USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Wilbraham annual report 1956-1960 > Part 24
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The problem of this committee has been to determine whether or not we would recommend to the town the adoption of better- ment assessments in connection with future extensions of the water mains to serve areas and customers who do not now have water available. As it now stands, an individual or group of individuals could, provided support were obtained from enough voters, have the mains extended and the town as a whole would have to pay 100% of the initial outlay. Looking to the not too- distant future, we believe that a continuation of this policy could potentially expose the town to a dangerously expensive
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situation. On occasions in the past, certain areas which wanted town water have offered to cooperate with the town by sharing the cost, either by furnishing materials or labor, but because the town had no established policy to cover such a procedure and hesitated to set a haphazard precedent they were turned down.
With this background in mind, and after considerable discus- sion, this committee came to the conclusion that a betterment system based on a formula which would be equitable and not impose an unreasonable burden on anyone would be a tremen- dous advantage to the town. We are recommending a specific plan which you will find in this book under a special article in the warrant for the coming annual meeting. In order to save space we do not duplicate it here. Since we firmly believe that adoption of this betterment plan will permit the town to con- sider the extension of water mains in a more orderly, business- like, and impartial manner we strongly urge the voters to approve the article.
RICHARD L. DANFORTH, Selectman, Chairman FRANK AUCHTER, Town Counsel ALBERT H. HOWES, Finance Committee LEO E. KUEHN, Planning Board ALDEN SAFFORD, Assessor STEVENS L. SHEA, Civic Survey Committee WALTER L. WOODS, Water Commissioner
Report of Annual Town Meeting March 15, 1958
In accordance with the warrant as posted, the voters of the Town assembled in the Wilbraham Memorial School Auditorium, Wilbraham.
The meeting was called to order by Moderator Ernest W. Furnans, Jr. at 8:30 a. m. and was recessed until 10:00 a. m. when the business session would be called. The polls were de- clared open at 8:30 a. m. by Warden Charles L. Merrick, who with the Ballot Clerks and Tellers, had been sworn in by Town Clerk Doris G. Cochran. Ballot Clerks and Tellers were: Anna Tupper, Clerk; William L. Dempsey, Registrar; Rita Babineau, Helen Bernard, Theresa Boden, Helen Workum, Wanda Gurski, May Irwin, Mary Kilburn, Beulah Wahlberg, Helen Laurino, Helen Panek, Dorothy Reidy, Helen Starczewski, Elizabeth
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Barnes, Filomena Gilbert, Alice Grandchamp, June Rice. Police Officers were: Alton McDonald, Ernest Bacon, and Newton Goewey, Jr.
The business session of the Town Meeting was reconvened at 10:00 a. m. by Moderator Furnans. The following tellers were appointed and sworn in by the Moderator, Stanley Opalinski, Head Teller, Jennie Dygon, Pearl Kinney, Samuel McCleery, Bion T. Wheeler, Jr., Lincoln A. Dexter, Doris C. Bowman and Marguerite G. Brady. It was noted that a quorum was present.
ARTICLE 1. Town Officers elected by unanimous vote were as follows:
Poundkeeper Ernest L. Bacon Surveyors of Lumber Walter H. Clark Jesse L. Rice
Field Drivers
Jerry Donohue Alvin A. Richmond Leonard F. VonFlatern, Sr.
Weighers of Grain
Weldon G. Jameson Jesse L. Rice
Measurers of Wood and Charcoal
Walter H. Clark Edward P. Lindsay
ARTICLE 2. Voted unanimously that the Town accept the reports of the Selectmen, Board of Public Welfare, Treasurer and other officers or committees as printed in the Annual Town Report for 1957.
ARTICLE 3. Voted unanimously that compensation for Town Officers be fixed as follows: Town Clerk, $1,300.00 (all fees to revert to the Town Treasury); Town Treasurer, $1,300.00 per year; Moderator, $50.00 Annual Town Meeting, $15.00 Special Town Meetings; Town Collector, $2,900.00 per year (all fees to revert to the Town Treasury); Tree Warden, $1.50 per hour (includes use of car); Selectmen, 2 members $600.00 per year, Chairman, $650.00 per year; Assessors, $1.50 per hour (includes use of car when needed); Constables, $1.50 per hour when called on duty by Selectmen, plus fees; Auditor, $200.00 per
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year; School Committee, no salary; Cemetery Commissioners, no salary, $1.50 per hour for time spent at work; Water Commis- sioners, $150.00 per year; Library Trustees, no salary; Plan- ning Board Members, no salary; Poundkeeper, Field Drivers, Weighers of Grain, Surveyors of Lumber, Measurers of Wood and Charcoal (all Town Officers elected otherwise than by offi- cial ballot) fees only as fixed by General Laws.
