USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1947-1948 > Part 15
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The various categories of assistance under the supervision of this Board are Welfare, Aid to Dependent Children, Old Age Assistance and Aid to the Blind. The last three are part of the Social Security Act, which became effective in 1936 and was born during the severe economic depression in the belief that public assistance would be a diminishing program, while the social insurance would be the basic program, but it has not worked out in that way. Many types of em- ployment are not covered under the present Social Security Act, and the present grants under the Old Age and Survivors' Insurance pro- gram are not sufficient to provide for the individual's needs, and there- fore are required to seek public assistance in addition to their other Social Scurity grants, to meet the present costs of living. Under the present laws governing the administration of public relief, all needs are met-there is no maximum amount. This means that an individ- ual's needs, to include medical, hospital and all other services are pro- vided, in addition to the needs in the home.
It is believed that no private business and few public organizations could have survived the brand of publicity Public Welfare has had since its beginning. The emphasis has always been on the cost-never on what the public gets for its money. The truth is that Public Wel- fare does not cost-it pays. It pays in actual dollars and cents of tax- payers' money, besides the priceless human values which it conserves. Perhaps this best could be explained where the granting of assistance
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has seen many families rehabilitated because they were able to get help when illness or accident to the breadwinner presented emer- gencies they could not cope with unaided. In these emergencies, which are major threats to family security, beside the financial help given, there is the stabilizing influence of the social service rendered by the workers who go in on the case. By financial assistance in these cases, the children are able to have sufficient food, decent shelter and ade- quate clothing, which enables them to continue on in school and be- come useful citizens of the community.
Another reason for the increase in the case load and costs of pub- lic assistance, is the increased life span of the average individual. In 1900, the average length of life was 49 years. Today it is 66. In 1900 one person in 25 was 65 years of age or older. In 1980 it is estimated that the ratio will be one in 10. As people become older, their medical needs change and they require more medical service. As the average citizen well knows, the cost of medical services have increased, and of course has resulted in a large increase, when you consider a large number of cases at one time. Medical science, has, of course, made a great deal of progress and has reduced many diseases which were once fatal, to a point where, if properly cared for, can now be cured. For the aged and chronically ill, there is no well planned or integrated service. Unfortunately, they find refuge in general hospitals, con- valescent homes and homes for the aged. The majority have worked steadily and productively in a society that respects only the produc- tive, and the ending of ability to do gainful work is for most aged persons a tragedy. It symbolizes the end of independence and purpose in life. Unfortunately, at present, there does not seem to be any way to work out a program to care for this type of aged person in need, because old people fear isolation and want to be near relatives and friends. They like to be around where they can associate with their old friends and they like to attend the church where they have been in attendance for many years. To accomplish good social work, it is best that they should have a home of their own, or live with relatives or friends as long as they are capable to, in some way, care for then- selves.
PUBLIC WELFARE
The right to apply for public welfare is a legal right which a cit- izen has. Assistance under this program is granted to individuals who are not eligible for other types of assistance. In most cases, applica- tions are received from individuals due to sickness or unemployment. They are not constant cases and sometimes receive assistance for a short period of time only. During 1948, 47 cases-consisting of 161 persons-were aided, with a total expenditure of $12,577.67. Some of those cases aided had recently moved to Wilmington from other cities and towns, and therefore aid granted will be reimbursed to the town.
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The sum of $6,110.86 was granted to these types of cases, and therefore the net cost to the town of Wilmington for welfare aid in the year 1948 will be $6,466.81. There has been a sharp increase in the number of welfare cases aided, at the time of writing this report in January. This increase has been caused by sickness, unemployment, and the de- lay in the receipt of unemployment compensation checks by individ- uals who have been laid off from their regular employment. In the month of January, 1949, to the date of writing this report, we have aided 26 cases, which makes it a very serious problem to try and de- termine the amount of money necessary to maintain this program for the year 1949. It is hoped that economic conditions will improve and with that in mind, a request for $15,000 has been asked for this pro- gram for the year 1949. It should be remembered that due to the pres- ent unsettled economic conditions and the possible change in legisla- tion affecting the programs under the supervision of this Board, both at the National and State level, it is physically impossible to accur- ately determine the needs of the Department for the year 1949 in ad- vance. Therefore, the estimated amounts requested by this Board are based solely on what can be seen at this time. Public Welfare is the only category of relief in which the Federal Government does not participate. They do not reimburse in any welfare case for aid, or for administration costs. They do, however, reimburse the town for aid and administration costs for assistance granted under the Aid to De- pendent. Children, Old Age Assistance and Aid to the Blind categories.
