USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1963 > Part 13
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TRAINING. Three men have attended meetings of the Fire De- partment Drill Masters Association and the drill program has been
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accelerated and broadened. The department has been represented at meetings of the Fire Department Mechanics Association and the Inter- national Municipal Signal Association.
FIRE ALARM. Ten old boxes have been replaced and two addi- tional master boxes have been added to the system. The regular maintenance work of checking boxes and outside line construction has been continued.
RECOMMENDATIONS. That Ladder 1 and the old steam fire alarm whistle be replaced in 1964. That consideration be given to a program of replacing the older radios as it is becoming increasingly difficult to make these sets comply with the present FCC regulations. These sets should be replaced by fully transistorized units.
In closing I wish to express my appreciation to The Board of Select- men and other Town officers and Departments for their co-operation during the year. Also to the officers and the men for their co-operation in our training program and the good work during fires and other emergencies of the past year - and to the Auxiliary for the many man-hours of service to the Town during 1963.
Respectfully submitted,
James S. Perry, Chief of the Fire Department Forest Warden and Superintendent of Fire Alarm
REPORT OF DOG OFFICER
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I herewith submit my report as dog officer to December 31, 1963.
I have canvassed the Town to see that all dogs have been licensed. All complaints have been investigated.
For the year ending December 31, 1963, there were 29 unlicensed dogs caught.
5 dogs were disposed of for the county.
4 dogs were sold for the county.
5 dogs were reclaimed by the owners.
15 dogs were turned over to the Harvard Medical School.
80 dogs were reported lost during the year.
At this time I wish to thank the Police Department and all others who have helped me.
Respectfully submitted,
William H. Dewsnap, Dog Officer
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SIXTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT of
THE MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD
for the year ended December 31, 1963
0
Wilmington Substation on Wildwood Street. New 7500 KVA Transformer at Left.
North Reading Substation on Haverhill St. New 7500 KVA Transformer at Left.
New Sanford Mill 13,800 Volt Substation with 7500 KVA Transformer.
Ash Street Station - 1963 - After Renovation of Exterior
-
Business Office After 1963 Renovation.
Business Office in 1939 When Building Was Constructed.
Appliance Sales Area and Customer Counter After 1963 Renovation
FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS, 8 &#EUREKA
Appliance Sales Area and Customer Counter in 1939 when building was constructed.
GENERAL STATISTICS of READING LIGHT DEPARTMENT A TEN-YEAR COMPARISON
1953
1963
SYSTEM OUTPUT Energy Purchased Kilowatt Hours Cost per Kilowatt hour purchased System Peak Kilowatt Load
37,704,820
1.579c
11,609
134,822,079 1.3879c 30,672
KILOWATT HOURS SOLD Residence Industrial and Commercial Other
23,048,015
57,195,955
10,122,382
65,616,005
1,065,517
2,500,880
Total
34,235,914
125,312,840
NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS
Residence
9,552
13,592
Industrial and Commercial Other
725
987
49
118
Total
10,326
14,697
OPERATING REVENUE
Residence
$ 805,289
$ 1,679,323
Industrial and Commercial
213,305
1,341,324
Other
41,139
82,952
Total
1,059,733
3,103,599
AVERAGE REVENUE PER KWH
Residence
3.4939c
2.9361c
Industrial and Commercial
2.1072
2.0442
Other
3.8609
3.3169
Average Revenue ALL KWH
3.0953
2.4767
MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD
WINFRED F. SPURR, Chairman
EUGENE GRAF, Secretary
ROBERT H. SULIS
Term expires 1964 Term expires 1965 Term expires 1966
HECTOR L. GIANASCOL, Manager
25 Haven Street Reading, Mass.
MANAGER'S REPORT
To: The Municipal Light Board
Gentlemen:
Final results of the Department's sixty-ninth year indicated con- tinuing growth and accomplishments as revenues went over the $3 million mark for the first time and various facilities were expanded and improved throughout the system.