ARTICLE 4. Voted unanimously that the Town authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to bor- row money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1958, and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44 of the General Laws.
NOTE : Action on Article 5 was deferred until after Article 14 to permit a larger attendance.
ARTICLE 5. Voted unanimously to raise and appropriate the sum of $904,399.27 for the following items: Aid to Agriculture, $100.00; Aid to Dependent Children, $1,000.00; Aid to Dis- abled, $7,000.00; Assessors' Exp. Account, $750.00; Board of Health, $7,500.00; Building Inspector's Exp. Account, $100.00; Cemeteries, $1,800.00; Civil Defense, $2,400.00; Community Program - Schools, $5,280.00; Dead Wood - Chapter 761, $2,500.00; Dental Clinic, $1,050.00; Election Expense, $2,500.00; Fire Department, $15,200.00; Forest Warden, $900.00; General Relief, $5,000.00; Hampden-Wilbraham Re- gional School, $16,338.56; Highways Miscellaneous, $27,200.00; Insurance and Bonding, $5,500.00; Interest, $50.00; Legal, $1,000.00; Library, $11,656.86; Memorial Day and Inde- pendence Day, $250.00; Mosquito Control, $2,000.00; Old Age Assistance, $21,000.00; Parks, $2,060.00; Pest Control - Chap- ter 660, $2,000.00; Planning Board Expense, $500.00; Play- ground Expense, $4,400.00; Police, $20,000.00; Printing Town Reports, $2,200.00; Registrar's Expense, $200.00; Road Ma- chinery Operating Expense, $4,400.00; Schools, $518,149.00; School Bonds and Interest (1949), $21,255.00; School Bonds and Interest (1953), $25,225.00; School Bonds and Interest (1956), $37,327.50; School Bonds and Interest (1957), $30,725.00; Selectmen's Contingency Account, $1,500.00: Street Lights, $5,500.00; Town Clerk's Expense Account, $200.00;
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Town Collector's Expense Account, $800.00; Town Officers' and Employees' Salaries, $29,000.00; Town Office and Building Maintenance, $5,000.00; Town Treasurer's Expense Account, $400.00; Town Treasurer's Expense Account - Land Court, $250.00; Tree Warden's Expense Account, $1,600.00; Veterans' Benefits, $4,500.00; Water Bonds and Interest (1955), $6,837.50; Water Department - Maintenance, $23,600.00; Water Notes and Interest (1953) $11,237.50; Wilbraham Con- tributory Retirement Account - Town's Portion, $7,457.35; Total, $904,399.27.
ARTICLE 6. Voted unanimously that the sum of $980.14 from the Dog Tax of 1957 be added to the Library Appropriation.
ARTICLE 7. Voted unanimously that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $8,400.00 to meet the Town's share of the cost of Chapter 81 Highway work, and that in addition the sum of $15,400.00 be transferred from unappropriated available funds in the treasury to meet the State's share of the cost of the work, the reimbursements from the State to be restored, upon their receipt, to unappropriated available funds in the treasury.
ARTICLE 8. Voted unanimously that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $1,250.00 to meet the Town's share of the cost of Chapter 90 Highway Maintenance, and that in addi- tion the sum of $2,500.00 be transferred from unappropriated available funds in the treasury to meet the State and County's share of the cost of the work, the reimbursements from the State and County to be restored, upon their receipt, to unappropriated funds in the treasury.
ARTICLE 9. Voted unanimously that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000.00 to meet the Town's share of the cost of Chapter 90 Highway Construction, and that in addi- tion the sum of $15,000.00 be transferred from unappropriated available funds in the treasury to meet the State and County's share of the cost of the work: the reimbursements from the State and County to be restored, upon their receipt, to unappropriated available funds in the treasury.
ARTICLE 10. Voted by a majority that the Town appropriate and transfer from available funds in the treasury the sum of
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$10,000.00 to construct a garage on Town property for use of the Highway Department.
ARTICLE 11. Voted unanimously that the Town transfer from the Road Machinery Fund the sum of $4,700.00 to pur- chase a 2 ton dump truck for the use of the Highway Depart- ment.
ARTICLE 12. Voted unanimously that the Town appropriate and transfer from the Road Machinery Fund the sum of $375.00 to purchase a Sewer Rod Machine for the use of the Highway Department.
ARTICLE 13. Voted unanimously that the Town appropriate and transfer from unappropriated available funds in the treasury the sum of $15,000.00 to be spent by the Water Department for additional household and business installations for water service, the cost of which is to be collected by the Town from the individuals or concerns requesting installations, and which is returned to surplus funds.
