USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1951 > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
George E. Reynolds v. Town of Wilmington, Fourth District Court of Eastern Middlesex. (Action of contract by a member of the Board of Assessors to recover compensation for services.)
Francis E. Kelley, Atty. General v. Maurice D. O'Neill et als as Members of the Board of Public Welfare, Suffolk Superior Court. (Petition for writ of mandamus to compel the Board of Public Welfare to furnish aid to dependent children of a certain applicant.)
Samuel Freedman v. Town of Wilmington, Suffolk Superior Court. (Action of tort for personal injuries claimed to have resulted from a defect in the highway.)
Saviour Cardinal v. Town of Wilmington, Fourth District Court of Eastern Middlesex. (Action of tort to recover damages to automobile from alleged defect in highway.)
B. (1) During the year 1951 the following new action was brought by or on behalf of the Town:
Town of Wilmington v. Julia Godzyk, Administratrix of the Estate of Andrew Klebasz, Fourth District Court of Eastern Middlesex. (Action of contract to recover amounts expended by the Town for support and hospital treatment of decedent.)
(2) During the year 1951 the following new action was brought against the Town or its officers or agents (excluding a Land Registration petition in which it developed that the Town had no actual interest.)
Marion J. Murphy v. Ernest Rice, Sr., Bldg. Inspector et al, Middlesex Superior Court. (Equity appeal to review the action by the Board of Appeal in denying a variance under the Zoning By-Law requested by the petitioner.)
C. During the year 1951 the following actions by or against the Town were finally disposed of :
Saviour Cardinal v. Town of Wilmington, Fourth District Court of Eastern Middlesex. (Action of tort to recover damages to automobile from alleged defect in highway.) Disposed of by payment of $55.00 in settlement of the claim with the approval of the Board of Selectmen and filing of Agree- ment for Judgment and Judgment Satisfied.
George E. Reynolds v. Town of Wilmington, Fourth District Court of Eastern Middlesex. (Action of contract by a member of the Board of Assessors to recover compensation for services.) Disposed of by agreement for neither party.
Chester T. Horton, Inspector of Buildings v. Ann Briguglio and Ann's Duck Farm, Inc. Middlesex Superior Court. (Bill in equity to restrain viola- tions of building and zoning by-laws.) Dismissed under the rule for disposal of inactive cases in June, 1951, the matters involved in the case having become moot.
Leo E. Van Steensburg, Inspector of Bldgs. Town of Wilmington v. Robert J. Moran et al. Middlesex Superior Court. (Bill in equity to restrain violations of the building and zoning by-laws.) Disposed of by final decree in favor of the plaintiff enjoining any additions or alterations to the building in question.
D. Compensation was received by the Town Counsel in said matters and in all other matters during the year as follows:
Compensation
Disbursements
$575.00 26.31
(The above amounts were entirely on account of services rendered and dis- bursements paid in the calendar year 1951.)
20
21
7
6
1
GOOD READING
-
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
As will be seen from the accompanying report of the librarian, the use of the library has increased very substantially during the last year. The extent to which it is used is of course the measure of its value to the town. The increase in its use is largely due to the efficient and faithful service of the librarian, and of course has meant increased work for her. It is for these reasons that we have asked in our budget for a very modest raise in her salary.
We have also asked for a slight increase in the appropriation for book purchases, which of course is far from adequate to keep pace with the production of new and worthwhile books.
It was found impracticable during 1951 to go ahead with the painting of the building, which was allowed for in the 1951 appro- priation, and consequently about $300.00 of that appropriation was returned unexpended. An allowance for the completion of this work has accordingly been included in the budget for 1952.
One of the most important and useful services inaugurated by Mrs. Hall as librarian has been the circulation of books among the elementary schools in the town, through the establishment of so-
called "book corners" in the Walker, Whitefield, West, Maple Meadow, Mildred Rogers, and Silver Lake Portable school buil- ings. The response of teachers and pupils to this new service has been enthusiastic.
