USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1952-1956 > Part 42
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Telephone Number in Town Hall: MY 2-6333
CHESTER H. COOK, Chairman H. ARNOLD WILDER, Secretary WILLIAM J. BOISVERT
Board of Water Commissioners
101
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE MARY ATWOOD FUND
The Opera Miniatures Concert given under the Atwood Fund at- tracted a large group of people to Westford Academy auditorium on the evening of May 21st with friends coming from Lowell, Littleton, Harvard and other surrounding towns. The concert was the first event given under this fund bequeathed the town of Westford by Miss Mary Atwood in memory of her sisters, Miss Sarah C. Atwood and Miss Lillian B. Atwood. The singing of Wesley Copplestone, Frances Leahy, Rand Smith and Eleanor Davis was a beautiful blend of voices as well as being outstanding solo work. "I heard America singing" was especially effective and selec- tions from the various operas were well done. When the concert closed there was much applause and people were asking when the next concert would take place. Approximately 200 people were present.
On October 25th the Atwood Fund enabled the trustees to present another outstanding program when Commander Irving Johnson presented his famous color motion picture, "The Yankee Brigantine returns to Paradise", the story of his sixth around the world voyage. This was a very successful lecture and well received. An audience of approximately 450 people were present in the Academy auditorium. Two came from far away Marblehead to hear Mr. Johnson, the son either having been on the Yankee or about to do so. Surrounding towns were well represented and there were a large number of well behaved children in attendance. We hope they liked the free lesson in geography.
Admission was free to all at both entertainments.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM R. TAYLOR LYNWOOD T. STODDEN ALICE M. HOWARD, Secretary
102
REPORT OF DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1956
This seven-man Commission was organized on May 9, 1956 with charter members Donald W. Rowley, as Chairman; Howard S. Smart, as Secretary; and Robert V. Cassidy, Clarence O. Porter, Peter Sechovich, Edward G. Spinner, and Henry A. Beyer, as the other five members.
The first meeting of the Commission was held as the Westford Town Hall on May 17, 1956, with Mr. E. E. Young, General Representative of the Division of Development, Massachusetts Department of Commerce, being the guest speaker. In Mr. Young's opinion, the Commission has a tremendous task ahead of it.
During the period just ended, the Commission met with the Board of Selectmen, with the Board of Assessors, and with the Planning Board, to obtain pertinent information necessary to ensure proper effectiveness of the Commission in the future.
On August 11, 1956, the Commission, together with members of the Board of Selectmen, met with Mr. Charles H. Dyson, of the Hubbard Co., and the former officers of Abbot Worsted Co., relative to the sale of Abbot Mills and the problems confronting the Town of Westford due to the closing of these mills.
Also, in this connection, the Commission, together with two members of the Board of Selectmen, met with Representative Edith Nourse Rogers. This meeting resulted in arrangements being made by Representative Rogers for the group to visit various Industrial Councils in Boston, and subsequent meetings proved of much value.
During the short period in which the Commission has been in opera- tion, there have been several inquiries relative to the availability of Abbot Worsted Mills and certain other pieces of property with a view to purchase.
It was voted at an early meeting that the officers of the Commission would be on a rotating basis. The present Chairman is Robert V. Cassidy and the Secretary is Henry A. Beyer.
The original membership of the Commission numbered seven, but at the present time, only five remain, as one member resigned and another is on leave of absence. Negotiations are in process to increase the mem- bership to ten in order to expedite the work facing the Commission.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY A. BEYER,
Secretary.
103
INTERIM REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITY OF FUTURE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND THE MORE EFFECTIVE UTILIZATION OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS NOW LOCATED IN THE TOWN
To: Townspeople of Westford and the Board of Selectmen:
This committee, after many discussions including conferences with the School Committee and State Officials relative to school housing problems, decided that due to an acute shortage of class room facilities at the present time this problem should be alleviated at once before considering possible future school construction. With this in mind, the committee made a complete inspection of all the school facilities now located in the town. With the exception of the Old Westford Academy, all existing school buildings are now being occupied to their full capacity.
