USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1938 > Part 21
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EVELIE IRVING, Supervisor, W. P. A. Recreation.
The co-operation which has been extended to the W. P. A. De- partment by all the Boards of the Town has been greatly appreciated. I wish to thank members of the Board of Selectmen for their helpful co-operation and advice.
Respectfully submitted, ARTHUR MICHELINI, Sponsor's Agent.
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REPORT OF SOLIDIERS' RELIEF AGENT
February 9, 1939.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Reading, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen :
Your Soldiers' Relief Agent respectfully submits his annual report. This department has aided as many as 26 families with a total of 108 persons, and 16 single cases, making a grand total of 124 persons; an average of 34 cases and 95 persons per month the entire year.
We have tried whenever possible to secure a return to the town in labor performed. Sickness and the advancing ages of relief re- cipients cause an increase in relief costs in general; judging from the past, the cost of relief should be expected to increase for the next few years until the peak is reached.
The continuance of W. P. A. has provided work for able-bodied veterans and the $13,000 appropriated at the annual Town Meeting, provided for those unable to get on W. P. A. This has lightened the burden of the department considerably.
The mild weather of October,' November and December; the sal- vage and distribution of hurricane damaged wood, by the Welfare De- partment and the W. P. A. made our expenditures for fuel much less than it would have been ordinarily.
I wish to thank the Sponsor's Agent of the W. P. A. and the per- sonnel of his office, the Welfare Department and the personnel in that department for their pleasant co-operation with me in the work of this department during the past year.
The Town Accountant and those in his office have been very help- ful to me and I appreciate it deeply.
CHARLES W. H. SMITH, Soldiers' Relief Agent.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN COUNSEL
To the Honorable, the Law Committee of the Town of Reading :
My report as Town Counsel for the year ending December 31, 1938, is submitted herewith.
The salient municipal matters coming before me for consideration, action, opinion and advice will be more specifically referred to in de- tail in this report under the classification of the Boards or departments of the Town having direct supervision thereof.
I have drafted for the Board of Selectmen traffic rules and regu- lations, have secured the necessary approval of the State Department of Public Works, and have caused the same to become effective by publication as required by law. Fourteen release deeds have been pre- pared, transferring property sold by the Board, which parcels were acquired by the Town through tax lien foreclosure proceedingss in the Land Court. Opinions have been rendered in connection with the duties of the Tree Warden, and upon the subject of compensation in- surance for school teachers, clerical employees, etc., and several other opinions relating to municipal and departmental questions. The pro- ceedings of the Board in connection with the removal or suspension of a policeman under the classified service law was prosecuted by me. The specifications and contract for the two-way radio in the police department were drafted and the applications for the temporary and permanent license were prepared and services were rendered in con- nection with the assignment of the radio frequency by the Federal Communication Commission for the operation of the station. At the request of the Board, certain amendments to the regulations for the inspection of wires were prepared and the same were enacted at Town Meeting assembled and duly approved by the Attorney General.
Orders for the restraining of dogs in the town were prepared and made effective. Complaints relating to the existence of certain nui- sances in the town were brought at the request of the Board and prosecuted to a successful conclusion.
In connection with the activities of the Board of Public Works, the routine matters relating to the laying out of streets, orders of taking, easements for drainage and water mains, and waivers of claims for damages have required my attention and advice. Opinions were given the Board in the matter of priority of water liens, easement for drainage, sewer and betterment assessments, appropriation for road machinery, pensioning of laborers, and other public works matters. The taking of an easement for the purchase of sand and gravel was prepared, and titles of land were examined in connection with ease- ments for drainage and rights of way through private property. An easement for right of way from the highway to the Washington Street Playground was drafted and made effective.
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For the School Department, three complaints were made in the Woburn Court against habitual truants, and several opinions have been rendered relative to the activities of the department. The contracts for the transportation of school children and for the removal of ashes and rubbish were examined and approved. I assisted the School Com- mittee in the matter of securing the approval of the U. S. Government to the P. W. A. grant for the construction of the elementary school house building. The necessary legal forms and documents were pre- pared and legal supervision over the advertisement and opening of bids and the awarding of the contract required my attention and advice. The contract documents including the specifications, plans, and con- tractor's bond were submitted to me for approval and consideration.
