USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Tewksbury > Town of Tewksbury annual report 1959-1963 > Part 53
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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 per 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.
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
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appeal process, the Board in General Relief has the final say They in their policies and decisions, attempt to reflect community think- ing. This program should continue to decrease as new Federal pro- grams 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.
TOWN COUNSEL Warren W. Allgrove
During 1962 several land damage matters of importance were disposed of:
One matter being the Petition of Mr. Herbert F. Ferry for land damages as a result of the reconstruction of Shawsheen Street. This action was primarily against the County, as this was a County lay-out and taking, by which the Town is obligated by Law to pay. Judge Voke determined the damages, in the amount of $2,250.00, plus interest and to be included in the Tax Rate for 1963. Although the lay-out and taking involves substantial damages on Shawsheen Street in the past several years, this is the only Action I am aware of for which the Town has paid any land damages. In most in- stances, the Road Commissioners have been successful in satisfying abutters by grading and hot-topping abutting premises so that no land damage claims are filed and which result in substantial savings to the Town.
Another small land damage case was settled in Superior Court, in the amount of $225.00, John B. Moors vs. Town of Tewksbury.
The Action of the abutters, in North Tewksbury, against the Town and the Garabedian interests, was tried before Judge Pecce, of the Middlesex Superior Court for several days, on the question
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of spot-zoning at the intersection of Andover Street and River Road and at this writing, no decision has been made by the Justice.
As the demand for new enterprises to be located in various sections of the Town continues, this type of Action will become more frequent, as particular neighborhoods disagree with the Action of the Town Meeting in rezoning.
I wish to call to your attention, the unfortunate passing of Woodbury F. Howard, Esquire, of Lowell, who represented the Garabedian interests. His great interest in all matters involving Municipalities in Greater-Lowell was well known to your Town Counsel, who had the pleasure to be associated with him in sever- al trials.
In the land damage class of cases, the following are now pending:
DeCarolis, et als vs. the Town - North Street well field.
Rosaline Puchkoff vs. the Town and Mr. John V. Sullivan, et al vs. the Town; all of the foregoing being from the North Street well field.
In addition, takings were made by your Town Counsel, on November 29, 1962, involving two well fields between South Street and the Allen Farm and these claims will have to be adjusted or tried in 1963 or 1964.
The matter of Mahoney and Dolan, for a large subdivision adjacent to Shawsheen Street, has never been completed and is still being considered.
The gravel pit case of Mrs. George Wilson, was decided ad- verse to the Town on the question of a nonconforming use and in absence of any new facts, the decision of the Superior Court made early in 1962 will stand.
A continuing problem in the interpretation of the Building By-Laws is the question of cellars and one which your Board, in conjunction with the Building Inspector, must continue to consider and interpret in 1963.
I have attempted to be available for conferences with your Board and several Town Boards and Committees upon request. Total amount paid to your Town Counsel for Court appearances, opinions and conferences, $1,963.00.
This does not include Court fees or other disbursements for services of Writs or summoning of witnesses.
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TREE AND MOTH DEPARTMENT Walter R. Doucette
I would like to begin my report this year by commenting on the tremendous amount of publicity given to insecticides which are being used in this modern day to combat insects.
No one in the insceticide business will make the claim that no harm is ever done by the applications of insecticides and herbi- cides. These materials are just as poisonous as many of the pills and medicines that are in medicine cabinets in every home. The consequences must be taken by both if improperly used or applied.
In a recent article by the Audubon Society many baseless remarks were made as to the control of Dutch Elm Disease and Gypsy Moth. If no spraying were done for the control of Dutch Elm Disease the number of Elms to be removed would double, even triple itself in approximately three years. The only hope is that the application of spray will hold off the end of the Elm trees, so that some new method may be found to save the remaining Elms.
As to Gypsy Moth, if aerial spray had not been used to control this insect, it would have devoured all foliage trees by this time.
