USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1952 > Part 12
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In 1953 a schedule will be in force which increases the percentage of federal participation in Old Age Assistance, Aid to Dependent Chil- dren, and Disability Assistance. To some extent this will help to offset the continuously rising expenditures for assistance caused by a higher living cost and sharp increases in medical and hospital expense.
The itemized accounts showing expenditures in the various cate- gories of assistance have been furnished to the Town Accountant and will appear as a part of his report.
For the past few years we have shown a condensed statement of costs as applying to local tax levy and this schedule for 1952 appears below:
Expenditures for Assistance
General Aid
$ 24,620.21
Aid to Dependent Children
24,854.35
Disability Assistance
12,111.08
Old Age Assistance
227,329.65
$288,915.29
Total Reimbursement
$232,841.43
Net Cost
$ 56,073.86
Respectfully submitted, EDWARD E. HARNDEN Welfare Agent and Director of Old Age Assistance
138
REPORT OF THE TOWN COUNSEL
January 15, 1953
To the Law Committee of the Town of Reading:
I submit my report as Town Counsel for the year 1952 as follows:
The tax lien covering land on Lowell Street has been successfully prosecuted to a final conclusion in the Land Court and the land has been sold to the Northeastern Gas Transmission Company for $2,800.00.
Contract for the construction of the New High School has been ap- proved by me and the same was executed under my supervision. I have attended to date many conferences between the architects and the School Committee and furnished advice relative to the interpretation of the contract and the construction of the project. Considerable time and effort have been consumed in obtaining possession of the dwelling house located on the site of the New High School, disposing of the build- ing formerly occupied by the owner and in settling his claims for dam- ages in the matter of taking by eminent domain in May 1951 of two and one half acres of land included as part of the High School Site.
The suit pending in the Middlesex Superior Court based upon claim for damages to personal property resulting from water being discharged in premises occupied by the claimant has been finally settled under authority of vote of the Law Committee. Also a case involving substan- tial personal injuries pending in the Middlesex Superior Court has been settled under authority of the vote passed at Town Meeting Assembled and another case pending in the District Court relating to damage to real estate has been settled under authority of vote of the Law Commit- tee of the Town.
Proceedings in the nature of an appeal under the Town Zoning By- Law against the Board of Appeals of the Town were commenced by a property owner in the Middlesex Superior Court and after Court trial of the case a decision was rendered in favor of the Board of Appeals.
Several claims have been made in behalf of the Town for damages to motor vehicles and other property owned by the Town and numerous claims have been made against the Town for damages sustained as a result of accidents on the highways and blasting operations carried on by the Public Works Department. Such claims have been investigated by me for the protection of the Town.
There are now five cases against the Town pending in the Middle- sex Superior Court and one case in the District Court, all of which cases arise as the result of alleged defects in the highway. Pleadings in the above cases have been completed, interrogatories to be answered under oath by the claimants have been filed and the cases are pend- ing upon the Court Docket until otherwise disposed of by settlement or trial.
Through the Welfare Department proceedings have been com- menced in the Middlesex Probate Court under a recent Statute entitled "The Uniform Enforcement of Support Act." This Statute should enable the Town to be relieved of support of minor children in cases where the father is residing outside the Commonwealth. Records have been ex- amined in the Middlesex Probate Court and Registry of Deeds to deter-
139
mine the status of applicants for W elfare and Old Age Assistance Bene- fits and to secure information tending to support claims of the Town for reimbursement of such benefits paid and many opinions have been rendered to the Welfare Department in connection therewith.
Petition has been filed before the Public Utilities in behalf of the Municipal Light Department seeking exemption of the Zoning By-Law of the Town of North Reading so as to permit the Electric Light Depart- ment to erect a substation on parcel of land on Haverhill Street in said Town and after hearing thereon the Department of Public Utilities granted the petition. An option for the purchase of the land was pre- pared and executed under my supervision, the titled examined and the deed running to the Town drafted and duly recorded in the Middlesex South District Registry of Deeds closing the transaction.
Option for the purchase of land was prepared and five titles were examined with respect to the land acquired by the Town for the Muni- cipal Parking Area Northerly of Haven Street and Westerly of Linden Street, Order of Taking for the acquisition of the land by right of Eminent Domain was drafted and deed running to the Town confirm- ing and ratifying the taking was drafted, executed and recorded in the Middlesex South District Deeds. Later negotiations were success- fully carried on so the Town obtained a perpetual right of way from Haven Street giving access to the said Parking Area without the pay- ment of any damage therefore and the order of taking by right of eminent domain was prepared and recorded in the Registry of Deeds.