The Municipal Light Department has referred to me, during the year, several claims for collection and satisfactory settlements have been obtained thereon. Opinions have been rendered the department, relative to sale of electric appliances, compensation insurance covering the clerical employees and other matters relating to the affairs of the department. I have drafted, under instructions from the department, an easement running to the Town for the maintenance of poles and wires on and over private property.
Under the Old Age Assistance Law, mortgages and bonds given by recipients of old age assistance were prepared and recorded in the Registry of Deeds, after completing the necessary examination of the real estate titles. During the year, opinions were rendered upon wel- fare matters. Guardianship proceedings were brought in the Middlesex Probate Court for the purpose of seeking reimbursement by the Town of Welfare aid furnished, and I have considered and investigated cer- tain other matters in which the Town was interested in establishing claim for reimbursement. The Cemetery Trustees have referred to me the matter of the damage to the stone wall on the westerly side of Main Street, which was occasioned by the change of grade and spe- cific repairs made by the Commonwealth on the State highway. It is expected that the State will repair the damage by rebuilding the stone wall in the near future.
I have devoted considerable time to cases brought against the Assessors before the Appellate Tax Board in connection with the valu- ation of real estate. Twenty-seven appeals are now pending before said board. During the year, two cases were disposed of by hearing before the Board and six cases were satisfactorily adjusted by agree- ment of the parties. I have advised and assisted the Planning Board in matters relating to the proposed amendment to the Zoning By-Law and have rendered opinions and advice upon questions involving the Zoning and building laws of the Town.
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Foreclosure proceedings covering twenty-one tax titles were com- menced in the Land Court and fifteen cases have been disposed of by decrees issued by the Court foreclosing all rights of redemption and establishing the title of said parcels to be absolute in the Town. No- tices were sent to all owners and mortgagees of unredeemed properties taken by the Town for the non-payment of taxes for the year 1935 and as a result thereof the owners or mortgagees of many of such estates have paid in full the tax title account and effected redemption accord- ing to law. This method produced the collection of overdue taxes amounting to approximately $13,571.06 and saved the expense of fore- closure proceedings in the Land Court.
Two suits have been brought against the Town during the year. One for alleged damages sustained as a result of an accident on the highway and the other by the City of Boston for reimbursement of welfare aid furnished individuals having legal settlement in Reading. Two suits pending in the Courts have been disposed of, one by com- promise under authority of the Committee and by vote of the Town and in the other case, judgment was entered for the Town upon the decision of the Court in sustaining the demurrer filed and argued by me. During the year, seven claims were made against the Town as a result of alleged accidents on the highways. Three of these claims have been adjusted by compromise under instructions from the Com- mittee. The other four claims are pending and have not been made the subject of suit. There are still pending in the Courts, against the Town, eight suits which will be disposed of as soon as they are reached upon the Court Docket.
I have, in the performance of the duties of my office, attended hearings of the Town Boards, drafted all contracts, bonds, deeds and other legal instruments and have performed every professional act required of me in the execution of the duties of my office.
Respectfully submitted,
SAMUEL H. DAVIS, Town Counsel.
REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Reading, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen :
I hereby submit the annual report of the Police Department of Town of Reading for the year ending December 31, 1938.
Arrests for the year 1938-199.
Males 192, females 7; residents 139; non-residents 60; adults 184; minors 15; American born 176; foreign 23.
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Causes of Arrests
Drunkeness, 105; Illegal entry into the United States, 1. Operat- ing under the influence of liquor, 8; Operating so as to endanger, 7; Operating after revocation of license, 2; Operating unregistered auto- mobile, 1; Operating uninsured automobile, 1; Leaving scene of acci- dent without making self known, 4; Other auto violations, 17; Warrants for out of town officers, 6; Violation of health laws, 1; Habitual tru- ant, 5; Non-support, 8; Non-payment of wages, 2; Larceny, 7; Misap- propriation of auto, 3; Breaking and entering daytime, 1; Breaking and entering night time, 1; Assault and battery, 6; Operating a Lottery, 1; Insane persons, 2; Capias served for out-of-town officers, 1; Receiv- ing stolen property, 4; For having burglar tools, 1; Indecent exposure, 1; Railor and brawler, 1; Violation of parole, 1; Runaway, 1.
