USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Wilbraham annual report 1941-1945 > Part 2
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We collectively say "thank you Mr. McGuire, it feels most reassuring to have you drop in at the Selectmen's office fre- quently."
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Report of Board of Selectmen
As we begin the report for the year 1941 our Country has been at war for slightly over a month, and the review of what has happened during the year past is very much minimized by the thought and careful planning for what we will be called on to do in the immediate future.
The problem of providing for those in need because of unemployment was an almost non-existent one during 1941. The General Relief costs for the year were $5,456.95 which were but slightly more than one-fifth of the amount which was necessary for this category of relief only a few years ago. Unless there should be a marked dislocation of industry caused by lack of materials for the industries not intimately related to the war program, we do not anticipate the necessity of furnish- ing relief to any employable persons for the duration of the war.
The Legislative Session of 1941 made a considerable number of liberalizing changes in the Old Age Assistance Law, and beginning May 1, 1942 the minimum rate of assistance in this category to persons not residing in family groups will be $40.00 per month. The minimum rates for persons who do reside in family groups will remain at the current minimum rate of $30.00 per month.
In the early months of the year an extension of the water main along Springfield Street was carried on by the local employees of the Works Projects Administration, but at an early date in the spring all W. P. A. workers in this region were assigned to work at Westover Field in Chicopee, and those few who have not yet obtained private employment continue to be employed there. We recommend therefore no appropriation for W. P. A. for 1942, and should any sudden turn of events make necessary the expenditure of local funds for this purpose we believe that the balance of the previously allocated local funds which now remains at $857.35 will amply care for any need which might suddenly arise.
The Annual Town Meeting authorized the purchase of the first town owned truck which the town has acquired. Two new snow plows were also purchased during the year so that the town now has four plows available for the clearance of snow. Three of these plows while owned by the town are used on privately owned trucks rented by the town when occasion for snow removal arises. The town tractor is also available for
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use in various steep or very drifted locations, although the low rate of speed to which the tractor is limited does not make its use advisable except in difficult instances. In order to clear snow quickly and thoroughly it is necessary for the town to have adequate equipment and we are under a much less handi- cap in this regard than we have been previously.
When the new bridge which replaced the old covered bridge over the Chicopee River was dedicated in 1939 it was called the "Green-Towne" bridge in honor of the late Fred W. Green, a former Selectman of the Town of Wilbraham, and the late Frank A. Towne, a former Selectman of the Town of Lud- low. However, there has been no outward designation of the proper name for the bridge, and accordingly the Board caused to be placed in 1941 a suitable bronze plaque at the Wilbraham side of the bridge indicating that the bridge was the "Green- Towne" bridge and that it replaced an old one originally con- structed in 1852.
In 1936, when the flood waters of the Chicopee River destroyed the steel bridge known as "Red Bridge," which spanned the Chicopee River between Wilbraham and Ludlow, the Legislature provided that the bridge should be rebuilt by the State Department of Public Works and that a small proportion of the share of the cost should be paid for by the towns of Wilbraham and Ludlow. Accordingly, the bridge was built in 1937 and in the year of 1941 the town paid its share assessed upon it, which amounted to slightly more than $1,200.00
The County Commissioners conducted a hearing during July, relative to the petition of the Boston & Albany Railroad, that the dry bridge known as "Moran's" Bridge be rebuilt, and that an assessment and distribution for cost of same be made. This bridge was originally built in 1883 to eliminate a grade crossing, and connects the present Boston Road with Old Boston Road. When the electric car lines of the Spring- field Street Railway were in operation a portion of the cost of maintaining the bridge was borne by the Street Railway. After due presentation of the facts by the Board of Selectmen and the representatives of the Boston & Albany Railroad, the Superior Court rendered a decree on December 18, 1941, by the terms of which the Boston & Albany Railroad shall do all the work necessary to carry into effect the alterations to the bridge, and the Town of Wilbraham shall pay to the Boston & Albany Railroad Company a sum of $200.00 as its share of
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the cost of alterations. The decree further provides that after the alterations are completed that the town shall maintain the approaches and the wearing surface of said bridge, including the fences and guard rails of said approaches, and the Boston & Albany Railroad shall maintain the balance of said bridge.