In view of the steady increase in the use of the library and the growth of the town, the Trustees feel that consideration must soon be given to keeping the library open for at least one additional day each week.
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
Books purchased 410
Gifts
175
Books circulated
8,876
Periodicals circulated
378
Borrowers registered 1,085
Fines collected
$104.33
These figures show a substantial increase in activity at the library. The circulation figures would approximate 10,000 if books circulated in the schools since September were counted. However, these books will not be counted until June, 1952. There were 183 books borrowed through interlibrary loan.
Among the gifts given by friends of the library were three books by Ernestine Hill given by Mr. Larz Neilson, a miscellaneous collection given by Miss Sylvia Neilson, town reports from 1911-1943 given by Mr. Alfred Allen, children's books given by Mrs. Doris Tobey, Mrs. June Coombs and Mrs. Ada Kambour, novels, mysteries and westerns, given by Mrs. Thomas Calhoun, Mrs. Laurel Sparkes, Miss Hazel Bump, Mr. and Mrs. William Lawrence and Miss Hosmer. A fine collection of books about horses and horsemanship was given by a friend. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Melzar gave "Hooked rug de- sign" by Kent in memory of Mrs. Alice Cutter and "Nature's ways" by Andrews in memory of Mr. Louis Grossman. Miss Mary Swain gave a scrap- book of Wilmington lore and two town reports of the 1840's. The Whitefield Mothers' Club donated $10 to be used for purchasing children's books. Many. readers have given the paper-backed pocket books which are much enjoyed.
Two Girl Scout troops have held their meetings in the library since October, 1951. A meeting of the Whitefield Mothers' Club was held there in October.
I am grateful for the help given me by the Misses Teresa Fortunata, Joan Sanborn and Kathleen Calnan. These girls worked many hours charging and putting away books and helping to prepare new books for the shelves.
During July and August I prepared several lists of new books which were published in the Wilmington Crusader. Since then, because of school books and new books to be prepared for circulation, I have not had time to prepare these lists. However, there was a good response to them and I feel that good publicity would be most effective in bringing about an increased use of the library by the adults of the town.
23
22
-
AMBULANCE
-
WILMINGTON
-
POLICE
1
POLICE
To establish the true value of any police department the yearly reporting must be more than a financial statement of the depart- ment or a tabulation of arrests. The extent to which the police have been successful in solving cases and reducing crime are the items to be brought forth, discussed and decided as to how much we are getting from our police functions for our tax dollars. To a great extent crime is reduced in direct proportion to the number of juveniles who can be shown their moral responsibilities to society in a fair and careful handling of their troubles in a friendly
and helpful juvenile hearing before their acts have become too serious to be handled locally. Then, too, a vigilant police force discourages illegal action.
Year by year analysis of the success in clearing cases known to the department is a good way to judge how satisfactory policing is being done. Acceptable records for the past years are not avail- able. The tally sheet for the year 1952 for so-called Part I offenses (major crimes) must be the beginning of Wilmington's records for analysis and will be included in next year's report.
Indicative that minor offenses can be reduced by an alert police department is the handling of the Hallowe'en situation here in Wilmington.
Following is the report of the chief of the police department in accordance with past procedure
ARRESTS
Number of arrests
197
males
190
females
7
CAUSES OF ARREST
Adultery
1
Assault and battery
6
Breaking and entering and larceny
5
Collecting junk w/o license
2
Delinquent child
5
Disposing of rubbish on highway
1
Disturbing the peace
2
Drunkenness
71
Larceny by check
1
Larceny ...
2
Neglect of minor child
1
Non-support
8
Stubborn child
1
Trespass
1
107
MOTOR VEHICLE VIOLATIONS
Attaching plates
6
Failing to stop at stop sign
1
24
25
.
..
Failing to stop for red light
Failing to stop on signal of officer
1
1
2
Failing to display safety sticker
Leaving scene after causing damage Operating after suspension of license ..
