USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Norwell > Town of Norwell annual report 1960-1969 > Part 115
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5,107.00
Libraries
204.21
Public Service Enterprises (Water Dep't. ) 74,144.30
Cemeteries (other than Trust Funds and Sale of Lots)
642.50
7,454.38
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Interest: On Taxes and Assessments 1,989.31 On Deposit 6,747.50
Farm Animal Excise
25.00
Trailer Fees
3,126.00
Welfare Recoveries
1,500.00
TOTAL ESTIMATED RECEIPTS $ 708,263.04
Amounts voted to be taken from available funds:
March 11, 1968 - Various
Available Funds
8,380.04
June 13, 1968 - Free Cash
80,000.00
TOTAL AVAILABLE FUNDS
92,314.51
Total Estimated Receipts and Available Funds
800,577.55
NET AMOUNT TO BE RAISED BY TAXATION
$2,055,123.51
TOTAL TAX LEVIED
Personal Property Valuation
$ 1,656,202.50 Tax 72,872.91
Real Estate Valuation
$45,051,150.00 Tax 1,982,250.60
Total Taxes Levied on Property
$2,055,123.51
ABATEMENTS AND EXEMPTIONS
Personal Property
Requests for Abatement 15
Requests Granted 10
Requests Denied 5
Real Estate
Requests for Abatement 135
Requests Granted 61
Requests Denied 74
Statutory Exemptions
Veterans, Widows and Blind
Requests for Exemption 128
Requests Granted 126
Requests Denied 2
Certain Elderly Persons
Requests for Exemption 54
Requests Granted 50
Requests Denied 4
Cl. 18
Requests for Exemption 4
Requests Granted 4
Requests Denied 0
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NUMBER OF PARCELS ASSESSED - 3091
# Bills on Personal Estate 161
# Bills on Real Estate
3091
# Bills on Farm Animal Excise 1
3253
VALUE OF ASSESSED PERSONAL ESTATE
Stock in Trade
108,400.00
Machinery
99,800.00
Live Stock
18,712.50
All Other Tangible Personal Property 1,429,290.00
Total Value of Assessed Personal Estate
1,656,202.50
VALUE OF ASSESSED REAL ESTATE
Land exclusive of Buildings 11,096,550.00
Buildings exclusive of Land 33,954,600.00
Total Value of Assessed Real Estate
45,051,150.00
TOTAL VALUATION OF ASSESSED ESTATE
46,707,352.50
Tax Rate per $1,000,00 - $44.00
(School Tax - $26.95)
(General Tax - $17.05)
TAXES FOR STATE, COUNTY, AND CITY OR TOWN PURPOSES, INCLUDING OVERLAY
On Personal Estate 72,872.91
On Real Estate
1,982,250.60
Total Taxes Assessed
2,055,123.51
NUMBER OF LIVE STOCK ASSESSED
Horses 50
Mules and Donkeys
4
Sheep
39
Heifers and Cows
3
Steer
5
Goats
2
Chickens
550
Ponies
7
NUMBER OF ACRES OF LAND ASSESSED 12,520 1/2
NUMBER OF DWELLING HOUSES ASSESSED 1,878
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
Board of Selectmen Norwell, Mass.
Nineteen hundred sixty-eight marked the end of an era with the man- datory retirement of Miss Catherine A. Roe, our school nurse for 45 years. She will be missed by the children in school, but those who avail themselves of the Norwell Visiting Nurse may still see her smiling face.
The School Dental Health Program, started two years ago, has been successful in reducing the incidence of caries. It is this type of preventive medicine that hopefully will reduce medicaid costs.
In accordance with Article 23 of the 1968 Warrant, a Regional Refuse Disposal Planning Committee consisting of Dr. Edward P. Baker, Jr., Mr. Richard M. Karoff and Mr. Douglas Bensusan was appointed. This Committee with its counterparts from Hanover and Hanson has met a number of times and has conducted a survey of all three town dumps under the direction of Camp, Dresser and McKee, Consulting Engineers.
Preliminary data suggests that a regional sanitary landfill operation may be the most practical method of handling the refuse problem on an interim basis, when present methods are no longer adequate. A perma- nent solution to our increasingly critical dump problem must await the time when construction of some sort of regional incinerator facility is feasible. The Committee remains active and will continue, in the Town's interest, to investigate all approaches to the resolution of this problem.