No one will question that birds are a pleasing and insipring sight. But to put them in a catagory where our very existence would be threatened, if the use of insecticides and herbicides were curtailed, would be asking too much. Especially where the produc- tion of food is so essential in this day and age with the population as it is throughout the world. It is only with the application of these insecticides that food production in this country has been kept on such a high plane.
Many cases have been fought in court as to the application of insecticides and the courts have always come out in favor of these controls.
This year we have kept abreast of our work. The work load has increased in this department, as it has all others. This is to be expected whenever the growth of a town is in progress as it is in Tewksbury.
In closing I would remind you, that there is no more worth- while addition to a home or piece of property than a tree. It will add value and prestige to your property.
Remember Arbor Day
Plant a tree and keep Tewksbury green.
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TEWKSBURY PLAYGROUND COMMISION
Tewksbury has a Playground Commission, composed of five men appointed by the Town Moderator after the annual town meeting in March. Chairman is Jerry Rideout, and the board con- sists of Bill Breen, Silvio Maglio, Anthony Moccia, and Frank Hidenrich. This board appointed Mr. Frank Flanagan, present high school teacher and football coach, as Recreation Director.
Operating one of the few twelve month recreation programs in the state, the Tewksbury Commission offers a full time summer program at four playgrounds, plus a Fall, Winter and Spring Arts and Crafts schedule. In adidtion, such programs as basketball clinics, hockey clinics, baseball and physical fitness programs are offered. All this while the commission and Director Frank Flana- gan make remarkable strides in building the Recreation Center behind the Tewksbury State Hospital. Included in the schedule of varied activities for this year will be an expansion of the night basketball program.
Working within the framework of the Playground Commission is the Minor League, Little League, and Babe Ruth League, which saw an increase from the initial sixty boys to over four hundred.
The summer playground program runs for eight weeks, every weekday from 9 to 3 p. m. Physical fitness exercises start off each day's activities, and then lead into a full and rewarding day of quiet and active games in addition to the long list of Arts Crafts featured at each playground under the direct supervision of Mr. Thomas McGuire, art teacher.
A jamboree is held at the end of the eight-week program, with all playgrounds meeting at the Junior High Field. Projects made by the children are put on display, and the day is devoted to relating and demonstrating games of softball, badminton, croquet, horseshoes, wiffle ball, kick ball, dodge ball, volley ball, paddle tennis and track. Quiet games of jackstones, checkers, hopscotch, and bean bags are played, with each playground presenting it's champion. Each week a special event is planned at each play- ground such as a talent show, bicycle parade, doll carriage parade, baseball contest, pet show, and a week of "open house" to which parents are invited to attend and watch their children enjoy a typical day at the Tewksbury playgrounds.
Highlight of the jamboree has always been the excellent dem- onstration given by the police and fire departments on the dangers of firearms and explosives, fire prevention, and swimming safety
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which was arranged by both departments. Simple awards are made to everyone who participated in the summer programs. which saw more than 1200 children accommodated at the play- grounds.
The response to these programs have been overwhelming. On January 19, the commission re-opened its program of Saturday activities. Registration was held at the Tewksbury Memorial High School for the basketball league, currently being formed under the direction of Mr. John Cody, and the arts and crafts drawing and painting classes are conducted by Mr. Thomas McGuire.
The generosity of the school department in providing space for the commission's activities has been lauded by Mr. Flanagan, recreational director. In offering these programs to the children, many otherwise idle hours are channeled into construtctive and creative paths and thus normal and healthy growth takes place.
Another area of responsibility assumed by the recreation commission is that of providing activities for Tewksbury's Golden- agers. Hundreds reside in Tewksbury. Now in their retirement years these people need activities that will lend purpose and direction to their leisure time.
The recreation commission is making plans to provide activi- ties for these residents. With the support of the townspeople these plans will be realized for the benefit of the senior citizens and ul- timately for the greater benefit of the town.
