USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1952-1956 > Part 34
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8. Forest Fires
9. Town Forest
10. Tree Warden
11. Moth Department
12. Health Department
13. Cattle Inspector
14. Highway purposes
15. Department of Public Welfare
16. Soldiers' Benefits
17. School Department
18. Vocational tuition
19. Public Library
20. 'Care' of Common
21. Commemoration of Memorial Day
22 Publishing of Town Reports
23: Fire and other insurance
24. Interest on Revenue Loans
25. Cemeteries
26. Street Lights
27. Finance Committee Reserve Fund
28. Unpaid bills of previous years.
ARTICLE 4. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the current financial year and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year, in accordance with Section 17 of Chapter 44 of the General Laws; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 5. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred ($100.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Planning Board; or act in rela- tion thereto.
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ARTICLE 6. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifteen Hundred ($1,500.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the athletic program in the Westford Schools; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or transfer from unappropriated available funds in the Treasury, a sum of money for Chapter 81 Highways; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or transfer from unappropriated available funds in the Treasury, a sum of money for Chapter 90 Highway Maintenance; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or transfer from available funds, the sum of Twenty-Eight Hundred Forty-One and 35/100 ($2,841.35) Dollars, or some other sum, to the Highway Machinery Fund, and to transfer a certain sum of money from said Machinery Fund to the Highway Equipment Account; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 10. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or transfer from available funds, the sum of Seven Thousand ($7,000.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of continuing the reconstruc- tion of Beaver Brook, Groton and Acton Roads, contingent upon the State and County contributing towards the cost of said reconstruction; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 11. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Three Hundred ($300.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of moving the siren from the Nab- nasset Food Locker to the Nabnasset School, said sum to be expended under the supervision of the Board of Fire Engineers; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 12. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifteen Hundred ($1,500.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of purchasing boots, helmets, coats, gloves, wrenches, covers, clamps, flashing lights, sirens, smoke ejectors and other equipment, all of which is to be carried on the fire apparatus and for use by the Fire Department, said purchase to be made under the supervision of the Board of Fire Engineers; or act in relation thereto.
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ARTICLE 13. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for the purpose of purchasing new fire hose, said purchase to be made under the supervision of the Board of Fire Engineers; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 14. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Fire Engineers to renew the lease of quarters at Nabnasset in which one of the fire trucks is stationed, and raise and appropriate the sum of Six Hundred ($600.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for rent of said quarters; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 15. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of purchasing new fire hose for the Forest Fire Department, said purchase to be made under the supervision of the Forest Fire Warden; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 16. To see if the Town will vote that a Committee of five voters be appointed by the Selectmen to investigate possible locations of a permanent Fire Station for Engine No. 4 (Nabnasset) of the West- ford Fire Department, and make a report of its findings and recom- mendations at the next annual or special town meeting; or act in rela- tion thereto.
ARTICLE 17. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of purchasing new road signs and traffic lights, said sum to be expended under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 18. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Hundred Fifty ($250.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of purchasing traffic signs to be used for the protection of children, said sum to be expended under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 19. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Six Hundred ($600.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of painting traffic lines and signals on the public ways in said Town, said sum to be expended under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen; or act in relation thereto.
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ARTICLE 20. To see if the Town will vote to amend its Protective By-Law and "Protective By-Law Map" by rezoning, from "Residence B District" to a "Business District", that certain parcel of land belonging to Josephine M. Connell, situated in that part of Westford called Forge Village on the southerly side of West Prescott Street, and bounded:
Northerly by West Prescott Street, one hundred twenty-two and 27/100 (122.27) feet;
Easterly by land of Lillian M. Scott, one hundred eighteen and 24/100 (118.24) feet;
Southerly by land of the Boston and Maine Railroad, one hundred twenty-three and 51/100 (123.51) feet; and
Westerly by land of Charles Flanagan et ux, one hundred fifty-seven and 40/100 (157.40) feet; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 21. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Seventy-Five ($75.00) Dollars to promote the work of the Westford 4-H Clubs, this amount to be expended with the approval of the Town Director; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 22. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen in the name and behalf of the Town to sell to the Middlesex County 4-H Fairs, Inc., commonly known as the 4-H Club, for such sum as said Board of Selectmen deem sufficient, a parcel of land containing approximately 6.75 acres situated on the southerly side of South Chelms- ford Road at the Westford and Chelmsford Town Lines and known as the Wright Lot, and being a portion of the premises devised to the Town under the will of the late Martina Gage, and to execute, acknowledge and deliver in the name and behalf of the Town a good and sufficient deed of said premises to said purchaser thereof; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 23. To see if the Town will vote to accept from the Abbot Worsted Company a gift of a parcel of land containing about one acre situated at the westerly end of Bradford Street and bordering Forge Pond and Stony Brook, said land being historically significant as a meet- ing ground for Indian tribes inhabiting this area; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 24. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Nine Hundred Seventy ($970.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the care of the Whitney Playground; or act in relation thereto.