Operating so as to endanger
Operating w/o license
5
Operating under the influence of liquor
5 25
Operating unregistered automobile
8 6
Operating uninsured automobile. ..
Refusing to produce operator's license
School bus law violation
1
90
-
Court action on the above violations resulted in fines amounting to the sum of $1,345.00. Others had their cases filed, some were given suspended sentences or probation, while others were confined in correctional institutions.
Records also show that the dep't handled 125 ambulance cases and used the cruiser to make 31 emergency trips. Not listed are the numerous routine matters consistent with police work as reported in previous years.
Once again the co-operation of teachers, parents, and the school children resulted in a gratifying reduction in cases of vandalism. We trust that this good work will be continued in the future.
The Department consists of six officers and the Chief, and operates twenty- four hours of the day. This also is true of the ambulance service which is free to all Wilmington residents. The only requirement is that a Doctor authorize the transportation of the patient, except in accidents or other emergencies.
The official telephone number remains the same as in past years, - Wilmington 331. In the event that a busy signal is received on 331, dial 353 - which is a pay-phone located at the Police station. If, during an emergency, you are unable to contact the Police at the above numbers, call the Chief's home, Wilmington 2-7162.
The department wishes to thank the Reading Police for their fine co-opera- tion in receiving and transmitting our radio messages, and for other valuable assistance. We also extend our thanks to the Special officers, the Police Asso- ciates and the Boy Scouts for their willingness to provide any special assis- tance we may need. We are grateful to the Fire Department for its assistance in operating the ambulance. Physical Director Lawrence Cushing has greatly assisted this Department in its School Safety program.
The chief of police wishes to extend thanks to the Town Manager, the Board of Selectmen, Town officials, other departments, and the residents of Wilmington for the co-operation they have shown the Police Department.
4
FIRE DEPARTMENT
There were 855 permits for burning and 238 for gas and oil storage.
The Department responded to a total of 218 calls of which 46 were bell alarms and 172 were still alarms.
Buildings 30 False 12
Dumps 7 Automobiles 18
Service Calls 27
Chimneys
6
Out of Town 3
Brush and Grass 101
Oil Burners 14
A total of 47,150 feet of hose was laid, 13,250 of 21/2" hose, 8,950 feet of 11%" hose and 23,350 feet of booster hose. Ladders raised 480 feet.
1
Total value of property endangered was $126,492.00. The loss on property was $17,677.00.
All apparatus and equipment is in good condition except Engine #2 which is a 1927 American LaFrance pumper. This
27
26
18 1
1
4
Operating at excessive speed
1
~
FD
Failing to slow on curve
Failing to keep to the right
WILMINGTON
pumper is in very poor condition and parts are almost impossible to obtain as it is so old. An article was inserted in the town war- rant last year for the purchase of a new truck and the article was passed at the meeting since no new garaging facilities were ap- proved. Again this year it is recommended that a new truck be purchased to replace the American LaFrance.
The Fire Station has been condemned for years by the Building Inspector. An article inserted in the town warrant last year was also passed since the necessary zoning law change was not approved.
In 1930 in the 200th Anniversary booklet "Growth and Prog- ress of the Town" it was stated "The present quarters, although not entirely satisfactory for the housing of the apparatus and permanent men, must suffice until the financial standing of the Town will permit its citizens to provide cuitable quarters."
28
HIGHWAYS
The Wilmington highway department has not yet reached the stage where it operates as efficiently as it could. There are some major hurdles of organization and policy formation which must be overcome.
There is no record system established to indicate the actual cost of any specific function or type of work nor can there be until a year of accounting for public works function has past. From such a system can come accurate records on the efficiency of equipment and an analysis for replacement or change in methods.
More effective use of equipment can be made after further study of present methods of handling. Some minor changes have already been put into practice. New construction methods will be started in 1952.
With the completion of all major inhabited roads on the road acceptance list it is now the duty of the town manager to survey all unaccepted streets and plan the continuation of a gravelling program. At the same time a parallel program for the extension of our hard-surfaced roadway system must be undertaken with
29
the cost of the necessary operations coming from the regular hig way appropriation.
