USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1957 > Part 18
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In our opinion, the accompanying balance sheet and statements of income and profit and loss present fairly the financial position of the Municipal Light Department as at December 31, 1957 and the results 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
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.
PHILLIP G. WILLCOX, Chairman WINFRED F. SPURR PHILLIP O. AHLIN, JR.
Municipal Light Board
TOTAL COST OF PLANT as of December 31, 1957
Cost of Electric Plant :-
Cost of Land - 226 Ash St. $ 2,575.80
25 Haven St. 6,609.46
Wildwood St., Wilmington 700.00
Haverhill St., North Reading 3,219.19
Main St., Lynnfield Center 5,000.00
Cost of Structures - 226 Ash St.
36,870.84
25 Haven St. 28,093.90
Garage and Storeroom 33,205.07
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Cost of Transformer Station and Substation Equipment Cost of Poles, Fixtures and Overhead Conductors
609,164.50
1,340,827.99
Cost of Underground Conduits 344,229.81
Cost of Underground Conductors
670,728.98
Cost of Consumers Meters
182,168.27
Cost of Consumers Meter Installations
55,539.23
Cost of Line Transformers 259,008.19
Cost of Line Transformer Installations 13,806.93
Cost of Street Lighting Equipment 94,277.01
Total Cost of Electric Plant $3,686,025.17
Cost of General Equipment 46,279.95
Total Cost of Plant and General Equipment $3,732,305.12
SUMMARY OF INCOME AND EXPENSES for the year ending December 31, 1957
REVENUES:
Residence Service - Schedule A
$1,176,541.49
Commercial Service - Schedule B
127,725.82
Commercial and Industrial Service - Schedule C
263,617.92
Welding Service
227.14
Municipal Service
31,265.88
Flat Rate Sales
494.61
Sales to Private Companies and Municipal Plants
7,368.29
Street Lighting Service
43,514.83
Miscellaneous Income
7,598.69
Total Revenue
$1,658,354.67
EXPENSES:
Production Expenses
$ 969,077.21
Distribution Expenses
162,175.79
Utilization Expenses
13,849.10
Commercial Expenses
46,014.47
New Business Expenses
398.76
General Expenses
58,220.21
Depreciation Expense
159,455.65
Interest on Bonds and Notes
24,937.90
Taxes - Personal Property Outside Towns
35,849.68
Uncollectible Operating Revenues
4,234.46
Interest on Consumers Deposits
503.52
Retirement Pensions
11,980.00
Bonds and Notes Paid
69,000.00
Total Expenses
$1,555,696.75
Excess of Revenue over Expenses
$ 102,657.92
Transfer to Town Treasurer
93,750.72
Net Increase of Profit and Loss Surplus $ 8,907.20
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STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES as of December 31, 1957
FIXED ASSETS:
Land
$ 18,104.45
Structures
45,406.11
Trans. Sta. and Substa. Equipment
393,677.33
Poles, Fixtures and Overhead Cond.
602,942.57
Underground Conduits
273,842.30
Underground Conductors
534,199.41
Consumers Meters
97,332.55
Consumers Meter Installations
26,587.04
Line Transformers
179.874.34
Line Transformer Installations
7,091.72
Street Lighting Equipment
16,886.96
General Equipment 46,279.95
Unfinished Construction
18,784.46
Total Fixed Assets
$2,261,009.19
CURRENT ASSETS:
Construction Fund
$ 20,516.59
Depreciation Fund
59,136.67
Petty Cash
400.00
Consumers Deposit Fund
9,652.00
Accounts Receivable
285,289.22
Materials and Supplies 95,973.26
$ 470,967.74
Prepaid Insurance
1,653.21
Totals
$2,733,630.14
LIABILITIES:
Notes Payable $ 42,000.00
Bonds Payable
867,000.00
Accounts Payable
178,585.09
Consumers Deposits
9,652.00
Interest Accrued
7,250.92
Loans Repayment
847,578.26
Total Liabilities
$1,952,066.27
Profit and Loss
781,563.87
Totals $2,733,630.14
NOTE: A contingent liability in the amount of $3,768.59 existed as of December 31, 1957 on account of leases received from installment sales of electrical appliances which were discounted with the Middle- sex County National Bank of Reading.
