USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1954 > Part 13
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Your Board, being composed of taxpayers, is keenly conscious of the rising costs of municipal government. Considering that there are about 15,000 people in Reading, and about 4,200 dwellings we are spend- ing $2.00 per person or $6.50 per dwelling per year for our health de- partment, of which nearly 50% is for garbage collection. We can't help but feel that this is quite a bargain.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES R. BAISLEY, M.D., Chairman
144
SIXTIETH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD
for the year ended December 31, 1954
MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD
ALFRED H. DOLBEN, Chairman FRANK D. TANNER, Secretary DONALD L. MILLER PHILLIP G. WILLCOX
Term expires 1957 Term expires 1955 Resigned Oct. 1, 1954
Appointed to fill vacancy
Manager CLARENCE L. THOMAS 25 Haven St., Reading, Mass.
MANAGER'S REPORT
To the Municipal Light Board
Gentlemen:
Had not the year's summary been marked by the adverse effects of two tropical hurricanes, the operating results would have appeared quite favorable. Nevertheless, continuing its notable vigorous growth of the last 10 years, 1954 was accentuated by a record breaking demand for electricity as the amount of load added surpassed any during the decade with a demand 21% times the average annual load addition during that period. To distribute this output was a difficult task in a year when a strong spurt in housebuilding required unusual ex- tensions of service, and when so much hurricane damage remained in need of repair long after service was restored.
Following is a brief account of the highlights of 1954, financial summaries, and pictures of noteworthy installations of new apparatus placed in service last year.
HURRICANE EXPENSE: $91,430.11. This amount is a portion of certain damages or expenses incurred by "Carol" segregated for purposes related to the Commonwealth relief measure for reimbursment of such damages to municipal agencies. The total adverse effect on the year's operations considerably exceeds $100,000.
The impact of "Carol" and "Edna" inflicted the worst blow in the Department's history, leaving in its wake 10,200 customers out of service. About 40 poles, hundreds of cross arms, 8 transformers, scores of meters and thousands of feet of wire were downed.
Not counting the substantial assistance received from other mun- icipal agencies, 17,225 manhours were required by the working forces under the direction of this Department to restore service under trying conditions. Up to 103 men - 35 Light Department employees and 68 outside men - worked from dawn to dark for weeks using twenty line vehicles of various types to restore service on a temporary basis.
The Department expresses its appreciation for the cooperation re- ceived from the personnel and officials of various governmental agen- cies, to its employees for their exhausting efforts in the restoration work, to the customers who showed patience and consideration during the disruption of service, and to the efforts of outside crews who helped us during the emergency.
146
3,000 KVA Load Center Sub-station in North Reading
t
ET
I
15,000 Volt Feeder Control Cubicle in Ash St. Station for Cable Line to North Reading
15,000 Volt Control Cubicle in Ash St. Station for New System Supply Cable Line from Stoneham
PEAK LOAD: 13394 Kilowatts. Our customers' peak demand which occurred between 5:30 and 6:00 P.M. on December 21st was double that of 1948 when 6624 kilowatt was recorded.
Such a demand by customers serves as a yardstick for the amounts required for construction budgets needed to assure that capacity will be adequate to meet customers' demands.
CUSTOMERS: 10782. Service was extended to 537 new customers in 1954, a number exceeded only in 1950 when 578 new services were added and considerably above the yearly average of 416 new connections added since the beginning of the building boom in 1946.
During the last ten years the gain in customers in the outside towns increased by 2,350 as compared to 1,297 added in Reading. Customers in those towns now total 5,800, thus exceeding the 4,978 in Reading, a re- versal of proportions that existed in 1945 when there were 3,445 custo- mers in the outside towns against 3,681 in Reading.
ENERGY PURCHASED: 42,144,489 Kilowatt Hours. For the second consecutive year the cost of incoming electricity purchased at our Ash Street station decreased to effect a saving of about $20,228 less than the cost level of 1952 as the average cost per kilowatt hour dropped to 1.546 cents compared to the 1952 cost of 1.594 cents. This downtrend in the past two years reflects an increase in the use of electricity during "off peak" hours.