During the summer of 1941, by means of Chapter 90 Construction, the Highway Department greatly modified the curve on Springfield Street and constructed the new section of highway over the land purchased in 1939 from Felix Bom- bardier.
The steady growing process evidenced by the construction of new homes has increased the valuation of the town to an extent that it appeared early in 1941 that we might no longer be eligible for the benefits of Chapter 81 Funds. Under the provisions of this chapter, certain towns which pay less than a certain minimum proportion of the general state tax, and which have a certain sufficiency of road mileage, are eligible to the allotment by the Commonwealth of $150.00 per mile of high- way, providing that the town appropriates an equal amount. There were two other towns in the western part of the state besides Wilbraham which appeared to be no longer eligible for these benefits because of increased valuations. However, an agreement was made between the Legislature and the Com- missioner of Taxation by which the share of the state tax paid by these towns was pegged at an amount just less than the maximum permitted, and so for the present at least Wilbraham will continue to secure Chapter 81 funds.
During the year the Legislature validated the act of the State Commissioner of Public Welfare, and placed all employees of the Boards of Public Welfare who had passed a qualifying examination under permanent tenure as Civil Service employees. Miss Helen C. Boden, who has been clerk and visitor for this board since 1936 successfully passed the qualifying examina- tion and became the first Civil Service employee of the Town of Wilbraham.
In the month of November, through the courtesy of Wilbraham Academy the Town of Wilbraham was host to the Hampden County Selectmen's Association. This was the first time that the Selectmen's Association has ever convened in Wilbraham. Amost excellent' supper was served to over seventy persons by the local chapter of the Eastern Star, and we wish
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to thank all the local officials and individuals who assisted in making the event most successful.
The special Town Meeting held in May provided for the acceptance of a further section of Manchonis Road, and for a section of Dalton Street, and for the completion of the water line extension on Springfield Street to the Wilbraham- Spring- field line. With the cooperation of the Board of Water Com- missioners the water line was laid under the new section of highway on Springfield Street just before the new section was constructed. We wish to express our appreciation to the Water Commissioners for the very fine cooperation they af- forded us. The balance remaining on the special appropriation for Manchonis Road has been carried over as a separate account, and we hope to make further improvements on this highway in 1942 without asking for any new funds.
We again wish to urge that petitions for the acceptance of new public ways be presented to the Board at some other time than the annual meeting, inasmuch 'as we believe that it is quite dangerous from a civil liability viewpoint to accept new portions of public highways at a time in the year when it is impossible to repair any imperfections in them. There seems to be a steady demand for the acceptance of private ways as public ways, and the Board urges patience on the part of the abutters to permit a planned and conservative annual program.
The response accorded by the members of the Committee on Public Safety to the preparation for any possible Civilian Defense needs has been a matter of great satisfaction to this Board. Quarters have been provided in the town barn without expense to the town, and these quarters are occupied jointly by the Wilbraham Post American Legion and the Committee on Public Safety, and have been remodeled and furnished with- out any expense to the town by the volunteer efforts of the Legion members and by funds provided from that source. Inasmuch as the activities of the Committee were so numerous and so effectively performed, and were so important and vital to the welfare of the town a special report appears on these activities in another section of this publication.
The Board wishes to urge all of our people to furnish whatever materials, volunteer assistance or whatever else they may contribute to the effective preparations for defense through- out the town. The town is equipped with a warning center which is available to receive warning calls twenty-four hours
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each day. It has been necessary to purchase certain materials for the furtherance of the planned program. Each purchase has been surveyed carefully by the Financial Committee and the Board of Selectmen and we wish to urge that local residents offer to loan to the committee anything which they possess which would be useful for defense purposes, in order that ex- penditures may be kept down and that the manufacturing facilities of industry, already strained for war production, may not be unnecessarily called on to supply materials.
In accordance with the vote passed at the annual Town Meeting, the Board has prepared a tentative realignment of . the voting precincts which will provide for a third precinct in the north-west part of the town, and this plan will be offered to the voters for their acceptance at the annual meeting.
