USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1940 > Part 14
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During the year several tax titles were referred for foreclosure, but it was not necessary to commence proceedings in the court as the
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preliminary action taken resulted in the collection of $4,657.67 of over- due taxes. Several tax titles which were commenced during the previ- ous year were concluded during the current year and final decrees were obtained thereon. Six tax lien foreclosure cases were commenced in the Land Court, two of which cases have been prosecuted to final conclusions and decrees have been issued thereon and the remaining cases will be disposed of in the near future. Nine parcels were sold under the Statute of Low Value and were purchased at the sale by various indi iduals, thereby placing these properties in the classifica- tion of contributing toward the tax revenue of the Town.
Old age assistance bonds and mortgages were prepared under dir- ection of the Welfare Department and recorded in the Registry Ji Deeds after completing the necessary examination of the real estate titles. Application was made to the Middlesex Probate Court for the appointment of a Conservator for an old age assistance recipient and the necessary legal papers were filed in court in connection therewith. Several opinions were rendered concerning welfare matters and especi- ally relating to aid furnished welfare recipients having legal settlements in other municipalities and also relating to aid furnished individuals having a legal settlement in the Town. One suit brought by a muni- cipality against the Town has been settled during the year, and the final record disposing of the case has been entered in Court.
There has been an increase in the number of appeals taken before the State Appellate Tax Board. At the beginning of the year, twenty- four appeals relating to the valuation of real estate were pending against the Assessors. All of these cases were disposed of either by trial or satisfactory adjustment by agreement of the parties. Forty appeals are now pending before the Appellate Tax Board which will be dis- posed of during the year 1941. Opinions have been rendered the Board of Assessors concerning assessments and abatements of property and other tax matters.
Routine matters of the Board of Public Works relating to the lay- ing 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 rendered to the Board concerning various public works activities. I have drafted an amendment to the legisla- tion enacted by the General Court in the matter of the drainage of the low lands adjacent to Lake Quannapowitt and the bill has been filed with the Legislature under authority of vote of the Town. A claim for damages resulting from the taking of land by right of emi- nent domain for drainage purposes has been satisfactorily adjusted through counsel for the land owner and the necessary releases have been obtained for the protection of the Town.
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Several opinions relating to school matters have been rendered and advice given with regard to legal questions involving the operation of public schools. A new contract for the transportation of school children was considered and approved and advice given concerning the statutory insurance to be furnished thereunder by the contractor. The contract for the removal of ashes and rubbish from the schools was approved.
Services were required by the Municipal Light Department in the matter of conditional sales contract in connection with the recent amendment to the General Laws affecting conditional sales contracts, and opinions have been rendered concerning department matters. A lease covering a portion of the building on Haven Street was pre- pared for the Department and miscellaneous claims have been sub- mitted for collection and suits.
During the year four suits were brought against the Town in- volving alleged claims for damages sustained as a result of accidents on the highways. There are still pending in the Courts against the Town eleven suits which will be disposed of as soon as they are reached for trial upon the court docket. Seven claims were made against the town resulting from blasting by an independent contractor for the construction of the sewer to the new elementary school on Pearl Street. Liability has been denied by the Town as the contrac- tor has furnished a bond conditioned upon payment of any loss, damage or injury resulting to persons or property by reason of such blasting. Five other claims involving accidents on highways also have been made against the Town. The Town has denied liability on four of the claims and one claim has been disposed of by compromise after auth- orization by the vote of the Committee.
Pursuant to the by laws of the Town I have prosecuted all suits ordered to be brought in the behalf of the Town and defended all ac- tions or suits brought against the Town, have drafted all contracts, bonds, deeds and other legal instruments, have attended all hearings involving municipal affairs, have rendered opinions to all departments upon any subject concerning municipal matters and have performed every professional act required by me in the performance of the duties of my office.
Respectfully submitted,
SAMUEL H. DAVIS,
Town Counsel.
