USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Tewksbury > Town of Tewksbury annual report 1959-1963 > Part 38
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116.00
232.00
`Balance December 31, 1961
496.00
108.00
62.00
42.00
PERSONAL
Balance Jan 1, 1961
2,137.25
409.40
2,439.01
1961 Commitments
343,922.50
Refunds
3.05
Collections
341,847.50
1,634.00
204.70
115.89
Abatements
425.00
53.40
1,490.30
Balance December 31, 1961
1,650.00
506.30
151.30
832.82
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Balance Jan. 1, 1961
1961
1960
1959
Previous Years
REAL ESTATE
Balance Jan. 1, 1961
63,820.23
21,619.86
39,487.33
1961 Commitments
1,295,087.00
Refunds
22,421.32
1,140.64
Collections
1,171,444.09
42,271.34
9,216.89
10,609.64
Tax Title
800.00
Abatements
79,455.00
1,543.80
102.35
4,742.66
Balance December 31, 1961
65,809.23
21,145.73
12,300.62
24,135.03
REAL ESTATE - WATER LIENS
Balance Jan. 1, 1961
362.70
236.50
601.23
1961 Commitments
746.10
Refunds
7.50
Collections
506.90
87.90
25.00
119.63
Abatements
66.15
83.95
Balance December 31, 1961
246.70
274.80
145.35
397.65
FARM ANIMAL EXCISE
Balance Jan. 1, 1961
10.00
10.00
1961 Commitments
137.75
Collections
125.25
10.00
10.00
Balance December 31, 1961
12.50
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GEORGE J. McCOY
Born in Tewksbury November 26, 1897 Died April 17, 1961
Served continuously 1932 to 1961 on the Board of Registrars.
TREASURER William J. O'Neill
Cash on hand, January 1, 1961 $ 354,480.17
Receipts to December 31, 1961 3.865,425.92
$4,219,906.09
Paid on Warrants drawn by the Town Accountant
to December 31, 1961 $3,833,493.30
Balance at Merchants National Bank of Boston 5,000.00
Balance at Union National Bank of Lowell
12,031.77
Balance at Middlesex County National of Lowell
369,381.02
$4,219,906.09
For detail of receipts and expenditures see Report of the Town Accountant.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM J. O'NEILL
Town Treasurer
COUNTY AID TO AGRICULTURE Victor N. Cluff, Town Director
At the present time there are three 4H Clubs in Tewksbury, with a total of 46 members, 4 junior leaders and 6 adult leaders. Namely: the Serving Sisters with 2 leaders and 6 members; the Nimble Thimbles with 2 adult and 1 junior leader and with 14 members; the 4H Homemakers with 2 adult and 3 junior leaders with 26 members.
Most of the girls are enrolled in homemaking projects, includ- ing foors, clothing, child care and crafts.
All members are eligible to participate in County and State Wide competition.
They are preparing to present programs before P. T. A. groups and other organizations to exemplify their talents and teachings.
The funds that are appropriated at Town Meeting sent 16 girls
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to 4H Camp in Ashby. Several girls were sent to Amherst for fur- ther training in Junior Leadership. A portable sewing machine was purchased for use of all 4H club members. All camperships were awarded on the basis of excellence of work during the year.
The 4H program develops girls and boys to become better citizens and gives them an opportunity to learn and do things for themselves through training and experience.
Continued financial support by the townspeople is money well invested in the youth of our Town.
BOARD OF HEALTH Thomas A. Abbott, Chairman
During the past year the Board of Health meetings were held on the third Tuesday of every month, starting at 7 o'clock p. m. in the Selectmen's office. New offices were constructed in the Lower Town Hall, but there were insufficient funds to equip them. We shall probably transfer our meetings to these offices sometime this year.
The Board conducted eight clinics during 1961 under the direction of Dr. Jose M. Ruisanchez and Helen Kelley, R. N. These were as follows:
Polio Clinic-March 29, May 10, May 24 and Oct. 4.
D.P.T. Clinic-March 22, April 26, May 24.
Smallpox Clinic-April 5, 1961.
The Tuberculosis Program was conducted by follow-up of discharged patients and contacts.
Mrs. Kelley conducted the Health activities at St. William's School, which included Massachusetts vision and audio testing, retesting and follow-up and assisted Dr. Ruisanchez with the school physical examinations.
