USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1956-1957 > Part 19
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We respectfully submit the report of the Board of Public Welfare for the year 1957.
During the past Legislative Session, many bills were submitted and approved by the House of Representatives, which caused this Agency to spend more money than was anticipated when the budget was originally prepared. These bills were very costly to the community, but for the benefit of our recipients in most cases. On October 29, 1957, the Agent for the Board of Public Welfare submitted a letter to you, which stated the increases - namely:
(a) Effective October 1, 1957, to revise and increase the item of "Modification of clothing and personal care" for recipients in licensed Nursing Homes and Chronic Hospitals.
(b) Increase licensed Nursing Homes to a rate of $5. 75 per diem.
(c) Effective September 1, 1957, increase all budgets by 5. 7% to allow for the increase in "Cost of Living".
(d) The item of "Fuel and Lights" was increased from $14. 65 to $23. 00 per month.
(e) Effective November 1, 1957, children's exemptions have been increased, so that many will no longer be legally liable to contribute towards their parents' support. Local Agency had to make up the difference in client's budgets.
(f) The State eliminated the requirement under Aid to Dependent Children that children between 16 and 18 years must be re - gularly attending school, in order to claim Federal matching.
(g) The State Department of Public Welfare on Sept. 1, 1957, changed the entire Medical Care Plan.
The appropriations requested for the various categories under the supervision of this Board are purely estimates, as it is impossible to determine the needs of the department at this time.
The various categories of assistance under the supervision of this board are Public Welfare, Aid to Dependent Children, Disability Assistance, and Old Age Assistance. The cost of the above -
68
mentioned categories were shared by the Federal, State and local government, with the exception of General Relief. It is expected that all categories of assistance will increase during 1958, due to -
(a) Population increase in all small comunities outside of Boston.
(b) The unemployment situation is rising daily.
(c) The number of husbands who are separated from, or have deserted their families, has increased throughout the State to an alarming degree.
(d) Pending legislation before the Massachusetts House and Senate - also, there is federal legislation before Congress and the Social Security Administration.
The latter part of this report will give a detailed monthly breakdown of the number on assist- ance and the amount spent in their behalf.
This report would be incomplete unless the local agency expressed its heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the local Fire Department for the prompt and courteous service it has extended and shown in transporting the recipients of this department to and from nursing homes and hospitals. Also, the Fire Department is to be commended for the numerous baskets that were given to the less fortunate during the past Christmas season.
The Wilmington Community Fund is due a great deal of thanks from the Board of Public Welfare for the many favors that were done for the recipients of relief, such as securing hospital beds, granting Christmas baskets and aiding cases that did not meet the eligibility requirements of this Board, which are required by law.
Administration:
This covers all expenditures of the Board to administer the four categories. The Federal Government does not participate in the administration of Public Welfare, but does in the other three cate - gories. Federal reimbursement is based on home visits and all contacts with cases in the office.
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, and also the local com- pensation plan. Administration breakdown is as follows: -
Item
Total
Amt/O. A. A.
Amt/A.D. C.
Amt/D. A.
Amt/G. R.
Salaries & Wages
8,413.10
4,245. 56
2,127. 74
1,416. 18 54. 81
623. 62 25. 35
Travel
263. 36
121. 05
62. 15
Supplies, materials,
communications, etc.
659. 28
332. 87
159. 62
117. 01
49. 78
Equipment Purchases
656. 29
329. 36
174. 72
111. 15
41. 06
Rental of Office Space
665. 02
329. 41
142. 43
131. 32
61. 86
Other
24.00
9. 23
3.89
6. 42
4. 46
TOTAL:
10,681.05
5,367. 48
2,670.55
1,836. 89
806. 13
Amt. Federal Claimed
(1/2 of total matchables)
2,683. 74
1,335.27
918. 44
Amt. State Claimed
(1/4 of total matchables)
459. 22
69
Wilmington, Mass.