ENERGY SOLD: 38,035.064 Kilowatt Hours. Marking a new annual high in electricity sales the 1954 sales figure showed an increase of nearly 4 million kilowatt hours above the previous year. The highest annual gain in the department's record would have been realized were it not for the loss of sales during the hurricane outages. In 1954 average home consumption was 2,670 kilowatt hours per year per customer as compared to the national average of 2,540 kilowatt hours.
OPERATING REVENUES: $1,140,368.38. Customers continued to ob- tain more electricity per dollar in 1954 when the average revenue per kilowatt hour declined to 2.99 cents from 3.09 cents in the year before as they used more in the lower priced steps.
PAYMENT TO THE TOWN TREASURER (IN LIEU OF TAXES) : $70,033.26. In accordance with a motion at the annual town meeting in March 1954 the Light Department paid $70,033.26 to the Town Treasurer, an amount equal to 21/2 per cent of the total cost of fixed plant and general equipment as of December 31st of the preceding year plus 10 per cent of the net income for the preceding year as defined in Chap- ter 164 of the General Laws.
Since inauguration in 1934 contributions paid in lieu of taxes to the Town Treasury total $870,263.74.
ADDITIONS TO PLANT: $219,054.81. An overall measure of con- struction required to keep pace with customers' demand for electricity is indicated by the jump in cost of plant since the beginning of the past war boom as it jumped from $1.3 million to $2.5 million. Per- centage wise this increase closely approximates the 100 per cent increase of expenditures for new construction incurred by the electric industry as a whole.
147
Major additions last year included a new 13,800 volt cable line which went into service on October 19th to supply a 3000 KVA trans- former unit in North Reading with outdoor metal clad distribution circuit controls, thus making available for service in Reading trans- former capacity at the Ash Street station equal to the power formerly supplied from the Ash Street units.
On November 6th a new 500,000 CM cable line, installed jointly by this Department with the Boston Edison Company within each other's respective territorial limits, went into service to increase our incoming power cable capacity from 13,250 KVA to 23,450 KVA.
Extensions and enlargements of distribution facilities to new and existing connections required expenditures of about $101,000 for 1,227 KVA of net additional installed line transformer capacity, 870 new meters, poles, conductors and for new street lighting installations.
Five more line service vehicles were equipped with mobile radios early last year so that all ten vehicles used for distribution operations were able to use two way communication during the hurricanes to greatly expedite the restoration of service.
In conclusion, gratitude is expressed to the members of the Mun- icipal Light Board as they continued to serve the Town by their helpful guidance with the problems of this Department, to the cooperation of other boards, officials, personnel of other Town Departments in Reading and in the Towns of Wilmington, North Reading and Lynnfield Center, and to the employees of the Light Department who have carried out their duties to the Town.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 57, Chapter 164 of the General Laws, I submit herewith my estimate of income and ex- penses of the plant for the year ending December 31, 1955.
ESTIMATED INCOME AND EXPENSES FOR 1955
INCOME:
From Private Consumers
$1,200,927.60
From Tax Levy-
For Street Lights
17,000.00
For Municipal Buildings
12,106.63
From Miscellaneous Income
1,500.00
Mdse. and Jobbing
4,000.00
TOTAL INCOME
$1,235,534.23
EXPENSES:
Production
$ 727,834.67
Distribution
126,350.00
Utilization
18,000.00
Commercial
38,100.00
New Business
150.00
General and Miscellaneous
60,440.40
Depreciation
98,665.00
Bond and Note Payments
30,000.00
Interest on Bonds and Notes
7,554.25
148
Uncollectible Operating Revenue
2,500.00
Taxes - Outside Towns
22,500.00
Interest on Consumers Deposits
500.00
Route 28 Road Const.
25,000.00
TOTAL EXPENSES $1,157,594.32
Excess - Income over Expenses
$ 77,939.91
K.W.H. Purchased
47,184,680
K.W.H. Sold
41,994,372
K.W.H. for Reading Street Lights
580,000
Expense per K.W.H. Sold
2.756c
Cost of Street Lights
$
15,984.80
Appropriation for Street Lights $ 17,000.00
A summary of Income and Expenses, Total Cost of Plant, together with the statement of Assets and Liabilities, the Profit and Loss Account, and the Auditor's Certificate is appended herewith.