Respectfully submitted, BOARD OF HEALTH Katherine R. Fuller, Chairman John F. O'Halloran, M.D., Secretary Edward P. Baker, Jr., M.D.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF REGISTRARS
There have been 2 special town meetings, 4 elections, and 2 primaries, plus the annual town meeting during the year 1968. Before each of these, there have been special sessions for the registration of new voters in the Town of Norwell, some as long as 10 consecutive hours - from Noon until 10:00 P.M. There have been a total of 656 new voters registered in 1968.
State Law requires that persons who were residents of Norwell as of May 5th be retained on the voting list, to enable them to vote in the November 5th State Election. These people will be removed from the list immediately after November 5.
During the October 5th long registration session (Prior to the State Election November 5th) 108 persons were registered.
It has been a very active year, politically, with more hours than usual
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put in by the Registrars. The Annual Town Meeting and Election are usual, and we almost always have at least one Special Town Meeting during the course of any given year, but this year we had 2 special town meetings and 2 special town elections, together with the state primaries and election.
Respectfully submitted, BOARD OF REGISTRARS Ruth M. Murray, Chairman Nellie G. Tarr, Clerk Paul B. MacDonald Martha Whitcher
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
The usual amount of time was devoted to the resolution of routine prob- lems during the past year; beyond these it cannot be said that Norwell progressed very far in the solution of some of its pressing problems, with the exception of the completion and beginning use of the new fire station.
We are still faced in 1969 with the resolution of most of last year's problems; namely, a larger or new high school, more adequate housing for our Police Department, more adequate housing for all of our other municipal departments and the most proper use of the present Junior High School.
All of these problems are becoming increasingly pressing and during the coming year must all be resolved under an accelerated timing. Such a program is, of course, going to involve substantial capital expenditures.
Beyond this is the fact that during the past twelve months throughout industry all guide lines have been cast aside in wage negotiations. This fact further poses the problem to Norwell that our operating expenses in all departments are going to increase twofold. One, increased remunera- tion to maintain our existing personnel. Two, the expansion of personnel needs in all departments to meet the needs of our expanding community. Furthermore, this inflation factor is of importance in the cost of capital investments. Delay must be weighed against rapidly rising costs.
The largest single budget is that of the School Department. Under our State Laws we have control of this budget only through the good judg- ment of the Members we elect to our School Committee. At the present time this budget is submitted in what is known as a combined budget which gives the School Committee wide latitude in transferring funds from one account to another. In the near future the Townspeople will be given the opportunity to determine whether or not there would be advantages to them in requiring the submission of a segregated budget.
One of the most encouraging aspects of 1968 was the large turnout of citizens at the Special Town Meeting of September 1968 when 861 voters checked in. This was the largest Town Meeting in our history.
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There is no question that money and/or taxes are going to be of para- mount importance in the next few years. Expenditures must be constantly surveyed in the light of legitimate needs. Economy must be wise but not false. The continued interested participation of all citizens is of the highest priority during the coming years. Without it your Town Boards will be seriously handicapped. With it they can hope to arrive at reasonable solutions.
Respectfully submitted, BOARD OF SELECTMEN Richard A. Housley, Chairman Chester A. Rimmer John Petze
CAPITAL BUDGET REPORT
The major activity of the Committee for the year was directed toward an analysis and summary of the study presented to the Town by Perry, Dean and Stewart. This study, which analyzed Norwell's school and mu- nicipal building requirements for the next twenty years, consisted of two volumes, and offered four alternative solutions to our needs.
In addition, the Planning Board submitted a fifth solution.
The Committee spent many hours reviewing the Perry, Dean and Stew- art alternates and the Planning Board alternate. As a result, we prepared and submitted to the Town prior to the June 1 Special Town Meeting a twelve-page summary of all of the alternates indicating the tax rate im- pact of each. We also prepared and submitted a separate report on the tax rate impact of the major capital articles included in the warrant for the June Special Town Meeting.
Since September, the Committee has been meeting twice each month to obtain data regarding the capital outlay requirements of the Town during the next five years. This information supplements the Perry, Dean and Stewart report. We have interviewed department heads and committee chairmen to obtain from them their estimates of projected capital needs. All of this information will be correlated and a report prepared for sub- mission to Town officials and voters prior to the regular Town Meeting in March of 1969.
