USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1929 > Part 6
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Viola Gertrude Morrow
24 Machine Operator Reading
26 John Francis Richards 20 Weather Proofer's Helper Reading
Adele Isabel LeFave 18 At Home
Reading
29 Grocery Clerk Reading
23 Stenographer Reading
61 Commercial Traveller Reading
50 At Home Wilmington
Nov.
3 James John Harris Abigail Marie McGary
3 Philip Winslow Rounsvelle Emily Kenney Whittle
9 Robert Swett Stevens Helen Elizabeth Cady
25 Reserve Policeman
Malden
43 At Home
Reading
49 Manufacturer
Tewksbury
33 Bookkeeper
Reading
21 Clerk
Reading
22 At Home
Huntington
12 Harry Francis Frederick Simpson 24 Foreman Inspector
Revere
Mary Georgiana Muise 23 At Home
Reading
23 Arnold Clarkson Lillian Florence Mazzie
24
Clerk Reading
23 Francis Greenwood Shepherd 25 Jennie Harriet Stokes 20 At Home
Elec. Work Engineer
Newton
Reading
23 Milton Warren Symonds Marion Roxalana Spencer 24 Saleslady
31 Box Manufacturer
Reading
Wakefield
28 J. · Victor Bearse 21 Mechanic Marjorie V. Hilton 19 Assembler
Reading
Reading
Dec.
18 John J. Crotty Helen M. Starbird
26 Electrician Billerica
22 At Home Billerica
23 Clerk
Reading
28 Charles Francis Middleton Alberta Amelia Schmitt
30 Lewis S. Williams Elizabeth Y. Taylor
26 Painter Reading
65
DEATHS REGISTERED IN TOWN OF READING, FOR YEAR 1929
Date
Name
YMD
Cause of Death
Jan.
1 Mary Belinian
88
-
-
Myocarditis
1 Gertrude L. Edgerley
59
3
14 Carcinoma
1 Anne R. Howe
61
-
15 Myocarditis
3 Ethelann Burbine
9
- Pneumonia
6 Sarah F. Cummings
48
3
3
Pneumonia
7 Elnora Ruth Turner
32
-- Tuberculosis
8 Sarah J. Christie
80
1
12 Arterio Sclerosis
8 Mary Josephine Perry
83
Myocarditis
9 William J. Hinchcliffe
74
4
2 Arterio Sclerosis
11
14 Peter J. Flynn
42
6
-
Automobile Accident
14 Edwin Lord Fullerton
89
4
14
Pneumonia
15 George J. Ingalls
0
7 7 Strangulation
15 Florence Elmira Killam
73
1
7 Apoplexy
16 Neomise Meuse
30
Pneumonia
16 Mary E. Surrette
76
8 -
Pneumonia
17 Mae F. Copeland
49
10
30
Heart Disease
19 Bradford C. Foster
13
9
4
Influenza Pneumonia
23 Martin William Sargent
52
8
27 Diabetes
28 Martha L. Parker
81
3
30 Bronchitis
29 Catherine Matherson
89
7 26 Carcinoma
31
Feb.
2 Emma F. Allen
86
2 30
La Grippe
2
3 William M. Foss
72
20
Arterio Sclerosis
3 Eliza Jane Graham
80
- La Grippe
10 Zaida E. (Stilphen) Dickinson 84
11
17 Myocarditis
14 Philip Dow 0
0 29 Cellulitus
16 Charles Merle Farr 1
0 13 Pneumonia
19 Jennie Anderson
79
0 30 Hemorrhage
21 Margaret I. Fellows
60
7
4 Endocarditis
23 Julia E. Doucetté
75
Pneumonia
23 Vera Mary Meuse
27
11 - Tuberculosis
Mar.
4 William Francis Eccles
69
5 3 Myocarditis
4 Alvinza Leach Green
76
2
7 Hemorrhage
-
30 William Howatt Gardner
67
11 13 Pneumonia
-
66
DEATHS REGISTERED IN TOWN OF READING, FOR YEAR 1929
Date
Name
YMD
Cause of Death
Mar.
6
9 Sarah M. Rogers
67
5 16 Carcinoma
13 Sarah Elizabeth Knight
91
5 22 Pneumonia
18 Antonio Michelini
71
6
18 Angina Pectoris
25 Dorothy Allen Maxwell
1
2
8 Gastritis
25 George A. Wildon
63 0 23 Automobile Accident
Apr.