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT as of December 31, 1957
Balance January 1, 1957 $ 773,506.67
Net Income - Before Bond Payments 171,657.92
Total Credits $ 171,657.92
Bonds and Notes Paid $ 69,000.00
Transferred to General Funds of the Town
93,750.72
Other Deductions from Surplus
850.00
Total Debits $ 163,600.72
Balance December 31, 1957
$ 781,563.87
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Total Current Assets
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD REPORT OF THE FIRE CHIEF REPORT OF THE FOREST WARDEN AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE ALARM
February 5, 1958
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
The 1957 report of the Fire Chief, Forest Warden and Superintendent of Fire Alarm is hereby submitted.
Manual Force. The permanent force consists of twenty-six men including the Chief, Deputy Chief and 3 Captains. There are thirteen full time and three half time call firemen and a Dispatcher on call. There are 30 members of the Auxiliary Fire Service. Three permanent men were appointed during the year.
Apparatus. Located at the Central Station are: Ladder 1, a Sea- grave 65 ft. Junior Aerial Ladder Truck; Engine 1, a 1,000 gal. per min. Seagrave Pumping Engine; 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. Seagrave Pumping Engine; Engine 7, a 500 gal. per min. Auxiliary Trailer Pump; Engine 9, a one ton Chevrolet utility truck with a 250 gal. per min. front end pump; a two wheel hose trailer; a 1957 Chevrolet Station wagon for the use of the Deputy Chief. Located at the Woburn Street Station No. 2 are: Engine 2, an American La-France 1000 gal. per min. pumping engine; Engine 3 in reserve is a 600 gal. per min. Seagrave Pumping Engine; Engine 5, a 400 gal. per min. Chevrolet Pumping Engine, manned by the Auxiliary Fire Service and Auxiliary Engine 8, a 500 gal. per min. Trailer Pump; a 1956 Chevrolet Sedan for the use of the Chief. Routine maintenance and repairs were made as necessary on all apparatus.
Service Record. The department responded to 146 bell alarms, 10 of which were false; 7 second alarms; 3 third alarms; 56 still alarms; 41 radio calls; 286 telephone calls; 222 service calls - a total of 751 for 1957. This is 213 more calls than last year. Mutual Aid was fur- nished to other communities 72 times and other departments responded to Reading under Mutual Aid 63 times. Included in total calls are dwelling fires 41; other buildings 29; grass and brush 152; dumps, rubbish 57; motor vehicles 22; resuscitator 11; oxygen 2; patients taken to Doctor 3; motor vehicle accidents 14; man to assist police with am- bulance 14; man to assist police otherwise 7; 33 firefighters received minor injuries; 1 civilian was injured and 1 civilian death. The fire loss for 1957 on property endangered, valued at $1,702,930.00 was $172,- 936.79, an increase of $128,218.41 over last year. Of the loss, $99,100.29 was covered by insurance, making the uninsured loss $73,836.50. $70,000.00 of the uninsured loss was on the Highland School fire on March 6th, which reflects the reason for the great increase in the fire loss this year over other years. The following equipment was used:
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21 CO2, 1 Dry Powder, 1 Chimney Fuzee, 16 salvage covers spread, 26 times smoke ejectors used, 41,600 ft. 34 booster hose, 251 booster tanks of water, 83,800 ft. 11% inch hose, 37,400 ft. 21/2 inch hose. Engines pumped 13834 hours. 1,918 ft. of ladders were raised, including the Aerial Ladder 20 times. Apparatus travelled a total of 19,243.4 miles during the year. Men were kept on guard at the Town Forest during the extreme drought periods. Fire Department pumps were utilized to pump water for the Public Works Department on many occasions during the dry summer when the water supply level would fall so low that houses in the highest elevations were without it. Engines 1 and 2 were sent to Manchester, Mass. on different occasions to assist in fight- ing the extensive woods fires in that area. Many of the fine old resi- dences in that town were threatened and some property lost before these fires were brought under control. The State Fire Marshal's office investigated 10 fires of suspicious origin in Reading.
Fire Prevention. Fire prevention lectures were given to different civic groups as requested. Annual Award for the Fire Prevention Essay Contest, conducted by the Auxiliary Fire Service was presented at the Junior High School, by the Chief. 221 Power Oil Burner inspections were made and permits issued for storage of fuel oil, 4 inspections made and permits issued for storage of range oil, 18 Liquified Petroleum Gas installations were inspected and permits issued for storage of gas. 53 permits were issued for blasting operations. 8 miscellaneous per- mits were issued for removal of gasoline tanks, fireworks, to operate tar kettles, and to store diesel fuel. Many permits were issued for controlled burning in the open air, but during dry periods no permits of this nature were granted. Convalescent and Rest Homes were in- spected as required by the State and other inspections were made as required, or upon complaint.
