a sound financial basis.
We feel that the extra hours and monies spent in this emergency were well and properly expended and surely gave us greatly added protection. The fact that there was in exist- ence in the area hardest hit by the disease an organization set up to do such work was fortunate. Because of this, there was no delay in planning air spray work and in getting ground work started. The immediate and wholehearted efforts of the Health, Tree, and Public Works Departments of the vari- ous towns added considerably to the results. For this work, the Project, and I am sure, the Citizens, are extremely grateful.
Employee Benefits
Until recently the employees of this and the other four mosquito control projects in the state had no employee bene- fits except workman's compensation for on the job injury.
This situation has left the projects at a disadvantage in competing for competent workers with industry and local contractors.
To help remedy this situation the legislature has made the Project workers eligible for a county retirement system. Since the majority of the towns are in Plymouth County, that system has been chosen by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance.
Such a system is supported by contributions from the work- er's and a levy on the employer. An amount to compensate for the latter has been included in this year's budget.
Aerial Spraying
The spring spraying of all fresh water swamps too large to be treated by hand was done in the latter part of April. Spot spraying was done in various areas throughout the summer
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TOWN OF NORWELL
when large open areas were found to be breeding mosquitoes.
2,417 acres were sprayed in the Town of Norwell. In August and early September, during the encephalitis emer- gency 1,270 acres were sprayed by air.
Ground Spraying
The ground crews circulated on a schedule throughout their sections of the Project. They varied from this circuit to treat in the vicinity of complaints or to treat places found to be breeding by the superintendent or the inspector. They then returned to their rounds.
During the encephalitis emergency, crews worked over- time and weekends to keep up with requests for service.
Inspections
Throughout the breeding season the superintendent checks the known breeding areas to know where to direct air and ground spraying or drainage work. In the heavy breeding season (June-September) an inspector helps with this work.
In past years, some attention has been paid to yard by yard inspections for house mosquito breeding. This year this work was expanded and will have to be expanded in the future, since newspaper and radio items concerning this important phase of the work have not yet reached all persons.
One inspection of sixty-four (64) houses in an isolated sec- tion showed sixty-seven (67) containers capable of breeding mosquitoes. Of these, forty-six (46) were producing mos- quitoes at the time. Similar results were obtained in other sections checked.
Such a situation assures a neighborhood of mosquitoes as long as the containers are around and full of water in spite of work done by the Project in surrounding swamps.
Catchbasin Spraying
Two catchbasin units were operated the past season. A third, ordered in May, was delivered too late to be of use this season, but will be used next year.
These units are compressed air sprayers mounted on three- wheeled motorcycles.
In addition to the above units, ground crews sprayed basins with hydraulic sprayers from trucks to fill in for the unit not delivered in time.
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ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
Drainage
The drainage program proceeded in both salt and fresh water breeding places.
The past year was the first in which the salt marsh ditch- ing machine was used extensively. It was delivered in late summer last year and used only in the fall.
The machine has increased the pace of our work on the marshes and seems to offer greater help when it is modified to fit the marshes in this particular area.
It will be advisable, when budget figures allow, to have a back-hoe to complement the work of the marsh ditcher and allow certain fresh water work to be done. At present, there are no contractors with machines capable of going onto salt marsh without the use of mats, which procedure is both costly and beset with chances of miring the machine. It is however, possible to rig a back-hoe on a machine similar to our marsh ditcher and be free to move anywhere within reason on our marshes.
In the past year in the Town of Norwell 300 feet of ditches have been cleaned, 3,000 feet reclaimed and 1,020 feet of new ditches have been dug. This figure includes both fresh and salt water drainage.
Although some of this work has been clearance of fresh water streams and opening of culverts, the majority of it was on the salt marshes along the North River in the area in which there are no ditches in existence. More work is contemplated in this area in the spring.
Adult Mosquito Control
Adult mosquito control is the killing of the flying stage of the mosquito after they have emerged, as opposed to the larval stage which exists in the water.
This year, as in the past, the Project has operated a Todd Insecticidal Fog Applicator, commonly called a Tifa. This. machine emits a fog, consisting of very fine droplets of insecti- cide, which drifts with the air currents over the area, wiping out adult mosquitoes.
The addition of Norwell to the Project, the fact that previ- ous to that the machine was very often needed in more than one place certain nights, and since the machine was working at all possible hours during the encephalitis emergency and always had a backlog of work, influenced the Commission to. initiate proceedings to get another machine and to have it on
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hand for the start of next season.
The previously mentioned air spray during the encephalitis emergency was in the nature of an adult program.