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ARTICLE 25. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen in the name and behalf of the Town, and for such sum as they deem for the best interests of the Town, to sell and convey to John S. Edwards, his heirs and assigns, or grant to said Edwards, a right of way over a strip of land extending part way from Groton Road to land of said Edwards, said strip to be forty feet in width and extending in a general southerly direction from said Groton Road for a distance of ap- proximately 430 feet, for the purpose of enabling said Edwards to more easily gain access to his land; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 26. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Hundred ($200.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Tax Possession Sale Commit- tee; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 27. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Seven Hundred ($700.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for Band Concerts during the current year; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 28. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifteen Hundred ($1,500.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of constructing new public sidewalks and for the purpose of repairing and maintaining existing public sidewalks and said sum to be expended under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 29. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty-Three Hundred Eight and 43/100 ($3,308.43) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of paying to the Treasurer of Middle- sex County Retirement System the amounts allocated to the Town of Westford by the County Commissioners in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 32 of the General Laws, as amended; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 30. To see if the Town will vote to accept a gift made to it during the year 1955 by the Solomon Hyams Fund, Inc .; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 31. To see if the Town will vote to accept Hawthorne Avenue from Oak Hill Road to Williams Avenue, as laid out by the Se- lectmen as shown by their report and plan duly filed at the office of the Town Clerk; or act in relation thereto.
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ARTICLE 32. To see if the Town will vote to accept Laurel Avenue from Plain Road to Hawthorne Avenue, as laid out by the Selectmen as shown by their report and plan duly filed at the Office of the Town Clerk; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 33. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Hundred Fifty ($250.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the dog officer; or act in rela- tion thereto.
ARTICLE 34. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twelve Hundred ($1,200.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of improving the lighting in the elementary schools, said sum to be expended under the supervision of the School Committee; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 35. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Nine Hundred ($900.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of providing suitable quarters for the Nabnasset American Le- gion Post No. 437 and the Auxiliary of said Post, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 6539 and the Auxiliary of said Post, and the Frederick S. Healy American Legion Post No. 159 and the Auxiliary of said Post; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 36. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Thousand ($1,000.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the High School Cafeteria; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 37. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty-Nine Hundred ($3,900.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of making repairs to the Westford Academy; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 38. To see if the Town will vote to accept from the Abbot Worsted Company a gift of Five Thousand ($5,000.00) Dollars to assist the Town in defraying the cost of constructing, equipping and furnishing the new six-year High School Building, and appropriate such portion, or all of said gift, as may be needed to complete the construction, equipping and furnishing of said School Building, any remaining portion of such gift not so needed to become part of the surplus revenue of the Town; or act in relation thereto.
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ARTICLE 39. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty-Four Hundred Fifty ($3,450.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of purchasing a teletypewriter, radio equipment and for the general purposes of Civil Defense, said teletypewriter and radio equipment to be purchased under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 40. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Hundred Seventy ($570.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of installing new front doors for the Town Hall, rails for the front steps of the Town Hall, and connecting with a double throw switch the lighting system of the Town Hall with the generator now in the basement of said Town Hall; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 41. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars, and transfer the further sum of One Thousand ($1,000.00) Dollars appropriated for the celebrating of the return of those who served in the Armed Forces of the United States in World War II under Article 22 of the Warrant for the annual meeting held February 17, 1947, all for the purpose of erecting a suitable Vet- erans' Memorial, said sum to be expended under the supervision of a Committee of six voters of the Town, two of whom shall be members of the Nabnasset American Legion Post No. 437, two of whom shall be mem- bers of the Frederick S. Healy American Legion Post No. 159, and the other two of whom shall be members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 6539, the members of said Committee to be selected by the Commander of said Posts; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 42. To see if the Town will vote to amend the By-Law adopted under Article 7, Subsection 3, of the warrant for the special meeting held December 28, 1955 by adding thereto the words "from the water main to the meter", so that said By-Law shall read:
"3. The entire cost of all installations made by the Water De- partment from the water main to the meter on the property of a taker of water shall be borne by such taker and shall be payable by such taker in advance."; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 43. To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Section 8a of Chapter 40 of the General Laws, as most recently amended, said Section providing in substance as follows:
"A city or town which accepts this section may establish a devel- opment and industrial commission for the promotion and develop- ment of the industrial resources of said city or town. Such commis- sion shall conduct researches into industrial conditions and shall seek
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to co-ordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for said purposes, and may advertise, prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts and pamphlets which in its judgment will further the provisions for which it is created. The commission may appoint such clerks and other employees as it may require.