Covering an estimated 150 miles of accepted and unaccept. streets and roads is a big job for an eight man crew. Complain from interested citizens have helped us service the more serio areas first. We hope that the townspeople will continue to he us in this manner but >will also realize that years of inadequa highway maintenance and operation can only be corrected wi years of carefully laid out corrective operations at the same tin that regular improvements are being conducted.
Maintenance
Major work of the highway department is highway mainte ance which includes street cleaning, grading and shaping gray roads, cutting roadside brush, installing and maintaining culver patching surface treated roads and streets, cleaning ditches, ma ing emergency highway repairs, some tree work in cooperati with the tree department and cleaning and maintaining cat basins.
Many rocks which interfere with snowplows and cause ext sive damage to equipment will be removed by the water departm bulldozer. Water-bars must be cut off gravel roads to save present surfaces. There must be a continuation over the years o policy of using equipment, rather than hand labor, on all wo possible to reduce maintenance costs.
Heavy rains of last year and inadequate drainage from o roads, coupled with the high water table of the town caused m damage than is usually found in similar sized towns or cities. use of a finer type gravel which compacts more closely and ca fully planned provisions for drainage will reduce washing out these streets in the future.
Maintenance costs should be higher in 1952 due to the "op winter which broke many street surfaces by freezing and thaw but mixing a coarse aggregate for spot patching and secti retreatments by the town crew may keep the cost about the S as 1951.
. Oiling
* Road oiling is more expensive in Wilmington than it nee due to the method of loading sand and the ineffectiveness of
sanding, the present method of applying our sand cover. Back- sanding is also unnecessarily hard on the workmen and a new method to be tried in 1952 will reduce the work and the cost of covering our oiled streets.
Oiling must be more extensive in the past to seal over many streets partially broken by the action of sun and cold during the winter. It is planned that all oiling be confined to streets already treated to preserve those surfaces. Any new surface treatments will be made with an asphalt mix of bank run gravel.
Snow Removal
Lack of sufficient snow in 1951 made impossible any final decision concerning the adequacy of the organization for handling snow removal but there is indicated the need of a more equitable allocation of area to be covered by each piece of equipment to reduce maintenance costs and ensure complete coverage of all roads on the first plowing. The inability of the snowplow blades to get down to road surface during the first storms has been corrected by ordering all "bogie" wheels removed from the plow frames and earlier plowing as well as the operation of all equipment at higher rates of speed.
The failure of highway departments in this area to use more salt, or straight salt, when the temperature is above 22ยบ increases the cost of snow removal due to the number of times it is necessary, to plow, sand and sand again before roads are clear. Provisions will be made in 1952 to purchase bulk salt which is just over half . the price of present bag salt, easier to mix and less work for the men.
State Aid
With a full year's work ahead for our highway department it will be impossible to do any of the Chapter 90 construction for 1951 or 1952 so that these contracts will be let out to bid, early in the spring. Chapter 81 work must be done under the supervision of a state engineer, but continued progress with our own methods will give us sufficient time to complete all back work and all that has been planned for 1952, barring unusually bad weather.
Detailed reports by the superintendent of streets on work done in 1951 is on file at the town manager's office and in the high- way department.
30
31
Fuel Oil Consumed
Year
Gal. Used
Cost
Gal. per Mil. Cost per Mil.
1947
18314.8
$1417.90
77.0
$ 6.03
1948
23103.1
2376.36
93.1
9.66
1949
29612.4
2713.82
106.3
9.73
1950
30392.4
2776.71
108.0
9.90
1951
24813.2
2538.53
101.2
10.12
Lubrication Oil Used
1947
168
120.10
.72
51
1948
152
114.00
61
42
1949
212
165.36
.76
.59
1950
182
141.96
65
.50
1951
...