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BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
The Welfare Board organized in March, 1940, with Mrs. Kitty M. Bangs as chairman, Miles C. Higgins as secretary, and Albert L. Well- man, Jr., as third member of the board. In July, because of duties neces- sitating his continued absence from the state, Mr. Wellman tendered his resignation as a member of the board, this vacancy later being filed by the joint action of the Board of Selectmen and the two remaining mem- bers of the Welfare Board, through the appointment of Mr. Joseph D. Knight as third member of the Welfare Board.
The administration of General Aid, Aid to Dependent Children, and Old Age Assistance, the three categories which come wholly under the responsibility of the welfare department, has brought to our attention the various needs and difficulties of more than 1,500 persons ; some of them for very short periods, others in the matter of supplementary aid, and a very considerable number for continuous support or for partial subsistence all during the year.
The department continues to assist in practically all the federal relief activities, including W. P. A., National Youth Administration, Civilian Conservation Corps, Surplus Commodity Distribution, and others; our part being principally that of receiving applications, inter- viewing, authorization for surplus commodities, and work of a similar nature.
Of the many perplexities we have been called upon to face we men- tion three of the more difficult; the housing problem in Reading for families of small income, the absence of any definite expansion in local industry, and the cost of medical and hospital expense which is thrust upon the welfare department. The first two of these are quite probably outside the scope of this department. The matter of medical expense is under study at the present time.
The sub-committee of the Finance Committee, which has been making a study of Public Welfare and W. P. A., has met with us many times during the past several months and has given close attention to the many details of welfare operation. Through intelligent question- ing, and by suggestion, this department has received valuable help through this study, and we are certain that the members of the sub- committee have gained a far better understanding of the whole situation than would have been possible except for the full discussion which has been carried out.
The Welfare Board sincerely hopes that improved general business conditions in 1941, through defense programs and related activities, and such other factors as may develop, will so react as to reduce the ex-
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pense of General Aid, and a lower appropriation for 1941 has been pro- posed with this in mind.
The board wishes to express its appreciation for the continued help- ful relations with other town departments, and to thank the many citi- zens who have given clothing and other necessities for our needy people.
Respectfully submitted,
KITTY M. BANGS, Chairman MILES C. HIGGINS, Secretary JOSEPH D. KNIGHT Board of Public Welfare
REPORT OF WELFARE SUPERINTENDENT
To the Board of Public Welfare :
The following report is submitted for the year 1940. There has been no appreciable change in the General Aid case load during 1940, as com- pared with the previous year. There was an increase in Aid to De- pendent Children cases of some 16%, but this increase took place almost wholly in the last five months of the year. Because of this, and further because we were able to reduce the average yearly cost per case some $60.00, the expenditure under Aid to Dependent Children was slightly less than in 1939. The increase in total departmental expenditure, ap- proximately $7,000.00, was due entirely to Old Age Assistance, under which there was a total enrollment of 300 during 1940. The net cost to the town, as represented by its effect on the real estate tax levy, was less in 1940 than in 1939. This is because of an increased percentage in Federal Grants and in the amount reimbursed to the town by the com- monwealth on account of old Age Assistance.
General Aid
Whatever expectation there may be for definite and permanent bet- terment in general business conditions in the coming year will show realization principally in its effect on the General Aid expenditure through absorption of unemployed labor. A plan is now under forma- tion to bring pressure to bear on this phase of the matter, the objective being to "push off" the relief rolls as many employable persons as pos- sible, through systematic canvas of prospective employers on the one hand and by spurring the recipient to greater initiative toward attaching himself to a pay roll in productive industry.
The number of cases assisted under General Aid during the year was 252, about four-fifths of this number being family cases and the remainder single persons not members of families.