Respectfully submitted, Robert F. Dwyer, Chairman Jerry West, Secretary Gilbert Cummings Edgar Horton Albert Loring
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REPORT OF THE CIVIL DEFENSE AGENCY
We were again fortunate in that no serious emergencies occurred during the past year which required assistance from Civil Defense, so again em- phasis was on training for the Auxiliary Police and ambulance drivers. Several new auxiliary police were added to the roster and an excellent training program was carried out under the direction of Officer Richard Joseph of the Police Department. With his help all essentials of Police work were well covered.
The ambulance is now quartered in the new Central Fire Station which means a tremendous improvement in the care of the vehicle and its equip- ment, as well as the fact that it is in a heated building and is warm in- side when suddenly called out. We are greatly indebted to the Fire En- gineers for the privilege of sharing these quarters. In accordance with new legislation, the ambulance was inspected by a representative of the State Department of Public Health and met with all requirements and is so certified. A total of 87 runs to hospitals and nursing homes were made during the year, as well as standing by at house fires and other occa- sions.
Chief Bradeen, Chief Merritt and Officer Baldwin took a Red Cross First Aid Instructors course in Boston and are now qualified to instruct in all phases on first aid. A course has just been completed for members of the Fire and Police Departments who already are, or wish to be, qual- ified as ambulance drivers, so we are fortunate to have an increasing number available for this emergency work. The practice of having vol- unteers on stand-by nights and weekends has proved most successful but the problem of locating drivers during the weekdays has not yet been satisfactorily resolved.
Respectfully submitted, W. Clarke Atwater Director
REPORT OF THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
The Norwell Conservation Commission has continued to acquire for the town, parcels of land which will provide open space and recreation areas. We now own several acres of marshland along the river, several acres of low land and fresh water swamp throughout the town, and we have just completed the purchase of about 26 acres off Winter Street and fourteen acres in Wildcat, offered to us for a very reasonable amount by the late Perry Osborn.
This year we have received about twelve acres behind the Washington Street Cemetery from the Barbuto Realty Trust Company. As the town's 21 square miles continues to build up, these gifts and purchases will provide much needed open space. As thirty-five percent of the town is swamp it is of utmost importance that flood plains, which provide for
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water storage when needed, prevent flooding and curb pollution, both in our water supplies and in our brooks, should be preserved from devel- opment.
During 1968 a major piece of legislation passed by the Massachusetts Legislature, was the Inland-Wetlands Bill, which provides the Dept. of Natural Resources with the authority to protect both public and private property, wildlife, fisheries, water resources, etc. This is G.L. Chapter 131, Section 1. 40A. passed June 26, 1968.
The Coastal Wetlands Act, G.L. Ch. 130, Sec. 105, provides protection for coastal wetlands, and strengthens Norwell's Zoning By-Law, Section VI-B which concerns the Saltmarsh Conservation District. The Department of Natural Resources needs the assistance of all citizens, and asks to be advised of any activity observed which might be detrimental to the town. The fact that the Conservation Commission has received gifts of land un- suitable for building, seems to indicate an increasing awareness and re- sponsibility of the general public that good conservation practices mean land used to benefit everyone.
During the year the Conservation Commission has worked with many Boards in town, and we particularly want to thank the Town Clerk for her assistance in many ways. The Soil Map Study with the interpretations is in her custody and is available for reference. It has already been used several times by firms making studies for various Boards or Committees.
The Conservation Commission meets the first Monday of the month at 8:00 P.M. at the Town Hall Annex. All interested citizens are invited to attend the meetings.
Respectfully submitted, Arthur L. Merritt, Chairman Mildred Hastings David Stewart Joseph P. Paradis Wesley H. Osborne, Jr. George H. Whitcher, Jr. Katherine E. Cranton, Secretary
COUNCIL ON AGING
In accordance with chapter 242 of the acts of 1966, the Norwell Council On Aging respectfully submits the following report of its activities and programs for the year 1968.
Early in 1968 the Council observed the National Senior Citizen week. This was held in the Town Hall Lobby and was well attended.
During the year the Council sponsored a series of bus trips, included an all day trip to Martha's Vineyard. This trip was the most popular of the season. The last event of the year 1968 included a "Christmas Light" tour, followed by refreshments at the Grange Hall, served by the
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Norwell Grange. The Council On Aging and the Recreation Commission co-sponsored a fall trip to Westminster.