An Order of Taking was drafted and recorded for a perpetual right of way from Haven Street to the Municipal Parking Area located West- erly of Main Street. This was negotiated for by the Board of Selectmen to supersede the right of way for a term of years previously granted to the Town and was acquired without the payment of any damages there- for.
I supervised the acquisition of land on Forest Street for school purposes, prepared the option for such purchase, caused the title to be examined in the Registry, prepared the Order of Taking by right of Eminent Domain and the Deed running to the Town confirming and ratifying the taking and attended to the execution and recording of the deed. Also the acquisition of five lots of land located at the Southerly end of the site for the New High School was supervised by me, and the order of taking by Right of Eminent Domain was prepared and recorded in the Registry of Deeds.
An appeal from the Board of Assessors refusal to grant abatement to a taxpayer who was awarded the decoration of the purple Heart has been disposed of after hearing by the Appellate Tax Board in favor of the taxpayer. One appeal from the Board of Assessors valuation of real estate is pending before the Appellate Tax Board.
My supervision and services were necessary in connection with the call for bids, information for bidders, contract and performance bond for the installation of the oil burner in the Municipal Building and the communication system for the Police and Fire Departments.
I have attended on Monday evenings throughout the year the regular meetings of the Board of Selectmen and as provided by the regulations of the Town I have performed every professional act re-
140
quired by me in the performance of the duties of my office including in part, appearances in Court, and Hearings before Boards or Commis- sions, prosecution of claims in behalf of the Town, opinions to all Town Boards and Committees, investigations of accident cases and claims against the Town, drafting deeds, releases, redemption deeds, Dis- charges of Old Age Assistance Bond and mortgages and release of real estate liens, amendments to traffic regulations, by-laws, Retirement of Veterans employed by the Town, Articles and Motions for Town Meet- ings, Proofs of Claim in Bankruptcy for Electric Light Departments, Options for purchase of real estate, foreclosure of tax liens under Statute of Low Value and Land Court, Claims in Probate Court against Estates of deceased persons, violations of Zoning By-Law, Petition for instruc- tions under Will of Ethel Edna Grant brought in the Middlesex Probate Court relative to gift to the Town of Reading of Swimming Pool, releases for payment of wages due deceased employees, Pleadings in the Super- ior, District and Land Courts and such other legal matters referred to me for my attention.
Respectfully submitted,
SAMUEL H. DAVIS
Town Counsel
AGENT FOR VETERANS' BENEFITS
January 30, 1953
The Honorable Board of Selectmen
Town of Reading, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
Your Agent of Veterans' Benefits respectfully submits his annual report.
Our case load for the year would average thirty or more, with any- where from an individual in a case to a family of eight.
We have had close contact with the Welfare Department and fine cooperation.
Expenditures for medical expenses have seemed to increase our load, but we were able to stay within our annual appropriation.
In connection with Veterans' Benefits we also dispense Veterans' Ser- vices. This while almost nil in expense to the town is called upon very much.
Information as to rights and privileges of veterans is in great de- mand; constantly changing in details and references.
We endeavor to keep abreast of all changes, that we may be of as- sistance to those who apply for information.
CHARLES W. H. SMITH,
Agent
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BOARD OF CEMETERY TRUSTEES
Fred L. Nutter, Chairman
David E. Hersee, Secretary M. Russell Meikle William P. Pierpont
Edouard N. Dube Ernest E. Brown
Term expires 1955
"
1953
1953
1955
"
1954
1954
Superintendent HAROLD F. DAVIS Office Room 16, Municipal Building
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the Board of Cemetery Trustees, Town of Reading, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The Superintendent's Report on the operation of the two Town Cemeteries, Laurel Hill and Forest Glen, for the fiscal year ending De- cember 31, 1952, and the Department's 215th year of operation, (first burial Dec. 7, 1737), is herewith submitted.