"Such commission shall consist of not less than five nor more than fifteen members . . . The members (in towns) shall be appointed by the selectmen ... When a commission is first established, the terms of the members shall be for such length, not exceeding five years, and so arranged that the terms of approximately one fifth of the members will expire each year, and their successors shall be ap- pointed for terms of five years each. . . A vacancy occurring other- wise than by the expiration of term shall be filled for the unexpired term in . . . a town as provided in section eleven of chapter forty- one . . .
or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 44. In the event of affirmative action under the pre- ceding Article, to see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a certain sum of money to be used by said "Development and Industrial Commission"; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 45. To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 670 of the Acts of 1955 entitled "An Act Relative to Increas- ing the Amounts of Pension, Retirement, Allowances and Annuities Pay- able to Certain Former Public Employees"; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 46. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to install one street light on Pole No. 8 on Elm Street, Forge Village; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 47. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to install one street light on Pole No. 74 on Forge Village Road; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 48. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to install one street light on Gould Road on Pole No. 3; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 49. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to install four street lights on Tyngsboro Road, one on Pole 41, one on Pole 60, one on Pole 62 and one on Pole 70; or act in rela- tion thereto.
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ARTICLE 50. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to install one street light on Dunstable Road on Pole No. 20; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 51. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to install one street light on Boston Road on Pole # 30; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 52. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to install two street lights on Howard Road, one on Pole #1 and one on either Pole #5 or Pole #4, preferably on Pole #5; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 53. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate from available funds a certain sum to be deducted by the Assessors un- der the provisions of Section 23 of Chapter 59 of the General Laws, as amended, from the amount required to be assessed by them; or act in relation thereto.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting up true and attested copies thereof at the Town Hall and at each Post Office in said Westford, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of holding the first meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands this seventh day of February in the year of our Lord, 1956.
ELROY A. FIELD JAMES L. HEALY HORACE F. WYMAN
Selectmen of Westford
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Annual Report
OF THE
School Committee
OF THE
TOWN OF WESTFORD
WEST
R
NC
729. €
SEP
For the Year Ending December 31 1955
ORGANIZATION-SCHOOL COMMITTEE
John Urbaniak Term Expires 1956
Alice Whitcomb, Secretary
Term Expires 1956
Clifford J. Courchaine, Chairman
Term Expires 1957
Edward N. Lamson Term Expires 1957
Norman E. Day
Term Expires 1958
Nicholas Sudak
Term Expires 1958
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Peter F. Perry
Office-Westford Academy
Telephone MY 2-6561 Office Hours: 8:30 A. M-4:30 P. M.
CLERK
Mrs. Emma G. Egerton
SCHOOL TELEPHONES
Cameron School MY 2-6542 Sargent School MY 2-6553
Wm. E. Frost School MY 2-6230 Westford Academy MY 2-6771
Nabnasset School MY 2-6233
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Maurice Huckins, Jr., Westford, Mass. Tel. MY 2-8090
SCHOOL NURSE
Dorothy Healy, R.N., Westford, Mass. Tel. Office MY 2-8431, Town Hall
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Westford:
We herewith submit the Annual Report of the School Committee for the year ending December 31, 1955.
Throughout the year the School Committee has held a regular meet- ing on the evening of the second Monday of each month for the transac- tion of business which properly came before it. Special meetings were held at other times whenever it was deemed necessary.