In accordance with the request of former Governor Joseph B. Ely, Chairman of the state board on Tire Rationing, the Selectmen appointed a local Tire Rationing Board, consisting of Dr. Frederic T. Steele, Walter F. Berry and Russell J. Har- rington. The Board appreciates the willingness of these men of ability to devote their time to this somewhat difficult duty. It appears at this time that if there are any other commodities that will later require rationing, that it is quite likely that the Tire Rationing Board will also have these responsibilities in addition.
The Town Treasurer and the Board of Selectmen met fol- lowing the declaration of war in an attempt to determine whether or not it might be expected that the interest rates would increase on anticipation of revenue loans. Accordingly, late in December a loan was issued to the amount of $35,000.00 at a very favorable rate, and there appears to be sufficient cash in the treasury to finance the obligations of the town well into 1942.
The town is in good financial condition as the report pre- sented in this publication, compiled by the State Director cf Accounts will show. The Town Collector made good progress in collecting taxes, and after a series of conferences our largest tax title account was redeemed during the year. The Town Collector, the Town Treasurer, the Board of Assessors and the Board of Selectmen met several times with their counsel and the tax payers counsel.
The Board wishes to urge the people that they favorably consider the adoption of a uniform street naming and street numbering system. The mail distributed within the town
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boundaries is distributed from six different sources; from the local post office at Wilbraham and North Wilbraham by Springfield R. F. D. route No. 1, by Springfield R. F. D. route No. 2, by Ludlow R. F. D. route No. 1, and by Palmer R. F. D. route No. 1. Inasmuch as this fact adds to the confusion in- volved when there are no numbered designations available for residences, and when there is duplication of street names, we believe the task of describing to a delivery service or to a pros- pective guest would be made much easier by a uniform street. numbering system, particularly since the mail distribution is not made from any one point for the whole town.
For the past four years the town has annually been pro- vided by the facilities of the staff of the Division of Child Hygiene of the State Department of Public Health in con- ducting an annual Well Child Clinic in the schools. The useful- ness of the purpose of this undertaking has been most favorably demonstrated. Usually the state extends its facilities for not more than two years in an individual town, and the Board recommends that the town make a sufficient appropriation to secure its own facilities for conducting the Well Child Clinic, so that the service may be continued to be beneficial to the children of this town and so that the state staff may have an opportunity to introduce the venture into other towns which have not yet been privileged with the Well Child Clinic.
The Board wishes to urge that the town undertake no ventures this year which can be deferred until later. We believe that Chapter 90 construction of new highways should be dispensed with for 1942, so that labor and materials can be made more available for the war efforts. We also believe that water main extensions and other projects that require labor and material should be deferred until the war victory is accomplished.
The Board hopes to be able to present a systematic plan for reserve projects to be undertaken after the victory, when readjustment of industry may make it necessary to provide labor for many of our people, and when materials may be more cheaply and easily procured, and when the undertaking of these projects will be as equally patriotic in essence as the deferral of them is during the present emergency.
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We wish to thank all of the Federal, State officials, and the local town officers and all of our people for their constant, faith- ful and understanding cooperation.
Faithfully yours,
ALBERT L. MARTIN, GEORGE E. MURPHY, JR., J. LORING BROOKS, JR.,
Selectmen.
BOARD OF SELECTMEN'S REPORT ON CIVILIAN DEFENSE
In paying our sincere and grateful compliments to the Committee on Public Safety and its officers, we wish to pay tribute to the memory of Carrol J. Enemark who served on this Committee from its inception and as chairman from March until November of 1941.
Mr. Enemark who is remembered with the deepest respect and affection by his host of friends in the Town was keenly interested in the Committee's program and purposes. Even in the face of serious illness, he endeavored to continue this activity in behalf of the Town, until his failing health abso- lutely precluded his further active participation.
On November 3rd this Board, at Mr. Enemark's request, undertook to reorganize the Committee on Public Safety to meet rapidly changing current conditions. The entire Com- mittee's response and cooperation was excellent. Almost immediately a preliminary program was undertaken. Ralph Stedman accepted the responsibility of General Chairman; Wesley Chapman of Chairman of the Protection Division; Mrs. H. O. McCracken of the Women's Division and Fred Reidy of being Secretary of the Committee.