-
Winter Material Library
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
Jan. 1957
Feb. 1957
Mar. 1957
Apr. 1957
May 1957
June 1957
July 1957
Aug. 1957
Sept. 1957
Oct. 1957
Nov. 1957
No. on O. A. A.
92
92
92
92
93
94
93
93
93
93
92
Average amount per case
74. 41
68. 10
78.06
72. 78
74. 10
79. 64
71. 81
81.28
77. 32
88. 30
84. 80
Amt. spent on all extras - drugs, hospital, etc.
1660. 45
977. 78
1948. 31
1493. 30
1684. 16
2005. 36
1276. 85
1568. 38
574. 27
1571. 59
1110. 11
Amount exp. to client
5302.05
5287. 70
5232. 75
5299. 50
5315. 60
5506. 05
5461. 05
5909. 79
6598. 45
6640. 75
6693. 00
Total amount expended
6919. 95
6265. 48
7181. 06
6695. 90
6891. 11
7485. 99
6737. 90
7478. 17
7190. 42
8212. 34
7803. 11
Federal Share
3295. 19
3177. 35
3233. 18
3202. 25
3237. 94
3400. 89
3319. 80
3436. 95
3597. 27
3558. 90
3553. 05
State Share
2681. 66
2316. 25
2939. 93
2610. 22
2767. 39
3041.20
2603. 22
2995. 94
2671. 49
3433. 97
3184. 30
Town Share Refunds Recvd. 1/1/57-6/30/57
943. 10
771.88
1007. 95
883. 43
885. 78
1043. 90
814. 88
1045. 28
921.66
1219.47
1065. 76
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
No. of families on A. D. C.
14
14
14
15
15
15
14
13
14
14
13
No. of children in families
44
14
44
45
45
47
44
42
44
44
39
Average money
recvd. per family 154. 74
147.20
146. 74
162. 39
167. 30
153. 87
155. 50
181.25
213. 81
303. 30
189. 64
Amt. spent on
extras including
drugs, hosp. etc.
332. 41
71.95
237. 30
213. 99
346. 85
101.46
159. 15
212.81
131. 97
1651. 77
124. 77
Amount exp.
to client
2078. 80
2113. 60
1999. 80
2304. 25
2225. 00
2344. 05
2182. 60
2143. 50
2861. 35
2594. 45
2340. 60
Total amount
2166. 41
2060. 75
2054. 30
2435. 84
2509. 45
2308. 11
2341. 75
2356. 31
2993. 32
4246. 22
2465. 37
Federal Share
1020. 65
1040. 47
1009. 40
1154. 05
1111. 05
1161. 42
1127. 00
1087. 50
1215. 50
1151.50
1035.00
State Share
722. 14
686. 92
684. 77
811.95
836. 48
769. 37
780. 58
785. 44
997. 77
1415. 41
821. 79
Town Share
423. 62
333. 36
360. 13
469. 84
561. 92
377. 32
434. 17
483. 37
780. 05
1679. 31
608. 58
Refunds from
1/1/57-6/30/57
244. 80
124. 80
182. 80
82. 40
62. 40
137. 40
42. 55
96.90
108. 65
25. 42
expended
DISABILITY ASSISTANCE
Jan. 1957
Feb. 1957
Mar. 1957
Apr. 1957
May 1957
June 1957
July 1957
Aug. 1957
Sept. 1957
Oct. 1957
Nov. 1957
No. on D. A.