Equipment on Hand
1, Ford F-350 truck
3, Ford F-250 trucks
1, Ford F-100 truck
1, International 1 ton truck, four-wheel drive
1, Chevrolet Handyman
1, Oliver OC-6-68 tractor with scavel plow
1, Trailer for transporting tractor
1, Cushman Truckster (catchbasin unit)
2, Harley Davidson Servi-cars (catchbasin units)
3, 50 gal. Bean hydraulic sprayers
1, Todd Insecticidal Fog Applicator
1, Hoffco power brushing tool
1, Gorman-Rupp centrifugal pump
Pack sprayers and dusters
Various hand ditching tools
Equipment to be Added
1, Todd Insecticidal Fog Applicator Miscellaneous hand tools
Plans for Winter
Throughout the months between the past and coming mos- quito breeding seasons much attention will be given to ditch- ing. Work on the salt marsh will be done in the fall and early spring and colder winter months will be spent in the more protected fresh water areas.
When snow and ice conditions are right, prehatch dusting, as was done the last three years, will be done. The success of the past work along these lines makes it feasible to expand this program to as much as help and weather permit.
In addition to the ground dusting noted above, it is planned to make a small scale experimental prehatch application of D.D.T. dust from the air.
Plans for Next Year
All phases of the work carried out in the past will continue. Catchbasin spraying will be strengthened by the addition of the third unit. Expansion of the fogging operations will be possible, where needed, with the second fogging machine men- tioned previously.
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ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
Problems to be Solved
The problem of drift in of adult mosquitoes from uncon- trolled areas should be lessened since part of our borders will be protected by the new Norfolk County Project. There is further help in sight from a group of Plymouth County towns to the west of us. They might well be organized by next year. The still unresolved situations in this connection are the Hing- ham Naval Ammunition Depot and the M.D.C. area of the Blue Hills. The Naval Ammunition Depot is an uncontrolled area in the middle of our Project and the M.D.C. property affects Quincy and Braintree. We will continue to work in these areas on an emergency basis to give a measure of pro- tection to our population affected by their mosquitoes and will continue to try for support from these organizations.
LEWIS F. WELLS, Superintendent, South Shore Mosquito Control Project. THOMAS T. BARSTOW, Member, Board of Commissioners.
Report of the Board of Water Commissioners
To the Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :
The following is a report of the Water Board for year ending December 31, 1956.
General and Auxiliary Systems:
The General water system has functioned in a satisfactory manner during the past year with a minimum expense to the Town. Except for the Town well unit near Norwell Center, which is used by many citizens, all auxiliary systems have been abandoned and the loads they supplied connected to the main system.
Water Supply:
During the first half year, water for the then functioning system was purchased from the Town of Hanover. Early in July, with the approval of the State Department of Public Health, the water valve that admitted water from Hanover to Norwell was closed and Norwell's new well and pumping equipment was put in service. The major part of the new Norwell system was in operation! Since, water from the new well fills the new stand pipe on Hoop Pole Hill and flows
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TOWN OF NORWELL
through the system to all of the Norwell Water Takers except the users on the isolated Tiffany Road section. Hanover sup- plies water to this area.
Well and Pumping Equipment :
In 1953-54 the Water Department prospected for water in many parts of the Town. As a result of this effort a good water source was found on the west side of Pleasant Street. A well was installed at this location and in March of 1955 was approved as a source for a public water supply by the State Department of Public Health.
The total cost to the Town for the 1954-55 water prospect- ing or test well work and the construction and testing of the well was in round figures less than Eight Thousand Dollars ($8,000). The well was then complete and ready for a per- manent pump and pump house.
As authorized at the 1955 Town Meeting, a pump house, pumping and control equipment, an auxiliary diesel engine, and necessary cooperating parts were installed at this site. The pump is normally driven by an electric motor which is controlled by a selective regulating system that determines the pump operation from either a change in water level in the standpipe by a signal transmitted over a leased telephone line, by a change of water main pressure by time delay pres- sure switching equipment, or by manual control. The engine is for use when there is an electric power failure.
Standpipe or Water Storage Tank:
It is located about a mile westerly from Norwell Center on the North side of Main Street on top of Hoop Pole Hill. It is 35 feet in diameter, 80 feet high to the roof, the high water elevation is 288 feet, and it has a capacity of 570,000 gallons of water.
The height and capacity is adequate to serve the needs of the Town for some time to come. The cost was well under the estimates obtained for the 1955 Town Meeting.
Street Mains :
The installation of all street water mains, hydrants, main and hydrant valves, and incidental equipment authorized by the 1955 and 1956 Town Meetings is installed. The pipe sizes used in the various streets are as follows :
10 inch pipe-In Pleasant Street, South Street, Assinippi Avenue, along Main Street to junction South Street and Main Street between Winter Street and the Scit- uate line.