WATER COMMISSIONERS
The following streets voted for 1951 extensions of water mains have been completed :
Nassau Avenue,
Cochran Street,
1949
4150
413.29
1950
3599
310.41
1951
3854
392.00
Accounts Receivable
Service Accounts
1948
91.68
1949
81.77
1951
526.04
699.49
Water Rates
2862.43
3561.92
Total Cost of Construction
Cost of System Dec. 31/1950
$819,994.46
1951 Nassau Ave.
Carter Lane
Cunningham St.
Cochrane St.
Lloyd Road
Harvard Ave.
29,402.25
Services (137) Total 1710
11.980.42
1948
246,821,500
674,375
1949
278,656,800
763,443
1950
280,475,100
768,426
1951
250,813,500
687,160
32
Oil Used in Heater
1947
5167
386.99
1948
5614
518.59
Carter Lane,
Lloyd Road,
Cunningham Street,
Harvard Avenue.
Nine new hydrants have been added to the system and one hundred thirty (130) new services were installed during the year, making a total of seventeen hundred and three (1703) connected to date.
The new Tewksbury water system has been connected with the Wilmington system on Salem Street, thus giving Wilmington added protection in case of an emergency.
The financial statement of the department is included in the report of the town accountant.
Appended hereto and made a part of this report are othe statistics concerning the department which may be of interest to the taxpayer.
Water Consumed
Year
Gal. Consumed
Av. per Day
1947
235,033,900
643,928
Meters
900.00
$862,277.13
33
245
190.49
.97
.76
Receipts for 1951
Services
Pipe & Fittings
1,000.00
1,700.17
2,000.00
Brass Goods
3,000.00
4,874.77
5,000.00
Boxes
800.00
853.26
1,000.00
Sundries
800.00
1,077.51
1,000.00
Meters
1,000.00
1,111.12
1,000.00
. Turn & Off
181.50
Demands
3.7
Interest
Office
Rent, Heat, L. & Jan. ........
270.00
146.25
000.00
TEL.
60.00
27.53
000.00
Stationery
300.00
89.83
300.00
Postage
100.00
14.35
200.00
11,980.42
$58,449.4
Tools
100.00
000.00
100.00
Insurance
1,000.00
822.59
1,000.00
Pay roll Account
22,960.08
44,017.3
MISC.
200.00
60.17
200.00
Balance
$14,432.08
Cost of Operation
Maintenance
Hydrants
200.00
315.45
300.00
Equipment
300.00
308.49
300.00
Station
100.00
131.23
100.00
Street Mains
100.00
30.70
100.00
Recorder
100.00
70.33
100.00
Well Fields
2,500.00
2,291.50
2,000.00
Balance Dec. 31/51
$36,938.8:
2,900.00
19,030.00
21,057.25
121,325.00
PAY ROLL
26,000.00
22,960.08
26,000.00
45,030.00
44,017.33
47,325.00
Station
Station Supplies
200.00
363.85
300.0
Fuel Oil
3,500.00
30,296 Gal.
3,072.98
3,500.0
Lub. Oil
400.00
221.67
300.0
Repairs
1,000.00
1,970.10
500.0
EL. L. & P.
100.00
89.19
100.0
Tel.
175.00
195.16
200.0
4,900.0
Trucks & Auto
Gas.
500.00
159.13
500.0
Oil
100.00
100.24
100.0
Tires
100.00
27.09
100.0
Insurance
275.00
211.18
275.
Repairs
275.00
367.79
300.9
Auto Hire
500.00
329.70
400.0
Sundries
50.00
23.92
50.0
1,725.0
34
35
..
1952 Estimate
Dec. 29/51
1951 Estimates
1951 Expenditures
Balance
14,432.08
Receipts
58,449.41
Water revenue
.. Wilmington
$34,781.43 3,654.57
N. Reading ..
192.33
38,628.33
Aberjona Co.
...
..
..
10,000.00
Hydrant Service
Wilmington
7,500.0
Tewksbury
60.0
Misc.
Services Net
500.00
Expense Account
21,057.25
44,017.3.