Our records show 84 interments for the year. The statistics for the calendar year 1952 are as follows:
Laurel Hill Forest Glen Total
Interments
43
29
72
Cremation Interments
8
4
12
Foundations:
Monuments
0
20
20
Markers
23
5
28
Graves repaired
18
2
20
Winter Graves repaired
6
2
8
Cement Crypts used
26
19
45
Cement Vaults used
15
11
26
Lots sold:
5 Grave
0
1
1
4 Grave
0
7
7
3 Grave
0
3
3
2 Grave
0
13
13
Single Graves
0
5
5
Baby Graves
3
0
3
Four old lots in Laurel Hill Cemetery had perpetual care put on them during 1952, and two had additional amounts put on for flowers.
At Laurel Hill Cemetery, Lilac Path, bordering on the Soldiers' Monument Lot, was filled in and turfed, so that its finished grade con- forms to that of the lots adjacent thereto.
142
A large unsold burial lot at Laurel Hill was dug over, ledge and boulders removed, to make it available for sale.
Some development has been carried on at Forest Glen Cemetery this year.
Special commendation was made to certain officers of the Reading Police Department, citing their efficient action in apprehending the persons responsible for the vandalism in Laurel Hill Cemetery on Sept. 25, 1952, and causing restoration to be made to the town of Reading for the damage done.
At this time appreciation is expressed to the other Departments of the Town for their cooperation.
The financial statement will appear in the report of the Town Accountant.
Respectfully submitted,
HAROLD F. DAVIS
Superintendent
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF CEMETERY TRUSTEES
The Report of the Superintendent as submitted by him is hereby approved by the Board of Cemetery Trustees and constitutes its Report to the Town.
FRED L. NUTTER, Chairman DAVID E. HERSEE, Secretary EDOUARD N. DUBE
WILLIAM P. PIERPONT M. RUSSELL MEIKLE ERNEST E. BROWN
Board of Cemetery Trustees
REPORT OF CUSTODIAN OF SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' GRAVES
To the Board of Selectmen,
Town of Reading, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report as Custodian of Soldiers' and Sailors' Graves for the year ending December 31, 1952. This report is predicated upon the requirements of Sec. 22, Chapter 115 of the General Laws of Massachusetts, and Clause 12, Chapter 144 of the Acts of 1947.
Where Veterans of the armed services have served in more than one war or insurrection, the following listing gives the Veteran credit for only one:
Veterans
Credited Service
41
Revolutionary War
12
War of 1812
2
Mexican War
291
Civil War
143
1
Indian War
23
Spanish War
93
World War I
22
Mass. State Guard Service in W. W. I
23 World War II
1
Korean Service
Total
509
Appropriation for 1952
$ 1,200.00
Pay Roll
$ 1,102.05
Repairs on Veteran Graves
48.95
10 World War I Markers
49.00
$ 1,200.00 $ 1,200.00
There were eight Veterans interred during 1952 as follows:
Spanish War
Thaddeus P. Shaw, Lot No. 273, Forest Glen Cemetery, died Nov. 8, 1952, buried Nov. 12, 1952.
World War I
Ralph P. Roberts, Lot. No. 658, Laurel Hill Cemetery, died Mar. 13, 1952, buried Mar. 17, 1952.
Albert C. Maxwell, Lot No. 391, Forest Glen Cemetery, died Mar. 21, 1952, buried Mar. 24, 1952. (Also W. W. II).
Henry H. Jewett, Lot No. 352, Laurel Hill Cemetery, died Mar. 13, 1952, buried Apr. 16, 1952.
Francis T. Slack, Lot. No. 617, Forest Glen Cemetery, died Apr. 18, 1952, buried Apr. 21, 1952.
Frederick C. Bacon, Lot. No. 271, Forest Glen Cemetery, died Aug. 27, 1952, buried Sept. 2, 1952.
Carl N. Sargent, Lot No. 135, Forest Glen Cemetery, died Sept. 15, 1952, buried Sept. 18, 1952.
Mass. State Guard
Arthur W. Coolidge, Lot No. 44A, Forest Glen Cemetery, died Jan. 22, 1952, buried May 15, 1952. Omitted in 1951
Archer R. Prentiss, Lot No. 855, Laurel Hill Cemetery, died Aug. 22, 1951, buried Aug. 24, 1951.
Respectfully submitted, HAROLD F. DAVIS
Custodian of Soldiers' and Sailors' Graves
144
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
The annual report of your Board of Selectmen for the year ending December 31, 1952, follows.