ARTICLE 14. Voted by a majority that the Town repeal that part of Article 2, Section 6 of the Town By-Laws which requires the election of five constables for one year, and instead of elect- ing constables, to authorize the appointment of two constables by the Selectmen in accordance with the provisions of the Gen- eral Laws, Chapter 41, Sections 91A and 91B.
ARTICLE 15. Voted unanimously that the Town discontinue that portion of the highway known as Old Ludlow Road, be- tween Boston Road and the Boston & Albany Railroad, adjoin- ing the Boston & Albany Railroad Station at North Wilbraham; reserving, however, to the Town the right to maintain and relay the water main now existing under said road and the right to enter for said purpose.
ARTICLE 16. Voted unanimously that the Town accept from the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority deeds of lands in the Town which were acquired by said Authority by virtue of its Order of Taking No. 30 and its Order of Taking No. 85, said lands being shown as parcels numbered 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, E-4, E-5, and DE-4, on plans filed with said Orders of Taking in the Hampden County Registry of Deeds and in the
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Town Clerk's Office, the lands so deeded being such as are outside the location lines at Three Rivers Road.
ARTICLE 17. Voted unanimously that the Town appropriate from unappropriated available funds in the treasury the sum of $3,000.00 to install an adequate main line meter not to exceed 12 inch in size and chlorinating equipment in the Miller Street meter pit in accordance with M.D.C. standards.
ARTICLE 18. Voted by more than 2/3 vote that the Town appropriate the sum of $135,000.00 to lay a 16-inch water main from the existing main at the intersection of Maple and Main Streets and running westerly to and thence on Boston Road for a distance of 8,800 feet, and from the end of the existing 16-inch main on South Main Street running southerly for a distance of 2,600 feet, and that to meet said appropriation there be trans- ferred from unappropriated available funds in the treasury the sum of $75,000.00 and that the Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow the sum of $60,000.00 and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor, payable in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44 of the General Laws so that the whole loan shall be paid in not more than 5 years from the date of issue of the first bond or note.
In favor Opposed
298 291 7
An amendment to lay the 16 inch main on Boston Road only was defeated.
ARTICLE 19. Voted unanimously that no action be taken on this article.
ARTICLE 20. Voted by a majority that the Town accept a gift of land from Mr. and Mrs. J. Loring Brooks for the pur- pose of providing a site for a fire station at Wilbraham Center lying on the northerly side of Woodland Dell Road, a Wilbra- ham Town Way as laid out by the Selectmen on March 3, 1955 and more particularly bounded and described as follows, viz: beginning at a point in the northerly line of said Woodland Dell Road which is S 86° 25' 13" E a distance of 330.18 feet
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from an iron bar which marks the intersection of said northerly line with the easterly line of Main Street, a 1915 Hampden County Highway; thence N 24° 35' 10" E along the easterly side of a 50 foot wide right of way as described in Book 2501, at Page 591 a distance of 152.00 feet to a point; thence S 66° 07' 40" E a distance of 187.13 feet to a point; thence S 3° 34' 47" W a distance of 77.00 feet to a point in the northerly line of said Woodland Dell Road, the last two courses being along other land of the Grantors herein; thence N 86° 25' 13" W along northerly line a distance of 230.00 feet to a point of beginning, and containing 23,076 square feet.
ARTICLE 21. Voted by a majority that the Town appropriate from unappropriated available funds in the treasury, the sum of $22,000.00 to purchase a new fire truck for use at Wilbraham Center.
ARTICLE 22. Voted by a majority that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 to engage an architect to pre- pare plans and specifications for the construction of a fire sta- tion in Wilbraham Center, said specifications to be presented at a future Town Meeting.
ARTICLE 23. Voted unanimously that the Town appropriate and transfer from unappropriated available funds in the treasury the sum of $5,000.00 to pay the garbage collector, with receipts from garbage collection subscribers to be restored as received by the Town Collector to unappropriated available funds in the treasury.
ARTICLE 24. Defeated.
In favor 7
Opposed 217
ARTICLE 25. Defeated.
In favor 0
Opposed 221
ARTICLE 26. Voted by more than 2/3 that the Town amend the zoning by law by extending the width of the present business district bordering the southerly side of Boston Road from the junction of Boston Road and Stony Hill Road for a distance of approximately one mile more or less to a point described as the
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east boundary of the Town Highway Department Yard, from the existing width of 100 feet to a maximum width of 200 feet.