1 John Moreland
64
-
- Hemorrhage
4 Oscar W. Batchelder, Jr.
14
3 21
Appendicitis
4 Louis George Dulong
86
- -
Carcinoma
4 George Wakefield
72 5 22 Pneumonia
5 George F. McDonald
80 8 19 Hemorrhage
6 Abby J. Hunnewell
87 7 19 Emboli
7 Ida Stratton
68
- Tabes Dorsalis
17 Ida Levine
76
Hemorrhage
23 Martha L. Blood
88
3
1
Arterio Sclerosis
26 Fred Griffin
60
Nephritis
26 Margaret Hubbard
78 - Carcinoma
27 John B. Howard
20
5 7 Hemorrhage
30 Isabell S. Davis
53
Pneumonia
May
5 Daniel N. Messinger
87
0 5
Myocarditis
14 Martin Kearns
91
- Hemorrhage
21 Mary Eunice Muise
-
7 Acidosis
25 Henry T. Leavis
67
10 3 Arterio Sclerosis
26 Ruth A. Salomons
70
- - Hypertension
31 Frank Howard Swett
60
6 14 Carcinoma
June
2 Clarence Edwin Bowers
12 Patrick Casey
71
- - Hemorrhage
71 3 25 Hemorrhage 22 George James Thorburn
26 Mary Carney
92
8 - Myocarditis
29 Calista Parker
73 2 - Heart Disease
77
6 28 Myocarditis
67
DEATHS REGISTERED IN TOWN OF READING, FOR YEAR 1929
Date
Name
Y M D Cause of Death
July
3 Frederic Edwards Bronson
48
5 19 Hemorrhage
3 Annie E. Payson
73
10 24 Heart Disease
6 Edmund Dunn
18
1
7 Accidental Drowning
9 Flora Guenard
54 10 12 Cardiac Failure
11 Harold W. Kendall
32 - Brain Abscess
12 Robert A. Jewett
47
11 10 Endocarditis
13 Julia Devaney
45
- -
Carcinoma
16 Isadore Viola Phinney
82
8
7 Intestinal Obstruction
21 John S. Power
57
Hemorrhage
21 Isa May Ward
56
6 18 Myocardial Failure
21 William Henry White
69
- -
Pneumonia
26 Oliver M. Wade, Jr.
21
1
2 Accidental Drowning
27 Sarah Lucy Putnam
30
7
9 Typhoid Fever
29 Richard K. Hersee
0
0
1 Malformation
29 Thomas B. Hinds
43
- - Embolism
29 Florence Emma Horton
60
11
13 Myocarditis
Aug.
21
22 Matthew Devaney
65
-
Thrombosis Exhaustion
23 John Bacigalupo
71
82
70
58
1 21 Carcinoma
28 James S. Safford
62
11 10 Myocarditis
29
31 Gertrude Merritt
8 4 Meningitis
Sept.
1
7 Daniel Zapp
79
4 28 Hemorrhage
8 Polly Kemp Murphy
59
7 8 Carcinoma
17 A. Walter Wiley
58
7
- Angina Pectoris
23 27 George H. Lavallie
65
3 6 Carcinoma
28 William J. Draffin
76
22 Automobile Accident 1
29 Almina Clancy
21
- 14 Status Lymphaticus
9 5 30 Heart Disease
26 Sarah J. Bancroft
26 Frederick Wallace
10 14 Hypertension 27 Lydia Melonson
68
DEATHS REGISTERED IN TOWN OF READING, FOR YEAR 1929
Date
Name
YMD
Cause of Death
Oct.
5 Edwin G. Thompson
75 9
5 Hemorrhage
9 Elmira G. Adden
94
3 12 Fracture of Hip
11 Mabel E. Merritt
22
2
18 Nephritis
13 Harriet R. Whitton
73 10 13 Heart Disease
14 Mary White
78
10 14 Jaundice
24 William B. Davidson
51
11 27 Cancer
26 Ermina J. Clark
45
6 16 Anaemia
31 Mary J. Rand
76
2 16 Arterio Sclerosis
Nov.
4 Robert H. Hewitt 0
0
2 Trauma
4 John Joseph Walsh
76
6 - Pneumonia
11 Catherine Cashman
33
11 -
Tuberculosis
16 Zoa L. Varnum
67 - 12 Angina Pectoris
18 Cordelia R. Walker McBay
86 2 16 Thrombosis
20 Bertha A. Miller
80 6 13 Myocarditis
27 Arthur Treadwell Edwards 29
8 24 Pericarditis
Dec.