Details of last year's progress are reviewed in condensed notes on selected facts and figures, followed by financial summaries and state- ments. Pictures also are included to effectively show some of the many improvements achieved in 1963.
PEAK LOAD: 30,672 Kilowatts - Up less than 1/2 percent
On December 30th, the highest load of the year barely edged above the 30,528 kilowatts recorded in 1962.
PURCHASED POWER: 134,822,079 Kilowatt hours - Up 10.1 percent Department purchases of bulk power for distribution to customers continued to increase at a rate nearly double that reported by the Edison Electric Institute for the New England Geographical Division. Unit cost averaged 1.388 cents-second lowest since the 1.327 cents cost in 1945-despite heavy carryover demand charges from huge loads developed in 1962.
KILOWATT HOUR SALES: 125,312,840 - Up 10.1 percent
Energy sales advanced 11.35 million kilowatt hours over the previous year. Two-thirds of this increase was attributed to commercial and industrial customers.
GROSS OPERATING REVENUES: $3,103,599 - Up 10.2 percent
With an increase of $287,350 over 1962, gross revenues of $3 million were exceeded for the first time-occurring during the first full year of operations following the 1962 rate reduction from which customers derive continuing savings of about $72,000.
163
Total expense; $2,779,588 - Up 11.9 percent
More than 80 percent of expenses in 1963 reflects sums spent for power purchased, depreciation, and property taxes on expanded plant in outside towns, all of which are entirely proportional to growth. Paradoxically, unit expense actually decreases as energy output in- creases. While expense and revenues both tripled during the past decade, energy output more than tripled, thereby reducing expense per kilowatt hour sold. This relationship can be seen on another page showing a ten-year comparison of interesting statistics.
PAYMENT TO TOWN TREASURY: $165,514 - Up 4.7 percent
Last December the Department turned over to the Town a cash payment stated above. Total payments since the first cash transfer in 1934 amount to $1,942,727. Another benefit derived from the Light De- partment is a saving of approximately $57,000 by the Town on its cost for street lighting with reference to charges prevailing in many communities.
TOTAL COST OF PLANT: $5,388,071
Gross additions to plant and general equipment totalling $228,645 were financed from internal cash flow in accordance with statutory provisions.
Nearly two-thirds of this was spent for improvements, enlargements, or replacements of structures, major distribution items, and for con- nections to 368 new customers. The remainder was for replacing power transformers at two substations and for conversion of the supply to Goodall-Sanford plant from 4160 to 13,800 volts. Gross additions to general equipment included expenditures of nearly $10,000 for replacing vehicles, office furniture, and business equipment.
CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS:
Firm capacity of the Wildwood substation in Wilmington was in- creased 200 percent by installing a 7500 KVA regulating transformer to replace a 3750 KVA unit installed in 1956.
Capacity of three of five breaker cubicles at Wildwood Street was doubled by installation of new instrument transformers and heavier buses where required.
The first phase of a project similar to that mentioned above was completed in November at the North Reading substation when a 3000 KVA regulating transformer installed in 1954 was replaced by a 7500 KVA unit, following modifications which increased associated feeder cubicle ratings from 300 to 600 ampere capacity.
Last fall the Goodall-Sanford Mills' new substation was energized after cutover from 4160 volt underground cables in Ash Street and Barrett Street conduits, to 13,800 volt cables installed by the Department via a much shorter new underground route using conduits driven under the B & M railroad main track bed in 1962.
Distribution feeder capacity was increased at many locations by new construction and re-construction. A 4160 volt cubicle released at the Ash Street station by the Goodall-Sanford Mills cutover will soon be used in conjunction with a cable formerly used as a backup circuit
164
for Wilmington, to complete construction of a new feeder for an area to include Willow and Lowell Streets. Thereafter the Strout and Revay pumping stations will be on different circuits and not subject to out- ages simultaneously.