12
11
11
12
14
12
13
14
14
16
12
Average per case
122. 56
168. 68
104. 79
159.70
161. 17
94.60
113. 66
133. 50
147. 80
105. 75
102. 31
Amt. spent on
drugs, hospital,
medical care, etc. 951. 95
1383. 00
680. 16
1397. 55
1613. 43
553.80
878. 48
938. 75
751. 67
515.80
161. 26
Total Amt. paid to client
518. 80
472. 50
472. 50
518. 80
642. 95
581.40
599. 15
930. 29
1317. 55
1176. 20
1066. 40
Total Amount expended
1470. 75
1855. 50
1152. 66
1916. 35
2256. 38
1135. 20
1477.63
1869. 04
2069. 22
1692. 00
1227. 66
Federal Share
442. 35
403. 35
387. 17
416. 05
559. 35
411. 20
356. 97
468. 30
639. 02
560. 15
560. 90
State Share
660.71
988. 27
477. 32
1021.21
1132. 93
440. 20
751. 25
993. 48
912. 89
708. 85
413. 84
Town Share
367. 69
463. 88
288. 17
479.09
564. 10
283. 80
369. 41
467. 26
517. 31
423.00
306. 92
GENERAL RELIEF
No. of Cases Aided
8
4
8
6
3
2
5
4
7
6
8
Employable
3
0
2
1
0
0
1
0
2
2
2
Unemployable
5
4
6
5
3
2
4
4
5
4
6
Total Payment
316. 65
194.00
785. 43
304. 40
364. 63
99.20
340. 30
285. 85
1017. 55
224. 40
374. 95
Total Number of Cases that Received General Relief during 1957 was 27.
Number of Adults that Received Aid was 39. (This figure includes husband & wife)
Number of Children Aided during 1957 was 42.
Total Amount Spent to and on behalf of Clients was $5, 722. 05. (Figure includes grants, extras, medical costs, and reimbursing other Towns and Cities).
71
wilmington, Mass.
school maintenance department
Buzzell School:
Front doors repaired and repainted Oil type heating system with tanks installed Section of play area filled with gravel Washed coal dust off the North side of building Air intake installed in boiler room
Cleaned and removed coal and wood from boiler room area to facilitate installation of heating system
New installation made to boiler for hot water which is used in wash room and lavatories
All areas in classrooms requiring painting were touched up
Center School:
Repaired and painted the following areas: First and Second floor corridors (walls,
ceilings and floors) First floor classrooms Paint all outside doors Replaced thresholds at front entrances
Repaired and tightened windows New oil burner
(removed all coal to Whitefield School and cleaned up the cellar)
High School:
Window frames and sashes (inside) original building painted
All doors inside and outside of original building painted
Frame of glass brick window, wire brushed and painted
Bricks on coping over front door nearest Roman House repainted
All cracks in walls in original building repainted
All hand railings on outside of entire building repaired and repainted
Rest area below stage painted Fire box in boiler room (No. 1) rebricked Caulking applied to all outside windows
Roman House:
Painted front and rear hall (first and second floors)
Scrubbed the hall, stairways, and lavatories - applied one coat of floor seal and two coats of wax
Removed bath tub and made repairs on tub area Protective oil coating on front piazza
Installed rubber tile treads on front inside staircase
Rogers School:
Installed six air vent louvers in roof of building Installed sixty feet of conductor pipe in water drainage system
Painted and sealed all outside doors
Swain School:
Basement classroom repainted
Fire escape installed in basement classroom
All lavatory floors repainted
All classroom doors repaired and repainted
Fire box rebuilt and inner asbestos lining re - placed
Two drain valves installed on boiler Broken coat hooks installed where needed Repaired and installed fifteen desks Repaired ten window shades and ropes
Water coolers on first and second floor repaired Two classrooms of supplies and material moved to Legion Hall
Walker School:
Boys' and girls' lavatories repainted - ceilings, walls, floors
All rooms were touched up where paint required Replaced window ropes and shades on 12 windows New pin-up board installed in Room No. 3 Fire escape checked and painted Repaired stoker
New doors - girls' toilet
72
wilmington, Mass
West School:
Two truck loads of gravel added to school play area
Whitefield School:
Installed ten new window frames Painted and repaired Room No. 1 Replaced floor tiles in areas where needed
Repaired six window shades and installed six new shades
Replaced thirty window ropes
Replaced window stool for six windows in Room No. 2 Replaced asbestos shingles where needed on outside Repainted stairs and floor in cafeteria Heating problem corrected in Room No. 3 Obsolete registers in closets covered Driveway resurfaced Repaired stoker