Respectfully submitted,
CLARENCE L. THOMAS, Manager
CHARLES E. STANWOOD & COMPANY
Accountants and Auditors
16 Court Street
Boston, Massachusetts
February 17, 1955
To the Municipal Light Board
Town of Reading
Massachusetts
We have examined the accompanying balance sheet of the Mun- icipal Light Department of the Town of Reading, Massachusetts, as at December 31, 1954, and related statements of income and profit and loss for the year then ended, and reviewed the system of internal control and accounting procedures and, without making a detailed audit of the transactions, have examined or tested accounting records of the Department and other supporting evidence, by methods and to the ex- tent we deemed appropriate.
In our opinion said financial statements present fairly the position of the Municipal Light Department as at December 31, 1954 and the results of their operations for the year then ended, in conformity with the "Uniform System of Accounts for Municipal Lighting Plants" as prescribed by the Department of Public Utilities of Massachusetts.
CHARLES E. STANWOOD & COMPANY
REPORT OF THE MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD
The report of the Manager as submitted by him with certificate of the auditor is hereby approved by the Municipal Light Board and con- stitutes its report to the Town.
ALFRED H. DOLBEN FRANK D. TANNER PHILLIP G. WILLCOX Municipal Light Board
149
TOTAL COST OF PLANT as of December 31, 1954
Cost of Electric Plant :-
Cost of Land - 226 Ash Street $ 2,575,80
25 Haven St. 7,459.46
Wildwood St., Wilmington 700.00
Haverhill St., North Reading 3,219.19
66,848.87
Cost of Structures - 226 Ash Street 25 Haven Street 28,093.90
Cost of Transformer Station and Substation Equip. 453,863.74
Cost of Poles, Fixtures and Overhead Conductors
1,088,043.31
Cost of Underground Conduits
131,981.90
Cost of Underground Conductors
268,772.39
Cost of Consumers Meters
132,708.91
Cost of Consumers Meter Installations
40,455.78
Cost of Line Transformers
156,020.01
Cost of Line Transformer Installations
9,776.06
Cost of Street Lighting Equipment
73,664.88
Total Cost of Electric Plant $2,464,184.20
Cost of General Equipment 36,172.93
Total Cost of Plant and General Equipment $2,500,357.13
SUMMARY OF INCOME AND EXPENSES for the year ending December 31, 1954
REVENUES:
Residence Service
$ 850,750.64
Commercial Service
161,620.12
Primary Power - Wholesale
67,971.55
Municipal Service
18,421.49
Sales to Private Companies and Municipal Plants 3,641.61
Street Lighting Service
37,962.97
Miscellaneous Income
9,264.38
Total Revenues
$1,149,632.76
EXPENSES:
Production Expenses
$ 651,616.45
Distribution Expenses
113,615.59
Utilization Expenses
15,702.67
Commercial Expenses
39,292.29
New Business Expenses
92.51
General Expenses
50,719.18
Depreciation Expenses
89,521.64
Interest on Bonds and Notes
6,632.73
Taxes - Personal Property Outside Towns
19,420.00
Uncollectible Operating Revenues
1,788.39
Interest on Consumers Deposits
476.45
Retirement Pensions
6,900.40
Bonds and Notes Paid Total Expenses
30,000.00
$1,025,778.30
Excess of Revenues over Expenses $ 123,854.46
Transfer to Town Treasurer 70,033.36
Net Increase of Profit and Loss Surplus $ 53,821.10
150
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES as of December 31, 1954
FIXED ASSETS:
Land
$ 13,954.45
Structures
51,257.45
Trans. Sta. and Substa. Equipment
306,878.43
Poles, Fixtures and Overhead Cond.
