USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1930 > Part 21
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$
150,000.00
Notes issued in 1930
525,000.00
$ 675,000.00
Notes paid in 1930
$ 475,000.00
Outstanding December 31, 1930 200,000.00
$ 675,000.00
A more detailed statement of receipts and disbursements, and statement of the Trust Funds may be found in the report of the Town Accountant.
PRESTON F. NICHOLS, Treasurer.
323
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
To the Citizens of Reading :
We herewith submit our report on work under our jurisdiction during the year 1930 :
Valuation of Taxable Real Estate :
Buildings, excluding land
$10,681,475.00
Land, excluding buildings
3,984,475.00
Total Taxable Real Estate
$14,665,950.00
Taxable Personal Estate 1,164,475.00
Total Taxable Real and Personal Estate assessed
April 1, 1930
$15,830,425.00
Building increase over 1929
416,850.00
Land increase over 1929
80,455.00
Total increase on Real Estate
$ 497,305.00
Increase on Personal Estate over 1929 107,001.00
Total gain on taxable property $ 604,306.00
Valuation of excise tax for 1930
1,061,090.00
Increase on excise tax for 1930
43,360.00
Tax on Real Estate
459,047.51
Tax on Personal Estate
36,448.85
Tax on Excise
25,314.13
Tax on Polls
5,846.00
Tax on Real Estate for Moth
871.25
Tax on Real Estate for Sewer
1,906.01
$ 529,433.75
Additional Polls
$
56.00
State Tax, 1930
$ 14,840.00
State Highway Tax, 1930
2,035.00
Metropolitan Sewerage Tax, 1930
7,992.01
Metropolitan Sewerage Tax, Special, 1930
126.00
Snow Removal Tax, 1930
324.03
Municipal Lighting Tax, 1930
78.73
Fire Prevention Tax, 1930
146.14
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County Tax, 1930
22,402.62
County Tax, Hospital, 1930
2,021.23
Total State and County Tax, 1930
$ 49,965.76
Total State and County Tax, 1929.
56,872.37
Decrease in 1930
$ 6,906.61
Amount appropriated for Town Purposes
592,612.26
Amount to be paid for State Taxes
49,965.76
Amount of Overlay
3,760.28
Total assessments, 1930
$ 646,338.30
Less Estimated Receipts
$120,000.00
Less Excise Tax
25,000.00
Less 2,923 Polls @ $2.00
5,846.00
150,846.00
Amount to be raised
$ 495,492.30
Tax rate for 1930, $31.30
Number of persons, partnerships and corporations as-
sessed April, 1930
2,690
Number of automobiles assessed
3,022
Number of separate assessments, 1930
5,712
Number of polls, 1930
2,951
Number of polls, 1929
2,856
Increase in polls
95
Number of horses
84
Number of cows
173
Number of neat cattle
24
Number of swine
32
Number of dwelling houses
2,401
Number of acres of land
5,770
Value of Town property
$ 1,360,030.00
Value of property exempt
526,260.00
Total non-taxable property
$ 1,886,290.00
Total taxable property
15,830,425.00
Total value excise tax
1,061,090.00
Total value, 1930
$18,777,805.00
325
Report of the Survey of Land Under the Block System
We have now completed 73 plans which contain 3,620 separate lots. Appropriated, 1930
$ 500.00
Balance, 1929
4.50
$ 504.50
Expended
Davis & Abbott, correcting plans
$ 11.00
Davis & Abbott, correcting plans
66.97
Davis & Abbott, 4 new plans
387.40
465.37
Balance
$ 39.13
We would advise that the sum of $500 be appropriated for the coming year that the work of the Block System be continued.
J. FRED RICHARDSON, ALVAH W. CLARK, GEORGE E. HORROCKS,
Board of Assessors.
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
During the early months of the year 1930, the Planning Board completed its consideration of the matter of improving and re-arranging Reading Common. Article 28 was entered in the warrant of the annual Town Meeting, where it was voted not to appropriate any sum at that time for the purpose, indicating that the townspeople did not concur with the Planning Board that the Square and Common should be re- arranged and beautified, it being the main contact with the people who pass through, selling to them the idea of Reading as a better place to live in. The Board is still firm in advising against the expenditure of further sums on the present Common, and urges that any money used for the purpose be so used toward the ultimate development of the traffic circle and lay-out, as proposed by the Town Planner, Mr. Arthur A. Shurtleff.
The Board helped to promote the matter of securing suitable land and planting a Town Forest. This project was eventually put into the hands of a special committee, and it is gratifying to this Board that the citizens acted favorably upon their recommendations and have established a Town Forest, which we feel confident the future will prove to be a worthy possession.