Wildwood School:
Outside trim and all window casings repainted Repainted walls in six classrooms
Switch installed to control single light in reception room Brick reset in No. 2 boiler
Two four-inch brass valves replaced on hot water circulating system
One circulating pump installed in hot water system Utility cabinet constructed and installed in boiler room Draft regulator installed in boiler room door Steps installed in boiler room - leading to crawl space area Broken tiles replaced in Room No. 5
Caulking applied to all outside windows
D. A. V. Hall (one classroom made available for school use)
Floors washed and waxed (two coats applied) Walls washed Repairs made on toilets New panic lock installed on front entrance Rear exit steps rebuilt Supporting posts at front entrance secured One pane of glass installed One chalk board and three pin-up boards installed Ceiling area immediately above boiler made fireproof Fire extinguishers recharged
30 desks and 30 chairs installed
Repairs made on plywood panel which separates kitchen from classroom Five glass draft-resistant vents installed , Septic tank cleaned
D. A. V. (continued)
All windows washed
One complete flag pole assembly and flag installed Two hand soap containers and two towel containers installed
Two seats replaced in toilet
Installed 120 feet of leach trench
Replaced light bulbs One 3-light fluorescent bulb installed
Legion Hall: (two classrooms made available)
Walls washed
Floors washed and waxed (two coats applied)
All windows in classrooms and toilets repaired (15 lights of glass required)
All windows washed Installed two louvers in toilets and one in boiler rm. Installed panic lock on front door and one on side door
Two new hand railings installed inside
Repaired outside hand railing Fire exit door repaired
Cellar doors made fire resistant Plaster applied to boiler room ceiling
Metal cladding applied to boiler room doors
Cement work on rear walls of building
All outside doors repainted
Fifteen electric light bulbs replaced
Cellar staircase entrance rewalled with sheet rock Unpacked and assembled 60 desks and 60 chairs Two loads of fill deposited in rear of building
Fire extinguishers recharged
Installed 2 chalk boards and 4 pin-up boards Purchased American flag for outside of building Seventeen glass draft-resistant vents installed Repaired heating and vent system
Relined oil tank
East Wilmington Betterment Hall (one classroom
made available for school use)
Two new screens installed on front doors
Floors washed and waxed (2 coats applied)
Finish moulding applied between ceiling and walls Two fluorescent transformers replaced Six fluorescent bulbs replaced
A completely new water pump assembly installed New toilet water - storage tank installed Two new bubblers installed Leaking water pipes repaired Reset eight lights of glass Two louvers installed in toilets Front and rear exits repaired All windows washed
73
E'ast Wilmington Betterment Hall (continued)
Four panic locks installed on doors (front and rear exits)
Six glass draft-resistant vents installed
Eleven new venetian blinds installed
Hand rails installed on front exit
500 gallon septic tank and 100 feet of leach trench installed
Ten loads of fill deposited
Two new chalk boards and six pin-up boards installed
Window ropes repaired on six windows
Desk repaired and sealed
Unpacked and assembled 30 desks and 30 chairs
School Zone sign painted on street in immediate area of school
Recharged fire extinguishers
Two hand soap and towel containers installed
New flag pole and flag installed
New pipe - point - for well was driven
( )
A FULLY EQUIPPED School Maintenance Shop has sharply reduced the costs of building maintenance
In addition to the work listed, the following items were completed in or on all the school buildings in the system:
Cleaned and overhauled boilers and hot water systems
All pin-up type boards in all classrooms repainted
All chalk boards cleaned and treated with a re- juvinator
All wooden platforms on exits treated with a pro- tective coat of oil
All fire extinguishers checked and recharged
All windows washed
Venetian blanks washed and repaired
All septic tanks pumped out
SUPERVISOR OF MAINTENANCE Anton V. Thiel
0
1+
74
wilmington, Mass.
recreation commission
The recreation program has been running along smoothly for another year and still complying with the same aims it was founded upon.