There were 50 contagious diseases reported.
There were 129 dog bites reported by the Animal Inspector, Donald Whitney.
We note with sadness that John Gray, Slaughtering Inspector, passed away during the year. He had been the Inspector for quite a few years. Victor Cluff acted as the Inspector until the board named Asahel Jewell as the replacement. In the past year the following animals were slaughtered and inspected: Cows 761, Calves 49, Hogs 351, Sheep 27, Goats 3, for a total of 1191. There were 4 cows and 14 calves condemned.
The Dental clinic was operated by two dentists, Dr. Richard
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Cushner and Dr. E. M. Canellakis from January 1961 through May, 1961. During this period, 152 permanent teeth were filled, 47 extractions, 36 temporary fillings and 2 cappings on fractured incisors. This report includes all emergency work. 60 children were completed. $176.00 was collected in fees.
The dental educational health program was carried on by Mrs. Shirley Recks, assisted by Mrs. Mildred Gourley. For the first time this program was extended to the Ella Fleming, Foster and St. Williams Schools and the 6th grades in the Memorial High School. This was made possible by the use of portable equipment. 808 children were screened, 523 prophylactic treatments were given in all of the elementary schools from January 1961 through June 1961. $604.00 was collected in fees. Due to lack of money, no dental program was started in September.
The Board continued its program of Mosquito Control which has been reasonably effective for the past five years. We have high hopes of improving it this year, due to a new type spray.
We have continued with the present dump site, but the State Department of Public Health held hearings at the Town Hall and recommended a sanitary fill type dump. An article to provide this has been inserted in the Town Warrant.
The number of permits issued and inspections made by the Plumbing Inspector and Sanitary Inspector are listed below:
Plumbing Permits 91
Plumbing Inspections 87
Sewage Permits 110
Sewage Inspections 110
Information and complaints on Plumbing and Sewage are handled at the office of the Plumbing Inspector between the hours of 8 a. m. and 9 a. m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
PLAYGROUND COMMISSION
Tewksbury has a Playground Commission, composed of five men appointed by the Town Moderator after the annual town meeting in March. This year's Chairman is Bill Breen, and his board consists of Donald Rauseo, Silvio Maglio, Jerry Rideout and John McEnneny. This board in turn appointed Mr. Francis Flanagan, present high school head football coach, as Recreation Director. All members of the commission are actively participating
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in the summer and winter programs presently being offered by the commission.
This is the only department offering all the youth of the town recreation facilities, as the school department gave up its recreation program two years ago.
The Town of Tewksbury at its last town meeting provided $9,000 for the all-year round program which is offered by the com- mission. The commission offers a seven-week program of arts and crafts. It is the aim of the arts and crafts program to foster good work habits in the children and to provide them with the necessary technical skills that will enable them to work at arts and crafts projects in their leisure time. Making things with the hands provides children with an admirable way of spending their leisure time. In the making of various art products, it is expected that the children will derive satisfaction, pleasure and an outlet for their creative urges.
Among the many crafts, the most popular are soap sculpture, paper mache, pencil cases, wax candles, copper enameling, jewelry boxes, pot holders, felt animals, plastic plants, shellcraft, plaster casting, braiding, bead work, metal tooling. Supplies and equip- ment are provided by the playground, with the exception of lamp- making for which there is a charge of $1.00-the supervision for this project provided by the electric light company with their own supervisor.
Organizations working within the framework of the Play- ground Commission, under their own supervision include the Little League, Minor League and Babe Ruth League. The number of boys embraced in these organizations has risen from the initial sixty boys to a figure in excess of three hundred with plans to further increase the number to a point where every boy, so in- clined, will be included. A major development this year was the state-wide recognition the town received because of the excellent showing our local Little League made during the Little League State Tourney championship play-offs.
As of this Saturday, October 21, an art course will be offered to beginners in the morning, and advanced art classes will begin in the afternoon, under the supervision of Mr. Thomas McGuire; art director. The response to this program last year necessitated dividing the class into three different groups on Saturday, with the course running for seven weeks.
The hockey program begins as soon as weather permits. The innovation this past winter of this sport far exceeded our expecta- tions. Every boy who registered was assigned to a team, and is eagerly waiting for the cold weather to set in.
