USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Wilbraham annual report 1956-1960 > Part 35
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 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
Surveyors of Lumber
Walter H. Clark Jesse L. Rice
Peter Presz
Field Drivers Leonard F. VonFlatern, Sr. Alvin A. Richmond Weighers of Grain
Weldon G. Jameson Jesse L. Rice
ARTICLE 2. Voted unanimously that the Town accept the reports of the Selectmen, Board of Public Welfare, School Com-
48
mittee, Town Collector, Town Treasurer, Water Department, Assessors, Town Clerk and other Town officials or committees as printed in the Town Report.
ARTICLE 3. Voted unanimously that the Town fix the com- pensation for elected Town Officers as follows: Town Clerk, $1,450.00 per year (all fees to revert to the Town Treasury) ; Town Treasurer, $1,450.00 per year: Moderator, $50.00 An- nual Town Meetings, $15.00 Special Town Meetings; Town Collector $2,900.00 (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; 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 year; School Committee, no salary; Ceme- tery Commissioners, no salary, $1.50 per hour for time spent at work; Water Commissioners, $150.00 per year: Library Trustees, no salary; Planning Board Members, no salary; Poundkeeper, Field Drivers, Weighers of Grain, Surveyors of Lumber, Meas- urers of Wood and Charcoal (all Town Officers elected other- wise than by official ballot) fees only as fixed by General Laws.
ARTICLE 4. Voted unanimously to authorize the Town Treas- urer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1959, 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.
ARTICLE 5. Voted unanimously to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,095,665.26 to defray the cost of the operating expense of the Town, for the ensuing year as follows: GENERAL GOVERN- MENT - Aid to Agriculture, $100.00; Assessor's Expense Ac- count, $750.00; Election Expense, $1,000.00; Insurance and Bonding, $6,700.00; Interest, $50.00; Legal, $1,000.00; Plan- ning Board Expense, $500.00; Printing Town Reports, $2,500.00; Registrar's Expense, $150.00; Selectmen's Contin- gency Account, $1,500.00; Town Clerk's Expense Account, $200.00; Town Collector's Expense Account, $1,000.00; Town Officers' and Employees' Salaries, $31,500.00; Town Office and Buildings Maintenance, $5,000.00: Town Treasurer's Expense Account, $400.00; Town Treasurer's Expense Account - Land Court, $250.00: Wilbraham Contributory Retirement Account
49
- Town's Portion, $8,137.64. PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY - Board of Health, $6,000.00; Building Inspector's Expense Account, $100.00; Civil Defense, $1,700.00; Dead Wood - Chapter 761, $3,500.00; Dental Clinic, $1,050.00; Fire Department, $14,760.00; Forest Warden, $900.00; Mos- quito Control, $2,200.00; Pest Control, $1,000.00; Police, $18,800.00; Tree Warden's Expense Account, $1,600.00. TOWN SERVICES - Cemeteries, $2,500.00; Highways - Miscellaneous, $33,735.00; Library, $12,875.92; Road Machinery Operating Expense, $5,200.00; Street Lights, $6,000.00; Water Depart- ment - Maintenance, $21,350.00. PUBLIC WELFARE - Aid Dependent Children, $500.00; Aid to Disabled, $6,000.00; Gen- eral Relief, $7,500.00; Old Age Assistance, $19,000.00; Veter- ans' Benefits, $4,500.00. SCHOOLS - Local, $522,867.00; Re- gional, Hampden-Wilbraham, $179,240.70. RECREATION Community Program, Schools, $6,000.00; Memorial Day, $125.00; Parks, $750.00; Playgrounds, $3,757.00. DEBT SERV. ICE - School Bonds and Interest (1949.), $20,940.00; School Bonds and Interest (1953), $24,845.00; School Bonds and In- terest (1956), $36,662.00; School Bonds and Interest (1957), $30,175.00; Water Bonds and Interest (1955), $6,732.50; Wa- ter Notes and Interest (1953), $11,012.50; Water Notes and Interest (1958), $21,050.00.
ARTICLE 6. Voted by a majority that the Town's share of the Dog Tax of 1958 ($1,039.08) be added to the Library Appropriation under Article 5.