During October, the West, South, and MDC Pumping Station feeders were re-routed through the new underground duct bank constructed last year under the parking area in front of the Ash Street station, and extended southerly and into Avon Street to eliminate congestion on the pole, formerly having three standpipes for these circuits.
Elimination from the main duct bank of these three loaded cables and of two others, until recently used for service to Goodall-Sanford Mills, will allow increased loadings of the remaining cables.
Ampacity of three underground feeder mains at the Wilmington substation, and another at North Reading, was doubled by installation of 500 MCM cables. Through these enlargements, one of these feeders is capable of supplying two circuits whenever another is disabled or is cut out for equipment servicing. Overhead feeder construction included the use of about two miles of spacer type cable.
Sectionalizing oil fuse cutouts have been installed at two locations in the 4160 volt Reading underground center circuit. Others will be placed in service in 1964 to facilitate location of faulted areas and to eliminate the need for switching all transformers on the Center circuit to the spare circuit for normal maintenance or circuit additions. Other underground construction included enlargements of secondary power mains on the lower section of Haven Street and extension of power mains to the Central Fire Station for operation of three phase equipment.
Approximately $42,000 was spent on street lighting at 592 locations throughout our service area at new locations, for increasing illumina- tion, or for replacement of superannuated series units by photo- controlled multiple lights. In keeping with general trends, unusual boosts in street lighting budgets of outside towns we serve resulted in re-lighting over six miles of central core areas by replacements of sub- threshold incandescent lights with modern enclosed mercury lumin- aires to attain seven times or more than the initial volume of illumina- tion.
Three new sedans were purchased, two of which were obtained in the Department's standard shade of orange to replace meter service vehicles, the other as a replacement of one used by the Manager.
The exterior appearance of the Ash Street power station was im- pressively renovated and made weather tight through repairs of all masonry walls by cutting out loose mortar joints, repointing and clean- ing granite surfaces. Early this year, maintenance and repairs of roof gutters, conductors, flashing and snowguards will be completed.
Interior renovations of the Department's Haven Street business office and appliance sales showroom neared completion late in Decem- ber. A comparison of before and after photographs in this report
165
effectively shows how these areas have been transformed by redecora- tions and re-organized arrangement of new matching office furniture to conform with present concepts of a working environment, and combine an attractive appearance with improved entrance and counter arrangement for our more than 14,700 customers.
Total payments in settlement of suits by the Department as plain- tiff against four manufacturers of electrical equipment under the anti- trust laws amounted to $9,555.24. Certificates of authorization by the Municipal Light Board to the Attorney General resulted in acceptance of terms that netted approximately 5 percent of purchases of apparatus during the period from 1956 through 1960.
Off-hour trouble coverage was increased on July 1st with a schedule which added two on-duty shifts for a first class lineman on weekend days and holidays until 1 o'clock a.m., in addition to the five night on-duty shifts and standby lineman arrangement established in De- cember, 1961. With this extended off-hour schedule for a first class lineman utilizing the aerial bucket line truck acquired in 1962, the Department's response to trouble reports has effectively reduced the duration of or prevented outages involving line or customer troubles.
All indications are that 1964 will be one of extraordinary activity for the Department when projects involving capital expenditures of record proportions get underway to implement a system expansion pro- gram based on recent and forecasted growth. These projects, to be financed from internal funds authorized for such purposes, will include 13,800 volt prime supply facilities, a second substation at a new site in Wilmington, and structural enlargements at Ash Street for ultimate centralization of all operating functions.
In closing, appreciation is expressed for the continuing co-operation of personnel, the Municipal Light Board, customers, of officials of the municipal governments and other agencies who have contributed to the achievements of another outstanding year for the Department.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 57, Chapter 164 of the General Laws, I submit herewith my estimate of income and expense of the plant for the year ending December 31, 1964.