A large proportion of these cases received assistance only for a limited time, usually during a period when no member of the family
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was employed, or in some instances where the family income fell below a subsistence level. There is a fairly common impression that a large number of families remain totally on relief from one year's end to the other. A brief examination will show that this is not so because it is immediately apparent that 250 cases-averaging about four and one- half persons to the case-could not be supported, even on a minimum subsistence basis, for much less than $180,000.00 if such assistance was continuous through the year. The actual General Aid expense, of course, is considerably less than one-third of such a figure, the great majority of cases receiving intermittent or supplementary aid. A simple tabula- tion will make this plain :
General Aid Case Cost Figure-1940
Cases
Amount Aided During the Year
30
less than
$ 10.00
52
from 10.00 to
50.00
37
50.00
100.00
53
100.00
200.00
41
200.00
300.00
15
300.00
400.00
6
400.00
500.00
9
500.00
600.00
2
600.00
700.00
1
700.00
800.00
3
800.00
900.00
1
900.00
1,000.00
2
1,000.00
1,050.00
Several of the high cost cases involved large hospital expense (near- ly $2,500.00 was paid to hospitals from the General Aid Account), but even so, it is evident that only 18 cases received as much as $500.00 dur- ing the year. The above schedule seems to indicate that in the matter of caring for the relatively high cost cases the idea of a town almshouse and infirmary should be given consideration.
Aid to Dependent Children
Assistance under this category is handled on a much different basis than under the original "Mother's Aid" statute passed in 1913. The former law required the actual presence of the mother in the home with the children. Under the amended statute of 1936, which has subsequent- ly been broadened, some twenty-six different relatives and "in-laws" may be eligible to stand in loco parentis : uncles and aunts, grandparents, brothers and sisters of whole-or half-blood, and others who may be related by marriage or adoption.
Federal participation under the Social Security Program, and state reimbursement under Massachusetts law passed in conformity with the
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National Program, carry more than half the expense of Aid to Depend- ent Children. The federal grant is used directly for such aid but the state reimbursement must be "appropriated" by the town and received under General Receipts, thus acting as an offset on the local real estate tax cost, even though it must appear in welfare appropriation figures.
The Massachusetts A. D. C. law empowers the state department to make rules and regulations of every kind and the fullest use of this au- thority is made by the state people. The state district office passes on every case and requires formal notice of case changes of any nature whatever which may take place from month to month. Local adminis- tration must not fail in this matter because reimbursement by the state to the town may thereby be jeopardized. All Aid to Dependent Children must be given directly to the person standing as the head of the family and it must be in the form of cash. This tends toward a higher family morale and a better "product" through development of the children in an atmosphere of some degree of economic stability, even though it be only on a subsistence basis. Children in these families are less prone to be- come educated into the idea of running to the welfare office for a grocery slip or a fuel order every time a family emergency arises. There is a fixed monthly allotment to go on and it's the whole family's job to see that the emergency does not arise. When the time comes later for them to run their own affairs as self-supporting people they have had some preparation for it.
Old Age Assistance
The total number of Old Age Assistance cases registered during the year was exactly 300 and the total amount paid to these recipients was slightly more than $86,000.00. In the nature of things, none of these people being younger than sixty-five and many being well into the eighties, several of them pass along during a period of twelve months. On the other hand, a still greater number of new ones arrive at the age of sixty-five in the same period. Not all of them are eligible for Old Age Assistance, of course, but applications have greatly exceeded the number of cases closed during the past five years. The first break in this rate of increase occurred in 1940, which shows a net increase of only 12 cases from January to December. The four preceding years showed increases anywhere from 28 to 63.
Any classification of assistance based primarily on an age limit will eventually reach a point of saturation and there is some indication that this stage is approaching in Massachusetts. It must be held in mind, however, that there is constant and insistent pressure for new legislation which would double the present scope of Old Age Assistance and move any hypothetical point of saturation into the far-distant future.
The total number of applications (including re-applications) re- ceived during the year was 72, of which 54 were approved and 18 denied. The number of cases closed was 46, those by death being 30, and for
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other reasons such as removal from town or by becoming self-support- ing, 15. It was necessary to close one case because of unworthiness under the meaning of the Old Age Assistance law.