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ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
12 inch pipe-In Main Street between South Street and Winter Street and the standpipe connection.
Tiffany Road Area
This part of the system is supplied with water from the Town of Hanover. They have sent notice that they can no longer supply this load and have set December 31, 1957 as the date of discontinuance.
Land:
The land for the standpipe and the right-of-way to it was donated to the Town. The well site was taken by eminent domain and the final settlement figures are as of this date an unsettled legal problem. Other land near the well site is in the process of being obtained. Article #15 of the 1955 Meeting authorized funds for the acquiring of necessary land.
Costs:
The work of designing and installing the addition to the water system was authorized by Articles 14, 16 and 17, approved by the 1955 March Meeting, and Articles 19 and 20 approved in 1956. (See "Land" for Article 15.) The cost of all these projects has run less than the estimates, except for the installations authorized by Articles 19 and 20. Because of unforeseen difficulties, the cost of these two items were more than the amounts appropriated, although there are available funds that could be used to pay for this overage, there seems to be some dispute as to the method of payment.
The Water Commissioners point out that the total cost of Articles 14, 16, 17 (1955), 19, and 20 (1956) including the excess cost of Articles 19 and 20 is less than anticipated. This saving is better than 7% of the total of the five appro- priations.
Remarks: There is a marked yearly increase in water sales. The number of takers is 600 and new applications for services are continuously coming in.
Since the new well was put in service 20,000,000 gallons of water have been pumped and as of this date the well has shown no shortage in quantity or loss of water quality.
The total mileage of street mains is now 161/2 miles and the number of hydrants is 82.
The Water Board feels that because of the added equip- ment, the necessity of proper care for the Town's investment, a full time water superintendent is needed. His duties would
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be to read and install meters, install services, check and main- tain the various equipment, prepare the commitments for the Collector, and to care for the other details necessary to operate a water system.
The basic concern of the Water Department is the interest of the Town of Norwell. Norwell now has a water system designed to handle an increase of water from new sources and to serve future extensions to other parts of the Town
The Water Department meetings have always been open to the public, and this Board invites any suggestions or criti- cisms at any time from any source. The Water Department records are open to the public and subject to discussion at any time.
Respectfully submitted,
JACOB LEE TURNER, Chairman EARLE F. ALLEN GEORGE F. CAVANAGH Board of Water Commissioners.
卡
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TOWN OF NORWELL
Report of the Board of Assessors
Continuing the comparisons that were drawn in 1954 and 1955 report, the following data is presented :
1955
1956
Gross Amount Raised $561,728.98
Amount Raised by Tax $328,855.52
Real Estate Valuation $7,817,010.00
Personal Property $343,128.00
Increase in Tax Rate
$40.00
Number of Houses 1,270
Number of Polls 1,225
1,331 8%
Personal Property
Requests for abatement - 9
Requests granted -- 9
Amount abated -$143.76
Real Estate
Requests for abatement- 33
Requests denied - 10
Requests granted -23
Amount abated -$801.60
Requests for statutory exemptions
Requests denied - 1
Requests granted - 67
Amount exempted -$6,250.56
The comparison to the 1955 report shows a continuous decline in ratio of taxable property to an accelerating increase in expenditures.
The preparatory work on the Assessors' Maps have con- tinued, compiling more frontage data on the principal streets in town.
A start has been made on the development of new assess- ors' records. Each property is being examined, photographs taken of buildings, approximate dimensions recorded. Per- tinent data is being recorded relating to the constructional characteristics of the buildings. This work is being carried out to fit into the new uniform assessment program offered under the recent state legislative acts to assist towns in developing and maintaining more accurate records and assess- ment equity.
EARLE F. ALLEN, Chairman THOMAS T. BARSTOW THOMAS S. CANN
$781,526.38-39% $422,030.80-28% $8,340,970.00- 7% $395,880.00 -15% $48.00-20% 1,325- 4%
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ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
1956 RECAPITULATION
TOWN
Appropriated at Annual Town Meeting $579,319.67
From Surplus 169,797.89
Abatements in Excess of Overlay 1951
1.40
Hurricane Emergency Expense
731.67
Emergency Snow Removal-1956
2,860.08
$752,710.71
STATE
State Parks & Reservations
459.61
State Audit of Municipal Accounts
1,643.37
Gypsy & Brown Tail Moths
527.98
2,630.96
COUNTY
County Tax
10,610.32
Tuberculosis Hospital Assessment
5,161.70
Underestimates of 1955
448.56
16,220.58
Overlay of Current Year
9,964.13
$781,526.38
ESTIMATED RECEIPTS
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