USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1955 > Part 15
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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,
GILBERT W. STANFORD, Manager
CHARLES E. STANWOOD & COMPANY
Accountants and Auditors 16 Court Street Boston, Massachusetts
January 31, 1956
To The Municipal Light Board
Town of Reading
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, 1955 and the related statements of income and profit and loss for the year then ended. Our examination was made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and included such tests of the accounting records and other auditing procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances.
In our opinion, the acompanying balance sheet and statements of income and profit and loss present fairly the financial position of the Municipal Light Department as at December 31, 1955 and the result of its 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
174
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 PHILLIP G. WILLCOX WINFRED F. SPURR Municipal Light Board
TOTAL COST OF PLANT as of December 31, 1955
Cost of Electric Plant :-
Cost of Land - 226 Ash St. $ 2,575.80
25 Haven St. 7,459.46
Wildwood St., Wilmington
700.00
Haverhill St., North Reading
3,219.19
Cost of Structures - 226 Ash St.
25 Haven St. 28,093.90
Cost of Transformer Station and Substation Equipment 455,185.73
Cost of Poles, Fixtures and Overhead Conductors
1,186,277.98
Cost of Underground Conduits
138,715.64
Cost of Underground Conductors
275,502.14
Cost of Consumers Meters
147,150.04
Cost of Consumers Meter Installations
41,833.85
Cost of Line Transformers
188,766.94
Cost of Line Transformer Installations
10,941.93
Cost of Street Lighting Equipment
78,844.70
Total Cost of Electric Plant $2,632,116.17
Cost of General Equipment
32,508.58
Total Cost of Plant and General Equipment $2,664,624.75
SUMMARY OF INCOME AND EXPENSES
for the year ending December 31, 1955
REVENUES:
Residence Service
$ 959,818.25
Commercial Service
181,753.07
Primary Power - Wholesale
88,625.73
Welding Service
244.05
Municipal Service
21,374.04
Sales to Private Companies and Municipal Plants
3,940.12
Street Lighting Service
41,323.23
Miscellaneous Income
8,824.38
Total Revenues
$1,305,902.87
175
66,848.87
EXPENSES:
Production Expenses
$ 758,198.54
Distribution Exepnses
152,161.10
Utilization Expenses
16,777.83
Commercial Expenses
45,215.01
New Business Expenses
271.29
General Expenses
57,401.77
Depreciation Expenses
122,512.97
Interest on Bonds and Notes
6,162.63
Taxes - Personal Property Outside Towns
21,959.44
Uncollectible Operating Revenues
1,756.13
Interest on Consumers Deposits
430.26
Retirement Pensions
7,937.15
Bonds and Notes Paid
30,000.00
Total Expenses
$1,220,784.12
Excess of Revenues over Expenses
$ 85,118.75
Transfer to Town Treasurer
74,894.36
Net Increase of Profit and Loss Surplus
10,224.39
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
as of December 31, 1955
FIXED ASSETS:
Land
$ 13,954.45
Structures
48,231.36
Trans. Sta. and Substa. Equipment
285,507.22
Poles, Fixtures and Overhead Cond.
578,725.90
Underground Conduits
82,660.51
Underground Conductors
181,566.09
Consumers Meters
77,302.28
Consumers Meter Installations
17,671.58
Line Transformers
131,128.89
Line Transformer Installations
5,381.79
Street Lighting Equipment
9,608.40
General Equipment
32,508.58
Unfinished Construction
69,231.91
Total Fixed Assets
$1,533,478.96
CURRENT ASSETS:
Special Construction Fund
$ 54,758.09
Construction Fund
48,459.72
Depreciation Fund
54,098.74
Petty Cash
400.00
Consumers Deposit Fund
7,449.00
Accounts Receivable
182,187.17
Materials and Supplies
96,400.69
Total Current Assets
$ 443,753.41
Prepaid Insurance
3,979.14
Totals $1,981,211.51
176
LIABILITIES:
Notes Payable
$ 54,000.00
Bonds Payable
363,000.00
Accounts Payable
91,355.63
Consumers Deposits
7,449.00
Interest Accrued
2,212.61
Loans Repayment
739,578.26
Total Liabilities $1,257,595.50
Profit and Loss
723,616.01
Totals
$1,981,211.51
NOTE: A contingent liability in the amount of $10,883.99 existed as of December 31, 1955 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, 1955
Balance January 1, 1955
$ 714,901.81
Net Income - before Bond Payments
115,118.75
Miscellaneous Credits
300.00
Total Credits
$ 115,418.75
Bonds and Notes Paid
30,000.00
Transferred to General Funds of the Town
74,894.36
Miscellaneous Debits
1,810.19
Total Debits
106,704.55
Balance December 31, 1955
$ 723,616.01
177
REPORT OF THE FOREST WARDEN AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE ALARM
January 15, 1956
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
The 1955 report of the Fire Chief, Forest Warden and Superintendent 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 thirteen full time call firemen and five half time call firemen and a Dispatcher on call. There are 30 active members of the Auxiliary Fire Service. Three men attended the Oil Heat Institute's course in Oil Burners during 1955 at no expense to the town. One man attended a Fire Prevention Law course at M.I.T. and 15 men voluntarily completed a Standard Red Cross First Aid Course given at the station by a quali- fied instructor. Permanent fireman George F. Fogg was retired from the department on October 31, 1955 for an accidental disability.