ARTICLE 7. Voted unanimously that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $8,700.00 to meet the Town's share of the cost of Chapter 81 Highway work, and that in addition the sum of $15,950.00 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 $1,500.00 to meet the Town's share of the cost of Chapter 90 Highway Maintenance, and that in addi- tion the sum of $3,000.00 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
50
and County to be restored upon their receipt, to unappropriated available 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 unanimously that the Town accept as a public way the private way now known as Cone Trail as shown on sub division plan drawn by Cobb, Beesley and Miles, Engi- neers, dated October 2, 1950, beginning at Ridge Road and running southeasterly from Ridge Road to Ely Road for a dis- tance of 550 feet more or less, and that the sum of $2,607.00 be raised and appropriated for construction of said Cone Trail, and that betterment assessments be levied in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 80 of the General Laws.
ARTICLE 11. Voted unanimously that the Town accept as a public way the private way now known as Railroad Avenue as shown on a plan drawn by C. E. Anderson, Engineer dated April 1954, beginning at Boston Road and running northerly for a distance of 240 feet more or less, and that the sum of $547.00 be raised and appropriated for construction of said Railroad Avenue, and that betterment assessments be levied in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 80 of the General Laws.
ARTICLE 12. Voted unanimously that the Town accept as a public way the private way now known as Oakland Street as shown on sub division plan drawn by Smith and Wallen, Engi- neering Co., Inc., dated February 1958, beginning at Main Street and running westerly for a distance of 2640 feet more or less.
ARTICLE 13. Voted unanimously that the Town accept as a public way the private way now known as Brookside Circle as shown on sub division plan drawn by Durkee, White and Towne and E. N. Chapdelaine, Engineers, dated August 1957, beginning at Brookside Drive and running southerly for a dis- tance of 1965 feet more or less.
51
ARTICLE 14. Voted unanimously that the Town accept as a public way the private way now known as Brookside Drive as shown on plan of "Colonial Acres" drawn by Merrill & Sears, Engineers dated May 10, 1955, beginning at the now accepted portion of Brookside Drive and running southerly for a distance of 760 feet more or less.
ARTICLE 15. Voted unanimously that the Town accept as a public way the private way now known as Birch Street as shown on sub division plan drawn by C. E. Anderson Associates, Engi- neers "Revised Plan of Lots - B Section", dated July 1954, beginning at Decorie Drive and running southerly for a distance of 300 feet more or less, and that the sum of $684.00 be raised and appropriated for construction of said Birch Street, and that betterment assessments be levied in accordance with the provi- sions of Chapter 80 of the General Laws.
ARTICLE 16. Voted unanimously that the Town accept as a public way the private way now known as Cliffside Drive, begin- ning at the intersection of Main Street and running southeasterly for a distance of 800 feet more or less, and that the sum of $1,824.00 be raised and appropriated for construction of Cliff- side Drive, and that betterment assessments be levied in accord- ance with the provisions of Chapter 80 of the General Laws.
ARTICLE 17. Voted unanimously that the Town accept as a public way the private way now known as Vista Road, begin- ning at Main Street and running easterly for a distance of 400 feet more or less, and that the sum of $912.00 be raised and appropriated for construction of said Vista Road, and that bet- terment assessments be levied in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 80 of the General Laws.
ARTICLE 18. Voted unanimously that the Town accept as a public way the private way now known as Hickory Hill Drive, as shown on sub division plan drawn by Durkee, White and Towne, Engineers, dated March 1956, beginning at Stony Hill Road and running easterly for a distance of 660 feet more or less.
ARTICLE 19. Voted to take no action on this article.
ARTICLE 20. Voted by a majority that the Town appropriate and transfer from the Road Machinery Fund the sum of $700.00 to purchase Lawn Mowing Equipment for use of the Highway Department.
52
ARTICLE 21. Voted unanimously that the Town appropriate and transfer from the Road Machinery Fund the sum of $1,000.00 to purchase Traffic Line Painting Equipment for the use of the Highway Department.
ARTICLE 22. Voted unanimously that the Town appropriate and transfer from the Road Machinery Fund the sum of $2,400.00 to purchase a Sand Spreader for use of the Highway Department.