Summer: Recreation and playground activities which have been enjoyed by boys, girls and adults of all ages, under qualified supervision and instruction, were still in operation during the summer months at the various playground areas, namely: Wildwood School, High School, and the Mildred Rogers School. Here the children took part in creative work such as, arts and crafts, music, games, nature study, and story telling. A few cookouts were also enjoyed with unusual programs planned for the day.
However this coming summer a change will be made. The Pony League baseball games will be held on the high school athletic field rather than on the common as plans have been made to beautify the common. These Pony League games are arranged with the surrounding towns of Reading, North Reading, Tewksbury, and Billerica.
Water Safety: We have a water safety program at the Silver Lake Beach. Instruction in life -saving and beginner's swimming added to the protection of life, plus the supervision of the beach area made possible by our qualified life guards.
Adult: The men's softball league has enjoyed its third year during the summer months, and during the fall and winter months an adult program of basketball, volleyball, weight lifting, boxing, badminton, and physical culture through exercies takes place in the High School gym. Also there is a boys' basketball program every Saturday afternoon in the gym.
Our special event of the year is a Winter Carnival which will be held on January 26, 1958 at the Wilmington Skating Club.
Playground Enrollment:
Silver Lake Beach Activity:
Wildwood School 130
Daily average at Beach 500
High School
250
Beginner's lessons 150
Mildred Rogers School 2 30
Life Saving instruction 50
Wilmington Common
95
Men's Softball League: 160
THEY'RE OFF - Wilmington's youthful skaters consistently produce champions from their ranks
75
housing authority
Proposed Four Apartment Unit as drawn by architect for Housing for the Elderly Project
F
This has been a very busy year for the Wilmington Housing Authority. As you have read in pas reports, this is a Veteran's Project, tax free, subsidized housing program, in public ownership, with a forty-year period of amortization. Rentals are charged on the basis of income, and the ability of the tenan to pay such rental. This Project is entirely for veterans of low income, of greatest need, who have been living under the poorest housing conditions. It allows the veteran of low income to live in decent, safe and sanitary housing, at a rent he can afford.
This year has seen a change of occupancy in eight of the dwellings. Most of these changes have been the result of wage increases. These have proved greater than the specified amount allowed by the by-laws for continued occupancy. The eight dwellings were rented readily to new tenants without loss of income to the Authority. The changing of tenants required some painting and repairing to put the dwell - ings in good condition before releasing to the new occupant.
At a special town meeting held on October 29, 1956, the Urban Renewal program was voted by the people of the Town. The Housing Authority under the General Laws of Massachusetts is the Urban Re- newal Authority. Acting as such, the Authority proceeded to engage the services of the Urban Renewal and Redevelopment Associates of Cambridge, Massachusetts to assist in the preliminary survey to estab - lish the need for Urban Renewal in Wilmington.
The district selected is known as the "Business Center" and starts at a point at the bridge on Burlington Avenue, running north-west along the railroad tracks to the crossing at Middlesex Avenue, thence north along the tracks and Middlesex Avenue to Adelaide Street, taking in the Highway building and Walker School property to Church Street, thence running south-west on Church Street to the Burlington Avenue bridge.
This particular area meets the requirements as established by the Urban Renewal Authority. The application has been filed for this area. This application was mailed to the State Housing Board for its approval. After a careful check the application was approved and returned to the local Board. We, in turn, completed the additional information necessary, and forwarded same to the Regional Office of the Urban Renewal and Redevelopment Division in New York. We now await their approval.
At the 1957 Annual March meeting the Town voted to establish Housing for the Elderly. We are pleased to inform you that several sites were inspected by the local Board and the State Housing Board. It was the decision of the State Board that the land on Burlington Avenue would best meet the requirements for such a project. We filed an application with the State Housing Board for State Aided Housing for the Elderly. This project will be built with State money, the Town being asked for nothing other than to accept the Act as required by law.