The matter of parks and playgrounds has been studied to some extent, but this matter was also subsequently placed in the hands of
326
a special committee. We are certain that the profits derived from a system of parks and playgrounds, properly supervised, will reflect the good judgment of the townspeople in establishing it.
The Board has been called upon in several instances to consider changes in the zoning laws, as applied to specific locations where busi- ness enterprises desired an opening. The Board is, at the present time, holding hearings for both petitioners and objectors in the matter of re-zoning the easterly side of North Main Street from a Single and Multiple Resident District to a Musiness District. This change was requested by Article 8 in the Warrant of the Special Town Meeting of December 1, 1930, and the matter referred to the Planning Board for consideration and report at the March 1931 Annual Town Meeting.
The Board introduced to the various organizations of the town, who interest themselves in civic affairs, the idea of having each appoint one or more members to, what we have called, a Consultation Committee. This, we believe, will assist in overcoming one of the major handicaps of the Planning Board, namely, that of duplication. In many instances the Board has started work on certain proposals, only to find, within a short time, that one or more committees, appointed by other depart- ments or town organizations, had been given the same work to handle. We expect, by closer contact with the various organizations, through their appointed representatives, to eliminate a great deal of duplication, and also to add valuable material and ideas more readily to the develop- ment of any particular project. By such a committee all of the or- ganizations of the town would be kept informed of the progress being made in certain civic proposals in which they were interested. With the desirable and proper co-operation and co-ordination, these projects would be more perfectly developed, and brought more rapidly to a conclusion.
Today, to illustrate, there are at least four fairly well crystallized plans for the development of Birch Meadow. Each of these has out- standing points of merit and, with proper management, could contribute largely to a more perfect and direct development of the Birch Meadow tract.
The Board has this year been most unfortunate in losing the services of its Chairman, Mr. Leland W. Kingman, who resigned at the advice of his physician the early part of January 1931. Mr. King- man was a most enthusiastic member, and during his time of service rendered an immense amount of valuable and hard work.
On February 6, 1931, Mr. Louis M. Lyons was appointed by the Board of Selectmen to fill Mr. Kingman's vacancy for the remaining period to the March 1931 Annual Town Meeting.
327
During the coming year this Board hopes for the continued sup- port and co-operation of the various town officials, organizations and citizens in general, inttrested in the civic development of the Town of Reading.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE W. G. POOLE, Chairman FREDERICK E. BOYERS, Secretary WINTHROP D. PARKER McPHERSON DANIEL LOUIS M. LYONS
REPORT OF TOWN COUNSEL
To the Honorable, the Law Committee of the Town of Reading :
I beg to submit my report as Town Counsel covering the period from the date of my appointment, April 15, 1930 to December 31, 1930.
I have, in the performance of the duties of my office, attended hearings of the various Boards, given advice and opinions on Town matters, drafted all documents and legal instruments, prosecuted all suits brought in behalf of the Town and appeared in defence of all actions or suits instituted or pending against the Town and have per- formed every professional act pertaining to the office.
At the time of my appointment, there was pending certain litiga- tion brought by William H. Killam involving the assessment of land damages for a taking made by the Town through his land for the per- manent maintenance of the sewer line therein. Numerous conferences have been held with counsel representing Mr. Killam in an effort to negotiate a satisfactory adjustment. Progress has been made and the parties have agreed upon a compromise subject to the approval thereof by the citizens of the Town.
There is still pending the suit brought by Richard M. Cutts for personal injuries and property damage as a result of an accident on the highway; also three other suits brought by Ruth Pearse, Eva M. Pearse and Benjamin E. Sefton, for damages as a result of alleged defect in the highway. These suits were referred to in the Town Counsel's report for 1929.
There are pending also several claims against the Town for damages, which claims have not yet been made the subject of suit; such claims were outstanding at the time of my appointment on April 15, 1930.
Suit has been brought against the Town in behalf of Mildred J. Gray to recover damages to property at 17 Kingston Street resulting from certain blasting operations conducted by the Town in constructing a drain through the claimant's property. The ad damnum in the writ is $10,000. Many conferences and negotiations for settlement have been
328
carried on in this case, but have not been productive of results. A similar claim has been made against the Town by Warren L. Martin for damage to property No. 19 Kingston Street. A settlement, however, has been effected with Mr. Martin by payment of $100.00 and a release taken. This settlement was made under authority of vote of your com- mittee.