The commission has been constantly striving to improve and expand the scope of recreational offerings. A definite need exists for this type of leisure-time activity, and continued expansion is necessary.
Respectfully submitted, PEGGE HEIDENRICH,
Publicity for Playground Commission
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BOARD OF SELECTMEN Victor N. Cluff, Chairman
As a large proportion of our citizens are new in Tewksbury, we believe that it should be of interest to them to be cognizant of some of the functions of the Selectmen.
In order that Massachusetts Town Government may function at its highest degree of efficiency, a certain sense of responsibility on the part of the Selectmen is required.
Slectmen must gain a working knowledge of their general powers and duties as defined by law. There are over seven hun- dred sections of law relating directly to Selectmen, with hundreds of other sections having a bearing on Town Government in general.
Selectmen in Towns are your licensing body. Some of these licenses that are acted upon are as follows:
1. There are about 5 different types of alcoholic beverage licenses in Tewksbury. We set the fees for these licenses, keeping within the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission rules. Every license must be advertised and acted upon each year.
2. Common Victualer licenses
3. Motor Vehicle Licenses
Class I - Sale of new and second hand cars.
Class 11 - Sale of Second Hand Cars
Class III - Junking of cars and sale of used parts
4. Taxi permits for Owners and operators
5. Peddlers licenses
6. One Day Beer and Wine (sale of)
7. Amusement places
8. Carnivals
The board makes the following appointments:
1. Veteran's Agent
2. Wire Inspector
3. Building Inspector
4. Town Councel (His legal opinions are the decisions by which the Selectmen abide)
5. Police Officers (including promotions)
6. Board of Registrars
7. Town Constables
8. Dog Officer
9. Personnel Board
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10. Board of Appeals
11. Fence Viewers
12. Industrial Commission
13. Airport Advisory Commission
14. Civil Defense Director
15. Police Chief
16. Fire Chief
17. Other appointments to committees as so voted at Town Meetings.
Each year the Selectmen must prepare a list, containing a prescribed number of residents, from which jurors are drawn for duty in the courts.
The board appointed the following to oversee the building of a new Highway Barn:
1. Robert Flucker
4. William D. Gath
2. Walter R. Doucette
5. Thomas Sullivan
3. Thomas Mugford
This committee is to be commended for the fine building we now have to house Highway and Tree Department equipment.
A new committee has been appointed to determine what action to take in order to secure low price housing for the aged.
The board is presently working with the State Department of Insurance to determine what can be done to secure lower automo- bile rates. We have been promised full cooperation from that de- partment.
Selectmen must approve all electric light and telephone pole locations. The majority of these call for public hearings after all abutters have been notified.
It is the duty of the Selectmen to hold public hearings on all applications for the storage of gasoline or other inflammables.
They must give permission to all persons either elected or ap- pointed officials, to do work for the town or furnish services out- side of their Town jobs, for pay.
Selectmen sign all contracts and defend the town from all lawsuits.
Hold informal hearings on any complaints registered by resi- dents. Generally these can be settled peacefully.
Considerable work has been done in repairing the Town Hall. A new side door from the lower floor has been completed for the convenience of the public. More work, naturally, must be done to keep the building in good repair.
We might add that dates of all special meetings of the board are posted and visitors at these and all regular meetings held each Tuesday night are welcome. The only exception is during execu- tive sessions, which are seldom held.
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STATE AUDIT REPORT
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
BUREAU OF ACCOUNTS Department of Corporations and Taxation STATE HOUSE, BOSTON 33
To the Board of Selectmen Mr. Victor N. Cluff, Chairman
Tewksbury, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
I submit herewith my report of an audit of the general accounts of the town of Tewksbury for the period from July 26, 1959, and of the town collector's accounts from March 23, 1960, to July 31, 1961, made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44, General Laws. This is in the form of a report made to me by Mr. William Schwartz, Assistant Director of Accounts.