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. Chevrolet front end pumping engine that also has a 100 gal. per min. portable pump, and is used for brush and grass fires; Engine 6, a 750 gal. per min. Sea- grave Pumping Engine; Engines 7 and 8 are 500 gal. per min. Auxiliary Trailer Pumps; Engine 9, a one ton Chevrolet utility truck with a 250 gal. per min. front end pump; a two wheel hose trailer; and a Chevrolet Sedan Chief's Car. Located at Station #2 on Woburn Street are: En- gine 3, a 600 gal. per min. Seagrave Pumping Engine; Engine 5, a Chevrolet with a 400 gal. per min. front end pump, manned by the Auxiliary Fire Service. One walkie-talkie 2 way radio was given to the department this year by a citizen of the town, and has been placed in service on Engine 3. New tires were placed on Engines 1 and 5. Routine maintenance of the apparatus was carried on throughout the year as necessary.
Service Record. The department responded to 135 bell alarms, 14 of which were false; 11 verbal calls; 33 radio calls; 217 telephone calls; 217 service calls - a total for 1955 of 613. Mutual Aid was furnished to other communities 51 times and other departments responded to Read- ing under Mutual Aid 16 times. Included in the total calls are 91 for building fires, 30 for dump and rubbish fires, 138 for grass and brush fires, 21 automobile fires, 15 automobile accidents, 4 other accidents, 11 calls for the resucitator, 3 calls for oxygen, 15 calls to assist the police department. Apparatus travelled a total of 16,456 miles during the year. 26 firefighters received minor injuries and 3 civilians were injured, one with very serious burns. The fire loss for 1955 on property endangered, valued at $432,872.22 was $42,034.09 an increase of $32,899.64 over last
178
year. Of the loss, $37,436.60 was covered by insurance, making the uninsured loss $4597.49. The following equipment, was used: 20 CO2, 1 Soda Acid, and 3 Dry Powder Extinguishers; 252 booster tanks of water; 36,450 ft. of 3/4 inch booster hose; 9,600 ft. 11/2 inch hose; 16,950 ft. 21/2 inch hose; 1691 ft. ladders raised including the aerial ladder 17 times. 30 waterproof salvage covers were spread; smoke ejectors used 21 times; engines pumped 11 hours. During the August hurricane all men not on vacation reported to the station and assisted with the pumping of cellars. Engine 8 Trailer Pump was sent to the City of Medford to assist with the water situation there after the hurricane, and pumped for two days. Engine 7 Trailer Pump was sent to the Wil- mington Dump on June 21st to assist with a dump fire that burned for a week. The engine pumped over 100 hours and used part of the 840 gallons of gasoline and 731 man hours necessary to run pumps and extinguish this fire. Salaries and gasoline were paid for by Wilmington.
Fire Prevention. Lecturing was done at all of the elementary schools during fire prevention week. The annual awards for the fire prevention essay contest conducted by the Auxiliary Fire Service were presented by the Chief at the Junior High School. 307 Power cil burner inspections made and permits issued for storage of fuel oil, and 14 in- spections made of range burners installed and storage for same. 38 Liquified Petroleum Gas installations were inspected, also permits is- sued for storage of bottled gas. 63 permits were issued for blasting op- erations. 3 permits for storage of Class A fluids. 1 permit for removal of a gasoline tank. Several inspections were made of new gasoline tank locations. Men of this department were on one occasion hampered in their efforts to extinguish a fire at the Town Dump as some thoughtless citizen had placed live ammunition, including 2 hand grenades, in the dumping area. Other ciitzens were in grave danger as this ammunition was exploding from the heat of the dump fire. Other numerous inspec- tions were made as requested or on complaint. 1644 permits were issued for fires in the open air and several times during dry periods no permits of this nature were issued.