166
ESTIMATED INCOME AND EXPENSES FOR 1964
INCOME:
From Consumers
$3,172,027.00
From Tax Levy-for Street Lights
31,500.00
for Municipal Buildings 32,000.00
From Merchandise and Jobbing
3,000.00
From Miscellaneous Income
650.00
Total Income
$3,239,177.00
ESPENSES:
Production
$1,941,500.00
Transmission
3,600.00
Distribution
290,175.00
Street Lighting
27,500.00
Depreciation
263,124.84
General and Miscellaneous
168,790.00
Interest on Bonds and Notes
18,000.00
Bonds and Notes Payable Redeemed
47,000.00
Taxes-Personal Property Outside Towns
79,525.00
Uncollectible Operating Revenue
6,000.00
Interest on Consumers' Deposits
650.00
Retirement Pensions
56,303.00
Total Expenses
$2,902,167.84
E'xcess of Income over Expenses
337,009.16
K.W.H. Purchased
142,000.000
K.W.H. Sold
131,960.000
K.W.H. for Reading Street Lights
1,429,002
Expense per K.W.H. Sold
2.1993c
Cost of Reading Street Lights
31,428.04
Appropriation for Street Lights
31,500.00
A summary of Income and Expense, Total Cost of Plant, together with the statement of Assets and Liabilities, the Profit and Loss Ac- count, and the Auditor's Certificate is appended herewith.
Respectfully submitted, HECTOR L. GIANASCOL, Manager
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.
WINFRED F. SPURR, Chairman
EUGENE GRAF ROBERT H. SULIS
Municipal Light Board
167
RUSSELL S. CARY Certified Public Accountant 109 Country Club Road Melrose, Massachusetts
January 28, 1964
To the Municipal Light Board Town of Reading
Reading, Massachusetts
I have examined the accompanying Balance Sheet of the Municipal Light Department of the Town of Reading, Massachusetts as at Decem- ber 31, 1963 and the related statements of income and profit and loss for the year then ended. My examination was made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and included such tests and verifications of the accounting records and other auditing procedures as I considered necessary in the circumstances.
In my opinion, the accompanying Balance Sheet and Statements of Income and Profit and Loss fairly present the financial position of the Municipal Light Department as at December 31, 1963 and the results of its operations for the year ended on that date, in conformity with the "Uniform System of Accounts for Municipal Lighting Plants" as prescribed by the Department of Public Utilities of Massachusetts.
(signed)
RUSSELL S. CARY, Certified Public Accountant
TOTAL COST OF PLANT as of December 31, 1963
Land-226 Ash Street 859.58
Garage and Stockroom
1,716.22
25 Haven Street 6,609.46
Wildwood Street, Wilmington
700.00
Haverhill Street, North Reading
3,219.19
Main Street, Lynnfield Center 5,000.00
Structures-226 Ash Street
48,677.11
25 Haven Street
55,389.83
Garage and Stockroom
48,603.58
Station Equipment-Reading
464,613.18
Lynnfield Center
161,469.09
North Reading
173,360.20
Wilmington
194,533.38
Poles, Fixtures and Overhead Conductor-Trans.
252,611.29
Underground Conduits-Trans.
233,907.84
Underground Conductors-Trans.
482,629.28
Poles, Fixtures and Overhead Conductors-Dist.
1,332,824.15
Underground Conduits-Dist.
130,033.58
Underground Conductors-Dist.
201,811.60
Line Transformers
402,589.56
Services
318,640.00
Meters
343,887.07
Street Lights and Signal Systems
416,915.96
Total Cost of Electric Plant $5,280,601.15
General Equipment 107,469.39
Total Cost of Plant and General Equipment $5,388,070.54
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STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES as of December 31, 1963
FIXED ASSETS:
Land
$ 18,104.45
Structures
84,884.54
Station Equipment
635,805.27
Poles, Fixtures, and Overhead Cond. and Devices-Trans.