This committee requested a complete inspection of the Old Academy by a representative of the Office of the State Building Inspector. This inspection was accomplished and revealed the Old Academy to be fire proof and with minor exceptions, meets the strict requirements and specifications for school housing under State law. This building is not now, nor has it ever been condemned by the Office of the State Building Inspector. Four class rooms can be completely readied for occupancy at a minimum expenditure of Town funds for the school term starting in the fall of 1957. This committee feels that four additional class rooms made available will at least remedy the present acute situation for the next two to three years.
This committee unanimously concurs with the recommendation of the School Committee that the Town authorize the expenditure of $14,783.25 for this purpose. After considerable investigation the com- mittee finds that to erect a new school or expand present facilities will cost the Town a minimum of $20,000.00 per completed class room and possibly much more at present high cost of construction. Realizing the town's financial commitments, it is felt that to add four class rooms to the present school system, (costing less than $15,000.00) is the only prac- tical answer to the problem that now exists.
CONCLUSIONS:
A. That the School Committee include in their annual budget the sum of $14,783.25 to reopen the Old Academy.
B. In view of rapidly increasing school census, this committee should be granted authority to continue its investigations and long range planning for construction of new schools and addition to present buildings.
Respectfully submitted,
ATHILL H. MORAN, Chairman ARTHUR A. ABBOOD JOHN W. LONEY, JR., Secretary
104
REPORT OF THE WESTFORD BOARD OF HEALTH
The Board of Health submits the following report for the year end- ing December 31, 1956:
The Board organized March 12, 1956 with Dwight W. Coyles, M.D. as chairman.
The services of the Sanitation Officers of the Nashoba Associated Boards of Health were in great demand again this year due to the con- struction of many new homes in this area.
Early in the year, Mrs. Janet Lorman, Dental Hygienist on the staff of the Nashoba Associated Boards of Health, gave sodium fluoride treat- ments to children in grades 2, 5 and 8.
Winfred E. Whitton has again done an excellent job in caring for the town dump. This dump, however, has now reached its capacity and must be closed in the very near future. We are asking the cooperation of the townspeople in our search for a suitable piece of land which can be used for a sanitary landfill to replace our present dump.
The two doctors on this Board, assisted by Dr. Maurice Huckins, Jr. and Dr. Eleanor H. Smith, gave their time to conduct fourteen polio clinics during the year. 1209 children completed a series of two polio shots and 207 children received a third shot. We wish to thank everyone who assisted in the running of these clinics.
Following are the reports of the Nashoba Associated Boards of Health, the Animal Inspector and the Public Health Nurse.
Respectfully submitted,
DWIGHT W. COWLES, M.D. RALPH E. COLE, M.D. ROBERT L. ARMSTRONG
105
REPORT OF PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE
Dr. Dwight W. Cowles, Chairman
Westford Board of Health Westford, Massachusetts
Dear Sir:
Following is the report of the public health nurse from January 1, to December 31, 1956:
Children taken home from school because of illness 137
Children taken to school physician 14
Home Visits:
Acute Communicable 67
Tuberculosis:
Case 94
Suspect
13
Contact 9
Crippled Children
2
Children under 1 month
2
Children 1 to 12 months
36
Children 1 year to school 110
School age children 273
To Doctors' Offices 9
To Middlesex County Sanatorium for X-ray 12
To Middlesex County Sanatorium for Treatment 41
To Lowell Heart Clinics 3
Conferences and Meetings Attended 37
Polio Clinics conducted by the Board of Health 14
Number of children who completed the series of two polio shots. 1209
Number of children who received a third polio shot
207
Well Child Conferences Conducted by Dr. Eleanor H. Smith 11 121 children made 209 visits and received 185 immunizations 22 children were referred to their family doctors
Dangerous Diseases Reported to Board of Health:
Chicken Pox 47 Septic Sore Throat 1
German Measles 9 Pulmonary Tuberculosis 2
Mumps
37
Para Typhoid B 1 Scarlet Fever 3
Dog Bite
21
I wish to thank you and the other members of the Board of Health for your cooperation at all times.
106
I also wish to thank the Westford Visiting Nurse, Mrs. Ruth Hall, R.N., Mrs. Norman K. Nesmith, R.N., Miss Irene Stekewitz, R.N., Mrs. Dwight W. Cowles, the members of the Visiting Nurse Committee, and all others who so generously volunteered their services at the Polio and well Child Clinics.
Respectfully submitted,
DOROTHY A. HEALY, R.N.