At the regular meeting on March 10, 1952, the Board organized as follows:
Kenneth C. Latham, Chairman G. Lawrence Roberts, Secretary James E. Calvin Boyd H. Stewart, Clerk
Regular meetings were held every Monday evening with the ex- ception of the summer months, when they were held every other week, with such special meetings as were deemed necessary.
We again ask that those who wish to meet with the Board make appointments with the Clerk in order that their problems may be handled without unnecessary delay.
As has been our custom, a condensed agenda of our meetings has been printed each week in the Chronicle.
The various departments under the jurisdiction of this Board have made their reports, which appear on other pages.
During the year, the following retired from the Police Department: Chief Thomas E. Wall Sgt. Arthur M. Curtin Patrolman Paul F. Junkins Patrolman Earl R. Hutchinson
The following new patrolmen were appointed:
Roland E. Ellis, Jr. William J. Webb Winfred A. MacDonald John A. Bilicki
On March 16, Sgt. Thomas J. Fitzpatrick was appointed Acting Chief of Police, pending the result of an examination and Civil Service listing, not yet received.
We plan to continue to send police officers to the State Police School. In our opinion it is a most worthwhile undertaking, and the men who have taken the course to date are most enthusiastic.
The main station radio transmitter and mobile units of both the police and fire departments, all of ancient vintage, were replaced by new Motorola equipment. A so-called Civilian Defense receiver was also acquired and is installed in the Police Department. This receiver makes it possible to receive emergency signals from the State Police and becomes part of the Civilian Defense communication system.
During the year the old Mill Street pumping station has been made available to the Police Reserves (Auxiliary) for a pistol range. The men themselves have made the transformation on their own time, with great credit to themselves.
145
We are now in the process of making available to them for their meetings a room in the old Center School.
During the year the membership of the Police Reserves (Auxiliary) was increased to 40 men, who are now completely equipped with both winter and summer clothing. We were able during the year to extend insurance coverage to members of the Police Reserves (Auxiliary) while on active duty, similar to that in effect covering the Auxiliary Fire Dept.
Nelson P. O'Brien resigned from the Fire Department during the year. The following men were appointed: H. J. Hutchinson, as replace- ment, and L. L. Hadley, as an additional man.
The parking lot in the rear of the stores on the westerly side of Main Street, which henceforth will be known as Parking Lot No. 1, has been such an asset to the town that we have acquired another area, north of Haven Street and west of Linden, which will be known as Parking Lot No. 2. It is hoped that a start toward completion, if not the completion of this area, can be accomplished during the coming year.
The last of the "Armstrong Fund" contributed by the citizens of the town and placed under the control of the Board of Selectmen was paid. This fund was raised for the purpose of rehabilitating the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Armstrong, of Martin Road, which was devastated by fire. To all those who so generously contributed, our hearty thanks.
During the year there have been more than the usual number of complaints of speeding and reckless driving throughout the town. This we have attempted to curb to the best of our ability with the limited manpower at our disposal. We hope to curb this menace further if our request for additions to our Police force is acted upon favorably at the coming town meeting. Apropos of this situation, the residents of the town could be of material assistance, since many of those stopped by our police officers were residents. The irony of it is that in some in- stances these citizens have been the ones who have made the com- plaints.
We are continuing our plans to convert the buildings under our control from coal to oil, the changeover this year being made in the Town Building.
A member of your Board was present when draftees left for the Armed Services. They were presented a billfold on which was inscribed the town seal in gold.
We continued our practice of previous years of calling for bids for fuel oil, placing the order with the lowest bidder and making available to all town departments the savings that resulted therefrom.
We are continuing to study our traffic load, particularly with respect to the advisability of making additional streets one way. During the year Chute Street was added to the list.
We requested the State Department of Public Works to make a survey of traffic at Pleasant and John Streets, as well as Washington at Main, having in mind the possibility of installing traffic signals at those two points. The survey was made, but the installation was not approved by the State Department of Public Works. As of December 31 we had not received the results of a similar survey at Main and
146
Franklin Streets. The State Dept. of Public Works has jurisdiction at all three locations.
Through negotiation with the owners, the temporary right of way from Parking Lot No. 1 to Haven Street will become a permanent right of way at no cost to the town.