A special commission appointed by the Massachusetts legislature has for the past two years been giving intensive study to the whole as- pect of Old Age Assistance. This commission has held many public hearings in all parts of the state and is at this time bringing its findings and recommendations before the present session of the General Court. At the time of this writing the text of the report has not been made available to the public but it is rather generally understood that its recommendations are, in the main, reasonable and practical. We note, nevertheless, that aside from any action the commission may suggest no less than ninety-six separate bills have been filed which call for lower age limits, higher monthly allowances, elimination or modification of the obligation of children, and other enlarging features which would carry Old Age Assistance so far that the general public could not pos- sibly support it financially.
Assistance for the needy aged strikes a sympathetic chord in the feelings of everyone. Holding forth roseate promises, without any sug- gestion as to how they can be brought to fulfillment, will no doubt create a following for the persons who urge their passage into law, but the real effect is a cruelty when it becomes evident that the self-supporting portion of the community cannot bear the expense of such measures. Every thinking person who can possibly do so should indicate to his representation in the State House, both in the Senate and the House, the necessity for great restraint in legislative action.
Administration
The local administration of public relief by Boards of Public Welfare and the administrative employees is regulated to a great extent by rules and methods of procedure put forth by the Massachusetts Department of Public Welfare. The state department comprises a commissioner ap- pointed by the governor, eight district offices throughout the state, each with its supervisor and staff of state employees. In addition there are several bureaus and divisions of state-wide range which specialize in matters of settlement, accounting, research and statistics, institutional care, child guardianship, and many other branches. Any and all of these state subdivisions can impose on the local offices such rules, regula- tions, and demands as it sees fit, seemingly without limit. The endless round of reports, estimates, surveys, statistics and what-not, which are required from local offices-always within a specified time limit-no doubt serve some useful and beneficent purpose, but the time and effort necessary for their preparation breaks disconcertingly into the planned work of many a day.
Failure to conform entails grave danger of the with-holding of state
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reimbursement to the town, which would be a serious matter financially.
Relief is not administered on a hit-or-miss basis. It has become much standardized, with special impetus in this direction during the last year or two. Despite all theories of standards, however, people seeking relief exhibit just as much difference in personalities as the rest of man- kind. The theorist and the state employe rarely, if ever, come into personal contact with a relief recipient. It is the worker in the local office who must strive, with all the patience and intelligence at com- mand, to bring about a reasonable balance between the needs and diffi- culties of the particular person whose case is at hand and the stand- ard which must be applied toward solution of his troubles. This business of administering relief is at once the most exasperating and interesting of all public functions.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD E. HARNDEN, Welfare Superintendent
SOLDIER'S RELIEF
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Reading, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
Your Soldiers' Relief Agent respectfully submits his annual report.
During the year 1940, we have assisted 43 cases comprising of 29 family cases and 14 single cases. Most of our cases continue to be widows and dependents of veterans, the W. P. A. having absorbed most of the veterans who are in any way able to work.
I do not anticipate any increase in our department for the coming year. I have had hearty co-operation with the Sponsor's Agent of the W. P. A., the officials of the Welfare Department and the Town Officers in general, and wish to express to them my thanks.
Respectfully yours,
CHARLES W. H. SMITH,
Soldiers' Relief Agent
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REPORT OF DOG OFFICER
January 1, 1941
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen Gentlemen
I hereby submit my report as dog officer to Dec. 31, 1940. I have canvassed the town to see that all dogs were licensed. Unlicensed and strayed dogs have been found and disposed of as follows.
247 have been destroyed.
57 returned to owners.
33 hens killed by dogs.
1 turkey killed by dogs.
486 complaints investigated.
37 dogs killed by autos.
1 case prosecuted for keeping unlicensed dog. Found guilty.
At this time I wish to thank the Police Department and the court for their assistance to me.
CHARLES H. MELENDY,
Dog Officer
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
January 31, 1941
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report as Inspector of Animals for the year 1940 .
On January 1, 1941 there were approximately 352 head of meat ani- mals in the town.