In favor 207 Opposed 11
ARTICLE 27. Voted unanimously that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $2,500.00 to be expended under the joint supervision of the Planning Board and the Board of Assessors for the preparation of maps and plans for the use of said Plan- ning Board and Board of Assessors.
ARTICLE 28. Voted by a majority that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $2,400.00 to purchase a cruiser for the use of the Wilbraham Police.
ARTICLE 29. Voted by a majority that the present voting precincts of the Town be changed in accordance with the rec- ommendations of the Selectmen embodied in a statement giving the boundaries, the designations of the proposed precincts and the number of voters registered in each for the preceding State or Town election filed with the Town Clerk at least seven days before this Town Meeting, such changes to take effect on De- cember 31, 1958, all as provided by Section 7 of Chapter 54 of the General Laws.
ARTICLE 30. Voted by a majority that the Annual Town Election for all Town Officials to be chosen thereat be held on the First Saturday of March in each year; and that all matters to be considered at the Annual Town Meeting, other than the election of officers, shall be in order at a Town Meeting held within 30 days after the date of the Annual Town Election, the date thereof to be determined by the Selectmen.
In favor 64 Opposed 51
Voted by a majority to amend the original article changing the election day from the first Wednesday to the first Saturday in March in each year and that voting at elections for town officers shall not be by precincts.
ARTICLE 31. Voted unanimously that the Town authorize the Selectmen to sell at public auction, after first giving notice of the time and place of sale by posting such notice of sale in
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some convenient and public place in the Town 14 days at least before the sale, property taken by the Town under tax title procedure, provided that the Selectmen, or whomsoever they authorize to hold such public auction, may reject any bid which they deem inadequate.
ARTICLE 32. Voted unanimously that the Town authorize the Selectmen to institute or defend suits and employ counsel for the purpose of protecting the interests of the Town.
ARTICLE 33. Voted unanimously that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $600.00 to purchase land to extend the East Wilbraham Cemetery, land to be purchased from Lawrence Sweetman, beginning at a point on the northeasterly corner of the present East Wilbraham Cemetery running northerly about 25' to a wire fence which is the southerly boundary of the Massachusetts Turnpike, thence westerly along said wire fence about 374' to a point, thence southerly in a straight line about 234' to a pin, thence easterly about 175' to the westerly bound- ary of said cemetery, thence northerly along said boundary about 162' to the northwesterly corner of said cemetery, thence easterly along present north boundary of said cemetery about 165' to the point of beginning.
ARTICLE 34. Voted unanimously that the Town authorize the Selectmen to appoint a Bi-Centennial Committee which will include the members of our present History Committee, pre- viously appointed by your Selectmen who shall assist the Select- men in planning for our 200th Anniversary in 1963, said plans to be presented at some subsequent Annual Town Meeting, and raise and appropriate the sum of $200.00 for the necessary expenses of the History Committee.
ARTICLE 35. Voted unanimously that the Town authorize the Selectmen to appoint a committee to be known as a Better- ment Assessment Study Committee, to consist of 7 members - one Selectman, one Water Commissioner, one Planning Board Member, one Assessor, one Finance Committee Member, one Civic Survey Committee Member and the Town Counsel to study the problem of assessing betterments for various town services and to report to the townspeople at the next Annual Town Meeting.
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ARTICLE 36. Voted unanimously that the Town appropriate the sum of $12,000.00 for a Reserve Fund to be transferred from the Overlay Surplus Account.
ARTICLE 37. Voted by a majority that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 and transfer from unappro- priated available funds in the treasury the sum of $35,000.00 for the purpose of increasing the Stabilization Fund.
ARTICLE 38. Voted unanimously that the Town accept as a public way the private way now known as Shady Lane, as shown on sub division plan drawn by Durkee, White and Towne, dated May 1954, beginning at Brooklawn Road and running easterly for a distance of 506.11 feet more or less, and that the sum of $1,155.00 be raised and appropriated for construction of said Shady Lane, and that betterment assessments be levied in accord- ance with the provisions of Chapter 80 of the General Laws.
ARTICLE 39. Voted unanimously that the Town accept as a public way the private way now known as Jewell Lane, as shown on sub division plan drawn by Durkee, White and Towne, dated May 1954, beginning at the now accepted portion of Jewell Lane and running easterly for a distance of 425 feet more or less and that the sum of $1,435.00 be raised and appropriated for construction of said Jewell Lane, and that betterment assessments be levied in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 80 of the General Laws.