7 James H. Carnes 0
95
1 7 Myocarditis
10 Frances Chase Wright
93 0 13 Hemorrhage
21 Cora A. Eaton
64 0 22 Carcinoma.
23 Arthur G. Bancroft
58
57
4 11 Heart Disease 3 28 Myocarditis
24 Anna G. Anderson 26 Harlan B. Poore
77 2
- Bronchitis
28 Cora E. Kingman
74
Unknown
31 31 Lottie M. Nichols 71
10 5 Embolism
0
1 Hemorrhage 7 Francis M. Forbes
69
REPORT OF SELECTMEN
'l'o the Citizens of the Town of Reading :
We herewith respectfully submit the annual report of the Board of Selectmen for the year ending December 31, 1929, together with the reports of the several departments under our supervision or control.
The first meeting following the election was held March 8, 1929. Charles F. Trevor was chosen Chairman, Mollie A. Sweetser, Secretary, W. Homer Morrison being the third member. Leon G. Bent was ap. pointed Clerk.
Appointments
Chief of Fire Department-Orville O. Ordway.
Superintendent of Fire Alarm-Hugh L. Eames.
Inspector of Buildings-A. Russell Barnes.
Burial Agent-Alfred E. Goodwin.
Custodian of Soldiers' Graves-Walter I. Sweetser.
Director of Agriculture-Rolland E. Perry.
Sealer of Weights & Measures-Carl M. Smith.
Board of Appeal-Henry Q. Millett, Fred L. Nutter, Charles A Damon.
Fence Viewers-Carl B. Sawyer, Albert E. Temple, Wendell B. Newell.
Weighers of Coal & Hay-W. Irving Bancroft, Bertha D. Mac- Lellan, Wendell B. Newell, Charles W. Lee, Thomas E. Brogan, Mabel L. MacKay, Percy N. Sweetser, William H. White, Ruth Climo.
Field Drivers-Willard A. Bancroft, Adolph S. Larson, Rolland L. Perry.
Inspector of Wires-Hugh L. Eames.
Gas Inspector-David Taggart.
Reading Safety Council-Florence H. Libby, Gladys N. S. Fair- child, Alvah W. Clark, Edward G. Quinlan, Jeremiah Cullinane, Adelbert L. Safford, William J. Lumbert.
Finance Committee-Laura S. Gordon, Earle B. Ordway, Forest H. Bryant, Pearl M. Burgess, Orlando C. Moyer, J. Warren Killam, William A. Haley, Edward J. Scott.
Commissioner of Trust Funds-Philip H. Tirrell.
Inspector of Animals-Calvert H. Playdon.
Special Police-Leonard Clarkson, J. Fred Richardson, Sylvanus L. Thompson, Edward W. McBrien, Walter Smith, James L. Healy, Henry W. Bryden, James H. Mclellan, William H. Killam, Frank F. Strout, William P. Pierpont, William H. Manning, Charles H. Melendy, Gardner A. Perry, Earl R. Hutchinson, William D. Quillen, Ralph F. Plouff, George O. Flanders, Kenneth L. Crocker.
70
Licenses Issued Second-hand Motor Vehicle Licenses
Gray & Webster Motor Sales, Reading Motor Co., John H. Bates, Inc., Bal-Don Motors Inc., Reading Hudson-Essex Co., Barry Motor Sales.
Lord's Day Licenses
George W. Moody, Frank J. Torre, Lewis Q. Smith, Teresa De- Mayo, Evan E. Keene, Beatrice W. Jewett, Alfred F. Shiner, Frank M. Marsh, Spiro & Costa, James Manuel, Frances Smith, Julia M. Cald- well, Edward H. Emerson, Burbank & White (2), Nellie B. Holder, F. W. Lloyd, Gerritson & Melanson, George L. Byron, Antonio Demarco, Samuel Lieberman, Arthur Turner, Yesai Minasian, Harold L. Roberts, John F. Havens, Walter I. Williams, Mrs. C. P. Gifford, Cuneo & Def- farri, Arthur D. Towne, James Costules, Herman Brown, Edward H. Emerson, Philip H. O'Brien, Robert D. Lowell, Edward F. Brown, Frank H. Jury, Frank L. Brown.