Disposition of Cases in Court
Fined, 29; Filed, 28; Released, 74; Suspended sentence, 8; Turn- ed over to Federal Immigration Dept., 1; Probation, 2; Turned over to out-of-town officers, 8; Continued, 18; State Farm Bridgewater, 1; House of Correction, 7; Nol Pros., 2; Discharged, 14; Danvers State Hospital, 2; Capias issued, 1; Held for Grand Jury, 1; Dismissed for lack of prosecution, 1, Turned over to parents, 1.
Amount of Fines Imposed by Court
14 at $5.00 each, $70.00; 2 at $10.00 each, $20.00; 1 at $20.00 each, $20.00; 6 at $25.00 each, $150.00; 2 at $35.00 each, $70.00; 3 at $50.00 each, $150.00; 1 at $100.00 each, $100.00.
Miscellaneous
Cases investigated, 544; automobile accidents, 133; payrolls guarded, 52; put-ups, 96; buildings found open and secured, 185; dogs shot by officers, 6; horses shot by officers, 1; special messages delivered after hours, 60; children lost and found and turned over to parents, 28; win- dows found open and secured, 25; wires found and reported, 11; street lights out and reported, 53; old persons found straying pick-up and returned to their homes, 2; fires reported by officers, 4; defective streets and sidewalks, 16; summons delivered, 143; dead bodies cared for, 1; covered all fires ; property reported stolen, $5,148.99; property recovered, $11,099.00; persons injured in accidents taken to doctors, 32; persons in- jured in accidents taken to hospital, 27; fatal accidents, 5; ambulance made the following runs to hospitals : Mass. General, 29; Mass. Memo- rial, 14; Choate Memorial, 36; Winchester, 74; Palmer Memorial, 2; Osteopathic Hospital, 3; Faulkner Hospital, 1; Children's Hospital, 1; Danvers State Hospital, 2; Melrose Hospital, 14; Carney Hospital, 11; Malden Hospital, 1; Chelsea Naval Hospital, 2; Soldiers Home, 2; Charlesgate Hospital, 1; Peter Bent Brigham, 1; St. Elizabeth's Hos- pital, 1; Benson Hospital, 2; State Hospital, Tewksbury, 2; Deaconess Hospital, 1; New England Sanatarium, 1; Saint John's Hospital, 3;
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Private Hospitals: Reading, 8; Wakefield, 6; Malden, 1; Melrose, 1; Boston City Hospital, 1; Baker Memorial, 1; Brooks Hospital, 1; Dan- vers State Hospital to Choate Memorial, 1; Choate Memorial to Mass. General, 2; Total trips 226 covering 6,690 miles. We now have two cruising cars with two-way radio in each so that they are in constant contact with the station and can be sent to any part of the Town at a moments notice.
Both cars are in service between the hours of 8 A. M. and 6 P .M. One car goes into service from 6 P. M. until 3 A. M. and the other car goes on the road from 8 P. M. to 5 A. M. While cars are in service they receive from the radio operator at the station a list of stolen cars and any other information pertaining to them that is received on the teletype also any orders or instructions as are necessary. Each car can talk with the other.
Conclusion
At this time I wish to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen, the Judges of our District Court, the Clerks of our Court, our local Press, and all others who assisted in promoting the welfare of this department, also the members of this department for what they have done.
Respectfully submitted, JEREMIAH CULLINANE, Chief of Police
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen :
The 1938 report of the Chief of the Fire Department is herewith submitted.
Manual Force
The manual force of the department consists of 9 permanent men, including the Chief, and 23 call men.
Apparatus
At the Central Fire Station are located a 1937 Packard sedan Chief's Car; Engine 1, a 1,000 gallon per minute Seagrave pumping engine with a 100 gallon booster tank, purchased in 1934; Engine 3, a 600 gallon per minute Seagrave pumping engine with a 85 gallon booster tank, purchased in 1929; Engine 4, a 1932 Chevrolet 11/2 ton truck used for forest fires, which carries a 100 gallon per minute portable pump, a 65 gallon booster tank and 3,000 feet of 11/2 inch hose; Ladder 1, a Robin- son ladder truck purchased in 1916. This is powered with a White motor taken from a 1913 or 1914 coupe. It was necessary to make expensive repairs this year and this piece of apparatus should be replaced at once as it has outlived its usefulness.