Litigation is pending against the Town in behalf of Ida C. Smith to recover $4,000 as a result of personal injuries sustained trom alleged defect on Pleasant Street. Investigation of all the facts relative thereto has been made, and the injured person has been examined by a reputable physician and all necessary steps taken for the proper protection of the Town.
Jennie Peters of Boston has commenced suit against the Town to recover $200.00 for damages to an automobile as a result of an alleged defect in the highway. No settlement has been authorized in this matter.
A petition in behalf of Anna Goldberg, the owner of property on the westerly side of Main Street in Reading Square, has been brought against the Board of Assessors appealing from the decision and deter- mination of the Board in refusing to abate the real estate tax assessed for 1930. These proceedings were brought before the State Board of Tax Appeals under the provisions of the Acts of 1930, Chapter 416, which became effective December 1, 1930. The proceedings are still pending and a preliminary hearing has been held on the sufficiency of the form of petition ; pleadings have been drafted and filed for and in behalf of the Board, and the case will be heard on its merits in due course.
I have drafted under instructions from the Board of Selectmen and they have adopted certain Orders, Rules and Regulations Relating to Operation of Motor Vehicles for Carriage of Passengers for Hire.
The usual routine matters of answering to trustee suits and the examination of records and titles in the Registry of Deeds in connection with the activities of the Board of Public Works with respect to sewers, drains, new street layouts and the construction of granolithic sidewalks, and also various hearings at the State House upon the abolition of grade crossing, granting of license for the operation of motor busses for carriage of passengers for hire, and proposed legislation in which the Town is interested, have occupied considerable time.
I take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation to the various departments and officials of the Town for their co-operation and assis- tance extended to me in the performance of the duties of my office.
Respectfully submitted,
SAMUEL H. DAVIS,
Town Counsel.
329
REPORT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Trustees of the Public Library submit the following report for the year ended December 31, 1930:
Organization of the Board
The Board organized for the year by the election of Mr. Mans- field as Chairman and Mr. Keneely as Secretary. Standing Committees were appointed as follows :
On Accounts : The Board of Trustees.
On Books: Mr. Mansfield, Mrs. Lucas, Mrs. Weeks.
On Building and Grounds : Messrs. Keneely, Morton and Barclay.
On Work with Children: Mrs. Weeks, Mrs. Lucas and Mr. Keneely.
Expenses of the Library
The condensed financial statement is as follows :
Appropriation, direct tax, 1930.
Salaries
$ 4,800.00
Maintenance
3,200.00
Total
$
8,000.00
Expended
Salaries : Librarian, Assistants and Janitor.
$ 4,237.66
Books and periodicals, including rebinding 2,188.97
Printing, stationery, etc.
135.71
Fuel, light, sewerage
271.05
Repairs and furnishings 312.02
Telephone
40.57
All other expenses
200.77
Total
$ 7,786.24
Balance unexpended :
On Salaries
162.85
On Maintenance
50.91
Total
$ 8,000.00
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Receipts
Fines collected
$ 487.03
Stolen Jan. 1930 (reported to police)
44.17
Total
$ 442.86
Paid to Town Treasurer
442.86
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1930
.00
Statistics
Volumes in the library December 31, 1929
15,586
Volumes bought (including duplicates and replacements) :
Adult fiction
310
Adult non-fiction
294
604
Juvenile fiction
208
Juvenile non-fiction
65
273
Reference
36
913
Received by gift, Mass.
8
Received by gift, U. S.
I
Received by gift, others
96
105
16,604
Withdrawn during year
399
Total number of volumes. December 31, 1930
16,305
Circulation for home use, adult
41,775
Circulation for home use, juvenile
19,507
Total circulation 61,282
Increase over previous year
5,460
Largest monthly circulation, March
6,149
Smallest monthly circulation, June
3,786
New borrowers registered, adult
316
New borrowers registered, juvenile
217
Total
533
331
Number of days on which the library was open
301
Average daily circulation, adult 139
Average daily circulation, juvenile
65
Volumes deposited in schools
372
The circulation of books for home use shows an increase of 5460, nearly 10 per cent over 1929.
The following table gives data relative to the Library for the last five years.
Total
Year
Population April 1st
Borrowed No. of Days Home Use
Lib. Open
Volumes In Lib.
Expendi- ture
1926
50,216
290
13,880
$6,800.89
1927
52,768
291
14,339
7,188.58
1928
56,646
301
14,866
7,433.99
1929
55,822
301
15,586
7,396.94
1930
9,747
61,282
301
16,305
7,786.24
The cost per volume circulated in 1930 was 12.7 cents; the average for the last five years, 13.2 cents; circulation per capita in 1930 was 6.3 cents and the cost per capita, 80 cents.