The number of animals inspected were :
Cattle 232
Swine 30
Goats 46
Sheep 44
There were 35 dogs quarantined for biting people and of this num- ber, none were affected with the rabies.
Respectfully submitted, BERNARD SCHIMPFKE
Inspector of Animals
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FORTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT
of the
ELECTRIC LIGHT COMMISSIONERS
For the Year Ended December 31, 1940
OFFICERS OF ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER DEPARTMENT
Commissioners
HENRY R. JOHNSON, Chairman Term expires 1941
LOUIS ELLENWOOD, Secretary Term expires 1943
HERBERT G. EVANS
Term expires 1942
Manager ARTHUR G. SIAS
Office 25 Haven St., Reading, Mass.
MANAGER'S REPORT
To the Municipal Light Board :
Gentlemen :
I submit herewith my report of the operation of the Municipal Light Plant for the year ended December 31, 1940.
.
The maximum load on the system was 3625 K. W. which was indi- cated on December 24th and again on December 26th. This is an in- crease of 250 K. W. over the previous year, or 7.4 per cent.
We purchased during the year 11,365,000 kilowatt hours, an increase of 840,000 or approximately 8 per cent.
The average cost of purchased current was 1.1426 cents per kilowatt hour which was slightly less than the previous year.
Sales of kilowatt hours amounted to 10,301,457, an increase of 892,275, or 9.47 per cent and distribution loss was reduced from 9.47 per cent in 1939 to 8.45 per cent in 1940.
Kilowatt hours sold for residence service amounted to 5,881,007, an increase of 439,023, or 8.07 per cent, for commercial service including power 3,129,424, an increase of 399,080, or 14.6 per cent, and for Muni- . cipal use 1,238,682, an increase of 45,086 or 3.77 per cent.
The kilowatt hours sold per residence meter were 1014, an increase of 42 over the previous year.
The operating income for the year was $359,146.61, an increase of
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$24,859.77 over the previous year, of which $15,976.82 was from residence service, $4,668.07 from commercial service and $1,010.17 from municipal service.
The operating expenses for the year were $276,901.23, an increase of $5,061.53 over the previous year. The increase in cost of purchased current was $8,736.81 and there was a decrease in other operating ex- pense accounts.
Income balance to Profit and Loss was $63,774.64 and the net in- crease in the Profit and Loss surplus was $17,157.23 after payment of bonds and notes amounting to $21,000.00 payment to the Town Treasurer of $26,000.00, and miscellaneous adjustments.
Included in the operating expenses is an item of $34,690.58 for de- preciation of plant, which has been charged off the several plant ac- counts.
Current assets at the close of the year were $117,623.88 and current liabilities $40,497.07.
Additions to the plant amounting to $51,804.11 have been made dur- ing the year and paid for out of the Depreciation and Construction funds. Of this amount $10,096.65 represents the sum transferred from the un- finished construction account of $15,144.97 as of December 31, 1939.
POWER STATION
Repairs have been made during the year to the piping in the heating system and also to the water piping in the building.
The 3 inch suction pipe between the basement and the well at the front of the building has been renewed and a new 11/2 inch suction pipe installed to supply the cooling water for the high tension transformers.
A concrete platform for the heating fuel was installed near the boiler roomn. ,
An additional feeder switch, with relays and control apparatus, has been installed and is used for the present as a bus tie switch.
An additional feeder circuit may be connected to this switch at some future time if necessary.
One old street light regulator which was not in use has been sold.
The usual periodic tests and adjustments have been made to the metering and control apparatus.
Windows and transoms have been protected by wire screen as a safety measure.
Mr. Louis Hawkins, one of our engineers at the station, was obliged to resign on account of his health and his place has been filled by Mr. H. J. Odell.
189
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DISTRIBUTION LINES
The underground system was extended on Pleasant Street between Main and Middle Streets by the installation of a 3 duct conduit, with 7,237 feet of cable and 11 service connections.
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