Town of Tewksbury annual report 1945-1949, Part 45

Author: Tewksbury (Mass.)
Publication date: 1945
Publisher: Tewksbury (Mass.)
Number of Pages: 870


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Tewksbury > Town of Tewksbury annual report 1945-1949 > Part 45


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REPORT OF THE VETERANS' BENEFITS DEPARTMENT


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


Gentlemen:


I hereby submit my report as Veterans' Agent for the Town of Tewksbury.


There has been a slight increase in the amount of veterans and dependents receiving Benefits, this increase is prevalent throughout the Commonwealth because of the present condition regarding unemployment.


The total amount expended in the operation of the Veterans' Benefits Department was $3,610.81 and the unexpended balance for the year was $1,389.19.


Medical payments for the year 1949 were decreased 29%, how- ever other sub-divisions of the Department were increased.


Considerable time and effort was consumed in defending the Town's claim against the City of Boston, the final agreement re- sulted in a payment by the City of Boston to the Town of Tewks- bury in the amount of $536.00.


Respectfully submitted,


WILLIAM J. HOULIHAN Agent


110


REPORT OF SPECIAL BY-LAW COMMITTEE


1


January 23, 1950


Board of Selectmen


Tewksbury, Mass.


Gentlemen:


The committee of five appointed at the Annual Town Meeting, February 16, 1949, to act on Articles 47, 49, 51, 52, 54, 55 and 67 as they appeared in the Annual Warrant, report as follows:


Art. 47 Do not recommend the change.


Art. 49. Do not recommend the change.


Art. 51. Do not recommend the change.


Art. 52. Recommend the adoption of the latter part only.


Art. 54. Do not recommend the change.


Art. 55. Recommend the deletion of the last sentence only.


Art. 67. Resubmit without any recommendation.


To accomplish the above recommendations the committee submit the following Articles for action at the next Annual Town Meeting.


1. To see if the Town will vote that Section 10 of Article I of the Town By-Laws be amended to read as follows:


Section 10. No vote shall be reconsidered, except by a two- thirds vote, at the meeting at which it is passed. When the previous question is moved, if the meeting shall decide that the previous question shall not be ordered, than the the debate shall continue the same as if the previous ques- tion had not been moved. When different sums of money have been proposed the smaller sum shall always be voted on first.


2. To see if the Town will vote to amend Article I, Section I of the Town By-Laws so as to read:


The Annual Town Meeting shall be held the third Saturday in February, and the polls for the election of the Town Officers shall be opened from 10:00 A. M. to 8:00 P. M., all other business shall be transacted on the fourth Saturday of February, commencing at 1:00 P. M., or take any other action relative thereto.


Committee,


JOHN J. BELTON EVERETT H. KING ROY LANNER BERNARD DOUGHERTY ALBERT GILLISSEN


111


REPORT OF STADIUM COMMISSIONERS


To the Board of Selectmen,


Town of Tewksbury, Mass.


During the past summer the field has been cut regularly, we scraped and painted the football bleachers, also the iron rail around them. We purchased a new thirty inch Motor Mower. New racks were also installed to dry the uniforms. There is still quite a lot of work to be done at the Stadium. Clay was placed on the baseball diamond. We are asking an appropriation of $1,265.00 with which we hope to do what is needed badly.


Respectfully submitted,


LESLIE COLLINS, Chairman FRANK SHERLOCK J. ROUX


REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS


To the Board of Selectmen,


Town of Tewksbury, Mass.


Gentlemen:


As Park Commissioners we submit the following:


During the summer the commons were mowed, raked and trimmed. The flag was raised on all occasions. A new walk was constructed across the common from Common St. to Pleasant St. We plan to replace all dead shrubbery around the War Memorial this spring. We had a bigger display of lights for Christmas.


Respectfully submitted,


LESLIE COLLINS, Chairman FRANK SHERLOCK J. ROUX


112


REPORT OF THE ROAD COMMISSIONERS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS


To the Board of Selectmen


Town of Tewksbury, Mass.