Common Victualer's Licenses
John M. Hickey, George W. Moody, Aram Dagdigian, Lewis Q. Smith, Teresa DeMayo, John McKinnon, Alfred F. Shiner, Reading Inn, Lewis R. Brown, Albert S. Cann, Frank M. Marsh, Frank J. Ricn- ard, Frances Smith, Julia M. Caldwell, Edward H. Emerson, (2), Bur- bank & White (2), F. W. Lloyd, Hugh J. McNeil, Yesai Minasian, F. E. Bulley, Murphy & Finnegan, John F. Havens, Ralph H. Woodfall (2), Rose C. Kerr, Hattie J. Conrad, Frank L. Brown.
Amusement Licenses
Under Chap. 140, Gen. Laws
Teresa DeMayo, Burbank & White, Albert S. Cann, Lewis R. Brown.
Taxi Cab Licenses
Gardner A. Perry (2), John Goff (4), Simon Castine (3), Clar- ence E. Castine (4), William R. Borthwick.
Truck Licenses
George T. Lewis, Harold W. Batchelder, Clarence E. Castine, An- gelo Zanni (3), C. Irving Nesmith, Francis Merrill, Oscar R. Whiting, Joseph L. Peters, Felix Arsenault, L. W. Chase, Percy N. Sweetser (2), Leora F. Stratton, E. A. Crosby, R. P. Eldridge, Justin Moore.
Bowling & Pool Licenses
Abbott & Tucker, R. E. Tucker.
Junk Dealers
Jacob Riseman, Max Horovitz, Jacob Wienberg.
Other Licenses
Auctioneers, George E. Horrocks, Frederick L. Springford; Thea- tre, Turnbull & Rogers; Third Class Liquor, Danforth's Pharmacy; Inn Holder, E. W. Rogers.
71
Regular weekly meetings have been held during the year and also three special meetings.
There have been 8 public hearings on applications for permits for garages and for the storage and sale of gasoline and other volatile fluids and 2 hearings on relocation of tanks, or increased capacity. The fol- lowing permits have been issued :
Reading-Hudson Essex Co., George W. Davis Co., Barry Motor Sales, Bal-Don Motors, Inc., Sanford Mills "L" and for relocation, S. R. Stembridge Co., Herbert T. White and E. H. Emerson. One peti- tion for gasoline permit was withdrawn and one petition was denied.
Early in the year upon the petition of many residents of North Main Street and the Mason Bus Line for less restricted or unrestricted service, the Selectmen held hearings and gave the matter much at- tention. The Board petitioned the Department of Public Utilities for a hearing on the modification of restrictions imposed and after such hearing the petition was dismissed.
The Board is strongly of the opinion that the Town should build a suitable building for the Police Department and a Town Lock-Up.
This matter was before the Town in 1924 and the need existing then has greatly increased during the intervening years and the Board recommends that this project be put through in 1930.
The increased volume of motor traffic creates a condition which warrants serious consideration. One of the important matters is the danger of accidents at the intersection of certain streets. In accordance with the vote of the Town at a special meeting in June, automatic traf- fic signals have been installed at the intersection of Summer Avenue and Prescott Streets.
The Board has established a sixty minute parking limit in the business section of the Town and have installed parking signs.
The land given to the Town by William R. Scharton, Esquire, at the corner of Franklin and Haverhill Streets, was accepted by the Board of Selectmen and the rounding and widening of the corner was carried out by the Board of Public Works, thus eliminating the serious traffic hazard.
Traffic beacon originally installed at the intersection of Franklin and Main Streets was moved to the above location.
Two other flashing beacons which in the opinion of the Board were no longer required have been stored for future use.
The Board is considering installing "STOP" signs on certain en- tering streets at the intersection of the main travelled highways.
Special Police Officer, Earl R. Hutchinson was appointed to the regular force and the Board recommends that an additional officer be appointed in order to provide for the greater protection of children.
In accordance with the vote of the Town, the Selectmen purchased a three car steel garage to accommodate the police department car:
72
and motor cycles.
The Board is considering the advisability of installing a teletype at police quarters as this device furnishes a means of instant communi- cation between towns and cities so equipped and is being recognized as a great aid in the apprehension of law breakers beside giving other information of importance to the police.
Carrying out the vote of the Town at the June meeting, the Richardson House, so called, on Lowell Street was removed and the lot graded, which has made decided improvement in the appearance of the civic center of the Town.
The Board recommends that the Inspector of Buildings be au- thorized to make a charge for all building permits to be paid to the Town Treasurer.
In conclusion, we desire to express our appreciation to the other Town officers cooperating with us during the year.