From that time on under the capable leadership of Mr. Stedman added to the untiring and enthusiastic efforts of the previous and new members of the Committee, the Town's organization for Civilian Defense has been rapidly and effectively completed. Much credit is due to everyone connected with the program. Each has responded diligently to his particular part in the work.
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As currently reported to this Board by the Committee on Public Safety, the following officers now comprise the Central Committee: Wesley Chapman, Chairman of Protection Divi- sion and Chief Air Raid Warden; First Aid, David J. Muir; Rescue Squad, R. M. Dickey; Auxiliary Police, John Tupper; Auxiliary Fire Department, Harold Murphy ; Women's Division, Mrs. H. O. McCracken; and Blackout Officer, Ray Palmer.
There are corresponding committees for each of the three sections of the town, which is divided according to the pro- posed three precincts. Deputy Chief Warden for Precinct A, is Harry Jeffrey, Precinct B, Charles Backus; Precinct C, Joseph Nalepa. Each of these district wardens are connected with the Committee's Central Report Center both by telephone and by short wave radio.
Air Raid Courses are being carried on with the active help of Clifford Bradway and Kenneth Farrar, both of whom had previously completed a teacher's course in this subject. Com- plete First Aid Courses are now also being conducted by qualified Red Cross instructors.
Space does not permit covering the work of the many members of the Committee's various divisions, but this Board does wish to pay particular tribute to the effort and effective leadership of Ralph Stedman and Wesley Chapman.
As an additional word of credit, it is well to mention that in the face of pressure from many quarters to expend con- siderable money for long lists of equipment, these men have cooperated with this Board in efforts to provide for the Town's necessary protection without making such expenditures. To this end the loan or promise of much equipment or practical substitutes has been secured from residents of the Town.
It is the firm belief of this Board, that all towns and cities should by such means energetically seek to save town or city expenditures and, what is equally important, reduce to a minimum demands against the country's already overburdened wartime manufacturing capacity.
At this point, the Board wishes to mention that although a limited amount of sand has already been delivered to all homes, that the Board has in addition provided arrangements whereby any resident may call for and secure without cost an additional supply of sand for air raid protection by contacting the Selectmen's office.
Arrangements have been made to install button controls
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for the Town's fire sirens to permit sounding the series of short blasts required for air raid alarms and David Murphy has volunteered without cost his labor for installing these controls.
The Board urges every resident in the Town to do his part in our Civilian War Effort by responding generously to all requests of the Public Safety Committee for assistance, mat- erials or equipment; to conserve and repair all products and materials; to save and render available all old paper, paper board, or metals; and to cooperate with this Board in sus- pending for the war period any expenditures or work programs not immediately essential to release labor for war production. and to save these projects for a probable future period of un- employment.
REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE SELECTMEN UNDER ARTICLE 34 OF THE 1941 WARRANT, AND PLANNING BOARD
The Special Committee, as appointed by the Selectmen in accordance with Article 34 of the 1941 Warrant, has met on several occasions throughout the Fall. The majority of the meetings were held in conjunction with the Planning Board.
The entire present zoning ordinances have been studied and discussed by your Special Committee and the Planning Board, and also with Mr. Maynard Saunders, Engineer of the Planning Board of the City of Springfield.
The present zoning ordinances were adopted by the Town Meeting on February 2nd, 1931. These ordinances as adopted were adequate at that time but the growth of the town within the last ten years has presented new problems which are in- adequately covered under the present ordinances. It is evident that the present ordinances require modification and revision in many sections. Several State laws have been passed during the past years which nullify many provisions of the existing ordinances. Mr. Saunders has generously given his time to assist us in this matter and he has pointed out many instances where the existing ordinances are illegal.
There are two ways in which this situation may be over- come. The present ordinances may be amended or new ordin- ances may be made. Due to the many changes necessary, your Committee and the Planning Board favors rewriting of the
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present ordinances. Mr. Saunders concurs in this recommen- dation.
At the same time the ordinances are rewritten, it is the opinion of your Committee, the Planning Board and Mr. Saunders that our present zoning map should be revised and brought up to date.