Less Services
11,980.4
$32,036.91
Aberjona Company Account
Balance Dec. 31/50
38,669.85
Credit 1951
1,730.97
1,300.00
4.1,
91.26
TREE WARDEN
-
-
Tree Dept.
Routine work was carried out during the year such as re- moving broken limbs, cutting back split tops, cutting down and removing about ten large trees. Four Maple trees were fed with tree fertilizer that were affected with the maple Stagger head blight, also ten elms on Chestnut Street that were affected with the Elm Leaf Beetle. We are doing this work every year to see if we can bring back some of these trees. We are taking a lot of broken branches out. There is a lot to take out yet. We went as far as our money lasted.
Moth Dept.
All street shade trees were sprayed with D.D.T. and spreader and also egg clusters were painted with creosote for control of Gypsy Moth, we also sprayed for Fall webb worms. We cut a lot of tent caterpillar nests, and wild cherry bushes and burned them.
Elm Leaf Beetle
Elm trees were sprayed three times with D.D.T. mixture. We cut a lot of, dead wood from our Elms and was taken away and burned. We found (1) Dutch elm disease in Wilmington, Mass., on Burlington Ave., ten inch tree this tree was cut down and burned. We have made 32 tests in 1951, and find that we have but one tree with the Dutch elm disease. This year we are going to make 100 tests on our elms. The Tree Warden has blanks and tags from the State of Massachusetts to send samples to Amherst College.
Don't forget to call the Tree Warden or see the Town Manager about your elm trees and we will see what can be done about them.
The work of the Tree Dept., Moth Dept., and the Elm Leaf Beetle Control was carried on as far as funds were available. Expenditures for the year will be found in the report of the Town Accountant.
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
COAL
Sealed
Adjusted
Condemned
Platform Scales over 5,000 lbs.
2
1
0
Platform Scales 100 to 5,000 lbs.
9
6
0
Counter Scales under 100 lbs.
4
2
2
Spring Scales 100 lbs. or over
1
0
0
Spring Scales under 100 lbs.
18
6
3
Beam Scales 100 lbs. or over
3
1
0
Beam Scales under 100 lbs.
3
1
0
Computing Scales under 100 lbs.
12
1
2
Personal Weighing Scales
1
0
0
Avoirdupois
12
0
0
Apothecary
3
0
0
Liquid Measure
18
0
0
Meters 1 inch inlet
35
2
0
Meters over 1 inch inlet
9
6
0
Oil Measuring Pumps
24
0
0
Grease Measuring Pumps
6
0
0
Yard Sticks
1
0
0
Leather Measuring Devices
1
0
0
Sealing Fees Collected and turned over to the Town-Treasurer. $105.45
The following are weights of Commodities for immediate delivery :
Tested Corrected Under
Over
Beans
31
29
0
2
Bread
50
50
0
0
Butter
18
18
0
0
Coal in paper bags
10
10
0
0
Coal in Transit
4
4
0
0
Confectionery
42
40
0
2
Fruits and Vegetables
30
28
0
0
Lard
15
15
0
0
Potatoes
28
28
0
0
Number of Licenses Inspected
17
Hawkers and Peddlers Seals
2
Junk Dealers
5
Clinical Thermometers
7
Expenses of Department as follows:
Appropriation
$ 325.00
Total Expenses
.. 324.96
Unexpended Balance
$ .04
...
..
36
37
HIMIN
BOARD OF HEALTH
The report of the Board of Health for the last nine and a half months of 1951 is hereby submitted.
The present Board of Health came into being by appointment in accordance with the provisions of an act establishing a Town Manager Form of Government for the Town of Wilmington. The first meeting of the Board was held March 15, 1951 and a meet- ing has been held regularly each week ever since.
At the outset, the Board had to spend much time in learn- ing its duties and developing efficient routine methods of procedure. There were appointments to be made and a large number of applications for licenses, and complaints to be handled. In addi- tion, there was the necessity of becoming acquainted with the State laws relating to public health and the Board's duties and responsibilities as set forth in these laws.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.