ARTICLE 23. Voted unanimously that the Town appropriate and transfer from the Road Machinery Fund the sum of $800.00 to purchase three (3) Short Wave Communication Units for use of the Highway Department Trucks.
ARTICLE 24. Voted unanimously that the Town appropriate and transfer from unappropriated available funds in the treasury the sum of $15,300.00 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 individuals or concerns requesting installations, and which is returned to surplus funds.
ARTICLE 25. Voted unanimously that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $3,300.00 to replace the 11/2 inch water main with a 6-inch water main on the now accepted portion of Pomeroy Street running easterly from Ripley Street for a distance of 660 feet more or less.
ARTICLE 26. Voted by a majority that the Town accept the provisions of the General Laws, Chapter 40, Sections 42G, 42H, and 42I whereby the Town may levy special assessments to meet the whole or part of the cost of laying pipes in public and private ways for the conveyance or distribution of water to its inhabi- tants.
ARTICLE 27. Voted by a majority that the Town, at regular or special Town Meetings, as a matter of future policy, consider and vote to approve or reject extensions of the water mains only on the basis of the following regulations:
1. On Private Property - only subject to the approval of the Water Board and without expense to the Town.
2. In Sub Divisions - only subject to the approval of the Planning Board and the Water Board and without expense to the Town.
53
3. On Accepted Streets - only subject to the following provisions:
A. If owners of 75% of the abutting lineal footage of property of both sides of the street, not including any property owned by the Town, sign an application for the extension, approval would be subject to the assess- ment of a betterment charge of 1/3 of the total cost against owners of property on one side of the street and 1/3 of the total cost against owners of property on the other side of the street. In both cases, cost to be allocated on a per front foot basis and any footage owned by the Town shall be included as part of the total footage in arriving at the per foot cost. Balance of the total cost to be borne by the Town.
B. If any owner, or owners, of less than 75% of the abut- ting lineal footage of property on both sides of the street, not including any property owned by the Town, request an extension of the water main, approval would be subject to the assessment of a betterment charge of 2/3 of the total cost against such owner or owners on any basis of sharing such cost as they may agree upon among themselves. The remaining 1/3 of the cost shall be borne by the Town.
Any abutter who does not share in the original cost may within 5 years, tie in to the main only upon pay- ment to the Town Treasurer of a fee equal to the amount he would have paid if Section "A" had been originally in effect, such fee to be turned over on a pro rata basis to the one or ones who paid the original 2/3 cost upon written application for same within the 5 year period.
C. It shall be understood that betterments outlined under 3A and 3B shall be based on the laying of 8 inch pipe. If it is decided that, for any reason, larger pipe should be used and the Town so votes, then the difference between the cost of 8 inch pipe and the cost of the larger pipe shall be borne by the Town.
D. It shall be understood that actual water installations shall be made at the prevailing rate set by the Water Board.
54
ARTICLE 28. Voted by a majority that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $2,500.00 for the preparation and pub- lishing of a history of the Town in 1963.
ARTICLE 29. Voted by a majority 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 30. Voted unanimously that the Town appropriate the sum of $35,000.00 from available funds in the treasury to be used for the construction of a sanitary sewer under and across the Boston Post Road in the vicinity of the Springfield line, thence on Dudley Street, under and across the Boston & Albany Railroad to Walter Street, to discharge into the existing sanitary sewer located on Weston Street; together with the necessary pumping station, pressure sewer, related appurtenances and to acquire by purchase, gift, or take by eminent domain, land or easement necessary therefor; said sewerage construction to be carried out and expenditure of money under this Article to be made only after the Friendly Ice Cream Corporation of West Springfield, Mass., guarantees to the Town the development of their land with a planned milk product and meat processing plant and will agree to the use of the said sewer system in accordance with terms approved by and required by the Board of Selectmen.
ARTICLE 31. Voted by more than 2/3 vote that the Town amend the Zoning By-Laws as follows: Delete paragraph 2, Sec- tion 4 and substitute the following; The taking of boarders, not to exceed four (4) by a resident family provided there is no display visible from the street nor a signboard used to advertise such use, except an announcement sign having an area of not more than one hundred forty four (144) square inches. Any illumination provided for the above mentioned sign shall be steady, and not intermittent while in use.