Very truly yours, /s/ ARTHUR H. MacKINNON Director of Accounts
Mr. Arthur H. Mackinnon Director of Accounts Department of Corporations and Taxation State House, Boston
Sir:
As directed by you, I have made an audit of the general accounts of the town of Tewksbury for the period from July 26, 1959, and of the town collector's accounts from March 23, 1960, the dates of the previous examinations, to July 31, 1961, and submit the following report thereon:
An examination and verification was made of the financial transactions of the town as shown on the books of the departments receiving or disbursing money for the town or committing bills for collection.
The books and accounts in the town auditor's office were examined and checked in detail. The recorded receipts were compared with the treasurer's cash book and with the available records of departmental payments to the treasurer, while the disbursements were checked with the treasury warrants.
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The appropriations and transfers, as listed from the town clerk's record of town meeting proceedings, and the transfer from the reserve fund authorized by the finance committee, were checked with the appropriation accounts in the auditor's ledger.
An analysis was made of the ledger accounts, the necessity adjusting entries resulting from the audit were made, and a balance sheet, which is appended to this report, was prepared showing the financial condition of the town on July 31, 1961.
Considerable difficulty was encountered in balancing the auditor's general and appropriation ledger accounts, and it is recom- mended that a trial balance be taken off promptly at the end of each month, and that a permanent record be kept of these trial balances.
The books and accounts of the town treasurer were examined and checked. The receipts, as recorded, were analyzed and com- pared with the records of payments to the treasurer by the several departments, and with other sources from which the town received money, while the recorded payments were compared with the selectmen's warrants and with the auditor's books.
The cash balance on July 31, 1961 was verified by reconciliation of the bank balances with statements furnished by the banks of deposit, by verification of the deposits in transit; and by actual count of the cash in the office.
The payments on account of maturing debt and interest were compared with the amounts falling due and were checked with the cancelled securities and coupons on file. The outstanding coupons were listed and reconciled with the balance in the bond and coupon account as shown by a statement furnished by the bank of deposit.
The savings bank books representing the investments of the several trust and investment funds in the custody of the town treasurer were examined and listed. The income was proved, and all transactions and balances were checked with the books of the town auditor.
The records of tax titles and tax possessions held by the town were examined and checked. The transfers to the tax title account were checked with the collector's books, the redemptions and sales were verified, and the tax titles and tax possessions on hand were listed and proved.
The records of payroll deductions for Federal and State taxes, the county retirement system, group insurance, purchase of savings bonds, and the credit union, were examined and checked with the treasurer's record of receipts. The payments to the proper agencies
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were verified, and the balances in the general treasury on July 31, 1961 were listed and proved with the auditor's ledger.
The books and accounts of the town collector were examined and checked. The taxes and excise recommitted at the time of the previous examination, as well as all subsequent commitment lists, were audited and proved with the warrants issued for their collection. The recorded collections were compared with the pay- ments to the treasurer; the abatements, as recorded, were checked with the assessors' records of abatements granted; and the out- standing accounts were listed and proved with the respective con- trolling accounts in the auditor's ledger.
The commitments of departmental and water accounts were examined and checked. The recorded receipts were checked with th payments to the treasurer; the abatements, as recorded, were compared with the records of the departments authorized to grant them; and the outstanding accounts were listed and proved with the auditor's ledger controls.
The outstanding tax, excise, departmental, and water accounts were further verified by mailing notices to a number of persons whose names appeared on the books as owing money to the town, the replies received thereto indicating that the accounts, as listed, are correct.
It is recommended that the collector continue his efforts to effect a settlement of the delinquent tax and excise accounts, which date back to 1949.
The financial records of the town clerk were examined and checked in detail. The recorded receipts on account of dog, sport- ing, and town licenses, as well as from marriage intentions, record- ing fees, copies of records, and miscellaneous charges, were checked with the town clerks cash book, and were compared with the payments to the treasurer and the Division of Fisheries and Game. The cash balance on July 31, 1961 was verified by actual count of the cash in the office and by reconciliation of the bank balance with a statement furnished by the bank of deposit.