The programs sponsored by the Council are very popular with the Senior Citizens of the town and create a great deal of pleasure for them. Members of the Council are present at all functions and programs. The programs are reaching more senior citizens than ever before.
Many of our senior citizens have pointed out a growing need for housing for the elderly in the form of apartments. Housing of this type is available in almost all of the surrounding towns. During the coming year the council again plans to explore possibilities for such housing.
We also hope to increase our programs to include those who are con- fined and are unable to take part in the regular trips and other events.
Respectfully submitted, Mary Jane Petze, Chairman Gladys Wilder Dorothy Dickson Robert MacWilliams Warner Abbott
REPORT OF DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION
During the past year, approximately $300,000. in valuation of new construction was planned to be built in the business areas along both sides of Washington Street and along Pond Street, and in the industrial zones along Pond Street and on the southwesterly side of the Southeast Expressway. Some of this building has notyet been started, some is under construction while some is completed. When all this work is completed, it is believed that there should be an appreciable increase in our tax base with a minimum undesirable effect on our several town departments.
Respectfully submitted, Loring H. Jacobs, Chairman Mario G. Cayon, Clerk Frederick C. Truelove D. Frank Mederos Richard A. Gaudette
REPORT OF THE DOG OFFICER
Selectmen Town of Norwell Norwell, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
I submit my report as Dog Officer of the Town of Norwell for the year 1968.
Strays
18
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Complaints investigated 64
Dogs reported missing 99
Dogs returned to owners 35
Dogs injured or killed on highways 18
Under the General Laws, Chapter 140, Section 136A - License period is between April 1 and the following March 31 both dates inclusive.
Section 137 - The owner or keeper of a licensed dog shall cause it to wear around its neck or body a collar or harness of leather or other suitable material, to which shall be securely attached a tag in a form prescribed by the director and upon which shall appear the license num- ber, the name of the town issuing such license and the year of issue.
This will help in returning your dog if picked up.
Respectfully submitted, Robert L. Molla, Sr. Dog Officer
REPORT OF THE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
As has been true every year since the Communications Center went into operation ten years ago, the past year showed an increase in activity resulting in increased responsibility for the operators. In 1968 a total of 40,732 calls were logged, divided in various categories as follows:
Police 22,321
Fire
8,342
Town Network 2,227
Miscellaneous
7,842
This does not include the constant monitoring of radios covering the State Police and other towns, nor the responsibility for the increasing number of burglar and fire alarms being installed from stores, industry, schools and nursing homes.
A police teletype is now being installed, which will greatly improve communications with the State Police and adjoining towns who are not on our network on matters that concern this Town.
After ten years of operation the base station radios for the Police and Fire networks are becoming increasingly costly to maintain, as well as being outmoded in design, and we are asking that the Town Meeting ap- prove an Article to replace one of these base stations this year.
We have an excellent staff of operators atthe present time, but the ranks are still thin in reserves when illness or vacations arise, or changes in schedules must be made. If anyone is interested in training for this work, we would appreciate having them call the Center at any time to arrange for an interview.
As a Board, we wish to express to the operators our appreciation for
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the superb job they do, and we know that we also express to them the appreciation of all the residents of the Town.
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER BOARD W. Clarke Atwater, Chairman Kenneth J. Bradeen Warren P. Merritt
REPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Board of Fire Engineers submits to the Board of Selectmen and the citizens of the Town of Norwell the report of the Fire Department for 1968.
The following calls for the Fire Department were processed through the Communications Center from January 1, 1968 through December 31, 1968:
Buildings (includes electrical, etc. )
27
Grass and Woods
81
Dump
16
Motor Vehicles
24
Resuscitator Calls
17
Investigations
42
Accidents
6
Lost Persons
2
False Alarms
8
Lock-out
1
Mutual Aid to surrounding Towns
18
Mutual Aid Received
17
Fire Permits Issued
3,657
Misc. Calls (for information, etc. )
4,426
Total
8,342
Increase over 1967
1,868
This has been a rewarding year for the Department with the completion of the new Central Fire Station in Norwell Center. This is one of the finest stations in the area, giving the Department facilities to properly carry on our work, and expansion in the future. We would like to say "thanks" to the Building Committee for the many hours of work put in to make this building a reality.
At the last Annual Town Meeting the position of Full-time Fire Chief was voted and went into effect on April 1st.