Gentlemen:


The following is our report for the year ending December 31, 1949:


CHAPTER 81 AND GENERAL HIGHWAY


The usual Highway Maintenance work was carried out this year which included the use of Gravel, Tar Asphalt, Sand, Pea stone, and Bituminous Concrete patch on our streets and those that come under Chapter 81.


We were able to take care of this work without purchasing much equipment as our equipment is in pretty good shape. We do have two trucks which are five years old and are now starting to give trouble. These trucks we intend to replace this year.


We gave the employees a raise of 10 cents per hour this year, which brings their wage a little nearer to average. This increase was granted at Christmas time and was retroactive to the 1st of August 1949. On September 27, the State gave us $1,625 more on Chapter 81, because of this we returned $1,651.77 to the Town Treasurer.


The following tables give the amounts of materials used on the various streets during the past year.


GRAVEL


Street


Cu. Yds.


Street


Cu. Yds.


Wayside Road


120


Fiske Street


18


Algonquin Road


133


McLaren Road


178


River Road


37


Livingston Street


55


Shawsheen Street


130


Temple Street


16


Elm Avenue


104


Seventh Street 15


Birch Street


15


Wisconsin Road


55


Erlin Avenue


370


California Road


25


Heath Street


33


Brown Street 96


Arkansas Road


148


Texas Road


10


South Street


215


Lincoln Road


25


Glenwood Avenue


25


Kelley Road


255


Nelson Avenue


202


Marston Street


20


Bridge Street


155


Miles Road 140


Bond Street


10


Whipple Road


9688


Bay State Road


67


Knollwood Avenue


415


Robinson Avenue


12


Monroe Circle


280


113


TAR, ASPHALT, SAND, PEA STONE, AND BITUMINOUS CONCRETE


STREET


Tar Gals.


Asphalt Gals.


Sand Yds.


Pea Stone Tons


Bit. Conc Tons


Clark Road


3508


222.39


Andover Street


6195


412.42


Livingston Street


300


2475


112


Bond Street


300


12


Lakeview Avenue


476


20


Dudley Road


300


12


James Street


300


10


Chapman Street


1974


160


River Road


4289


80


Pinnacle Street


2300


100


Clyde Avenue


155


10


Franklin Street


600


20


Shawsheen Street


2576


100


Chandler Street


1500


120


Patten Street


1187


70


Wilson Road


494


20


Walnut Road


600


30


Pringle Street


831


65


County Road


1000


50


Rogers Street


2979


115


Beech Street


600


30


Chestnut Street


797


35


Court Street


170


10


Washington Street


250


20


Maple Street


1690


75


Sunnyslope Avenue


300


12


Murray Avenue


325


15


Mill Street


175


12


Cross Street #2


175


10


Glendale Avenue


1000


45


Kittridge Street


250


22


East Street


2563


Vernon Street


1200


40


Rosemary Road


200


10


Martin Road


600


24


French Street


400


20


Pupkis Road


600


30


Nelson Avenue


700


50


Erlin Avenue


1300


85


Barker Road


200


10


Dubuque Avenue


250


12


Lawson Avenue


199


12


Pleasant Street


635


42.3


10.33


114


STREET


Tar Gals.


Asphalt Gals.


Sand Yds.


Tons


Bit. Conc. Tons


Whipple Road


7086


3284


560


Town Yard


1350


Patching Various Sts


366.35.


CHAPTER 90 MAINTENANCE


The usual maintenance of Chapter 90 Highways was carried out again this year under the provisions of the contract. Work was completed on Pleasant Street and Andover Street under this chapter; also Shawsheen Street. All Chapter 90 streets in this Town are in good condition.


CHAPTER 90 CONSTRUCTION


All Chapter 90 work took place on Whipple Road. We com- pleted the section which was started in 1948 and have progress very well on the section we started this year. This section was almost ready for surfacing when we were compelled to stop work by the weather.


For financial report of this department we refer you to the Auditor's report of Highway Expenditures.