The Playground Commission's aim is to develop and main-
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tain throughout the year, a program of leisure time activities, recreational in nature, that are physically wholesome, mentally stimulating and socially sound. The well-supervised programs have stimulated a sincere interest in youth activity.
The monies appropriated are spent on the salaries of the Recreation Director, the supervisors, and the equipment for the year-round projects. The five man commission have volunteered their services on a non-paying basis.
The summer program runs for eight weeks, every day (week- day) from 9 to 3 p. m. Physical fitness exercises start off each day, due to the extreme interest shown by the President about the fitness of our American youth.
Activities are divided into two groups-quiet and active. Be- fore any new game is started the children are instructed in the rules and proper procedures of that game. Active games are soft- ball, badminton, croquet, horseshoes, wiffle ball, kick ball, dodge ball, volley ball, paddle tennis and track. Quiet games are jack- stones, checkers, skip-rope, hopscotch, bean bags. Special events are held each week and include at each playground: a doll show, bicycle parade, watermelon contest, open house, talent show, bub- ble gum contest, freckle contest, models contest, baseball contest, frog race. Lectures are given on fire prevention, swimming safety and demonstrations by police department on the dangers of fire- arms and explosives.
A jamboree is held at the end of the program with all play- grounds meeting at the Junior high school field. Projects made by the children are put on display, and parents are invited to observe a typical day of the child as he is at the playground. Sim- ple awards are made to everyone who participated in the program, which showed a registration of over 700 children, and at times as many as 1000 children were accommodated at the three play- grounds. Excellent instruction in arts and crafts was provided by Mr. Thomas McGuire, art teacher.
The most ambitious project to be undertaken is the construction of a skating rink, complete with lighting so that it may be used at night. Eight teams of boys played hockey last year, under the supervision of the commission, and this new rink will enable many more to join a team. It is also the commission's plan to pro- vide certain nights for skating for one and all-including adults.
Respectfully submitted, PEGGY HEIDENRICH Publicity Playground Commissioner
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O. REX READ
Born in Twonda, Kansas, 1914 Died August 24, 1961
Served faithfully as a member of the Finance Committee of the Town 1948 to 1961.
PLANNING BOARD
Robert W. Barron, Chairman
The Sewerage Survey requested by the town under Article 69 of the Annual Town Meeting of March 7, 1959, has been com- pleted as far as plans and sketches are concerned. The next step is an article in the warrant of Annual Town Meeting of March 3, 1962-Article: "To see if the town will authorize the Planning Board to consider the advisability of proceeding with a program of sewer construction and to petition the General Court for a usual permissive act authorizing the town of Tewksbury to con- struct and operate a system of sewers and drains and to transfer from unappropriated funds in the Treasury the sum of $1000 for use of said Planning Board, or take any other action thereon."
The Planning board attended a meeting with the Attorney General's office on February 15, 1961 in regard to Section C of the zoning by-laws. The Attorney General's decision was not changed due to the fact that he has never reversed a decision of approval of articles in any town or city.
The Planning Board has attended meetings with other Boards nd Area Planning meetings with Lowell and various surrounding towns.
A number of hearings have been held throughout the year with good attendance of residents of the town. This shows that keen interest is being taken in zoning changes. Two sub-divisions containing acre lots have been approved by the Planning Board during 1961.
A sizeable number of plans containing acre lots have been approved. This past year only 1 builder took advantage of Section C of the zoning by-laws (3 permits to be given to a builder but not more than 50 houses to be built in one year).
The Planning Board recommends the article for annual town meeting of March 3, 1962 pertaining to Area Planning be adopted. Article: "To see if the town will vote to become a member of the Lowell Regional Planning District under the Provisions of Chap- ter 40B of the General Laws or take any action thereto."
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BOARD OF ASSESSORS
Austin F. French, Chairman
Value of Real Estate January 1, 1961 $12,950,870.00
Value of Personal Property 3,439,225.00
Total Value of 1961
$16,390,095.00
Total Value of 1960
16,071,028.00
Gain in Valuation .... .........
$ 319,067.00
TOTAL LEVY FOR 1961
Town
$ 2,582,300.60
State
8,542.96
County
33,805.87
Overlay Current Year
85,323.27
Gross Amount to be Raised ..