The cost of this revision for rewriting the zoning ordinances and revising the zoning map will amount to about $300 and it will be noted that the Planning Board has submitted an article in the warrant to be acted upon at the Town Meeting, requesting that the sum of $300 be raised and appropriated to be expended by the Planning Board for this purpose. If this article is passed, it is the intention of the Planning Board that work will proceed immediately and a revised zoning ordinance and map will be presented for action at a later Town Meeting.
Your Special Committee and Planning Board earnestly recommends favorable consideration of this article.
Your Special Committee was also empowered to review the necessity of a Building Code in the Town of Wilbraham. It is the feeling in general that this is a very desirable step for the town to take. There is much new residential construction at present taking place in the town and it was felt desirable by your Committee that some jurisdiction should be exercised by the town over this new construction. It was felt, however, in view of the present emergency that new construction for some little time would be at a minimum and in view of this fact the matter of the Building Code may well be discussed more thoroughly at a later date.
Special Committee
A. I. Macdonald, Chairman
Walter F. Lauffert
Russell Harrington Frank Auchter
Irving Cordner
Harry Jeffrey
Charles B. Hitchcock
Planning Board
A. I. Macdonald, Chairman
Walter F. Lauffert
Ray Palmer
Herbert F. Swetland
Russell Harrington
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Town Officers' Salaries Appropriation
Appropriation
$5,800.00
Selectmen:
Albert L. Martin, Chairman
$450.00
George E. Murphy, Jr.
400.00
J. Loring Brooks, Jr.
400.00
$1,250.00
Assessors :
Henry I. Edson
$255.42
E. Ray Pease
302.25
Charles W. Vinton
250.30
$807.97
Town Collector : Michael C. Smith
$800.00
Treasurer : Walter F. Berry
500.00
Town Clerk, Jennie T. Abbott
50.00 and Fees
Jennie T. Abbott, recording births, marriages and deaths
115.00
Jennie T. Abbott, administering oaths
11.75
Auditor: William E. Porter
75.00
Clerk and Visitor for Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Welfare: Helen C. Boden 1,040.00
Bookkeeper for Selectmen: E. G. Burbank
210.50
Sealer of Weights and Measures : Charles W. Vinton 200.00
Building Inspector: George G. Herter
100.00
Cattle, Barn. Slaughtering Inspector: James M. Pickens 38.00
Milk Inspector : James M. Pickens
35.00
Moderators:
Howard W. Orr, Annual Meeting 15.00
Frederic T. Steele, Special Meeting
10.00
$3,200.25
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Registrars:
Jennie T. Abbott
$25.00
William L. Dempsey
106.90
Harold R. Porter
49.70
John J. Powers
25.00
$206.60
Canvasser for Registrars : George Keyes
42.25
42.25
Unexpended Balance
292.93
Selectmen's Contingent Appropriation
Appropriation
$800.00
From Reserve
100.00
Miscellaneous Contingent
A. H. Bartlett Company, office supplies Helen C. Boden, reimbursement for post- age, soap, etc. 4.41
$39.82
Boston & Albany R. R., express on boat
8.71
Walter F. Berry, reimbursement for bulbs and fuses 1.10
Geo. B. Cheney, Treasurer, Selectmen's Association dues 6.00
Crandall Company, one half expense of boat 18.00
Edward L. Canter, Inc., cleaning material 4.41
Commissioner of Public Safety, permits .30
Jerry Donohue, trucking for school lunches, material 26.00
A. F. Friend, posting notices on roads, etc.
8.00
Jacob Kline, welfare manuals 2.20
James B. Logan, postage, envelopes
35.91
Hobbs & Warren, Inc., office supplies
10.92
George E. Murphy, Jr., expenses to An- nual Meeting of State Selectmen's Asso. 12.00 Modern Marking Device Co., plaque for bridge 55.00
Morrissey Bros., mop, wax
3.33
New England Tel. & Tel .Co., telephone
88.49
New England Print Paper Co., maps 11.00
Price & Lee Co., 1941 directory
11.00
$5,507.07
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Geo. W. Robbins & Sons Co., lumber for shelf 2.07
Robinson Seal Co., collating, repairing,
binding, Birth, Marriage, Death Cer- tificates and Marriage Intentions
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