In closing this report our appreciation and thanks are extended to our Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, State and County officials and Engineers, for their cooperation and untiring assistance.


Respectfully, CHESTER M. ROPER THOMAS F. SULLIVAN Road Commissioners Tewksbury, Massachusetts


RICHARD F. O'NEILL


Superintendent of Streets


115


Pea Stone


REPORT OF THE SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES


To the Board of Selectmen,


Town of Tewksbury, Mass.


The following is my report as your Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year 1949:


SCALES


Platform over 5000 lbs. 1


Platform over 100 lbs. to 5000 lbs.


3


Counter 100 lbs. or over


1


Beam 100 lbs. or over


1


Spring under 100 lbs.


13


Computing under 100 lbs.


12


Avoirdupois


10


MEASURING DEVICES


Liquids 17


Gasoline Measuring Meters


23


Kerosene Measuring Pumps


4


Oil Measuring Pumps


12


Amount collected and turned over to the Treasurer $23.41


Respectfully submitted,


LESLIE COLLINS


Sealer of Weights and Measures


116


SELECTMEN'S REPORT


To the Voters of Tewksbury:


This is a report of progress, made during the past year, of work performed by your Board of Selectmen.


A new oil burner was put in one of the boilers in the Town Hall which will provide automatic even heat 24 hours a day if necessary, and at the same time allow the janitor more time for his regular duties. It will also be much easier to keep the hall clean. There is nothing as dirty in a building as soft coal. The sum of $1,000 was appropriated for this job which was more than sufficient. The job was let out to the lowest bidder for $685.


Upon the retirement of Chief Haines from the Fire Department on June 30th, the Board had to choose a new Chief. Out of six applicants for the job, Anthony Obdens was chosen.


Chief Obdens has shown himself to be capable, willing, and courteous. We think that the events that have followed his appoint- ment have proven that we made a good choice.


The Board was forced to find a new home for the fire truck that had been housed in North Tewksbury, as Mr. W. I. Bailey, notified Chief Haines before his retirement that he no longer wished to rent his garage space to the Town. Arrangements were made to have the truck housed in Wamesit, which we feel is a good place to have a truck located, due to the large number of houses in that vicinity.


Through the cooperation of Chief Obdens, a step in the right direction was taken when an extension of the Police telephone was placed in the Fire Station. As the Fire Station is manned 24 hours a day, it means that the Police phone will be answered 24 hours a day. When the Police office is manned a switch is thrown so that the Fire Station extension is shut off.


The Board believes that it should be possible to re-arrange the Police Department, as it seems rather short sighted to have two men sitting down to answer two telephones when one man can easily do the job. Without any additional cost to the Town, more police service may be provided with a readjustment of the personnel.


An increased budget was voted at Town Meeting for the Police Department which would provide a 10 % increase in pay for the Chief and the Officers. The State law provides that the Selectmen shall set the rate of pay for the Chief and Officers, not exceeding the appropriation thereof.


117


It especially delegates the authority of setting the rate of pay of the Police Department to the Selectmen.


The majority of the Board felt that until the Chief of Police showed a better spirit of cooperation with them, that a raise of pay was not justified. In the case of the Officers, the majority of the Board did not feel that they should be penalized by the dissention between the Chief and the majority of the Board, so the 10% in- crease was granted to them. It was hoped that the court case be- tween the Board and the Chief would have been decided before this time. It seems quite likely that it will be decided before the Annual Town Meeting.


A new radio was purchased for the Police Department, in order to keep in line with the change in the Lowell Police Depart- ment. The Board recommends that the old radio be sold to another town that is still using this type of equipment.


The automatic gates at the Shawsheen Street railroad crossing are in operation as many probably have observed. The Board believes than an attempt should be made to have this same type of protection provided at the Kelly, Baldwin and Tewksbury Crossings, as these are now being guarded by automatic lignts, which the Department of Public Utilities says are not adequate protection.


Further repairs were made on the Town Hall roof, and new hinges were put on the middle front door of the hall. The lower banquet hall, kitchen, upper hallway and stairs were all repainted. The Banquet hall floor was resanded and sealed.