538,045.54
Underground Conduits
81,126.05
Underground Conductors
188,274.96
Consumers Meters
68,113.61
Consumers Meter Installations
18,316.28
Line Transformers
104,539.75
Line Transformer Installations
4,704.72
Street Lighting Equipment
8,111.83
General Equipment
36,172.93
Total Fixed Assets
$1,419,496.00
CURRENT ASSETS:
Construction Fund
$ 37,866.67
Depreciation Fund
65,320.26
Petty Cash
300.00
Consumers Deposit Fund
11,050.00
Accounts Receivable
132,032.60
Materials and Supplies
94,699.37
Total Current Assets
$ 341,268.90
Prepaid Insurance
479.06
Totals
$1,761,243.96
LIABILITIES:
Notes Payable
$ 61,000.00
Bonds Payable
261,000.00
Accounts Payable
1,099.16
Consumers Deposits
11,050.00
Town Treasurer - Petty Cash Fund
300.00
Interest Accrued
2,314.73
Loans Repayment
709,578.26
Total Liabilities
$1,046,342.15
Profit and Loss
714,901.81
Totals
$1,761,243.96
NOTE: A contingent liability in the amount of $13,546.49 existed as of December 31, 1954 on account of leases received from installment sales of electrical appliances and which were discounted with the Middlesex County National Bank of Reading.
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT as of December 31, 1954
Balance January 1, 1954 $ 660,739.16
Net Income - before Bond Payments 153,854.46
Miscellaneous Credits 436.50
Total Credits $ 815,030.12
Bonds and Notes Paid
$ 30,000.00
Transferred to General Funds of the Town
70,033.36 94.95
Miscellaneous Debits
Total Debits $ 100,128.31
Balance December 31, 1954
$ 714,901.81
151
REPORT OF THE WELFARE AGENT
To the members of the Board of Public Welfare and Bureau of Old Age Assistance and the citizens of the town of Reading the following report of the Welfare Department activities for the year 1954 is respect- fully submitted:
The present staff of the Welfare Department is composed of the fol- lowing named persons:
Newell H. Morton, Chairman of the Board of Public Welfare and Bureau of Old Age Assistance.
Daniel L. Chamberlain, Board and Bureau member.
Donald C. McKie, Board and Bureau member.
Quincy B. Park, Agent.
Gladys M. Wilson, Social Worker.
Virginia C. Smith, Social Worker.
Anne A. Bleau, Senior Clerk.
Patricia E. Evans, Junior Clerk-Typist.
Elsie M. Kriehn, Junior Clerk-Typist.
Mr. Edward E. Harnden, who served as agent for a period of eighteen years, retired and Mr. Park was appointed by the members of the Board of Public Welfare and Bureau of Old Age Assistance as Welfare Agent effective August 30, 1954.
During 1954, sixty-seven applications for assistance in all categories were received. After thorough examinations to determine eligibility by social workers or agent, a total of fifty-seven applications were ap- proved and aid granted.
Twenty-nine applications were made for aid from Old Age Assist- ance funds. Twenty-six applications were approved for payment. Two applications were denied due to ineligibility and one application was voluntarily withdrawn by applicant.
Nine applications were made for assistance from Aid to Dependent Children funds. Seven applications were approved, one denied due to ineligibility, and one case denied assistance and not approved.
Six applications were made for aid from Disability Assistance funds, all of which met the eligibility requirements and were approved.
Twenty-three applications were made for assistance from General Relief funds and eighteen cases were aided.
Welfare
Case Load for 1953 - 43 for 138 persons Case Load for 1954 - 41 for 103 persons
1953
1954
Expended
Cash Payments
$ 13,066.00
$ 14,050.45
Material Grants and Burials
3,576.90
1,912.04
Nursing Homes
1,787.50
780.00
State Institutions
1,202.65
493.84
Division of Child Guardianship
313.53
22.49
Payments to other cities and towns
1,305.58
6,473.57
Totals
$ 21,252.32
$ 23,732.39
152
It will be noted that total cash payments for the year 1954 exceeded what was paid in 1953. Other payments with the exception of aid rend- ered by other cities and towns to Reading settled cases showed a sub- stantial decrease.
It is expected that due to somewhat unsettled economic conditions it may be necessary to expend a larger amount in this category of assist- ance during 1955.