Fire Station. The Central Fire Station has had only routine repairs during the year. The permanent men redecorated the front bedroom walls and ceiling. Station No. 2 on Woburn Street was dedicated and the cornerstone laid on September 21st. This beautiful building is a proud addition to the Fire Department of the Town of Reading. Per- manent firemen have been assigned to man the station and equipment, two men on a shift or a total of six men.
Fire Alarm. The Fire Alarm Shop was painted a second coat this year. Two new fire alarm boxes have been installed as replacements and three new additional boxes installed. The rebuilding of West Street necessitated reconstruction of the overhead lines from Woburn Street to Longwood Road. A fire alarm transmitter has been purchased to be installed in Station No. 2, also the necessary wiring and registers for the Mutual Aid Circuits.
Recommendations. It is recommended that the overhead and un- derground fire alarm lines be extended to further the coverage in some new sections of town not now covered. Some of the older fire alarm boxes should be replaced and additional boxes added to the system. Serious consideration should be given to the purchase of a Junior Aerial
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ladder truck to be placed in the Central Station and the present Ladder 1 relocated in Station No. 2. Additional permanent firefighters are required to have sufficient manpower responding to an alarm. It is recommended that the one ton panel truck now ten years old be re- placed. This truck is used in the construction and maintenance of the fire alarm system, and is also used for many utility purposes where the use of other equipment would be impracticable. It is also recom- mended that consideration be given to the construction of a Fire Station in the northern section of the town. This end of town is building up very rapidly and good locations for a station are being built upon. Land purchased now would probably save considerable expense at a later date.
Conclusion. I want to thank the honorable Board of Selectmen for their cooperation on matters during the past year, the members of the fire department and Auxiliary for efficient service. I wish to thank the local telephone operators for handling emergency calls so efficiently, the Red Cross Motor Service and Canteen, and other town departments and citizens who have assisted this department during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
HUGH L. EAMES, Chief of the Fire Department Forest Warden and Supt. of Fire Alarm
REPORT OF INSURANCE COMMITTEE
The Town of Reading Insurance Committee held eleven meetings in 1957. The fire at the Highland School caused unusual activity for this committee. The first offer of the adjuster assigned by the insur- ance company to settle for $63,000.00, not including contents, was not acceptable, and after several months the committee finally accepted a settlement of $80,000.
In July 1957, additional fire insurance in the amount of $817,269.00 was placed on the various town buildings.
In October a total of $570,000.00 was placed on the new Fire Station and the Birch Meadow School and $57,725.00 for additional contents - total, $1,444,995.00.
Respectfully submitted,
GILBERT M. LOTHROP, Secretary
211
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF WIRES
Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen:
I hereby submit my report for the year 1957.
Permits were issued and inspections made on the following:
Additions to existing wiring
224 Office buildings 7
Air conditioners 11 Public buildings 2
Beauty shops
2 Pumps
3
Churches (additions)
5 Ranges (electric) 152
Coal yards
2 Repairs to existing wiring 26
Dishwashers
28 Replace underground cable 2
Dryers
47 Rewire after fire 3
Dwellings (new)
135 Rewire oil burners 14
Dwellings (old)
6 Services (permanent) 135
Electric heaters
1 Service (temporary) 31
5 Services changed to 3 wire 66
Fire alarm systems (private)
Fire station (new)
1 Service location changes 5
Freezers
5 Schools (additions) 17
Gas furnace controls
22 Signs 1
Garages
1 Stores (additions) 17
Garbage disposals
35 Telephone booths (outdoor)
1
Gasoline stations
6 Time clock systems 2
Greenhouses
1 Vent fans 76
Manufacturing plants
3 Washers (automatic) 7
Motors
22 Water heaters 27
Nursing homes
6 Water heater time clocks 36
Oil burners
82 Warehouses 1
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES F. O'DOWD,
Inspector of Wires
212
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
At a special meeting on March 5, 1957, the Board was organized as follows:
Lawrence Drew, Chairman Gilbert M. Lothrop, Secretary James E. Calvin Boyd H. Stewart, Clerk
Regular meetings were held every Monday evening except during the summer months when they were held every other Monday evening, with special meetings being called whenever necessary. Each week the Reading Chronicle has been furnished with information of import- ance and interest to the townspeople. The reports of departments under the jurisdiction of this Board appear on other pages of this re- port.