More work on the Town Hall should be done in order to finish getting it into shape. The front steps need to be reset, as the height of the steps vary greatly. A hand rail should also be pro- vided. The lower hallway needs to be replastered and painted. The main hall needs repainting. The Board recommends that a further appropriation be made to make additional repairs.


Inexpensive reflectors were placed on the lights in the Town clock so that the size of light bulbs could be reduced to 40% of the wattage used previously, with better lighting effect being pro- duced at an estimated saving of $75.00 per year.


Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM B. CARTER, Chairman EDWARD J. SULLIVAN


Board of Selectmen


118


TABLE OF ESTIMATES FOR 1950


Schools


$128,680.00


Old Age Assistance (plus Federal Grants)


43,600.00


Aid to Dependent Children (plus Federal Grants)


17,900.00


General Relief


16,000.00


General Relief Administration


2,800.00


Highways


20,000.00


Police Department


16,899.80


Fire Department


14,000.00


Street Lighting


8,000.00


Town Hall


4,781.00


Assessors


5,000.00


Tree Warden


3,900.00


Moth Department


/ 2,930.00


Veterans' Benefits


3,700.00


Board of Health


2,600.00


Collection of Taxes


1,300.00


Stationery and Printing


1,800.00


Board of Registrars


900.00


Care of Cemeteries


400.00


Office Expenses of Town Clerk


433.00


Inspection of Slaughtering


800.00


Inspection of Animals


150.00


Dog Officer


300.00


Dog Officer Expense Account


120.00


Sealer of Weights and Measures


225.00


Maintenance of Legion Headquarters


125.00


V. F. W.


425.00


Park Commission


600.00


Stadium Care


1,000.00


Library - Plus Dog Tax


1,300.00


Vocational School


3,000.00


Interest on Loans


400.00


Municipal Insurance


500.00


Blanket Policy Insurance


1,800.00


Treasurer's Expense


775.00


Selectmen's Expense Account


501.00


Finance Expense Account


150.00


Auditor's Expense Account


100.0


Legal Expenses


500.00


Board of Appeals


100.00


Planning Board


400.00


SALARY ACCOUNTS


Auditor


$ 1,100.00


Town Clerk (plus fees)


1,000.00


119


Tax Collector Election Officers School Committee Selectmen


2,750.00


500.00


225.00


1,100.00


Road Commissioners


400.00


Treasurer


1,500.00


120


TOWN OF TEWKSBURY-JURY LIST 1949-1950


John J. Furtado, Billerica Road


Salesman


John J. Cooney, Andover Street


Delivery Man


Harry Treadwell, Summer Street


Fireman


John J. Kelley, East Street


Engineer


Vernon H. Darby, East Street


Florist


William H. Monroe, Bridge Street


Retired


Ralph O. Sanford, Pleasant Street


Stationary Fireman


James C. Marshall, Pleasant Street


Florist


John J. Gray, Maple Street Bank Clerk


Roland H. Gray, Andover Street


Clerk


Howard E. Nichols, M.S.I.


Attendant


Harry Currier, Main Street


Embalmer


Edward J. Sullivan, Pike Street


Farmer


Robert J. Martin, Andover Street


Farmer


Arthur J. Sparks, State Street


Insurance


Real Desharnais, South Street


Painter


C. Abbott Battles, North Street


Farmer


Richmond T. Gale, Pleasant, Street Florist


Leon Fisher, Summer Street Lineman


Thomas D. Ray, South Street


Chemist


Robert C. Flucker, Pleasant Street Florist


Philip A. Burgess, Main Street


Rubber Pressman


Warren Davis, Main Street Lineman


Florist


William I. Bailey, Andover Street


Garage Proprietor


Stuart Cogswell, M.S.I.