The following is in part the report of the Librarian to the Trustees :
The circulation of books for home use again shows an increase in keeping with the growth of the town. It seems unavoidable with the open shelf system to lose a few books, but the number was a little smaller this year owing mainly to a smaller number lost from the collections loaned the schools.
The Woman's Educational Association loaned the library a set of pictures of Maine scenery which were exhibited for four weeks in the spring.
In the exhibition case were shown by the Art Committee of the Reading Woman's Club, fans, valentines, old books 'and al- manacs, samplers and other old needlework, old china, and mis- cellaneous old-fashioned articles as the Tercentenary celebrations made such things of special interest in the spring and summer. The library for several months kept on the desk near the entrance a row of books on early Massachusetts history, displayed on the bulletin
332
two old maps of Reading. Much interest was shown in both maps and books. The Librarian at the request of the Massachusetts Bay Colony Commission sent in a list of dates of historical events from 1630 to date which had happened in Reading, and suggested the Parker Tavern in answer to their question about historical sites for markers to be provided by the Commission. In December the library received a copy of the book "Historical Markers erected by the Massachusetts Bay Colony Commission."
The Reading Grange this year gave the library two reference books
Shepherd. "Historial Atlas" Thompson. "Economic and social history of the Middle Ages"
The Reading High School Latin Club of 1930 gave twenty-one. volumes ;
Austin. Saga of the sea.
Austin. Saga of the sword
Boissier. Cicero and his friends.
Cicero. De Senectute.
Crew. Trojan boy.
Ditmars. Reptiles of the world.
Duff. Writers of Rome.
Fairclough, ed. Virgil 2 vol.
Ferrero. Women of the Caesars.
Ferrero. Characters and events of Roman history.
Firth. Augustus Caesar. Fowler. Social life in Rome in the age of Cicero.
Hamilton. Ancient Rome.
Hodgkin. Theodoric, the Goth.
Horace. Satires.
Knotterus-Meyer. Birds and beasts of the Roman Zoo.
Ovid. Heroides and amores.
Peskett. Caesar; the Civil Wars.
Roberts. Arundel.
Wheeler. Alexander the Great.
On November 6, the Librarian gave a talk at assembly at the High School on the use of the library, giving a brief description of the system of classification, the card catalogue and the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature as a help to the pupils in their reference work.
The library has borrowed to meet an occasional demand for some book it did not seem necesary to buy, from the
333
Wakefield Library 10 volumes
Division of Public Libraries 8 volumes
Stoneham Library 2 volumes
Mass. Agricultural College 1 volume
Boston Public Library
3 volumes
Brookline Library
2 volumes
Mass. Institute of Technology
1 volume
State Library
1 volume
Lynn Library
1 volume
and has loaned
Stoneham Library 8 volumes
Wakefield Library 1 volume
Boston Public Library 1 volume
Six of the volumes borrowed from the Division of Public Libraries were on the list of required reading for a University Extension course on Mental Hygiene given at the High School but open to anyone in town. As the Library owned only two on the list these additional volumes were loaned for two months.
The new double book-stack added to the library equipment made possible a much better arrangement of the non-fiction and the new catalogue case acquired just before the end of the year has been very favorably commented on for its greater convenience.
The addition of another evening to the library hours of opening has been much appreciated.
Maintenance
As noted in the Librarian's Report a new double book stack, having a capacity of about 1200 volumes, was installed. A twenty-four drawer catalogue cabinet was added. Three corroded water spouts were replaced with copper spouts. The water conductor system is now well replaced with permanent copper.
School Reading
For many years the Library staff has co-operated with the teachers of the Public Schools in a course of reading recommended by the State Board of Education for the pupils of the lower grades. For the past few years Mrs. Lucas, of the Trustees, and also as a teacher has taken particular interest in this work. With the assistance of the Librarian and the teachers this work reached its most extended range during the past year.
On June 19, 1930 the last Thursday of the school year, at an assembly in the Highland School Hall one hundred and twenty-six children received state certificates for reading. This does not include some pupils in the Junior High School who received certificates earlier in the year nor several others who failed to get their certificates signed in time for the presentation.
334
The above statement does not mean much as it stands without explanation and to one on the outside does not even suggest the bigness of the accomplishment. It means that your Public Library has loaned to your children in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades over thirteen hundred books since September 1929. More than that, each of these books is on a list recommended by the State Board of Education. Now this list does not by any means include all the worth while books for children to read but every book that it does include has a recognized place in our literature. The list includes fairy tales, old legends, stories of other lands, history, biography, poetry, science, adventure, natural history, and straight novels.