BOARD OF HEALTH EXPENSES 1956
Nurse, Salary
$3,050.00
Car:
Upkeep
315.46
Insurance
82.11
Supplies:
Medical
$296.14
Office
57.36
353.50
Telephone
93.22
Legal Notices
45.00
Tuberculosis:
Board and Treatment
354.44
Medicines
95.00
Dump:
Caretaker
549.00
Bulldozing
438.00
Premature Babies
339.90
Agent to remove dead animals
54.00
Balance
500.37
OTHER APPROPRIATIONS
Nashoba Associated Boards of Health
$4,030.00
Animal Inspector 200.00
BOARD OF HEALTH RECEIPTS 1956
Milk Dealers' Permits
$ 19.50
Oleomargarine Permits
5.00
Camp Licenses
1.00
Permits to Manufacture Ice Cream
10.00
Methyl Alcohol Permits
1.00
Sewerage Permits
275.00
State Subsidy on Tuberculosis Patients
243.57
$5,769.63
$ 555.07
107
NASHOBA ASSOCIATED BOARDS OF HEALTH
Board of Health Westford, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
It gives me pleasure to submit my first annual report as Medical Director of the Nashoba Associated Boards of Health. Since coming to Nashoba, I have watched with interest and admiration the on-going health programs and services which are a part of our daily routine. The over-all cost of Nashoba remains about the same, this year $1.18 per capita. However, we continue to lose State Funds and become more and more financially independent, raising the assessment to the towns to $.82 in 1956. In 1957 we expect to be approximately 80% town supported which is a big step forward from the 30% town support of 20 years ago.
For the sum of $4,030.30 spent by your town in 1956, your citizens received the following services:
Sanitation and Laboratory Services
All Nashoba towns are growing-some faster than others and these are rapidly running out of good building land. Soon neighboring towns will feel the pressure for house lot demand.
Now is the time for towns to make plans, pass regulations and con- sider necessary by-laws which will allow our towns to develop as we want them. Proper regulations now will prevent future problems of over- population, high taxes and other undesirable problems.
The Nashoba staff is receiving excellent cooperation from citizens and contractors in the compliance with the recently new sanitary code. The demand for inspection service has been great. In most instances the staff has been able to meet all requests within reasonable time. We will endeavor to give satisfactory service in the future.
Milk samples collected 44
Visits to plants processing milk
10
Restaurant inspections 10
Pig farm inspections 1
Visits regarding school buildings 10
School lunchroom inspections 2
Services regarding private water supplies 30
Bathing beach water inspections and samples collected 5
Investigation of nuisance complaints 5
Services regarding subdivisions 4
108
Visits regarding sewage disposals 228
Recreational camp inspections 3
Conferences with Board of Health Members 12
Conferences with other Town Officials 4
Conferences with State Officials
1
Visits to people not at home
11
Methyl Alcohol licenses issued 7
Camp licenses issued 3
Funeral Directors licenses issued 3
Milk licenses issued 39
Oleomargarine 10
The Laboratory report for the district:
Milk samples tested
2,786
Water samples tested 595
Diagnostic tests
2,200
For the past four years the laboratory has carried on, in addition to its routine work, research on the throat and nose bacteria found in a group of families in the member towns. This work has been done with the cooperation of one of our Nashoba physicians, Dr. Henry Harvey of Littleton. On October 4, 1956 the New England Journal of Medicine pub- lished our first article on the subject under the heading of "Host In- fluence on Upper Respiratory Flora". This is the sort of public health research that could lead to a better understanding of:
a) Why children get colds more than grown folks
b) How they build their resistance
c) Why certain older people remain susceptible to colds.
Medical Social Work Services
Throughout 1956 our medical social consultant continued to be very busy. Problems related to matters of personality or emotional difficulties were even more numerous than those referred for assistance in environ- mental change or social planning.
The sources of referral were primarily the same; nurses, local doc- tors, school authorities, local Boards of Health, and private citizens. Ap- proximately 137 cases were referred to the medical social consultant during 1956 and these entailed 384 interviews or contacts. Of the 137 cases referred to the consultant about two-thirds were in turn referred to hospitals, social agencies, clinics dealing with personality or emo- tional problems, mental hospitals or governmental facilities such as the Veterans' Administration Hospital, Crippled Children's Services and the like.