The Reading Community Center has been opened and is occupied by the following tenants: Massachusetts National Guard, Y.M.C.A., Girl Scouts, Board of Public Welfare, Reading Woman's Club and James E. Calvin, who rents his space to various civic and fraternal organizations subject to the approval of this Board. Renovations to the old high school building have been extensive. It is busy every night, and we are sure that the people of the Town of Reading will derive a great deal of pleasure in the use of this Community Center.
During the past year the Selectmen met several times with the committee of town employees and representatives of insurance com- panies regarding Group Insurance, and the contract was duly awarded, after bids were considered, to the Boston Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany and the Massachusetts Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
On July 19, 1957, a deed to the old Center School was delivered and occupancy surrended to the Old South Methodist Church, and with the removal of this building another historic land mark has been re- moved.
In August a formal complaint was made to the Massachusetts De- partment of Public Health alleging a nuisance odor exists in this area and requesting immediate steps be taken to bring about a cessation of the condition. We have been assured that the problem will be brought to a satisfactory solution.
Due to the razing of Security Hall, it was necessary to find new polling places, and arrangements were made with the School Com- mittee so that the voting was carried on in the following places: Pre- cinct 1, Pearl St. School; Precinct 2 and 3, Joshua Eaton School; Pre- cinct 4, Memorial High School.
The new Hose 2. Fire Station on Woburn Street was completed and dedicated in September with fitting exercises. We feel that this mod- ern fire station will add greatly to the protection of the west side of town and will be large enough to accommodate the needs of the town for many years.
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The Board again sponsored the United Nations Day observance which was held this year on October 24 at the Joshua Eaton School.
The Selectmen took an active part in opposing the drastic cutting of passenger service requested by the D. P. U. for the Boston and Maine Railroad.
In many towns the Board of Selectmen has complete control of all departments. As you know, this is not the case in Reading. As Select- men of this town, we are frequently called upon and asked to correlate the activities of various departments, and we have always tried to ac- cept this duty if we thought it was to the benefit of all concerned. We feel that the co-operation of the various town boards with us has been outstanding. We wish to express our appreciation to each one with whom we have worked during the past year and also to the Finance Committee for the splendid co-operation they have given us. We would again like to take this opportunity to thank the Police Reserve Asso- ciation and the Auxiliary Fire Department for the valuable service they have rendered throughout the year.
Respectfully submitted,
GILBERT M. LOTHROP, Secretary
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
Board of Selectmen
Reading, Mass.
Gentlemen
We can report 1957 as a healthy year for our town.
In the field of Infectious Disease control your Board continued its aggressive program of immunization against Poliomyelitis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Rabies, Smallpox an Asian Influenza through School and Health Department Clinics and the active private practice of all lo- cal physicians. Tuberculosis is still with us: attack is by hospitaliza- tion, case finding, home follow up care and education.
In sanitation, through our inspectors, we have supervision of new and old plumbing installations and sewerage disposal; inspection and testing of milk and food, inspection and education of restaurants and food handlers. Study and abatement of nuisances, mosquito control.
In the field of preventive medicine our care of Premature infants, Dental Clinic and Well Baby Clinic have been active.
Garbage collection has been very satisfactory, studies of disposal by incineration are underway.
C. R. BAISLEY, M.D. E. M. HALLIGAN, M.D. C. F. PARKER
214
REPORT OF THE RECREATION COMMITTEE
1957
To the Citizens of Reading
The Recreation Committee submits herewith its annual report.
Summer Program
Each year more youngsters take advantage of the town program and find it highly satisfactory. The range of activities attempt to reach all the various abilities and talents of the Reading youngsters.
A regular playground day in Reading comprises baseball for juniors, seniors, midgets and sub-midgets, softball, basketball, swim- ming, circle games, story hours, crafts, volleyball, and table games. There are highly organized periods of intensive activity as well as low organized times when playgrounders engage in supervised apparatus play or in games such as Truth or Consequences, jump rope or guessing contests.
Special events figure largely in our local park scheme. They high- light or provide an interesting twist to the weekly program. Some of the events to find favor with the boys and girls were two Wingaersheek E'each trips, teenager dances, outdoor movies of selected cartoons, Big Fun Days under the sponsorship of the Chamber of Commerce, fishing jamboree, campfire and community sing, junior olympics, novelty field day and Carnival.
Each week of the nine weeks pattern of summer fun has a theme. The idea is carried out to a culmination show on a park basis or in a town-wide event. Indians and cowboys, pets, dolls, pilgrims, hobby, treasure hunts, stuffed animals, decathlons, cookouts and track meets were a few of the catagories.