ARTICLE 40. Voted unanimously that the Town accept as a public way the private way now known as Sunnyside Terrace, as shown on sub division plan (Revised) drawn by C. E. Ander- son Associates, dated July 1955, beginning at Stony Hill Road and running westerly for a distance of 620 feet more or less, and that the sum of $1,805.00 be raised and appropriated for construction of said Sunnyside Terrace and that betterment assessments be levied in accordance with the provisions of Chap- ter 80 of the General Laws.
ARTICLE 41. Voted unanimously that the Town accept as a public way the private way now known as Greenwood Road as shown on plan and profile of Greenwood Road dated May 1957 drawn by John T. Casey, beginning at the now accepted portion of Greenwood Road and running southerly for a distance of 100 feet more or less.
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ARTICLE 42. Voted unanimously that the Town accept as a public way the private way now known as Glenn Drive as shown on plan of lots of Glenn Drive dated December 1955, and plan of lots of Glenn Drive and Lance Lane dated January 1956, drawn by Durkee, White and Towne, Engineers, beginning at Stony Hill Road and running easterly to Lance Lane, a distance of 2,514 feet more or less.
ARTICLE 43. Voted unanimously that the Town accept as a public way the private way now known as Lance Lane as shown on plan of lots of Glenn Drive and Lance Lane, dated January 1956, drawn by Durkee, White and Towne, Engineers, begin- ning at Glenn Drive running northerly to Manchonis Road Extension for a distance of 547 feet more or less.
ARTICLE 44. Voted unanimously that the Town accept as a public way the private way now known as Addison Road as shown on sub division plan dated March 1956, beginning at Pleasant View Road and running northerly and southerly for a distance of 1,201 feet more or less.
ARTICLE 45. Voted unanimously that the Town accept as a public way the private way now known as Oakland Street, as shown on sub division plan dated March 1956, beginning at Meadowview Road and running easterly and westerly for a dis- tance of 400 feet more or less.
ARTICLE 46. Voted unanimously that the Town accept as a public way the private way now known as Pleasant View Road, as shown on sub division plan dated March 1956, beginning at Meadowview Road and running easterly and westerly for a dis- tance of 400 feet more or less.
ARTICLE 47. Voted unanimously that the Town accept as a public way the private way now known as Leemond Street as shown on sub division plan of William and Lillie Decorie drawn by Smith and Wallen Engineers, dated November 1954, begin- ning at Decorie Drive and running northerly for a distance of 1,385 feet more or less.
ARTICLE 48. Voted unanimously that the Town accept as a public way the private way now known as Brookmont Drive, as shown on sub division plan of Brookmont Heights, drawn by John T. Casey, R.L.S., dated July 1957, beginning at the
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now accepted portion of Brookmont Drive and running north- easterly and thence northwesterly for a distance of 851 feet more or less.
ARTICLE 49. Voted unanimously that the Town accept as a public way the private way now known as Decorie Drive as shown on sub division plan of Earl W. Decorie, drawn by Smith and Wallen, Engineers, dated July 1957, beginning at Leemond Street and running westerly for a distance of 1,400 feet more or less.
ARTICLE 50. Voted unanimously that the Town accept as a public way the private way now known as Hilltop Drive as shown on sub division plan of Brookmont Heights, drawn by John T. Casey, R.L.S. dated July 1957, beginning at Brookmont Drive and running easterly and southerly for a distance of 1,000 feet more or less.
ARTICLE 51. Voted by a majority that the Town accept a gift of a parcel of land from one Douglas M. Trevallion to be used as a park and recreation area, consisting of approximately one and four tenths acres, namely lots 68, 70 and the westerly half of lot 66 on Manchonis Road Extension as shown on a plan entitled "Plan of Lots on Manchonis Road Extension" Durkee, White and Towne Engineers, dated August 1954 and recorded in Hampden County Registry of Deeds Book of Plans 44, Page 115.
ARTICLE 52. Voted unanimously that all appropriations made at this meeting, unless otherwise provided for, be raised by assessment against the polls, personal properties and real estate of the Town.
It was voted unanimously to close the polls at 6:30 p. m. on March 15, 1958.
A unanimous vote was made to close the business portion of the Town Meeting at 6:00 p. m.
All votes having been counted, Town Clerk Doris G. Cochran made known the results and the Town Meeting was declared closed by Moderator Ernest Furnans at 11:15 p. m.
Attest:
DORIS G. COCHRAN, Town Clerk
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Report of Special Town Meeting DECEMBER 5, 1958
In accordance with the warrant as posted, the voters of the Town assembled in the Wilbraham Memorial School Auditorium.
The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Mr. Ernest W. Furnans, Jr. at 8:00 p. m. with approximately 30 voters pres- ent.
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