$ 2,709,972.70
Total Estimated Receipts and
Available Funds
1,063,563.20
Net Amount to be Raised on Polls and Property
$ 1,646,409.50
Polls
$ 7,400.00
Personal Property
343,922.50
Real Estate
1,295,087.00
Total Taxes Levied on Polls and Property $ 1,646,409.50 Water Liens added to Taxes $ 746.10
TAX RATE 1961 - $100.00
MOTOR VEHICLE AND TRAILER EXCISE
Total Valuation $ 3,908,730.00
Amount of Warrants to Collector 223,834.26
TAX RATE 1961 - $66.00
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BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE George A. O'Connell, Chairman
1961
The Board of Public Welfare met on the first Tuesday fol- lowing the Town Election of Officers and organized as follows: Mr. George O'Connell, Chairman; Board Members-Mr. Thomas Abbott, Mr. Victor Cluff, Mr. Joseph Whelan, and Mr. Henry Wells. Mr. John Kelley was elected Secretary.
At a meeting of the Board held on October 24, 1961, it was voted to accept the resignation of Mr. Joseph Aubut, Social Work- er, with regret. Mr. Aubut had been employed by the Board since 1956.
The Board, in presenting its budget for 1962, felt that the information contained in its report of 1961 should be repeated so that the taxpayers would have a better understanding of the actual cost to the Town for each category of assistance. It should be brought out that the actual cost to the Town runs less than 40% of the amount raised. The balance is returned to the Town by reimbursement from the State and other cities and towns. For specific details of expenditures and reimbursement, reference is made to the Town Auditor's report.
1. Administration
Personnel in the department are employed under Civil Service. There are four employees: Director of Public Assistance, Social Worker, Senior Clerk Typist and Junior Clerk Stenographer. Sal- aries paid, to both the members of the Board and the employees for work performed on Old Age Assistance, Medical Assistance for the Aged, Aid to Dependent Children and Disability Assist- ance, are reimbursed seventy-five (75) per cent-fifty (50) per cent by Federal funds and twenty-five (25) per cent by State funds. The same method of reimbursement applies to all administrative expenses. The Federal funds, by law, are set up in a revolving account and are restricted to use of the Board of Public Welfare for the purpose of administration. These funds are anticipated in the annual budget and are not raised by the Town. The State's share is returned to the general fund and is used for any purpose by the Town. This share must be raised by the Town. However, even though it is raised it does not greatly affect the tax rate. The reason for this is that the Assessors pick up the State share as anticipated revenue based on the actual reimbursement of the prior year.
2. Old Age Assistance
This is a federally-sponsored state plan administered by law by local Boards of Public Welfare. It requires local Boards to aid
88
aged persons sixty-five and over who have resided in Massachu- setts for one year prior to application and have also resided in Massachusetts three out of the last nine years and who are in need. Need is established by applying the budgetary standards set up by the State Department of Public Welfare. Some of the other elements are: a person cannot have more than five hundred dol- lars ($500.00) in the bank, or cash, savings bonds, etc. and a lien is placed on property if applicant has an interest in such property.
The Federal government reimburses the department $49.80 a month for each case aided. The State pays two-thirds of the balance and the remainder is paid by the community aiding. If the person has not resided in town for five years, this amount is billed to the place he last maintained a residence for five years. If the person does not have five years' consecutive residence with- out aid, then the State is billed for the balance. The Board, in it's budget request, does not include the Federal share, as this amount by law is set up in a separate account and can be used only by the Board of Public Welfare for aid for Old Age Assist- ance cases. The Board, in its budget request, must raise the state and other cities and towns' share as this amount is reimbursed directly to the general fund to be used by the Town. However, this does not adversely affect the tax rate as the Assessors an- ticipate the reimbursement based on the actual payments made by the State and towns for this purpose in the prior year.
3. Aid To Dependent Children
Aid to Dependent Children is a Federally-sponsored plan administered by law by local Boards of Public Welfare to aid children deprived of parental support who are in need. Need is established by budgetary standards set up by the State Depart- ment of Public Welfare.
The following are circumstances under which a child can be be considered deprived of parental support-desertion or mutual separation; divorce, legal separation; incarceration or disability of the parent for more than three months and death. Dependent children of a prior marriage who are in need can be considered on a limited basis for medical care, food, clothing and personal care, only, if otherwise eligible.