The Committee voted to accept the new six year Junior High and High School Building on Aug. 15, 1955 as presented by the Westford School Building Committee. It was known at the time that there was still much work to be done before the building was finally accepted. The Building Committee is still at work trying to get everything completed.
Because all of the surrounding towns had revised their salary sched- ules, it became necessary that we do so also, in order to be able to com- pete with them in hiring teachers in the future and holding the ones we already have. We feel strongly that our new schedule will begin to bear fruit in the promoting of contentment among our teachers, professional improvement, improved morale, better classroom teaching and a stronger school system.
Your School Committee feels that it has the obligation to maintain, preserve and modernize the present school buildings. We feel that the present condition of each of these buildings is indicative of the careful attention of the present and past School Committees. It is our hope to continue the same long-range planning for the benefit of our children.
The Committee is asking for the amount of $273,050.57 to operate the schools for the year 1956. Under the provisions of the State Law, plus reimbursement for transportation, State Wards, Americanization Class, and out-of-town tuition, the town will receive approximately $61,998.09. This will bring the net cost to the town down to $211,052.48.
In conclusion we wish to express our appreciation to all who in any way were responsible for making a successful year possible.
Respectfully submitted,
CLIFFORD J. COURCHAINE, Chairman.
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the Westford School Committee:
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am very happy to submit my eighth annual report as Superin- tendent of the Westford Schools. Incorporated herein are brief reports from the High School Principal, the School Nurse, and Doctor, the Music, Art and Penmanship Supervisors.
CHANGES IN PERSONNEL
Miss Ann M. Cooney, a graduate of Lowell Teachers College in 1955, was elected to teach the fourth grade at Frost School which was made vacant by the resignation of Miss Donoghue, who went to Nashua, N. H. The greatest change was at Cameron School where four teachers were hired. One was for the third grade which went to Cameron from Nab- nasset, and the other three to replace resignations. Mrs. Mary L. Fair- banks was elected to the first grade at Cameron to replace Mrs. Murphy who was transferred to grade four. Miss Doris E. Nichols, a graduate of Boston University was elected to grade two to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mrs. Hickey. Miss Elizabeth Apostolas, a graduate of Lowell Teachers College in 1955, was elected to the third grade and Mrs. Helen Riley, a graduate of Boston University was elected to grade four. Mrs. Patricia Nordberg of Fitchburg Teachers College was elected to teach the second first grade which was started at Sargent School in the fall.
There were only two resignations from the high school, but several other teachers were hired to take care of the expanded program. Mrs. Helen B. Campbell with a B.A. from the University of New Hampshire filled the position made vacant by the resignation of Miss Evenson. Mr. Victor Archambault, a graduate of Rutgers University, with three years teaching experience in the field of Physical Education, was elected to teach Physical Education and to coach our three major sports: Football, basketball and baseball, a position left vacant by the resignation of Mr. Lapworth who went to Milton, Mass. Miss Marie Giacoppe and Mr. Richard Nyman, both graduates of Fitchburg Teachers College, were elected to teach science. Miss Frances LeBrun, a graduate of the Massa- chusetts School of Art, with two years teaching experience, was elected as our Art teacher. Mr. Stephen Daisy with an A.B. degree from the Jesuit Seminary was elected to teach English and Social Studies. Mrs. Bette Ross Hook, a graduate of the University of Michigan with a B.A. degree, was elected to teach Social Studies and Miss Irene Mitchell, a graduate of Lowell Teachers College was elected to teach English.
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OUR NEW ACADEMY
On Aug. 11, 1955 the School Committee voted to accept the new six year Academy Building, as of twelve o'clock noon, Monday, Aug. 15, 1955, from the Westford School Building Committee. There was still much work to be done, but this allowed us to clean the classrooms and arrange the furniture for the opening of school in September.
On Sunday, Nov. 13, 1955 the Westford School Committee held open house at the new Westford Academy from two to five P. M. It was estimated that well over one thousand persons visited the school.
It is a pleasure to see the many activities our boys and girls are now enjoying which, prior to our new school, were impossible. A few of these are the physical education classes for both boys and girls, a hot lunch program, shop for boys and home economics for girls, a large and at- tractive library with a good supply of encyclopedias for reference mate- rial. More books will be added to the library year by year as money is made available.
We are at the present time taking the pupils from grade eight to twelve from Dunstable, and will continue to do so as long as we have room to accommodate them.
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