Fire Stations. Minor repairs were made as necessary to the Woburn Street Station. This station was erected in 1874 to house a hand drawn engine and at present houses 2 motor propelled engines but no perma- nent firemen. This station should be replaced in 1956, and provisions made for permanent men to be assigned there. With 2 churches, 4 schools, a convent, and 5 large rest homes located west of the rail- road, a very serious condition exists when apparatus from the central fire station is held up at the railroad crossings. At the central fire station the living room of the 2nd floor was tiled, the interior of the 1st floor was painted, the work being done in both cases by the perma- nent men. An outside drainpipe was relocated to keep water from coming in the fire alarm battery room and the inside floor drains were changed to improve the draining from the apparatus floor.
Fire Alarm. Underground conduit was laid outside the central fire station and on Haven Street near Village. A pedestal base was set
179
here. New fire alarm boxes were placed at boxes 63, 68, 15, and 54. Boxes 63 and 68 were of the older type and replaced with the new type box. Boxes 15 and 54 were demolished when hit by automobiles. Box 53 was also hit by an automobile, but only the outside shell needed replacement. As relocation of poles requires relocating fire alarm boxes, an effort is being made to replace the key type door with the T handle door that opens much easier. Box 21 was moved across Lincoln St. to the corner of Fulton St. Overhead construction has been maintained and tree insulating done where necessary on the system. Overhead wires have been extended on Haverhill Street at the Franklin Street end, at the Bay State Road end, and from Charles to Wakefield Streets. On Pine Ridge Road to Sylvan Road an extension of the wires was made and 1 tapper connected. The valve of the fire whistle has been replaced and is more satisfactory.
Recommendations. It is recommended that the Woburn Street Sta- tion be replaced in 1956 and that the permanent force be increased. Two way radios should be purchased until all apparatus is so equipped.
It is felt that a base radio transmitting station should be installed at the Central Fire Station to eliminate confusion with the police trans- mitter and assure more efficient service and movement of apparatus. It is also recommended that a gasoline driven electric generator be in- stalled to supply fire and police stations during failure of electric cur- rent. Several dead end water mains should be connected and as new mains are laid, they should be larger than 6 inch to improve the water supply for fire fighting. An emergency telephone line should be in- stalled at both fire stations for fire calls only, as delays have hap- pened when the phone was being used for business purposes. Electric motors to open and close the central station overhead doors should be installed as these doors are very difficult to open by hand and remain open at times for very long periods when the apparatus is at a fire.
Conclusion. I wish to thank your honorable board for the usual co- operation received, the members of the department and Auxiliary Fire Service for faithful service. I wish also to thank the operators at the telephone exchange for efficient handling of our emergency calls, the Red Cross Motor Service and canteen, and other town departments and citizens who have assisted this department.
Respectfully submitted,
HUGH L. EAMES
Hugh L. Eames,Chief of the Fire Department Forest Warden, and Supt. of Fire Alarm
180
REPORT OF WELFARE AGENT
To the members of the Bureau of Old Age Assistance and Board of Public Welfare and Citizens of the Town of Reading, the following re- port of activities, expenditures, and reimbursements for year ending December 31 is respectively submitted.
Members of the Bureau of Old Age Assistance Board of Public Welfare:
Newell H. Morton, Chairman Daniel L. Chamberlain Donald C. McKie
Staff Members of the Welfare Office:
Quincy B. Park, Agent
Gladys M. Wilson, Social Worker
Virginia C. Smith, Social Worker
Anne A. Bleau, Senior Clerk Patricia E. Evans, Clerk-typist Elsie M. Kriehn, Clerk-typist
During the past year a total of 73 applications for aid were received and processed by the Welfare and Old Age Assistance Office. A total of 66 applications were approved after investigation by Social Workers or Agent had been made, and eligibility for need was determined. A more detailed report is furnished under appropriate categorical head- nigs which follow:
Old Age Assistance
1954
1955
Case load (Monthly Average)
211
199.9
Expended
Cash Grants
$142,742.75
$119,064.08
Material Grants
54,879.46
81,383.75
Payments to other cities and towns
4,259.42
3,743.08
Total
$201,881.63
$204,190.91
Above comparison of expenditures for 1954 and 1955 indicates a considerable decrease in the cash assistance payments to Old Age As- sistance clients. Material grants (medical payments) show a substan- tial increase totalling $26,504.29.
A large percentage of this increased expenditure was paid for nursing and convalescent homes for 20.1% of present case load re- quiring this type of care. Increased hospital per diem rates and ex- pensive medication are also a resultant factor in this increased ex- pense.