During the year the Aid to Dependent Children program was further liberalized in order to obtain further financial participation from the Federal government. On desertion or mutual separation, the requirement of six months was dropped and unemployment, under certain qualifications, was included as an element of eligi- bility for Aid to Dependent Children.
In this program, Federal reimbursement is $20.50 per child, State reimbursement is one-third of the total expenditure and the town aiding is responsible for the balance of aid rendered. The Board does not include the Federal share in its budget request. The town must raise the State share and the local share because
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the State's share is turned over to the general fund. The balance is a direct cost to the town aiding, as settlement is not involved in this program.
4. Disability Assistance
Disability Assistance is a Federally-sponsored state plan administered by law by the local Boards of Public Welfare. It requires local Boards to aid persons who have been declared permanently and totally disabled by the State Department of Public Welfare Medical Review Team and who are in need. Need is determined by budgetary standards set by the State Department of Public Welfare. The Federal reimbursement for money expended in this category is $42.30 per case and the town's share is a standard twenty-five (25) per cent of all the total cost. The balance is reimbursement by the State Department of Public Welfare. The same method of financing is in effect as on Old Age Assistance and Aid to Dependent Children. There has been a steady increase in this program since its inception in 1954 and it probably will con- tinue to increase.
5. Medical Assistance for The Aged
Changes made under the Social Security Act of 1960 estab- lished a new program of assistance under the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. The bill, as passed at that level, recognized a need for medical care for aged persons. As in all plans for assistance under the Social Security Act, the individual states set up their own plan conforming to the general Federal requirements. This must be done before states are allowed federal grants.
Under Chapter 781 of the Acts of 1960, the local Boards of Public Welfare in the various cities and towns are obliged to administer the program. As adopted by the General Court, briefly the program is as follows: Aged persons sixty-five or over who reside in the Commonwealth are entitled to medical assistance, providing they do not have an income, if single, of more than $150.00 a month or, if married, $225.00 a month; and providing further that, if single, they do not have bank deposits, securities, cash on hand and/or similar assets amounting to more than $2,000.00 or, if married, more than $3,000.00. Persons eligible for this form of assistance shall be entitled to part or all of the cost of: (1) in-patient hospital ward care; (2) public medical institution services; (3) nursing home services; (4) physicians' services; (5) out-patient or clinical services; (6) nursing services; (7) physical therapy and related services; (8) dental services; (9) home health care services; 10) laboratory and X-ray services; (11) prescribed drugs, eye glasses, dentures, and other prosthetic devices; (12) diagnostic screening and preventative services; (13) any other medi- cal care or remedial care recognized under the law of the Com- monwealth; and (14) other medical care in accordance with the Department of Public Welfare Medical Care Plan.
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In most instances, payment will be for medical care only and will be made direct to the vendor furnishing such care. The one exception is for persons in public medical institutions, chronic hospitals, and nursing homes. This group will be guaranteed for their own personal use, $15.00 a month either by direct payment by the Board of Public Welfare or by utilizing the first $15.00 of their income.
Reimbursement for care under this program is fifty (50) per cent of all monies expended reimbursed by the Federal government, two thirds of the balance by the State, and the local community will assume the one-third difference. Under administration, it is fifty (50) per cent by the Federal and one-half the difference by the State, and the local community will assume the twenty-five (25) per cent balance. Under the exception mentioned above ($15.00), the State will pay two-thirds of the total expenditure and the communities will assume the balance of one-third.
6. General Relief
This program requires local Boards to meet the community's statutory obligation to relieve a person in need. How this is done is left entirely up to the Board's discretion. Unlike the Federal programs where the final decision rests with the State through an appeal process, the Board in General Relief has the final say. They, in their policies and decisions, attempt to reflect community thinking. This program should continue to decrease as new Federal programs are adopted at the State level.
The financing of this program is a direct cost to the town. The only monies returned to the community because of this program are cases who have not resided in the community for a period of five years. On these cases, the total amount is either paid for by other cities and towns or by the state.
7. Other Cities and Towns
This item is set up to make payments to other cities and towns for aid rendered to persons who have a legal settlement in the Town of Tewksbury, whether the person is aided by the other town on General Relief or on Old Age Assistance. By legal settle- ment we mean the place where a person last resided for five consecutive years without aid.
SUMMARY OF CASES
Cases Aided as of Jan. 1. 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962
Old Age Assistance
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