Engine 2, a 400 gallon per minute Seagrave pumping engine with a 65 gallon booster tank is located in the Woburn street station.
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MEMORIAM
LIEUTENANT FRANK L. McKENNEY
Call Man December 26, 1916
Permanent Man January 1, 1921
Lieutenant October 9, 1936
Died June 2, 1938
Changes During Year
Charles H. Heselton was promoted to Lieutenant to fill the position made vacant by the death of Lieutenant Frank L. McKenney. Lewis C. Holden has been appointed a permanent man and George Zanni a call man.
Instruction
Regular department drills were held during the summer under Deputy Chief John J. O'Brien. Four men have completed the course at the fire school in Arlington.
Inspections and Permits
Permits have been issued for the storage of 22,715 gallons of fuel oil in connection with 72 power burners and 53 range burners. There are now recorded a total of 2527 oil burners of which 1,491 are range burners and 1,036 are power burners. 6 permits for the sale of fireworks and one for a public exhibition were issued. 7 Alcohol permits were issued. Business and manufacturing establishments, schools and public buildings have been inspected.
Hurricane Duty
During the hurricane of September 21st the department was called upon to remove signs, board up windows, inspect damaged chimneys, patch roofs etc. All permanent and call men were on duty during the night of the 21st and men were kept at the Engine 2 station until the fire alarm system was restored. The 23rd a call for assistance was re- ceived from Andover, due to the floods, and Engine 3 responded. The
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24th a call from North Andover was answered by the Button steam fire engine which pumped cellars for 12 hours.
Lighting Equipment
During the hurricane the need of a portable generating and flood lighting equipment was demonstrated when the power for the Police radio and the Fire Alarm battery was interrupted. Through the gen- erosity of a public spirited citizen the department now has the use of a 1000 watt, alternating current generator which will supply one 500 watt and two 250 watt flood lights. This will be a great aid to fighting night fires.
Service Record
The department has responded to 346 calls of which 19 were false. There were 66 bell and 280 still alarms.
Value of property endangered by fire
$153,835.00
Insurance on same
132,985.00 6,046.00
Insurance paid
4,330.71
Uninsured loss
1,715.29
Miles apparatus traveled
8,579.7
Feet of hose laid, 21/2 inch
10,100
11/2 inch
15,000
1 inch
2,950
3/4 inch
3,000
Feet of ladder raised
730
Booster tanks used
56
3 gallon soda and acid extinguishers
19
1 quart carbon-tetrachloride extinguishers
2
Carbon-dioxide extinguishers
9
Hours engines pumped
161
Calls for inhalator
5
Salvage covers spread
9
Water removed from flooded cellars
64
Recommendations
I recommend the replacement of Ladder one this year as this im- portant piece of apparatus is not dependable after over 22 years of ser- vice. It has been necessary to replace two of the ladders and make repairs to the brakes. The transmission has locked two times, causing the truck to be stalled until it could be released.
The hurricane demonstrated the need of radio equipment in the chief's car to allow connection with the central station, also the need of an increase in the permanent force by the addition of two men at the Engine 2 station on Woburn Street.
Conclusion
In conclusion I wish to thank the Honorable Board for its co- operation, the members of the department for the faithful performance
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Loss
of their duty, especially during the hurricane. Also to other town de- partments, citizens and to the employees of the telephone company for their valuable aid in the reception of alarms by telephone.
Respectfully submitted,
HUGH L. EAMES Chief of the Fire Department
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE ALARM
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen : Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report for the year of 1938.
Six street boxes were added to the system the past year.
Underground cables have been installed on Main street from Wash- ington street to south of the railroad crossing; on High street from Haven to Woburn street and on Woburn street from High to Wash- ington.
The hurricane caused great damage to the system and all boxes were out of commission for a few days.
I recommend that the underground cables be extended on Woburn street from Washington street to Summer avenue. That the present switch boards be replaced by one in the fireproof vault with the re- peater. This would allow all of the boxes connected to the under- ground cable to be placed on two circuits. There is great need of more street boxes to provide protection to much property a great distance from a box.
I wish to thank the honorable board for their co-operation and all who have assisted this department.
Respectfully submitted, HUGH L. EAMES, Superintendent of Fire Alarm.