Gardener


Frederick F. Meloy, Jr., Andover Street


Lineman


Arthur Tremblay, Pleasant Street


Merchant


Joseph H. Seamans, River Road


Farmer


L. Homer Carson, North Street


Farmer


Frank J. Heidenrich, Billerica Road


Milkman


George A. O'Connell, South Street


Mechanic


Hugh B. Cameron, Fiske Street


Laborer


Mark Roper, Pleasant Street Nathan E. Scott, Chandler Street


Retired


Francis P. Sherlock, Chandler Street


Manager


Kenneth Fitzgerald, Livingston Street


Mechanic


Edwin M. Thoresen, Main Street


Laborer


John G. MacLellan, Main Street


Merchant


Stanley W. McCausland, Main Street


Mechanic


Respectfully submitted,


C. ABBOTT BATTLES


121


Florist


John P. Carter, Main Street


ANNUAL


EPORT


of the


SCHOOL COMMITTEE Jown of Jewsbury


OF TEW


B


TOWN


URY


INC


0


1734.


R


R


A


also


Report of Superintendent of Schools .


For the Year Ending December 31, 1949


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


Mrs. Loella Dewing, 1949-1952, Chairman Tewksbury J. Harper Gale, 1947-1950, Secretary Tewksbury


Ralph S. Battles, 1948-1951 No. Tewksbury, Lowell R.F.D. #1


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


Stephen G. Bean Wilmington, Tel. 2052


SCHOOL PHYSICIAN


Herbert M. Larrabee Tewksbury


SCHOOL NURSE


Mrs. Jean Coombs Mann Tewksbury


SCHOOL CALENDAR - 1950


January 3 to February 25 - 8 weeks VACATION ONE WEEK


March 6 to April 29 - 8 weeks VACATION ONE WEEK


May 8 to June 16 - 6 weeks - elementary


May 8 to June 23 - 7 weeks - high school VACATION TEN WEEKS September 6 to December 22 - 16 weeks Schools reopen January 2, 1951


SCHOOL HOLIDAYS


February 22


Good Friday April 19


October 12


November 11 November 23-24


SCHOOL CENSUS


October 1, 1949


Age 5 to 7


7 to 16


Boys


106


422


Girls


103


352


209


774


124


REPORT OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT


To the School Committee Tewksbury, Massachusetts


Madam and Gentlemen:


The following is my nineteenth Annual Report as Superinten- dent of Schools for this town. Since these reports cover parts of two different school years there is a tendency to write of conditions during the current school year rather than of the year ending last June. Most of the statistical matter is based on data gathered in October. This is because of the fact that reports to the State Department of Education are on this basis.


The most important development of the year is naturally the increase in school accomodations due to the four room addition to the High School Building. This accomplished the purpose for which it was created. It made possible the closing of the Ella Flemings School which, although a very fine unit in the organiza- tion, was economically inefficient. The per pupil cost was all out of proportion to that in the town as a whole. It also had the dis- advantage of requiring teachers to try to teach four grades in รก room. This is contrary to all modern practices and is frowned upon by educational leaders. A further advantage was the possibi- lity of having a single grade to each teacher in the Shawsheen School. This had not been possible for several years past. It also reduced the number in each classroom in this school. This same advantage applies to the Foster School. Today every teacher in town is required to teach but one grade, with but one exception. What has been said does not mean that we have attained an ideal situation. It is by no means permanent. There are indications that the picture can change materially in the Shawsheen School. Every room in that building is in use, and at least four of them have classes larger than can be taught efficiently. Any great increase in school population there would immediately present a problem. It may be said that there is a vacant room at the Foster School. Any attempt to use this would involve an increase in an already complicated problem in transportation.


As for the Foster School, while only seven of the eight rooms are in use, the average size of classes there is thirty-eight. This is about twelve per cent above the desirable maximum. There should be no classroom in the town where more than thirty-five pupils are taught, and these in a single grade organization. More- over, no first grade class should enroll more than twenty-five pupils. This is the place where more individual attention is needed than any other in the school system. This is the place where


125


retardation starts because of our inability to adapt the teaching to individual differences in mental development. Some children are slower to arrive at the point where they can do successfully the work that is required of them. Some of this is due to differences in physical age and part to slower mental growth. Our entering age is still too low. No child should be admitted to the type of first grade that we operate who has not attained the age of six years. Kindergartens should be provided for children under this age.