175,851.96
Poles, Fixtures, and Overhead Cond. and Devices-Dist. 453,270.61
Underground Conductors-Trans. 345,056.63
Underground Conductors-Dist. 67,212.41
Underground Conduits-Dist.
52,948.12
Underground Conduits-Trans.
174,499.07
Line Transformers
233,220.69
Services
115,950.79
Consumers Meters
170,108.61
Street Lighting Equipment
199,986.56
General Equipment
107,469.39
Total Fixed Assets
$2,834,369.10
CURRENT ASSETS:
Construction Fund
$ 114,934.12
Depreciation Fund
292,804.61
Petty Cash
500.00
Consumers Deposit Fund
16,931.00
Accounts Receivable
406,169.82
Materials and Supplies
118,298.99
Total Current Assets
$
949,638.54
Reserve Fund for Payment to Contributory Retirement Sys.
35,000.00
Prepaid Insurance
4,238.16
Prepaid Stores Expense
5,033.89
Total
$3,828,279.69
LIABILITIES:
Bonds Payable
$ 516,000.00
Accounts Payable
208,053.00
Consumers Deposits
16,931.00
Interest Accrued
4,110.04
Loans Repayment
1,240,578.26
Total Liabilities
$1,985,672.30
Profit and Loss
1,842,607.39
Total
$3,828,279.69
NOTE, A contingent liability in the amount of $2,406.92 existed as of December 31, 1963 on account of leases received from installment sales of electrical appliances which were discounted with the Middle- sex County National Bank of Reading.
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SUMMARY OF INCOME AND EXPENSES for the year ending December 31, 1963
REVENUES
Residence Service-Schedule A
$1,679,323.08
Commercial Service-Schedule B
163,546.79
Commercial and Industrial Service-Schedule C
1,038,615.91
Welding Service
1,032.98
Flat Rate Sales
187.90
Municipal Service-Schedule B
14,813.65
Municipal Service-Schedule C
103,231.73
Street Lighting Service
73,293.93
Sales to Private Companies and Municipal Plants
8,437.27
Municipal Water Department
21,115.50
Miscellaneous Income
1,257.56
Total Revenue
$3,104,856.30
EXPENSES:
Production
$1,871,172.65
Transmission
4,722.24
Distribution
256,360.03
Street Lighting
26,546.90
Depreciation Expense
257,682.12
General and Miscellaneous
154,317.70
Interest on Bonds and Notes
14,942.81
Bonds and Notes Payable Redeemed
62,000.00
Taxes-Personal Property Outside Towns
74,805.27
Uncollectible Operating Revenue
4,249.64
Interest on Consumers' Deposit
573.10
Retirement Pensions
52,215.95
Total Expenses $2,779,588.41
Excess of Revenue over Expenses
325,267.89
Transfer to Town Treasurer
$ 165,513.86
Surplus Adjustments Applicable to Prior Years
$ 68,828.46
Net Increase of Profit and Loss
$ 90,925.57
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT as of December 31, 1963
Balance-January 1, 1963
$1,751,681.82
Net Income-Before Bond Payments
387,267.89
Total Credits 2,138,949.71
Bonds and Notes Paid
62,000.00
Transferred to General Funds of the Town
165,513.86
Surplus Applied to Depreciation
10,463.77
Miscellaneous Debits to Surplus
58,364.69
Total Debits $ 296,342.32
Balance-December 31, 1963
$1,842,607.39
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ANNUAL REPORT
THE READING PUBLIC LIBRARY of
for the year ended December 31, 1963
REPORT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
Despite the frustration of long-held hopes for the advancement of a library building program, 1963 proved to be an auspicious year in the library's history. An increase of 6.33 per cent in the circulation of library materials - the highest in three years - suggests that we have passed over another statistical plateau and may look forward to an even more significant numerical increase in the year ahead. The very serious problems daily assailing the library as a result of the ever- worsening crowding in both public and staff work areas makes im- perative the immediate expansion of our facilities to meet the many and varied demands of Reading citizens.