In favor 179 Opposed 83
ARTICLE 32. Voted by a majority that no action be taken on this Article.
55
ARTICLE 33. Voted by more than 2/3 vote that the Town amend the Zoning By-Laws as follows: Delete Paragraph 3, Sec- tion 4, and substitute the following: Churches, public schools, public libraries, public museums, parish houses, parish schools, philanthropic institutions.
In favor 190
Opposed 12
ARTICLE 34. Voted unanimously that the Town amend the Zoning By-Laws as follows: Delete paragraph 5, Section 20 and substitute the following: The Board of Appeals may, in its dis- cretion, following a public hearing, due notice having been given in accordance with the provisions of the Zoning Enabling Act, Chapter 40A of the General Laws and subject to appropriate conditions and safeguards, grant special permits for any of the following:
(A) Private schools, hospitals, sanatoriums, convalescent or nursing homes and rest homes, not for contagious dis- eases, nor for the care of epileptic or drug or liquor patients, nor for correctional purposes, nor for the care of the insane or feeble minded.
(B) The taking of more than four (4) boarders in a residen- tial district.
In favor 175 Opposed none
ARTICLE 35. Voted unanimously that the Town amend the Zoning By-Laws as follows: Delete Paragraph 2, Section 14 and substitute the following: This By-Law shall not apply to build- ings or structures, nor the use of any building or structure or land which existed lawfully prior to the adoption of this amend- ment thereto, but this By Law or any amendment thereto shall apply to any change of use and any alteration of a building or structure when the same would amount to reconstruction, extension or structural change, and to any alteration of a build- ing or structure to provide for its use for a purpose or in a man- ner substantially different from the use to which it was put before alteration, to a substantially greater extent.
In favor 175
Opposed none
ARTICLE 36. Voted by a majority that the Town appropriate from available funds in the treasury the sum of $29,000.00 to construct a fire station at Wilbraham Center.
56
ARTICLE 37. Voted by a majority that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 to be expended by the Library Trustees to engage a library consultant for the ensuing year.
ARTICLE 38. Voted by a majority that the Town appropriate the sum of $15,000.00 for a Reserve fund to be transferred from the Overlay Surplus Account.
ARTICLE 39. Voted by a majority that the Town appropriate from available funds in the treasury, the sum of $35,000.00 and raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 to add to the exist- ing Stabilization Fund.
ARTICLE 40. 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 41. 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 some convenient and public place in the Town 14 days at least before the sale, property taken by the Town under tax title pro- cedure provided that the Selectmen, or whomsoever they author- ize to hold such public auction, may reject any bid which they deem inadequate.
ARTICLE 42. 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 43. Voted unanimously that all appropriations made at this meeting unless otherwise provided for, be raised by assess- ment against the polls, personal properties and real estate of the Town.
Mrs. Ethel Musselman, a member of the Wilbraham School Committee requested that the following resolution be incorpo- rated into the permanent records of this Town Meeting:
Be it hereby resolved that the members of the Wilbraham School Committee formally express the appreciation of the towns- people of Wilbraham to Mr. Marshall E. Roper for his many years of valuable community service as both member and chair- man of the Wilbraham School Committee and the Hampden- Wilbraham Regional District Committee.
The people of our town share his pride in our schools, and
57
attribute to his skilled direction, foresight and personal effort the accomplishment of our expanded school system.
A grateful Town records its respect and its admiration for his leadership.
Jesse L. Rice, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, announced that the Gold Headed Cane, given to the Town of Wilbraham by the Boston Post, will be presented to the oldest resident of Wilbraham, Dr. Elmer T. Sherman of 4 Springfield Street. Dr. Sherman was born September 1866 and has been a resident of the Town since 1942.
Voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 6:40 p. m.
Attest : DORIS G. COCHRAN, Town Clerk
Report of Special Town Meeting JUNE 10, 1959
In accordance with the warrant as posted, the voters of the Town assembled in the Wilbraham Memorial School Audi- torium.