109
During the summer, dental treatment was made available for school children under fourteen years of age at Forsyth Dental Clinic in Boston. Almost two hundred children from the sixteen towns were seen at Forsyth and some are continuing to go there on Saturdays with their parents.
Because the role of medical social consultant in a public health set- up is continually better understood by laymen in general, there has been a definite increase in the number of problems referred directly by private citizens. No problem is too small to be overlooked, for the little problems are the ones which are most successfully treated.
Nursing and Preventive Dental Services
Approximately 2,800 doses of polio vaccine were distributed to your town this year, about 15% of which was used by private physicians in their offices and the rest in public clinics. These clinics are very time consuming for your nurse with permission slips sent out and collected, clinics arranged for and conducted, recording done on all vaccine given and detailed reports made out. However, any effort which will contribute toward reducing the incidence of this crippling disease is well worth the time and energy used.
268 out of 283 eligible pupils in grades two, five and eight completed the preveutive dental program this year. This consists of cleaning, ex- amination and four applications of sodium fluoride.
Preventive Medical Services
The year 1956 saw many and varied activities in the Health Depart- ment. The largest single project was the mass innoculation of thousands of infants, children and young adults with Salk Polio Vaccine.
An X-ray survey of Nashoba's nursing, boarding, and convalescent homes was conducted which turned up one arrested, one active, and four suspect tuberculosis cases, as well as four suspect cancer cases and sev- eral other miscellaneous findings. This focusing of attention on our "senior citizens" group was manifest also in the three demonstration "Well Oldster" Clinics which were held in the town of Lancaster this year under the joint sponsorship with the local Board of Health and serviced by Dr. Eleanor Robbins. These clinics proved to be so well accepted and so fruitful in their findings that the Medical Society has approved con- tinuing them on a monthly basis and Dr. Robbins continues to volunteer her services.
Most of the districts 500 to 600 school personnel had the required three year chest X-rays taken at the health center by the State Mobile Unit in November.
110
At the Well Child Conferences held in Westford 121 children made 209 visits and received 185 immunizations. Twenty-two children were referred to their family doctors. Dr. Eleanor Haynes Smith and Dr. Kenneth I. E. Macleod attended these clinics.
The Tuberculosis Clinic held in cooperation with the Middlesex Coun- ty Sanatorium was well attended and 138 patients living in Middlesex County made 153 visits. Worcester County patients were seen as usual at the Worcester County Sanatorium.
Communicable diseases were reported as having a low incidence this year. There was one case of paralytic polio reported in the district and that child is making a very satisfactory recovery. The following is a list of diseases reported in Westford during 1956:
Chicken Pox
47
German Measles
9
Mumps
37
Scarlet Fever
3
Septic Sore Throat
1
Tuberculosis
2
Dog bites
21
Salmonellosis
1
The services of the Medical Director are available in the investiga- tion of communicable disease and for consultation to the hospitals and practising physicians in the area. The Medical Director has been ac- cepted on the staff of the Community Memorial Hospital in Ayer, as a Fellow of the Massachusetts Public Health Association and serves on the professional services committee of the North Central Mental Health As- sociation. She also has been appointed instructor in public health prac- tice at Harvard University. This summer two medical students from Tufts University, School of Medicine were assigned to Nashoba for field training in public health practice.
We have revised and condensed our list of services and would like to see a wide distribution of this literature through organized groups, wel- come wagons visiting new residents, or through individuals on request. One of our Boards of Health saw fit to mail this list to each family in the town.
In concluding I would like to mention my favorite "aim for the future". Each of us on the staff in his daily contact with citizens tries to carry on health education to the extent that time and circumstances will allow. However, if a more concerted and forceful health education
111
campaign could be carried out, particularly in the field of home accident prevention, I believe that within a few years we would see some dramatic changes in the death rate figures for our youngsters.
I take this opportunity to thank our board members, my staff and all who have helped to make my adaptation to a new environment, and new position so pleasant.
Respectfully submitted,
ELEANOR HAYNES SMITH, M.D., M.P.H. Medical Director
112
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
Honorable Board of Selectmen
Westford, Massachusetts
Dear Sirs:
According to the By-Laws of the Town of Westford, the Finance Committee is charged with the responsibility for considering matters relating to Town finances, methods of administration of the various Town offices and departments, property valuation and assessments and other municipal affairs. It must make recommendations to the Town relative to such matters and must also report on all articles in Town Warrants involving the expenditure or appropriation of money. In addition, the Committee must consider the yearly budgets submitted by all Town de- partments and officers and make recommendations to the voters con- cerning the amounts which in their opinion should be voted at the An- nual Town Meeting for these purposes.