To get a certificate a pupil must not only read five of the listed books but, with no notes to refer to, must fill out an examination sheet furnished by the state. On this he must write the title of the book, the name of the author, the important characters and tell what he liked best in the book. This paper is corrected by some one connected with the library, checked up to see that the writer has not reported on any of the books for a previous certificate and if satisfactory he re- ceives a certificate signed by the librarian and the examination paper is filed away under his name. If he has made any mistakes the examination is passed back and later he may try again.
In addition to this any pupil who reads twenty books, five of which are non-fiction, is given a large certificate with the state seal in blue and gold.
Certificates were awarded as follows :
2 pupils received 8 five-book certificates each
1 pupil
7
1 pupil
5
66
8 pupils
66
4
66
66
66 66 66 7 pupils 3
30 pupils 66
2
66 66 68 pupils 1
1 pupil 66 2 twenty-five book certificates
8 pupils 1
66
66
6
This does not include all of the books read from the state list for these are only those read by the children who have won certificates while many others have read the books but failed to pass the required examination.
Much credit is due to the teachers who have encouraged this reading and who have made this splendid record possible by taking time in their busy lives to prepare the children for the examinations.
335
Budget for 1930
In accordance with the requirements of the General Laws, Chapter 41, Section 59, the Board of Trustees of the Reading Public Library submit the following detailed estimate for the amounts deemed necessary for the proper maintenance of the Public Library for the fiscal year 1931. Fuel, Light, Water, Sewer charge $ 450.00
Printing and Supplies
150.00
Books, Periodicals, Binding, etc.
2,000.00
Maintenance and Repairs
500.00
Miscellaneous Expenditures
100.00
Total Maintenance
$ 3,200.00
Salaries
5,000.00
Total Appropriation Requested $ 8,200.00
as against an appropriation in 1930 of
$ 8,000.00
The Salary Budget is increased $200.00 over the Salary appro- priation for 1930, although a balance of $162.85 was unexpended in 1930. The Library hours have been increased one evening. The salaries of the Librarian and Assistant Librarian were not increased in 1930 although more than warranted by the high quality of their work and length of service. The Trustees desire to fulfill this obliga- tion in 1931.
It is estimated that an income of about $400.00 will be received during 1931 from the "Fine" account.
It is with much pleasure that the Trustees again record their appreciation of the faithful and efficient services of Miss Bertha L. Brown, Librarian; Miss Grace J. Abbott. Assistant Librarian; and Miss Rebecca Turner, in charge of the Children's Room.
The work of the assistants has been up to its usual standard of excellence.
Two vacancies in the Board of Trustees are to be filled at annual town meeting, the terms of Ralph S. Keneely and Jesse W. Morton expiring.
ARTHUR N. MANSFIELD, Chairman RALPH S. KENEELY, Secretary JESSE W. MORTON HARRY J. BARCLAY IDA C. LUCAS JENNIE F. WEEKS
Adopted as the report of the Trustees
336
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF CEMETERY TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR 1930
The reports of the Superintendent of Cemeteries, Mr. William P. Pierpont, covering in detail the work of the Department and ap- proved by the Trustees, is appended.
There have been no changes on the Board for the year. Mr. Philip H. Tirrell and Mr. Clarence C. White have served as Chairman and Secretary respectively.
The terms of Mr. Frank L. Edgerley and Mr. Fred L. Nutter expire in March, 1931, and it is hoped that they will be candidates for re-election.
The Board is again much gratified with the progress of the work which has been carried on and they feel that their policy of making a certain amount of permanent improvement each year has worked out very satisfactorily.
Most respectfully,
PHILIP H. TIRRELL, Chairman CLARENCE C. WHITE, Secretary
FRED L. NUTTER
WINTHROP D. PARKER
HAROLD F. DAVIS
FRANK LEE EDGERLEY
Board of Cemetery Trustees
LAUREL HILL CEMETERY REPORT, 1930
To the Board of Cemetery Trustees,
Town of Reading, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit to you a summary of the work accomplished in Laurel Hill during the past season.
The general routine of cemetery work has been carried on and some permanent improvements have been made.
Elm Avenue has been macadamized from Locust Avenue to Oak Avenue, Cypress Avenue from Elm Avenue to Walnut Avenue and Walnut Avenue from Cypress Avenue to Elm Avenue, making 12,139 square feet of macadam, which can always be kept up with very little expense.
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