Many land takings were made during the year in connection with the new high school. Bonds were negotiated and signed by all three members of the Board to a total of $2,400,000.
During the year tax title land on Lowell Street was sold to the Northeastern Gas Transmission Co. for the building of a meter house. We likewise sold tax title land to the Malden and Melrose Gas Light Co. off John Street, near the municipal garage, on which they have erected tanks for the storage of LP gas to tide over the area during any emer- gency which might restrict or stop the flow of natural gas through the long distance pipelines.
Through the sale of these two parcels, particularly in the case of the one sold to the Malden and Melrose Gas Light Co., there will be a substantial tax return to the Town.
We have continued our contacts with the officials of the Boston and Maine R.R. in relation to the pedestrian traffic problem at the Reading Station. At the moment there seems no solution that would not cost both the Town and the railroad a very substantial amount of money. There is more to this problem than meets the eye. It is not a question of just an overpass or an underpass, which in themselves would be expensive, but in addition it would necessitate a very expen- sive revamping of their signal circuits by the railroad.
Through the Town Counsel we are instituting court proceedings to obtain a waiver of the requirement in the Grant bequest that the swim- ming pool, if built, must be in Memorial Park, which might violate the restrictions in the deed that made this area available to the town. This bequest will approximate $32,000.
Through the generosity of the H. W. Hunt Co., there was made available to the town a parcel of land on Pleasant Street and Eaton Street which in the future will be developed for playground purposes and be known as the Hunt Memorial Park.
An additional requirement has been put into effect whereby all those filing applications for permits to carry a pistol or a revolver must, after their application is approved by the Chief and Sergeants of the Police Department, and before approval, by this Board, subject them- selves to an examination by the Police Reserves (Auxiliary) to determine if the applicant is qualified to handle firearms. This applies to both new applications and renewals.
Considerable study has been given to the question of increasing taxicab fares throughout the town as requested by all of the operators to offset their increased costs of operation. We hope to develop new rates that will be both fair to the public and the operators.
As a result of a petition from residents in the vicinity of Wescroft Road, it was made a coasting street under certain restrictions.
An innovation this year, which worked very well indeed, was the calling for volunteer workers at the national election in November, without whom we would not have been able to tabulate the record vote
147
as soon as it was done. To each and every one of these volunteer workers, our sincere thanks. We purchased 20 new style double election booths, and they were installed in Enterprise Hall for this election. This also speeded up the voting procedure.
We will recommend an increase in our Police and Fire Departments to partially take care of the added load on both departments due to the growth of the town. Our actual recommendation will become available prior to the 1953 annual meeting.
Again it is our privilege to express our appreciation of the coopera- tion received from the Police Reserve Association and the Auxiliary Fire Department for the help they have rendered to the departments with which they are affiliated. Reading can well be proud of these two units, which have so unselfishly given of their time and efforts, not only this year but in past years as well.
We likewise thank the Finance Committee, and all other depart- ments of the Town with whom we have worked throughout the year, for their splendid cooperation.
It has been a busy year but an interesting one.
Respectfully submitted,
G. LAWRENCE ROBERTS,
Secretary
1952 REPORT OF THE WORK OF THE MIDDLESEX COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE IN READING
The Middlesex County Extension Service is an organization main- tained by the County in cooperation with the University of Massachu- setts and the United States Department of Agriculture and home eco- nomics. The work is carried on under the guidance of the town director, who is assisted by the chairman in homemaking and boys and girls' 4-H Club work.
The County office makes farm and home visits to help when re- quested, and, in addition, carries on organized projects countrywide under the guidance of farmers and homemakers' service on county committees.
Radio service is maintained weekly on WBZ, monthly on WHDH, and five days a week during the summer on WKOX. A monthly Bulletin with a circulation of 5,000 is maintained, and timely notices of interest to dairymen, fruit growers, market gardeners, poultrymen, and com- mercial florists are sent to anyone on request.
Some of the special activities of local interest follow. Dairymen were primarily interested in co-operating in the New England-wide Green Pastures Program, the Dairy Herd Improvement Association, Owner Sampler Work, and Selective Breeding.
The Extension Poultry Program in 1952 was keyed to help poultry- men and turkey growers to improve the efficiency of their operations, maintain flock health. and take better advantage of their marketing opportunities. Efforts were made to provide breeders with information which might help them to hold their prominent place in the industry
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