During the past year we have worked closely with the Selectmen and the various department heads in attempting to carry out our responsibil- ities as outlined above. It can be safely said that the Finance Committee is not completely satisfied with all the aspects of Town administration. However, we do believe that good government is the responsibility of the Town officers and department heads and we hope that by continuing our present policy of discussing problems regularly with the various Town officials we can together work out solutions and perhaps avoid some of the pitfalls of the past.
We feel very strongly that it is not the duty of the Finance Commit- tee to fight appropriation requests on the floor at Town Meetings. In line with this thought, we have met with each of the Town departments in the past two months in an attempt to iron out our differences before Town Meeting. As a result, agreement on requested appropriations was reached in most instances before final budget figures were submitted to the Town Accountant. For this reason, amounts recommended by the Finance Com- mittee coincide with the amounts requested in nearly all cases. (See Schedule C-Finance Committee Recommendations).
Here are the highlights of this year's budget:
1. There are salary raises recommended for several appointed and/or elected officials. We are in favor of these increases which are due to an increased work load or increased responsibilities. We have at- tempted to keep the increases in line with one another and have suc- ceeded in convincing certain department heads that their original re- quests should be reduced.
2. There is a large salary increase recommended for the Town Counsel. We believe this increase is justified for the following reasons:
a) We now have a resident of Westford in the position.
b) This work load has increased greatly.
113
c) Comparison with other towns shows Westford to be very laggard in this respect.
3. Highway and public welfare budget requests are about in line with last year's as are most of the other departments except schools.
4. The school budget shows an increase of 29% over last year, most of which is due to increases in teachers' salaries. Also there is an amount in excess of $18,000 included for the anticipated expense of reopening the old Academy building for elementary pupils. We realize that it may be necessary to open the Academy for this purpose and until a new school can be built it seems the only reasonable solution to a very difficult problem.
Our teachers' salary schedule is now competitive with those of sur- rounding towns, and the Finance Committee believes that we can now hope to employ and hold excellent teachers.
5. The Civilian Defense Director requests funds to continue in operation the teletypewriter in the police office. Since this office is not open full-time and since a teletype is dependent for its usefulness on constant supervision, we cannot recommend the appropriation of funds to retain the machine.
Except for Article 48, we have no particular comment on the re- maining articles in the Warrant. Those which request appropriations are covered in Schedule C below. With regard to Article 48, which calls for setting up a Stabilization Fund for a Town Garage, we agree in principle that such a fund is desirable but it should be set up for the purpose of erecting any needed public building. We also feel that such a fund should be started from surplus funds. Since our surplus revenue account is practically depleted at this time, we cannot recommend using tax money to start the Stabilization Fund this year.
In conclusion, the Finance Committee wishes to commend the Select- men, the School Committee and the various other Departments and Com- mittees for their promptness in submitting budgets and their willingness to meet with us and modify their requests.
Schedules attached are as follows:
Schedule A-Estimated Tax Rate for 1957
Schedule B-Transfers from Reserve Fund during 1956
Schedule C-Finance Committee Recommendations.
Respectfully submitted,
FINANCE COMMITTEE LAWRENCE S. JOHNSTON, Chairman LESLIE N. ATHORN JOHN L. BARRETTO ALBERT G. FORTY
ARTHUR L. HEALY
EDWARD F. HARRINGTON
114
SCHEDULE A ESTIMATED TAX RATE FOR 1957
Total Expenditures Recommended
$670,029.00
State, County and Other Charges
21,617.00
Debt and Interest Charges
73,466.00
$765,112.00
Less-Estimated Receipts for 1957
$255,646.00
Transfers from Surplus Accounts
for Debt and Interest Charges. 73,466.00
329,112.00
Net Amount to be Raised by Taxation
$436,000.00
Estimated Tax Rate based on $5,450,000 assessed valuation
$80.00
SCHEDULE B TRANSFERS FROM RESERVE FUND DURING 1956
Insurance-Fire and Compensation
$ 691.00
Forest Fire Department
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