Disability Assistance
1953
Case Load (average for entire year)
13.5
1954 11.662/3
Cash Grants
$ 8,472.72
$ 8,438.50
Material Grants
2,853.95
2,000.70
Board (including payments to Nursing Homes)
2,163.37
None
State Institutions
624.78
256.78
Totals
$ 14,114.82
$ 10,695.98
Reimbursement to the Town of 75% of all funds expended in this category of assistance is made from Federal and State funds. It will be noted that cash payments for 1954 were about the same amount as was paid in previous year. Material grant payments were consider- ably less and no payments were necessary for Nursing Home care.
Aid to Dependent Children
Case Load for 1953
16 cases for 45 persons
Case Load for 1954
16 cases for 49 persons
Expended
1953
1954
Cash payments
$ 23,527.95
$ 22,702.43
Material Grants
1,526.31
2,782.04
Total
$ 25,054.26
$ 25,484.47
Several cases aided during 1953 were closed during 1953 and 1954. However, new cases that were approved offset any decrease in average case load.
Cash payment totals showed a slight decrease and can be accounted for through cash payments received from other sources by client. These other sources would include payments received from Social Security Survivor's Benefits, Court Orders for dependents support and from chil- dren who have completed their schooling and are providing a portion of the families' needs through employment.
Old Age Assistance
1953
1954
Case Load (monthly average)
223
211
Expended
Cash Grants
$ 194,035.75 $ 142,742.75
Material Grants
19,290.00
54,879.46
Other Cities and Towns
5,043.73
4,259.42
Total
$ 218,419.48 $ 201,881.63
153
Cash grant payments show a very substantial decrease during 1954. This is attributed to an average of twelve less cases being aided each month. Also a number of Old Age clients have been admitted to Nurs- ing Homes. At the present time thirty-five recipients of Old Age Assist- ance are confined to Nursing Homes and in most cases the maximum board and room and care rate of $35.00 weekly is necessary.
This payment of board, room and care is paid from Material Grant account and is largely responsible for a substantial increase in amount expended in 1953 listed as Material Grant account.
Reimbursements to Town Treasurer Old Age Assistance
Source
Amount Account Credited
State Reimbursements
$ 88,594.56
E. & D.
Federal Reimbursements
86,984.79
OAA
Other Cities and Towns
4,986.31
E. & D.
Aid to Dependent Children
State Reimbursements
$ 8,712.97
E. & D.
Federal Reimbursements
12,349.17
ADC
Disability Assistance
State Reimbursements $ 4,007.02
E. & D.
Federal Reimbursements
5,900.65
D.A.
Checks returned
90.55
D.A.
General Relief
State Reimbursements $ 5,468.13
E. & D.
Other Cities and Towns
1,118.69
E. & D.
Summary
State reimbursement for all catagories of assistance credited to Excess and Deficiency Account $ 106.782.68
Reimbursement from Other Cities and Towns and credited to Excess and Deficiency Account
6,105.10
Total Credited to Excess and Deficiency Account $ 112,887.78 Federal Reimbursement Credited to Assistance Accounts $ 105,234.56
Checks returned and credited to Assistance Account 90.55
The entire staff of the Welfare Office would like to express their ap- preciation to the members of the Board of Public Welfare and Bureau of Old Age Assistance for their whole hearted co-operation during the past year.
The staff would also like to express their appreciation to those who are clients and who have been most understanding and co-operative.
Respectfully submitted, QUINCY B. PARK
Agent, Board of Public Welfare
154
ONE HUNDREDTH REPORT OF THE FIRE CHIEF REPORT OF THE FOREST WARDEN AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE ALARM
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
The 1954 report of the Fire Chief, Forest Warden and Superinten- dent of Fire Alarm is hereby submitted.
Manual Force. The permanent force consists of twenty men in- cluding the Chief, Deputy Chief, Captain, and two Lieutenants. There are fourteen full time call firemen and five half time call firemen and a call Dispatcher. There are 30 active members of the Auxiliary Fire Service. Three men attended the Oil Burner course conducted by the Oil Heat Institute during 1954 and three others will attend the school in 1955. Bi-weekly drills were held during the summer evenings for both regular and Auxiliary firemen.