76
At the request of the local Board, the Zoning Law was changed at the Special Town Meeting in November 1957, thus allowing State Aided multiple dwellings. After this, Part 2 of the Housing for the Elderly was filed with the State Board, and approved.
Mr. Maloney, Chairman of the State Housing Board, has been of great assistance to us and has made every effort to push this project to fulfillment.
The Wilmington Housing Board has engaged Sidney F. Hooper Associates as architects for the project. Mr. Hooper has a long list of completed projects, and is considered a top man in his profession. He is in the process of drawing plans for ten units of four apartments each. These apartments will be 450 sq. ft. in area, and will consist of living room, kitchen-dinette, bedroom and bath. The buildings will be one story in height, and finished with brick veneer. The project will have a street and sidewalks, with a visitor's parking area. Trees, shrubs and flower areas will be placed to give ease and pleasure to the tenants, and a feeling of pride to the Town.
The Housing Board has made application to the Board of Appeals for a variance, to establish this housing project. If this variance is granted, the project will be completed in 1958. (Board of Appeals variance now granted).
The State has issued $400, 000. 00 in bonds, and the Authority has the money deposited in the Middlesex County National Bank in Wilmington.
The members of the Wilmington Housing Authority wish to express their thanks to the Board of Selectmen, Town Manager, Planning Board, Board of Appeals and the voters of the Town for their co- operation in helping the Authority establish this project, which we believe will be of great benefit to the elderly, and a landmark the townspeople can point to with a feeling of pride; knowing the elderly people of the Town are well established in warm, pleasant, comfortable and sanitary homes.
Balance Sheet as of Dec. 31, 1957
Assets
Administration Fund
$ 3,080. 65
Security Deposit
350.00
Reading Cooperative Bank
2,000.00
Accounts Receivable (Water)
134. 70
Premium Fund
4. 34
Prepaid Insurance
596. 48
Development Cost
$198,000. 00
Liquidated 18,000.00
180,000.00
$186, 166. 17
Liabilities
Matured Interest & Principal
$ 3, 184. 20
Security Deposit
350.00
Bonds Authorized
$198, 000. 00
Less Notes Retired
18,000.00
180,000.00
Debt Service Reserve
3,055.50
Operating Reserve
2, 626. 32
189,216. 02
Operating Deficit
3,049. 85
186, 166. 17
77
yunuington, Mass
7
board of library trustees
The Trustees of the Public Library feel that 1957 marked an important milestone in the de - velopment of library facilities for the town. This year arrangements were made for the Wilmington Public Library to join with twenty-eight other libraries in our area to share the services of a Bookmobile. These services, which are provided by a federal grant-in-aid and administered by the Massachusetts Division of Library Extension, are available to towns with a population under 10, 000 as of the 1950 census. Head- quarters for the Bookmobile are at the State Regional Library Center in North Reading. It will make stops at two points in Wilmington every three weeks.
The two points which were selected on the basis of concentration of population and distance from the Public Library are at the corner of Woburn Street and Hathaway Acres, and at the corner of Grove Avenue and Main Street. The Bookmobile will go into operation early in 1958. Inasmuch as the heavy financial demands that are facing the town seem to make any substantial increase in library appro- priations impractical at present, this additional service has come to us at a very fortunate time. It is hoped that besides offering greater reading opportunities, the Bookmobile will also stimulate the interest of the Town in the Library.
The need for continuing expansion of library service is illustrated by the fact that the circu- lation of books increased 12% over that of 1956, and the number of borrowers was 16% greater.
The loan of about forty books on horticulture from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society during August and September was enthusiastically welcomed by the many gardeners in town and resulted in the purchase of several of the books for our permanent collection. We are also grateful to the Christ- ian Science Monitor for a loan exhibit of children's books during Book Week, and for the gift of a three months' subscription to that daily newspaper.
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