All geratic authorities appear in agreement that medical expen- ditures in this category of assistance will continue to show increases. It is expected expenditures will be offset to some degree by a smaller number of persons requiring assistance due to increased resources, such as social security and pension payments.
181
Aid to Dependent Children
Case load for 1954 (monthly average)
16 cases for 49 persons
Case load for 1955 (monthly average)
14.9 cases for 43 persons
Expended
Cash payments
$ 22,702.43
1955 $ 20,171.10
Material grants
2,782.04
1,643.80
Total
$ 25,484.47
$ 21,814.90
Ten applications for aid from this category of assistance were pro- cessed. Two were reapplications. Two were transfers from other com- munities. Six were cases not aided previously.
Total expenditures for year was $3,669.57 less that were required for 1954.
Disability Assistance
Case load (monthly average) 1954
11 cases
Case load (monthly average) 1955
13 cases
Expended
1954
1955
Cash grants
$ 8,438.50
$ 9,217.95
Material grants
2,000.70
2,493.07
Board (including payments to nursing homes)
none
1,143.00
State Institutions
256.78
840.22
Total
$ 10,695.98 $ 13,694.24
This category of assistance is available to persons in need who are adjudged to be either permanently or temporarily disabled. The Town is reimbursed at 75% of expenditures. Medical expenses, nurs- ing home, and state institutional care are expected to be higher in this category of assistance due to disabling factor of clients eligible for this type of assistance. Nine applications were received for this cate- gory of assistance. Two were denied due to ineligibilty. Seven were approved and assistance granted.
Average monthly payment to each recipient were increased from $74.48 as paid in 1954, to $87.10 as paid in 1955.
General Relief
Case load for 1954 (monthly average) 41 for assistance to 103 persons Case load for 1955 (monthly average) 35 for assistance to 87 persons
Expended
1954
1955 $ 10,867.85
Cash payments
$ 14,050.45
Material grants and burials
1,912.04
1,691.35
Nursing Homes
780.00
780.00
State Institutions
493.84
883.83
Division of Child Guardianship
22.49
none
Payments to other cities and towns
6,473.57
6,386.10
Total
$ 23,732.39
$ 20,609.13
182
1954
A decrease in expenditures over previous year's figure is shown in the amount of $3,123.26. Undoubtedly, this is due to excellent eco- nomic conditions during the past year with resultant labor shortages.
This category of assistance is available to those in need who are unable to qualify for aid under regulations of other assistance pro- grams.
During the past year, twelve applications for this category of as- sistance were received. Two were denied and the remaining ten were approved and assistance granted. This number included burial of two indigent persons who died in this Town.
Average monthly payments per case for 1954 was $74.02. Average monthly payments per case increased only slightly to $75.18 during 1955.
Reimbursements to Town Treasurer Old Age Assistance
Source
Amount Account Credited
State Reimbursement
Other cities and towns
$ 90,661.90 Surplus Revenue 4,012.54 Surplus Revenue 74,914.72 O.A.A.
Federal Grants
Aid to Dependent Children
Source
Amount Account Credited
State Reimbursement
Federal Grants
$ 7,452.74 Surplus Revenue 10,178.15 A.D.C. Account
Disability Assistance
Source
Amount Account Credited
State Reimbursement
$ 4,598.32 Surplus Revenue 5,020.14 D.A. Account
Federal Grants
General Relief
Source
Amount Account Credited
State Reimbursement
$ 4,033.93 Surplus Revenue
Other cities and towns
2,366.97 Surplus Revenue
Summary
State reimbursement for all categories of assistance credited to Surplus Revenue Account
$106,746.89
Reimbursement from other cities and
towns credited to Surplus Revenue 6,379.51
Total
$113,126.40
Federal reimbursement credited to assistance account $ 90,113.01
The entire office staff wishes to express their appreciation at this time for courtesies and interest shown by Members of the Bureau of Old Age Assistance and Board of Public Welfare during the past year. Appreciation is also extended to clients and relatives of those assisted for their cooperation and understanding of complicated regulations and requirements as administered by staff of this office.
Respectfully submitted,
QUINCY B. PARK,
Welfare Agent and Director of Old Age Assistance
183
REPORT OF THE SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Reading, Mass., Jan. 11, 1956
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Town of Reading, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The following is a summary of the work completed by The De- partment of Weights and Measures for the year 1955.
Adjusted Sealed Condemned
Scales tested and sealed, over 10,000 lbs.