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
An Aid to Dependent Children grant is provided in cases where there is a widow with dependent children who are in regular attend- ance at public schools, and when families have been deserted. It is also granted to a family case where the parent is physically incapaci- tated, and the medical report shows that the duration of disability will extend for a period in excess of three months. During 1948, 19 cases-consisting of 63 children-were aided. The total expenditures under this program were $17,482.07. The costs of this program were shared by the Federal Government, the State and the local community, and the breakdown is as follows:
Federal share $ 5,692.25
State share
5,795.98
Wilmington 5,899.79
$ 17,388.02
Refund
94.05
$ 17,482.07
It is expected that costs of this program for the year 1949 will remain about the same, and it is requested that $12,000 be provided
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to maintain this program for the year 1949. Federal reimbursement received during the year is held in a special account by the Town Ac- countant, and is used for this program only. The State share of re- imbursement cannot be credited to this account and therefore goes to the Excess and Deficiency account of the town as an estimated receipt.
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
To be eligible to receive Old Age Assistance, which is a part of the Social Security Act, a person in Massachusetts must be over 65, a citizen. to have lived in Massachusetts three out of the last nine years-one year immediately preceding the date of application-and to be in need of assistance. Under the Massachusetts law, a person may have an equity in real estate not to exceed $3,000, a bank account-or other resources-not in excess of $300 and an unlimited amount of life insurance, provided the cash surrender value does not exceed $500, and still be determined as in need. The law further requires that any income, or other resources. shall be deducted from the total grant, as figured by the State Budget, which is mandatory on the local Boards.
During the year 1948, 120 cases have received a direct grant from this Board and 14 Wilmington cases have been aided in some other city or town. at a total cost of $59.870.93. Old Age Assistance is part of the Social Security Act, and the costs are shared by the Federal Government, State and local community where the person is legally settled. On October 1, 1948, the Social Security Act was changed to in- crease the amount of reimbursement by the Federal Government. The Federal Government now reimburses for one-half the monthly grant up to $50-plus $5 for each case. This has resulted in the Federal Gov- ernment paying a larger share of the costs of this program. The Fed- eral reimbursement is retained in a special account-the same as the Aid to Dependent Children grant - and is used over again by this Board. The State share and the money received from other cities and towns for cases aided in Wilmington, are credited to the Excess and Deficiency account, as estimated receipts. From these figures you will see that this Department has the largest estimated receipts which are credited to Excess and Deficiency account of any Department, and for the year 1948 will amount to $37,000. The breakdown of the costs for the year 1948 is as follows:
Federal share
$ 27,435.33
State share
23,811.73
Other cities and town
1,619.20
Wilmington
6,780.07
$ 59,646.33
Refunds
224.60
$ 59,870.93
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AID TO THE BLIND
There have been no applications for assistance under this program for the year 1948.
The following is a breakdown of the total expenditures of the Department for the year 1948, covering amounts granted for aid-in addition to the costs of administration:
Other cities
Total Exp.
Federal
State
Local
and towns
Welfare Aid
$ 12.577.67
$ 6,466.81 $
6,110.86
ADC
17,388.02
5,692.25 $
5,795.98
5,899.79
OAA
59,646.33
27,435.33
23,811.73
6,780.07
1,619.20
Total Adm.