A Red Cross First Aid Instructors School in Boston was attended by the Chief, qualifying him to instruct the Department in emergency First Aid.
A course in Fire Science is being attended by the Chief and two mem- bers of the Department at Massasoit Community College. Another fifteen weeks of instruction will start on February 3rd.
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The equipment requested and voted at the 1968 Annual Town Meeting has been purchased and placed in service on the apparatus.
The partial numbering of streets in the Town has been very helpful to the Department. This project should be continued until the entire Town has been covered.
May we again take this opportunity to thank the residents of Norwell for their cooperation, and to also thank the Communications Center oper- ators for the efficient manner in which they handle Fire Department calls.
Respectfully submitted, BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS Warren P. Merritt, Chief Loring L. Wadsworth, Deputy James T. King, Clerk John J. Winske, Jr. Donald H. Newton Orville E. Devine
REPORT OF THE HIGHWAY SURVEYOR
To the Citizens of Norwell:
I hereby submit my annual report for the year of 1968, concerning the activities of the Highway Department.
The Highway Department had a very busy Spring, starting with the heavy flood in March. Every precaution was taken to route traffic around the deep water; all roads were kept open, with the exception of Mount Hope Street which washed out. After Town Department meetings it was decided to install an eighteen inch pipe to open the road in the washed- out section. I sincerely hope this emergency measure will last until the Drainage Committee can set up this project through bid, to permanently correct this situation. I had hoped this work would have been started by this time, but it now appears that nothing will be done about it until the Spring of 1969. When completed, this proposed project should take care of Mount Hope Street, as well as the Washington Park area and. the Norwell Homes area - some of the most troublesome spots for drainage. However, correcting this situation is still solving only a small part of the Town's drainage problems.
Concerning the water problem, what is said herein is necessarily a repe- tition of what was said in my 1967 report, but I repeat it again for the benefit of the new home owners. There was occasional flooding of road- ways, but many complaints were received from property owners whose homes are in low-lying land. The end of the drought raised the water level and the houses built in the low lands had considerable trouble, and will continue to have trouble whenever the water level is high.
As in 1967, I again say that we are hoping to obtain a Street Sweeper for the Town. This piece of equipment is very much needed, but as yet we
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have been unable to have it. We are still using the broom and shovel method to sweep and push up the sand. This is a very slow and costly procedure and also a very unsatisfactory one, because we are able to do only the most urgently needed areas, with a heavy accumulation, corners, etc. I am including a Special Article in the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting for a new Sweeper to remove the tons of sand put down during the Winter months. This sand should be cleared away before it clogs the catch basins. Without a sweeper, we have been able to remove only a portion of it by hand - a necessarily slow process.
The Chapter 90 work on Main Street was extended past Lincoln Street this year. It included opening up the corner of Lincoln and Main Streets and preparing to install two safety islands in 1969. This year's work was begun by removing and rebuilding a stone wall approximately 2,500 feet long, which is slow hand work. Also, we installed 9 manholes, 21 catch basins, and approximately 2,500 feet of drainage pipe in all sizes, from six-inch perforated pipe to twenty-four inch reinforced concrete pipe; 450 feet of twenty-four inch pipe was installed down through an easement in the Whiting field. As you can see for yourself, this section of the road- way was changed considerably, but the change actually put the road back in the location it was eighty or more years ago. The first two inches of hot mix have been applied to this section of Main Street, starting at the Homestead Farm, and two more courses will have to be applied in 1969. Some clean-up work and seeding still remains to be done in the section near the new church. So - the Town Center is in sight for 1970.
All during the year routine maintenance work was carried out; patching holes in the roads used up 310 tons of material; 125 street signs were replaced and 45 new signs were purchased; drains and waterways were cleaned; concrete posts for guard rails were set; complaints answered and taken care of whenever possible; etc.
As in previous years, I will list a few of the items used this year on all projects, to give you a better idea of the scope of the work done by the Highway Department: 1250 tons salt; 3,288 yds. sand; 4,500 yds. gravel and fill; 1,439 yds. mix-in-place; 3,174 feet of pipe, all sizes; 2,371 tons Type I hot top; 310 tons all-weather patch; 86,140 gallons roadway oil and tar; 303 gallons paint; 2,800 pounds reflector beads; 140 street-sign blanks; 300 yards sign-making materials; 40 snowplow blades; 15 tons calcium chloride.
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