REPORT OF THE FOREST FIRE WARDEN
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Gentlemen :
The annual report of the Forest Fire Warden is herewith submitted.
The department has responded to 129 grass and brush fires which is 27 less than last year. Most of these were of careless or malicious origin.
Due to the conditions in our woodlands, as a result of the hurricane, it is expected that a serious fire hazard will exist next spring.
Respectfully submitted,
HUGH L. EAMES,
Forest Fire Warden
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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
"The year 1938 was the busiest the library has had," runs the final report of Miss Bertha L. Brown, as she concludes thirty-five years' service in the library.
The most important fact the trustees have to report about the li- brary is the great increase in its use during the last ten years which has far outstripped the increase in financial support provided. The volume of business of the library has nearly doubled in the decade. The appropriations have increased only ten per cent.
This very wide discrepancy between service expected and support given spells the major present problem of the library. The dispro- portion between the use of the library and funds for its use has widened each year. By 1938 it had made itself felt in excessive replacement needs due to wear and tear on books and in suddenly realized deficiency of equipment.
The inevitability of this situation is dramatically indicated by these essential figures for the ten-year period.
Year
Circulation
Hours of Service
Total
Appro.
Salaries
Maintenance
1929
55,000
32
$7,396
$4,500
$3,000
1930
61,000
34
7,786
4,800
3,200
1931
70,000
35
7,920
5,000
3,200
1932
82,000
35
7,728
4,900
3,100
1933
88,000
35
7,293
4,600
2,800
1934
87,000
35
7,800
5,000
2,800
1935
82,000
37
7,600
5,000
2,800
1936
91,000
37
7,600
4,800
2,800
1937
93,000
37
8,120
5,120
3,000
1938
98,000
41
8,195
5,195
3,000
Ten Year
Increase ...
80%
28%
10%
15%
None
Unfortunately, 1939 is a year of such tax pressure that the library cannot obtain a sufficient increase in the rate of appropriation to re- dress the unbalance between services used and funds provided. It has become evident to the trustees that the kind and amount of library service expected in a town like Reading, with a population that now exceeds ten thousand, cannot adequately be provided for less than a $10,000 appropriation. The 1939 appropriation still falls more than $1,000 short of that figure. Sound trusteeship will require the trustees in subsequent years to emphasize the insistent need of a budget of at least $10,000 if standard library service is to be rendered.
The hours of service have been gradually increased in direct re- sponse to the increased use of the library and the increased demands.
276
upon it. In 1939 the trustees had hoped to complete a program fol- lowed for several years toward an objective of uninterrupted operation through afternoon and evening hours. This objective must be deferred another year for lack of funds. The library is now open from 2 to 6 and 7 to 9 daily and from 10 to 12 on Monday and Saturday mornings. To keep open during the supper hour would be a public convenience at relatively slight additional cost of service. But there have been sev- eral extensions of hours without corresponding additions to the salary level. The trustees feel that a further extension of hours must be accompanied by a corresponding increase in the rate of pay of the permanent staff.
Reasons for the sharp rise in the use of the library in recent years are not hard to find. The population growth is the smallest part of it. The period has been characterized by rapid and violent change in every aspect of society throughout the world. This has brought a sharper awareness of public affairs and of all current issues. The output of books upon the new conditions insistently pressing upon public atten- tion has kept par with the rapid rate of change and has found a keen response in the reading habits of the public. People read more and on more topics as they become newly conscious of their relation to gov- ernment, to foreign affairs, to economic conditions, and to the wide- spread discussion of new ideas concerning all these relationships.
A very large part of the increased use of the library traces to the modern habit of teaching school children to go to sources and make their own investigations as an essential part of the business of learning. This brings the children into the library in large numbers, calls for a quite specialized educational and reference service by the librarians, greatly increases the occupancy of the small space in the library and occasions a considerable problem to maintain that degree of order and quiet essential to the use of a library.
The library welcomes this increased opportunity to serve educa- tional needs. But it must deal also with the problem of orderly use of the library as a place for study. It is difficult to separate the school children who come to study from others who come only for lack of some other social center. For the sake of all library users, it is neces- sary that the trustees prevent the use of the library as a mere con- venient corner hangout for young people with no place else to go.
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