There has been, and still is, some propaganda for the disposal of our outmoded wooden elementary schools and replacement with a central elementary school. With this one can heartily agree, but the argument that the old buildings are firetraps is not sound; not while we can evacuate either of them in less than two minutes in a surprise test. The town should provide new building facilities when and if it is able.


The results of the recent school census would indicate that our first grades may be much smaller this fall. This I do not believe because of the general reports from national sources which indicate that a wave of new entrants to school which will continue until 1958. Even the President of the United States has expressed alarm at the implications of this wave of new children for which housing and materials must be supplied. The matter is so grave that a national organization has sprung up known as the National Citizens Commission for the Public Schools. The roster of membership in this organization contains the names of many of the leading men and women of the nation.


The abnormal growth of the birth rate during the past few years is not the only indication that Tewksbury needs to be plan- ning ahead. A ride around the town will show a decided increase in new homes during the past year. Many of these will be occupied by families with small children. It would be wisdom to foresee the probable need for increased accomodations. School buildings do not spring up overnight.


Naturally the first question is as to where the money is to come from. The answer to this lies primarily with your finance board. They are the ones who must know of the town's ability to pay. It is not within the province of any member of a town department to tell them. It is true however that such boards are inclined to question claims of a department that the state will bear a portion of the burden. There has been some doubt that we would get the sum claimed in last year's report from section 643 of chapter 70. I have, however, a document from the State dated November 15, 1949 which states that on that date certification had been made to the State Treasurer by the State Department for $25,195.26 cents under this act and an additional $5,646.75 as re-


126


imbursement on school transportation. This last amount could not be paid until the meeting of the current session of the General Court, but the state aid section was due in December. Next year, provided no change in equalizes valuation is made, Tewksbury should receive $35,335.27 from Sec. 643. There has been no corres- ponding change in the School Committee budget. In fact last year's budget did not take the benefit of this increased allotment of school aid. This then leaves a tidy sum which is used for other than school purposes for which it was intended. This money, by statute, cannot be used for capital outlay, but it does make it possible for the town to provide better school accomodations with- out a corresponding increase in taxation. This money should be used for the benefit of the school children in some way. Such was the intent of the law. It will be noted that this $35,335.27 does not include the amount for transportation to be reimbursed on this current school year which will amount to nearly $6,000.00. In addition to these sums there is also other income from state and city wards.


Let's tabulate-


Receivable in 1950


Estimated from Ch. 70


$ 35,335.27


Transportation


6,000.00


Tuition-State & City of Boston


1,250.00


Tuition-Town of Andover


250.00


Total estimated income


$ 42,835.27


School budget


$132,680.00


Estimated income


42,835.27


Net cost to town


$ 89,844.73


Please note that from the above tabulation it is evident that approximately 32% of the total school budget will be paid from other than local tax funds.


Another significant financial index is found by determining the per pupil cost of education in Tewksbury. This is roughly $153 per pupil. This is close to the median figure for the state. This means that this town is about average in its school expendi- tures. A further study of the state figures shows however that in our payment of teachers we are well below the average. For the state the median average salary is $3,180 as compared to our average of $2532.


On November 30, 1949 an interesting tabulation was released concerning average wages of different types of employees through- out the state. These are based on information secured from the Massachusetts Department of Labor and Industries.


$4,639 Newspaper publishing and printing


127


$4,528 Steam-railroad train crews


$4,024 Heavy construction


$3,938 Electrical construction


$3,656 Plumbing, heating and ventilation


$3,406 Building construction


$3,685


Masons and plasterers


$3,320 Building contracts-general labor


$3,306 Painters


$3,243


Carpenters


$3,230


Binderies


$3,180


CLASSROOM TEACHERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS


$3,139 Highway construction


$2,681 All manufacturing industries




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