1
2
Scales tested and sealed, 100 to 5,000 lbs.
2
6
Scales tested and sealed, under 100 lbs.
10
34
Weights
28
Gasoline Pumps
14
58
1
Yardsticks
8
27
136
1
Trial Weighings and Measurements of Commodities
sold or put up for sale
No. Tested
No. Correct
Under
Over
Bread
20
14
2
4
Butter
10
10
Dry Commodities
35
33
1
1
Grain and Feed
10
9
0
1
Meats and Provisions
10
8
2
0
Flour
6
4
2
0
-
-
-
91
78
7
6
Summary of Inspections
Paper and fibre cartons
2
Clinical thermometers
2
Markings of bread
4
Food packages
2
Retests of gasoline pumps after sealing
2
The total receipts for the department were $94.60.
Respectfully submitted,
CARL M. SMITH, Sealer
184
REPORT OF THE DOG OFFICER
December 31, 1955
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Town of Reading, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I hereby submit my report as Dog Officer for the year 1955.
I have canvassed the town to see that all dogs have been licensed. All complaints have been investigated.
For the year ending December 31, 1955 there were 57 unlicensed dogs caught.
42 dogs were disposed of for the county.
10 dogs were reclaimed by owners.
6 dogs were sold for the county.
Dead animals picked up off the street for the Board of Health and disposed of were 95.
At this time I wish to thank the Police Department and all others who gave me assistance.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM H. DEWSNAP
Dog Officer
REPORT OF THE TREE WARDEN
To the Citizens of Reading:
I submit my report as Tree Warden for 1955.
The department planted one hundred and eighty-five trees. One hundred and forty-one Sugar Maples, forty-three Norway Maples and one Pin Oak. The majority of these trees were planted on private property adjacent to the sidewalk. This is better for the root system and it also allows the top to grow with a minimum of interference with the electric light and telephone wires.
It was necessary to remove seventy-four trees from the roadside. Two were removed after hearings to clear driveways, fifteen were destroyed by gas leaks and most of the remaining fifty-seven were removed because of hurricane damage. In addition, thirty diseased Elms were removed from the roadside by the Moth Department under the Dutch Elm Disease program.
The Board of Public Works removed many of these stumps with their gas shovel. This method is not only much faster and cheaper, but it also does a more thorough job on the root system.
I take this opportunity to thank the Board of Public Works and all other town departments who have assisted me in the past year. I also wish to express my appreciation to the men of this department.
Respectfully submitted,
MAURICE H. DONEGAN, Tree Warden
185
REPORT OF THE MOTH SUPERINTENDENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen:
I submit my report as Moth Superintendent for 1955.
There does not appear to be a heavy infestation of Gypsy Moth in any part of the town. Spraying with D.D.T. is very successful in the control of this pest.
During the week of May 7th, all the Elm trees on town property were given a dormant spray by the Helicopter. This spray is to assist in the control of Dutch Elm Disease. Approximately three hundred Elms were checked for this disease. Cuttings from two hundred and five of these trees were sent to the University of Massachusetts Shade Tree Laboratory at Amherst to be cultured. One hundred and thirty-one were certified as having the disease. Thirty of these diseased trees were on the roadside, one on the Library property, one in Memorial Park, three on the State Highway and the remaining ninety-six trees were on private property. All but twelve of these trees have been removed and burned.
The Japanese Beetle continues to increase throughout the town. Spraying with a strong solution of Clordone or D.D.T. will control the beetles for a few days. The University of Massachusetts, through its County Services, is endeavoring to interest Garden Clubs and other groups in the distribution of Milky Disease spores. This disease attacks the Japanese Beetle grubs.
Respectfully submitted,
MAURICE H. DONEGAN,
Moth Superintendent
186
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS for the Year 1955 Valuation
Real Estate
Land, exclusive of buildings
$ 4,501,375.00
Buildings, exclusive of land
24,598,355.00
Total Value of Real Estate
$29,099,730.00
Personal Property
Stock in Trade
162,789.00
Machinery
90,408.00
Live Stock
16,382.00
All Other
1,016,326.00
Total Value of Personal Property ...
1,285,905.00
Total Value of all Property
30,385,635.00
Amount Appropriated for Town Purposes
2,729,683.72
Amount to be paid for State & County Taxes
100,536.81
Amount of Overlay
58,396.07
2,888,616.60
Less Estimated Receipts $ 853,461.66
Excise Tax
143,000.00
Over Estimate 1954
2,434.88
Available Funds
253,880.41
1,252,776.95
Net Amount to be raised on
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