4,393.94
1,477.65
2,916.29
-
$ 94,005.96 $ 34,605.23 $ 29,607.71 $ 22.062.86 $
7,730.06
These figures show the amount of reimbursement received from the Federal Government, the State and other cities and towns, and also the local cost, which is the cost to the town of Wilmington. The term "Administration Costs" cover all expenditures of the Board to admin- ister the programs under the Board's supervision. As previously ex- plained. the Federal Government does not participate in the costs of administering the Welfare program, but does reimburse for the admin- istration of Aid to Dependent Children, Old Age Assistance and Aid to the Blind programs, which are part of the Social Security Act. The reimbursement at the present time amounts to about 40% of the gross expenditures for administration. In order that the town may be elig- ible to receive this reimbursement, there are many requirements which must be met, as the reimbursement allowance is based on home case visits, or contacts with cases in the office. It is a requirement that OAA cases shall be visited at least every six months and ADC cases shall be visited every three months, and more often if necessary. It also requires that the Board have suitable office quarters and that an ap- plicant must be interviewed in private.
It is anticipated that a new plan will be in effect for the year 1949, which will govern the number of personnel and the type of personnel- based on the case load of the Department, and also regulate minimum salaries, sick leave, vacations, leave of absence and minimum hours of work per week. This plan will have to be followed, in order for the town of Wilmington to receive reimbursement for administration costs, even though there is no town of Wilmington set-up covering the town employees. At present, the office quarters are the same as were used many years ago, when the case load was very small and prior to the enactment of the Social Security law which has increased not
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only the case load. but the work required in order to protect reim- bursement for the town. As the present office is not suitable, and in order to provide better service, the Board is planning to move to Main Street-if suitable accommodations can be secured. The present office is geographically in the center of the town, but a little over a mile from the center of transportation and a considerable distance from the homes of those who are now required to walk to the town hall. It is believed that an office near the center of transportation would be more desirable for citizens of the town. If new accommodations con- templated can be secured, approximately 40% of the costs will be re- imbursed by the Federal Government. This change as planned- has been approved by the State Department of Public Welfare.
This Board has inserted an article in the Town Warrant, to be acted on at the annual meeting, which will allow the Board to pur- chase an automobile to be used by employees of the Department ill relation to the work which is required. The Federal Government will reimburse the town for approximately 40% of the cost of the vehicle and will also reimburse for the same amount for the operation of the vehicle after it is secured. This purchase has also been approved by the State Department of Public Welfare.
The Social Security Act requires that employees of this Board be under Civil Service, and that salaries of the employees must conform to the Civil Service compensation plan. Under this new plan, it will be necessary for this Board to employ a Social Worker, who must be an appointment under Civil Service.
It is estimated that the sum of $4500 will be necessary to provide administration of the various programs under the supervision of this Board for the year 1949. It should be remembered that all of the figures quoted for the year 1949 are purely estimates and in no sense intended to be a guarantee that they will be sufficient to provide proper administration of the programs under this Board's supervision, which are changing constantly. The general economic conditions govern the expenditures required, and unfortunately the expenses of the Board of Public Welfare are always the greatest when the economic conditions of the country are bad and when the taxpayer can least afford to pay the high cost.
It is the obligation of this Board to inform the citizens of what they believe is necessary to provide for the efficient operation of the Department. It is then the citizens' obligation to determine by their action in Town Meeting what type of administration they desire. There are only two types of administration that can be provided. The Depart- mient can either be operated on a political basis or on a business basis,
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and unfortunately the town of Wilmington has had both types. It is believed that a majority of the citizens do not desire the Department to be operated on a political basis for two reasons: First, it is an expen- sive way to operate any business, and second, it many times shows discrimination and unfortunately it is not always the person who is in need and entitled to assistance that receives it. It is the intention of the Board to continue the present type of administration on a business basis, whereby the individual who is in need and entitled to it receives it, and the experience of the last two years have shown that it is the least expensive.
Very truly yours,
MAURICE D. O'NEILL, Chairman ALLAN D. MacMULLIN FLORENCE A. BALKUS
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REPORT OF THE SARAH D. J. CARTER LECTURE COMMITTEE
To the Board of Selectmen of Wilmington, Mass .:
Following is the Financial Report of the Sarah D. J. Carter Lec- ture Fund for the year 1948:
RECEIPTS
January 1. 1949 -- Balance on hand $ 1.09
Interest to December 6, 1947 .06
- $ 1.15
EXPENDITURES
None because of insufficient funds.