Craftwork is a very important part of the playground plan. A full-time supervisor schedules a bi-weekly visit to each area. In addi- tion, each play leader does some handwork. The more intricate and complicated craftsmanship of textile painting, tile work, wood carving, or leatherwork is promoted by the supervisor while the play leader handles the more simple projects such as clay, pot holders, fingerpaints and Indian bead work.
Instruction in tennis, baseball, softball, swimming and basketball is offered at a definite time. As a result of these many youngsters earned their beginners swim badges or have become real tennis enthusiasts. Basic skills and techniques of baseball were taught to boys six years and older. Clinics were held for older boys. Senior and junior high boys participated in the morning baseball league. Girls worked out in softball and the older young men met evenings to play basketball.
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Winter Program
This year, four areas will be used for skating purposes. Two at Birch Meadow, one at Sturgis Park and one at Memorial Park will be in operation this winter. There will be lights at the general skating rinks at Sturgis and Memorial. The Recreation Committee is planning to provide supervision in these areas.
Staff Policy
To carry out this extensive list of events, a capable mature staff is secured. Park personnel are trained youth workers of college age or older. These people work under the close supervision of John Pacino, Recreation Director.
Appreciation
Many town groups have immeasurably aided the summer recrea- tion department. The Reading Chronicle has enabled us to extend our message through a series of informative articles, pictures, and stories. The Board of Public Works through their Superintendent James Putnam, has answered all requests in a courteous and prompt manner. The School Department under the direction of Superintendent Robert Perry has been extremely co-operative in all ways. To those previously mentioned and to all others who assisted the recreation program, the Recreation Committee wishes to express an appreciative thanks.
The Recreation Committee feels that the following items should be given top priority for local recreational planning and development - wading pool at Memorial Park, swimming pool, lights for softball fields at Birch Meadow, land graded and necessary equipment to establish a playground at Glen Meadow, replacement of swings at major parks.
Respectfully submitted,
HERBERT M. RIXON, Chairman C. SUMNER TEEL, Secretary H. LEE DONLEY NEWELL H. MORTON ALBERT CHISHOLM RICHARD GALE DOMENICK ZANNI, JR. WILLIAM WILLSON, JR. BARBARA WINKLER
216
ANNUAL REPORT NO. 90 For the Year 1957 READING PUBLIC LIBRARY
APPRAISAL - AND CHALLENGE :- Growing demands upon the Read- ing Public Library prompted the Board of Trustees to call for a special study and the resulting appraisal indicates immediate steps to be taken if the Library is to keep up with modern trends in its field of educational service.
While the Trustees felt that the Library was facing up to its public- service duties, they also felt that there were places where it might fall short of the advances that other libraries have made. The confidence in the Library's service to the public was upheld to the board's great satisfaction. The shortcomings were disclosed as somewhat greater than suspected - and this came as a distinct shock.
In order to obtain a complete assessment of the Reading Public Library's place in its field, the Trustees asked for a survey by specialists from the Massachusetts Division of Library Extension. This was con- ducted early in November, without cost to the town, by Alice M. Cahill, supervisor of field services, and Marie Sullivan, public library consultant.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT LAGS :- The report on the survey comes to the point quickly in summarizing the analysis of library service in the Town of Reading. It says:
"In making a report on any library, comparisons can be drawn between the local library's performances and those in towns of com- parable size. The statistical table appended to this report is com- piled from the latest available returns received by the State Divi- sion of Library Extension from the libraries in the Commonwealth. It will be noted that Reading does not show up favorably in this quantitative comparison."
The survey notes that quantity and quality of service and activities are closely related to financial support and that in the statistical table Reading's 1956 per capita library expenditures is the lowest. The re- port quotes the American Library Association:
"Libraries serving communities of less than 100,000 population will have to provide substantially more than three dollars per capita to achieve minimum adequacy."
The local survey finds that Reading provided $1.57 per capita for public library in 1956. This is considerably lower than the state's average $2.88 per capita library expenditure in communities serving in excess of 10,000 people.
GOOD LIBRARY-USE TOWN :- Reading is seen as a good library-use community. While there are 18 manufacturing concerns listed, the town is still rated as a residential community since these firms employ less than a total of 600 persons. The report notes further:
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That the town's proportion of persons engaged in professions is higher than the average in other towns of the Boston metropolitan area;
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