PERSONNEL
The personnel situation is as bright as it has been in recent years. Despite several changes on the staff, each department was able to fulfil its functions without impairment to service.
Mrs. Sonja K. Beckert, who came to the Library in 1960, left us on January 16, 1963.
Mrs. Eunice R. Currie joined the staff of the Technical Processing Department, January 28, 1963. Her coming eased a critical situation in this vital area.
On April 1, 1963, the library lost the services of Mr. Peter A. Harris, who since October 1, 1962, had divided his talents between the Music and Circulation Departments.
Mr. Robert E. Cain, an alumnus of Lawrence College and a candi- date for the degree of Master of Science in Library Science at Simmons College, was appointed Reference Librarian May 1, 1963. Mr. Cain had served previously at Tufts University Library and Belmont Public Library.
The resignation of Miss Nancy B. Sartwell as Young Adults Li- brarian, June 10, 1963, brought to a close a brief, yet meaningful association during which the foundation for the work of our Young Adult Department was firmly established. Miss Sartwell was succeeded on June 13, 1963 by Mr. Thomas M. Bee, a graduate of Alderson-Broadus College with thirty hours of graduate credit. Mr. Bee came to the library with considerable experience in working with teen-age young people.
Mrs. Edith Rennison, who had been in charge of the Technical Processing Department since June 11, 1962, resigned her position, August 31, 1963, and was succeeded by Mrs. Currie.
The pleasant experience of having had Miss Liv. S. Petersen, a native of Norway, and a graduate of the State Library School at Oslo, as an exchange trainee, came to a close September 30, 1963, when she returned to her homeland, after a year in the library's service. The departure of Miss Petersen aggravated an already difficult situation in our Circulation Department and brought about the transfer of Mrs. Gusta E. Lodi from the Children's Department to fill the Circulation vacancy.
172
The addition to the staff on December 23, 1963, of Mrs. Joyce K. Miller as Readers Services Librarian, filled a need of long standing. An employee of the library since January 30, 1963, Mrs. Miller brings much added strength in the area of Adult Services.
LIBRARY USE
It has become almost a truism to report the establishment of all- time highs in the borrowing of library materials; yet truism or not a circulation of 221,440 produced another record breaking year. Although each department showed gains, the most substantial percentages of increase were evidenced in our Children's and Young Adult Depart- ments. In 1962, 51.7 per cent of the library's circulation was with children and young people. In 1963 this percentage grew to 53.7 per cent. This is a reflection of both regional and national trends in library use. Many libraries in the Boston area currently report that 60 per cent of their patronage is from school age borrowers.
This movement toward greater reading of non-fiction materials continues. It, too, reflects a national trend, but is also an indication of a demand by Reading residents for more diversified recreational and informational reading materials.
Our per capita reading index of 11.4 continues to place us high among the Commonwealth's libraries, and attests to the use being made of their Library by Reading citizens.
The reregistration of borrowers in both the Adult and Young Adult Departments has continued. Despite the fact that hundreds of registra- tions have been written off due to death or removal during the year, we closed the year with 10,862 registered borrowers - only 133 fewer than in 1962. It is significant that the entire loss was in the area of Adult readers. Registrations in both the Children's and Young Adults Departments closed at a level higher than that of 1962. It is worthy of note that 56.4 per cent of Reading's citizens now have library cards.
CATALOGING DEPARTMENT
The uniform approach to all aspects of classification and catalog- ing, undertaken for the first time on October 1, 1961, has begun to make its effects felt during 1963. The difficult and time consuming process of reclassification and recataloging has gone forward. Five thousand and thirty-four books were redone according to our present professional standard during the year. We may now report that 21,545 books or 42.94 per cent of the total collection have been effected by this program of making both our public catalogue and shelf list more accurate guides to the library's resources.
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