Respectfully submitted, GUY E. NICHOLS Treasurer S. D. J. Carter Lec. Com.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF APPEAL
Westdale Avenue, Reading RFD 1, Mass., February 2, 1949
Mrs. Wavie Drew Chairman. Board of Selectmen, Town Hall, Wilmington, Mass.
Dear Mrs. Drew : The Board of Appeal held four hearings during 1948.
There are no cases pending.
Cordially yours, W. A. ANDERSON, Secretary Wilmington Board of Appeal
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
January 27, 1949
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I hereby submit my report as Superintendent of Streets for the year 1948:
During the past year Chapter 90 maintenance work consisted of surface patching, surface treating, cleaning of catch basins and gutters and some shoulder work. Some brush was cut but due to lack of funds was not completed. Lowell Street, although recently constructed re- ceived the bulk of general maintenance work. This may receive much comment and criticism but the fact remains according to several sur- veys made by the Public Works Department and myself that Route 129 in Wilmington, from the junction of Route 38 to the Reading line, takes more traffic and abuse than any other highway in Wilmington, except Main Street from the junction of Routes 129 and 38 to the Tewksbury line. The State Engineer and myself walked the entire length check- ing very closely and discovered innumerable holes about one inch more or less in size which in a short time would cause many bad breaks in the street and concluded it would be very unwise to let it go for another year. Before I resurfaced the street I used 22 tons of sand and asphalt patch. This was spread with hand shovels about one-half inch thick and broomed around until all voids and holes were filled before the traffic was allowed to drive over it. In some sections this had to be repeated. I allowed about 10 days for the patch to cure and the traffic to pack it down. I sealed it with 85 to 100 penetrating asphalt and back covered it with oil treated half inch peastone and rolled it. Oil treated peastone costs $3 per ton at the plant and approximately 40 pounds is used to cover a square yard. Hence the high cost of such surface treating. We have at present a first class road and an excellent non-skid job. A culvert of 10-inch pipe asphalt coated 120 feet long had to be installed to drain off a field flooded by incorrect drainage installation when the street was constructed. This tract of land owned by Mr. Barrows was in a deplorable condition and could not be farmed for the entire summer. To my knowledge and that of the surrounding neighbors such a condition never before existed. One section about 220 feet long on Shawsheen Avenue was surface treated with pea gravel and heavy tar mixed in place. In other sections sur- face and shoulders patched where needed. Salem Street was surfaced and shoulder patched where needed. Burlington Avenue was surface and shoulder patched and some sections required gravel shoulder work. Church Street and Middlesex Avenue were only surface patched.
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General Highway work on Town roads consisted of surface patch- ing, surface treating with sand and tar and also with pea gravel and heavy asphalt, widening and reconstructing with gravel before surface treating. Five new streets in the Federal Gardens section and 2 in the Silver Lake area were surface treated and completed for the first time. A sidewalk was built on Grove Avenue for a distance of about 1350 feet with cement curbing and hot top by Mr. Sweeny of Stoneham at a cost of $2800.
The following streets were surface treated in part or in full during 194S. (All) Winchell Road and Burnap Street off Grove Avenue, graveled and surface treated with tar and asphalt. (All) Harnden Street, surfaced with pea gravel and asphalt mixed in place. (All) Williams and Jones Avenue, graveled and surface treated witli tar and asphalt. Glen Road (2 sections) surfaced with pea gravel and heavy asphalt mixed in place. (All) Swain Road West, graveled and surface treated with tar and asphalt. (Part) Wildwood Street from Woburn Street to river surfaced with pea gravel and tar mixed in place. Lake Street (2 sections) surfaced with pea gravel and heavy asphalt mixed in place. (All) Morse Avenue scarified, gravel added and surface treated with tar and asphalt. (Part) Woburn Street from Eames Street to Brentwood Avenue, surfaced with pea gravel and heavy asphalt mixed in place. (Part) Aldrich Road from Shawsheen Avenue to Bousefield farm, 2400 feet surfaced with pea gravel and heavy asphalt mixed in place, balance scarified, gravel added, all subsoil picked up and hauled away and surface treated with tar and asphalt. Belmont Avenue, Fairview Avenue and State Street water trench scarified and graveled and surface treated with tar and asphalt. All subsoil picked up and hauled away. ( All) Forest Street. Part of it scarified and graveled and surface treated with tar and asphalt. Bal- ance, water trench scarified, gravel added and surface treated with tar and asphalt. All subsoil picked up and hauled away. Ballard- vale Street. 