CHARLES F. TREVOR, MOLLIE A. SWEETSER, W. HOMER MORRISON, Selectmen of Reading.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE, 1929
-
To the Citizens of Reading :
The Board of Overseers of Public Welfare presents the following report for the year ending December 31, 1929:
The Board organized for the year by the election of Mary F. Daniel as Chairman and Annie E. Patrick as Secretary, Charles F. Trevor being the third member. Leon G. Bent was appointed Clerk and Helen A. Brown Visitor for the Board.
The chief reasons which made public relief necessary in the cases aided may be briefly enumerated as follows :
Cases
Illness 7
Unemployment
6
Old Age 4
Widow
8
Desertion, or non-support
5
Mentally deficient 3
Husband in jail 1
Individuals aided 184
Adults 73
73
Children
111
Families Aided
*Having settlement in Reading 27
Having settlement elsewhere in State 5
Having no known settlement 7
*Persons having resided in Reading for 5 consecutive years. Boarded in private families 7
Children boarded by the State 2
Cared for at State Infirmary
9
The financial disbursements of the Department for 1929, are as follows: Administrative expenses including the salary of visitor and clerk, $1011.72.
Amount expended for town cases, Aid, Board & Care, $10,934.85 from which may be deducted reimbursements from other towns $1-508.83 and from the Hospital Fund $569.65. Total $2,078.48, actual outlay of $8,856.07.
In addition to the above expenditures the Commissioners of Trust Funds have authorized the payment directly from the Hospital Fund of $980.59 for Hospital cases coming under the provisions of the will of Gilman L. Parker.
Disbursements under Temporary Aid $2,167.22 the total amount being reimbursed by the Commonwealth.
Mothers' Aid total disbursements $3,718.13, of which the Com- monwealth reimburses the Town $1,260.90 leaving the amount paid by the Town $2,457.23.
The State Department of Public Welfare reports that the rate of dependency in Massachusetts has not materially increased in the last twenty years. While the percentage over such a long period of years show little variation, there is a large variation from year to year, which, when analyzed, is found to be caused by more or less serious periods of unemployment, usually occuring in the winter months. When the unemployment factor is eliminated the remaining burden of de- pendency is substantially constant. The control of the unemployment factor is an essential next step in the prevention of dependency.
In an effort to acquire a knowledge of the work of the depart- ment the chairman is attending the six months Training Course offered by the State Department of Public Welfare. The course includes lectures and case discussions. Six full days are required for visiting the five institutions of the department and for a visit to private insti- tutions in and around Boston.
The Board has tried to aid the worthy and to prevent suffering. Effort has been made to investigate as fully as possible all requests for assistance and to oblige those who can secure work to support them- selves and their families. In some cases little sympathy can be given the adults, but the children who are the innocent sufferers cannot be
74
left in want. It is for their sake that assistance is granted.
The Board highly commends the work of Miss Brown, the visitor, whose report follows. Her kindness is far reaching. She establishes friendly contacts with all who are in need and is untiring and constant in her efforts to aid those in need of temporary assistance and those for whom the Board assumes entire responsibility.
We are appreciative of the co-operation of the Board of Public Works, who have helped this department by giving work to the un- employed.
We are grateful, also, to Mr. M. F. Charles who very consider- ately placed at our disposal the use on Friday evenings of the Town Clerk's room. The work of the Board is of such nature that the privacy of such a room is greatly needed.
MARY F. DANIEL ANNIE E. PATRICK CHARLES F. TREVOR
REPORT OF VISITOR
To the Board of Public Welfare :
I herewith submit my report for the year 1929.
Although the number of persons aided during the year has not increased greatly, this department has had to deal with several unusually trying problems, which have taken a great deal of time and patience from the members of the Board as well as the Visitor. There has been also more unemployment during the last two months than for some years. This causes hardships when there is a large family of children, where the breadwinner has not been in a position to save money ahead to use in time of need. The number of applications from families never be- fore aided was 12, beside a new application from 8 other families who had had aid in some previous year, making a total of 20 applications. In 10 of these the aid was for a short time only, and 4 other families having ceased to need aid, a total of 14 cases have been closed.
The Visitor recorded 466 visits made to homes, besides several trips to hospitals with children when the parents were unable to go, and to the State Infirmary to visit patients staying there. The usual routine work of attending to grocery orders, approving milk, coal, and rent bills has been carried on as in previous years. A number of our people have been sent to hospitals for necessary treatments and have been greatly benefitted. The Parker Fund used in payment of these cases has been very much appreciated and has been a very great help.
75
A five months course in Public Welfare work, given in weekly lectures at the State House, was attended by the Visitor, who felt well repaid for the time and effort given, by the knowledge and experience gained from this practical course, and in visits to several State Insti- tutions.