The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Mr. Ernest W. Furnans, Jr. at 8:00 p. m. with 22 voters present which constituted a quorum.
ARTICLE 1. Voted unanimously that the Town transfer the sum of $5,100.00 from the 16-inch Boston Road Water Main Account to construct an 8-inch water main adjacent to Boston Road, westerly from Stony Hill Road, a distance of 1275 feet more or less, two-thirds, or $3,400.00, to be returned to the treas- ury by Friendly Ice Cream Corporation.
ARTICLE 2. Voted unanimously that the Town appropriate and transfer from unappropriated available funds in the Treasury the sum of $1,250.00 to be added to the Water Department Installation Account for water service to the Friendly Ice Cream Corporation, the cost of which is to be collected by the Town from the concern.
ARTICLE 3. Voted unanimously that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000.00 for General Relief.
ARTICLE 4. Voted unanimously that all appropriations made at this meeting, unless otherwise provided for, be raised by assess- ment against the polls, personal properties and real estate of the Town.
Voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p. m.
Attest : DORIS G. COCHRAN, Town Clerk
58
Finance Committee Report
As pointed out in the Finance Committee's report a year ago, the tax rate during the preceding decade had risen 67 per cent. With the necessary increase in the tax rate for 1959, amounting to $10.00, the cumulative increase over an eleven year period is now 97 per cent, from $33.00 in 1949 to $65.00 in 1959.
The unprecedented increase last year was in large measure attributable to construction of the new Regional High School and its operation on a limited basis for only a portion of the year. The 1960 budget must now contemplate the expense of a full year's operation, and with only three grades for the greater por- tion of the year. This cost is evidenced by an increase in the Town's share of the 1960 Regional School budget of $118,732 over 1959. A further increase will be forthcoming in 1961 when the school will be operating with four grades for the full year.
In view of the expense to the taxpayers of the steadily mount- ing educational requirements, it becomes increasingly difficult each year, without burdensome increase in the tax rate, to make funds available for other town services and facilities in keeping with its growth.
In seeking to effect economy, the Finance Committee has nevertheless endeavored to accept the unavoidable implications of inflation with regard to certain expenses, to approve appro- priations essential to safeguard life and property of the Town residents, and to acknowledge that, with Town growth and progress, increased cost of government is in some measure in- evitable. By the same token, pursuit of and adherence to the foregoing considerations imposes upon the Finance Committee the necessity of recommending reductions in some appropriation requests which, although beneficial, are not immediately and acutely essential.
The total amount of appropriations recommended by the Finance Committee for 1960 is $1,386,667. Once again this exceeds the recommended appropriations for any previous year. The Committee therefore urges all taxpayers to consider care- fully every item of expense presented for their consideration at the Annual Town Meeting.
ALDO E. ALBERICI, Chairman
IRVING J. CORDNER FRED T. GOOGINS HERMAN G. GRANDCHAMP ALBERT H. HOWES
STANLEY W. OPALINSKI
ALBERT E. NEALE JOHN W. JUECHTER, JR. EARL W. DECORIE
59
Comparative Annual Expenditures of Town Appropriations
DEPARTMENTAL
1959 Appropriations or Transier from Reserve
1959 Expenditures of Town Appro.
1959 Unexpended Balance
1958 Expenditures of Town Appro.
1957 Expenditures of Town Appro.
1956 Expenditures of Town Appro.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT :
Town Officers' and Employees' Salaries
$28,543.50
$27,672.68
$870.82
$28,418.53
$24,898.09
$20,103.03
Assessors' Expense Account
753.75
659.00
94.75
573.84
567.14
3,377.46
Town Collector's Expense Account
1,170.00
1,146.01
23.99
854.30
801.03
1,171.99
Town Clerk's Expense Account
200.00
133.05
66.95
235.28
171.89
877.96
Town Treasurer's Expense Account
400.00
390.24
9.76
358.92
296.92
736.80
Selectmen's Contingency
1,500.00
1,181.70
318.30
899.28
1,040.16
2,141.83
State Audit
842.57
842.57
0.00
1,004.39
987.12
1,278.51
Legal
1,299.68
1,299.68
0.00
230.65
261.50
325.00
Election Expense
1,000.00
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.