Apparatus. Located at the Central Station are: Ladder 1, a Sea- grave 65 ft. Junior Aerial Ladder Truck; Engine 1, a 1000 gal. per min. Seagrave Pumping Engine; Engine 2, a 400 gal. per min. Seagrave Pumping Engine in reserve; Engine 4, a 500 gal. per min. front end Pumping Engine and having a 100 gal. per min. portable pump, used for brush fires; Engine 6, a 750 gal. per min. Seagrave Pumping Engine; Engines 7 and 8 are 500 gal. per min. Auxiliary Trailer pumps; Engine 9, a one ton Chevrolet utility truck with 250 gal. per min. front end pump; a two wheel hose trailer; and a Chevrolet Sedan Chief's car. Located at Station No. 2 on Woburn Street are: Engine 3, a 600 gal. per min. Sea- grave Pumping Engine; Engine 5, a Chevrolet with a 400 gal. per min. front end pump, manned by the Auxiliary Fire Service. A two-way Radio was purchased this year and installed on Ladder 1. Engine 9 was repainted. Continuous maintenance to the motor apparatus was carried out through the year to keep them in good condition.
Service Record. The department responded to 93 bell alarms, 3 of which were false; 171 telephone calls; verbal 14; radio 15; 462 service calls, 112 of which were due to the two hurricanes; a total of 755 or 138 more than 1953. Included in the total calls are 102 for grass, brush, peat and woods; 22 dump fires, 20 of which were in the town dump on John St .; buildings 88; motor vehicles 18; aid to other communities 16. Other departments to Reading 12. Apparatus traveled a total of 16,723 miles during the year.
Calls for oxygen 8; resucitator 5; in various locations 14 tests were made for suspected gas leaks. Minor injuries were received by 18 fire- men. The fire loss for 1954 on property endangered, valued at $118,543.00 was $9,144.45, a decrease of $15,134.23 from the 1953 loss. Of the loss, $7,702.45 was covered by insurance, making the uninsured loss $1,442.00. The following equipment was used: 15 CO2 Extinguishers; 1 Dry Powder Extinguisher; 1 Soda-Acid Extinguisher; 202 booster tanks of water; 34,200 ft. of 34 inch booster hose; 17,300 ft. of 11/2 inch hose; 16,200 ft. of 21/2 inch hose; 2,723 ft. of ladders including the aerial 27 times; 17 waterproof covers spread; smoke ejectors used 20 times; during hurri-
155
cane "Carol" and for a number of days thereafter, the men were on a 24 hour schedule, handling the many calls for assistance to protect property of residents. During hurricane "Edna", again the men were all kept on duty until the emergency was past and many various ser- vices were performed by the department. On May 17th Engine 4 and Auxiliary Engine 8 trailer pump were sent to Peabody to assist that community when the dam at the Flame water basin broke, allowing millions of gallons of water to flood the business district of Peabody. Our pumps operated about 10 hours each.
Fire Prevention. Some lecturing was done during Fire Prevention Week at the schools. Inspections of business properties, places of public assembly and the nursing homes have been made as required. 257 in- spections made of Power Burner installations and storage for same; 52 inspections of Liquified Petroleum Gas storages; 25 inspections of Range Burners and storage for same, 1 inspection of oil burning water heater; 47 permits were issued for blasting; 2 permits for storage of diesel fuel; 1 permit for storage of class A fluids; 1 permit for a supervised fireworks display; numerous inspections made of fire hazards, tank locations, as requested or upon complaint. 13 buildings were destroyed by this de- partment by burning, at requestes of owners in connection with land clearing, or to remove hazards. Many permits were issued for fires in the open air.
Fire Stations. During the first hurricane, much slate was blown off the roof of the Central Station and this has been replaced as well as some of the copper flashing that was ripped away. The Woburn Street station had many shingles blown off the roof as well as the bell tower during the first hurricane and this was replaced. Before the second hur- ricane, windows in both stations were boarded up, and the shutters made by the permanent men are being stored in the event they are needed in the future.
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