The cooperation of the Visiting Nurse, School Nurse, Attendance Officers, and Good Health Committee, was much appreciated as in pre- vious years. Thanks are extended to the Social Service Committee of the Visiting Nurse Association for preparing and sending out the bounti ful Thanksgiving baskets, the contents of which are largely given by the school children. Representatives of many organizations met to- gether before Christmas to make plans for the Christmas giving, thus avoiding duplication in the work. We wish to extend our thanks to all these organizations and kind friends who gave Christmas dinners, clothing, and toys to many families who otherwise would not have had Christmas cheer.
The Visitor wishes to thank the members of the Board for their constant interest and help during the year. Attention to details and a thorough understanding of each case has been a great help, and a larger share of responsibility taken, has been much appreciated by her. Visits made together to the homes have been beneficial and she ap- preciates the time and effort given by the new members to the work. Mr. Bent, the clerk of the Board, is always willing to help in prob- lems which come up, and his assistance is much appreciated.
Respectfully submitted,
HELEN A. BROWN, Visitor.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF APPEAL
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen: Eight petitions for relief from different provisions of the Zoning By-Law were presented to the Board of Appeal during 1929, on all of which public hearings were given. Of these petitions, four were granted, four denied.
Of the four petitions granted, two were for permission to con- struct additions to residences, bringing the structures nearer to the lot lines than permitted by the By-Laws; one was for permission to erect a dwelling house nearer the street than permitted but in line with another dwelling house built before the adoption of the Zoning By-Law; one was for extension of non-conforming use.
The four petitions denied were all for variation of the By-Law
76
to allow use of permits for business purposes in residential zones.
One petition was presented to the Board under Section 6, of the Building Laws, for a ruling on the intent of Section 7, as to the con- struction of a fire resisting wall in a building intended for use as a restaurant. The Board ruled that it was clearly the intent of said Section to include restaurants in the list of exceptions to such require- ment.
Respectfully submitted, HENRY Q. MILLETT, Chairman FRED L. NUTTER, Secretary CHARLES A. DAMON,
Board of Appeal.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS
To the Honorable, Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :- I herewith submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1929.
The building construction for the past year was as follows: 76 new one-family dwellings at an estimated cost of $436,485.00; 33 altera- tions and additions to dwellings at an estimated cost of $38,770.00.
38 new one-car garages, 21 new two-car garages, 1 new block of stores, 2 new auto repair shops, 2 new service stations, 1 new filling station, 2 new greenhouses, 4 new road-side stands, 3 new storage buildings, 9 new hen houses, 22 alterations and additions to various buildings.
Estimated cost of the above buildings, $98,190.00.
Total estimated cost of all new and remodelled buildings for the past year, $573,445.00.
Respectfully submitted, A. RUSSELL BARNES, Inspector of Buildings.
REPORT OF TOWN COUNSEL
To the Honorable, the Law Committee of the Town of Reading, Read- ing, Mass.
77
Gentlemen :
I beg to submit my report as Town Counsel for the year ending December 31, 1929.
The matter of the apportionment of the cost of the Northern Artery referred to in my 1928 report was finally disposed of by the legislature by the enactment of an amendment to Statute 1924, Ch. 489, by which amendment the cost was divided between the Commonwealth, the cities and towns of the Metropolitan Parks District and the Cities of Cambridge and Somerville. No portion of this cost therefore fell upon the Town of Reading in the final outcome.
A good deal of time was spent during the year upon matters per- taining to the Reading cemeteries. The Board of Cemetery Trustees prepared a new set of rules and regulations for the governance of both cemeteries and also new forms of deeds and certificates. When the question of the authority of the Board to make rules and regulations came to be considered the history of the Board was traced back and it appeared likely that the original vote creating the Board might not have been valid. A special act of the legislature was therefore sought and obtained establishing the Board of Cemetery Trustees and con- firming the titles of its members then in office, the Board to have the same powers in every respect as a Board of Cemetery Commissioners existing under the authority of the general laws. The act reserves to the inhabitants of the town the right to change the constitution of the Board in the future in any way which would be permitted by the general laws.
The bill in equity brought by William H. Killam against the Town referred to in my 1928 report is still pending. There is also pending the petition by Mr. Killam for the assessment of damages for a taking made through his land in order to establish permanently the right of the town to the line of sewer laid therein. Considerable time has been spent in negotiations relative to this matter which have not resulted in any adjustment and it is probable that the case will have to be tried out in court.
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