The surety bonds on file for the several town officials for the faithful performance of their duties were examined and found to be in proper form.
The records of receipts of the board of selectmen, the building, plumbing, and wire inspectors, and the sealer of weights and measures, as well as of the health, school and library departments, and of all other departments collecting money for the town or committing bills for collection, were examined, checked, and reconciled with the treasurer's and the auditor's books.
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Appended to this report, in addition to the balance sheet, are tables showing reconciliations of the town treasurer's and town clerk's cash, summaries of the tax, excise, tax title, tax possession, departmental and water accounts, as well as schedules showing the transactions and condition of the trust and investment funds.
During the progress of the audit cooperation was received from all town officials, for which, on behalf of my assistants and for myself, I wish to express appreciation.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ WILLIAM SCHWARTZ Assistant Director of Accounts
REPORT OF TOWN CLERK
John E. Hedstrom
VITAL STATISTICS
Births 418
Marriages
85
Deaths
104
Burial Permits
26
TOWN STATISTICS
Population (est.) 16,700
Uniform Code Record 427
Licenses - Dogs
1,256
Licenses - Sporting
596
Chapter 46, Section 15: The Town Clerk will furnish blanks for the return of births to parents, householders, physicians, and registered hospital medical officers applying therefor.
FINANCIAL
Fees to Town Treasurer $2,284.50
Dog Licenses to Treasurer 2,703.25
Sporting Licenses to State 2,513.00
$7,500.75
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REPORT OF BOARD OF REGISTRARS William H. Bennett, Chairman
The annual listing of all inhabitants 20 years of age and over was carried out under the supervision of the Registrars and the 1962 street listing records were compiled.
Based upon the listing, the Voting Registers by Precincts were corrected and verified. The 1962 Voting List was prepared. At the close of the year registered voters totaled 6,391. By Precincts the count reveals the following: Prec. 1 - 2,615; Prec. 2 - 2,022; Prec. 3 - 1,754.
There were two Recounts this past year. For the Town office of Board of Health the original result of the election remained unchanged. In November the state office of Governor was re- counted resulting in a net change of two votes from the original tally.
Women married prior to January 1st must re-register under their marriage name to vote in the future. New residents are cordially requested to notify the Board of Registrars of the date they acquired residence in Tewksbury by calling at the office of Town Clerk.
REPORT OF THE TOWN TREASURER
William J. O'Neill
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen:
I submit herewith my report for the year 1962:
Cash on hand, January 1, 1962
$ 386,412.79
Receipts to December 31, 1962 5,671,560.19
$6,057,972.98
Paid on Warrants drawn by the Town Accountant
to December 31, 1962 $4,378,483.91
Balance at New England Merchants - Boston 5,000.00
Balance at Union National Bank - Lowell
12,031.77
Balance at Middlesex County National Bank 336,177.35
Balance at First National - Boston 200,911.32
Invested in U. S. Treasury Notes
1,125,368.63
$6,057,972.98
For detail of receipts and expenditures see report of the Town Accountant.
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REPORT OF TAX COLLECTOR
William J. O'Neill
MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE
1962
1961
1960
Previous Years
Balance, January 1, 1962
36,087.45
5,253.39
8,387.59
1962 Commitments
202,418.97
32,881.26
Collections
155,397.80
59,079.20
1,712.60
726.29
Refunds
2,871.39
2,579.84
41.88
Abatements
16,872.24
6,322.99
398.46
3,226.91
Balance, December 31, 1962
33,020.32
6,146.36
3,216.96
4,552.77
POLL
p
Balance, January 1, 1962
496.00
108.00
104.00
1962 Commitments
7,584.00
Collections
6,264.00
280.00
18.00
16.00
Refunds
14.00
Abatements
744.00
18.00
2.00
Balance, December 31, 1962
590.00
198.00
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