2 sections surfaced with pea gravel and heavy asphalt mixed in place for a distance of about 3600 feet. (Part) Chestnut Street 1600 feet surfaced with pea gravel and heavy asphalt. (Part) Eames Street from Main Street to R. R. bridge. Scarified and graveled and surface treated with tar and asphalt. Boutwell Street, 2 sections. One surfaced with pea gravel and heavy asphalt and the other scarified, graveled, all subsoil picked up and hauled away and surface treated with tar and asphalt. (Part) Fay Street surfaced with pea gravel and heavy asphalt, mixed in place. Parker Street (Part) surfaced with pea gravel and heavy asphalt mixed in place. Hopkins Street (All) scarified, gravel added, all subsoil picked up and hauled away, one large elm tree and stump removed at entrance to widen and sur- face treated with tar and asphalt. Mackey Road scarified and rolled
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and surface treated with tar and asphalt. Liberty Street scarified, rolled and surface treated with tar and asphalt. Pershing Street, scari- fied, graveled, rolled and surface treated with tar and asphalt. Lincoln Street, scarified, rolled and surface treated with tar and asphalt. Wil- son Street, scarified, rolled and surface treated with tar and asphalt. Grant Street, scarified, rolled and surface treated with tar and asphalt. West Street, 3000 feet, scarified, graveled, rolled and surface treated with asphalt, 2 fences built and all subsoil picked up and dumped on shoulder to widen. Marion Street, gravel section regraveled. Roose- velt Road, entrances at both ends widened, boulders removed and graveled. More work to be done on the entrance from Boutwell Street in 1949. Cunningham Street and McDonald Road received a few loads of gravel to overcome a slight muddy condition. Swain Road received several loads of gravel at the junction of Taft Road to overcome a water condition. Some gravel was added where needed to Phillips Avenue before scraping. Veranda Avenue was graveled before being scraped. All gravel roads were scraped several times during the year. Fairfield Road received about 200 yards of gravel.
The following new streets were widened and boulders, trees and stumps removed with a heavy bulldozer and later graveled: Nassau Avenue, Massachusetts Avenue, Kendall Street, Carter Lane, Auburn Avenue and Cook Avenue. Cook Avenue is not completed because of ledge that has to be blasted out before the street can be put where it legally belongs. This ledge when hauled away will be used to fill in a deep hollow before graveling on Cook Avenue. At the extreme end of Nassau Avenue a ledge about 100 feet long will have to be re- moved before the street is completed. On Miller Road and King Street I requested Mr. Sargent, superintendent of the water department, to lay pipes as close to the property lines as possible which he very oblig- ingly did thereby saving me the cost of hiring a bulldozer to widen them out in the future. These will be graveled early in 1949.
In 1948 two new trucks and snow plows were purchased for the Highway Department for which I am very grateful and at this writing all my equipment is in excellent condition.
Before presenting my Budget to the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Board. I made a very careful study and check of all the streets and selected those needing attention in 1949. I fully realize the tax situation and know you and myself must pay the bills. The total amount appropriated for all highway purposes was $62.000 for 1948 of which $20,000 was spent for snow removal. We have been very for- tunate so far this winter and I have asked for only $8,000 for snow removal but have requested that the $12,000 difference be added to the salary and wages and expense accounts to carry out a more ex-
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tensive program. When I appeared before the Finance Board about a week after I had submitted my budget to them, they agreed as a body that my budget had taken much time and study on my part and all the work set forth in it was necessary, but they also agreed that some of it should be cut out. The Selectmen and myself stood solid for the budget as written. After much discussion a very good suggestion was made by the Chairman, Mr. Barrows, whereby three members of the Fi- nance Board, the Board of Selectnien and myself take the time to ride over the streets listed in the budget. The suggestion was carried out in earnest the following Sunday morning. I believe later it was agreed that even though they would like to see all the work accomplished this year that some of it would have to be put off until another year. I respect their judgment and decisions and know they have the interest of the townspeople at heart.
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