Annual Report of the Town Officers of Wakefield Massachusetts
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. fhf.v it''*--' \WmAi ' MftKii'' li"' sir' !,: ;t'. 'm-^ mm' mm 1mm 143RD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TOWN OFFICERS O? WAKEFIELD, MASS. Financial Year Eeiding December IhirJy-First Nineteen Hyndred and Fifty-Four THE TOWN CLERK'S RECORD OF THE BIRTHS, MARRIAGES and DEATHS During the Year 1954 ITEM PRESS, WAKEFIELD v^ TOWN OF WAKEFIELD Population, 1950 Federal Census — 19,633 Congressman, 8th District—Torbert H. Macdonald of Maiden. Councillor, 6th District—M. Edward Viola of Arlington. Senator, 7th Middlesex District^—^George J. Evans of Wakefield. State Representatives, 22nd Middlesex District—Charles Gibbons, Stone- ham; Theodore J. Vaitses, Melrose; Gardner E. Campbell, Wakefield. TOWN OFFICERS, 1954-1955 Selectmen Thomas W. Ackerson, Chairman Matthew P. Curran Catherine E. Simpson, Secretary Harry H. Denning George J. Gould Town Clerk Assistant Town Clerk Charles F. Young Marion B. Connell Moderator Treasurer William J. Lee John I. Preston Tax Collector Town Accountant Carl W. Sunmian John J. McCarthy Assessors Leo F. Douglass, Chairman Term Expires March 1957 Prank A. Tredinnick, Secretary Term Expires March 1956 George H. Stout Term Expires March 1955 Municipal \Ag\ii Commissioners James Boit Wiswall, Chairman Term Expires March 1957 John Morley, Secretary Term Expires March 1955 Joseph M. Hartshorne Term Expires March 1956 135207 MAY 1 Q 11955 143RD ANNUAL REPORT Board of Public Works John N. Bill, Chairman Term Expires March 1957 Sataatino Benedetto, Secretary Term Expires March 1955 Sidney F. Adams Term Expires March 1956 Board of Public Welfare Peter Y. Myhre, Chairman Term Expires 1957 M. Leo Conway Term Expires 1955 P. Elizabeth Kitchenman, Secretary Term Expires 1957 Winsor L. Finney, Jr. Term Expires 1956 J. Edward Dulong Term Expires 1956 School Committee Lane W. Fuller, Chairman Term Expires March 1956 Frederick W. Bliss, Treasurer Term Expires March 1955 Richard J. McGrail Term Expires March 1956 Richard J. Volpe Term Expires March 1957 Jean Wheeler Beebe Term Expires March 1957 Dorothea J. Wettergreen Term Expires March 1955 Trustees Lucius Beebe Memorial Library Hervey J. Skinner, Chairman Term Expires March 1955 Miriam G. Needham, Secretary Term Expires March 1956 Gladys Watkins Term Expires March 1955 Phillips C. Davis Term Expires March 1955 Albert W. Rockwood Term Expires March 1956 John Round, Jr. Term Expires March 1956 Walter C. Hickey Term Expires March 1957 Edward Lynch Term Expires March 1957 William J. Lee Term Expires March 1957 Board of Health Dr. Robert Dutton, Chairman Term Expires March 1957 Robert G. Reed, Secretary Term Expires March 1955 Evan Fairbanks Term Expires March 1956 Town Planning Board Kenneth W. Thomson, Chairman-Treasurer Term Expires March 1956 Ruth M. Woodbury, Secretary Term Expires March 1957 Edward M. Bridge Term Expires March 1955 Arthur L. Gardner Term Expires March 1957 Constables John Merritt Wenzel Harold J. Maloney Morton V. Griffin Harold R. Anderson Charles S. Antetomaso TOWN OF WAKEFIELD Registrars of Voters Frederick G. Gorman, Chairman Term Expires March 1956 Charles F. Young, Clerk Edmund W. Sliney Term Expires March 1957 Marjorie T. Dexter Term Expires March 1955 Finance Committee Marcus G. Beebe Term Expires 1957 Richard J. Connelly Term Expires 1957 Gardner C. Reed Term Expires 1957 Walter E. Morton Term Expires 1955 John J. Cox Term Expires 1955 Charles E. Maltby Term Expires 1955 J. Elmer Johnson Term Expires 1955 John S. Bethel Term Expires 1957 John Bonsignor Term Expires 1956 Ambrose Burton Term Expires 1957 William T. Cmiey, Jr. Term Expires 1956 John E. Durant Term Expires 1955 Roy S. Fletcher Term Expires 1956 Joseph L. McManamin Term Expires 1956 Paul Tetzlaff, Jr. Term Expires 1956 Board of Appeals William C. McKie, Chairman Term Expires 1957 Harold W. Merritt (Deceased) James J. Curley Term Expires 1956 Recreation Committee Eugene J. Sullivan, Chairman Avis Blanchard Nicholas Mauriello Donald G. Day Pasquale Carisella Joseph J. McMahon Joseph Czarnota Surveyors of Lumber Lyman L. Prescott Hiram A. Tobey George Kerr Harry R. Mcintosh Ralph Morel George J. Gould Field Drivers Everett E. Packard Walter E. Doyle Joseph L, McManimin 143RD ANNUAL REPORT Report of Selectmen To the Citizens of the Town of Wakefield: We herewith submit the annual report of the Board of Selectmen for the year ending December 31, 1954, together with the reports of the several departments under our control or supervision. The Board consisting of Catherine E. Simpson, Thomas W. Acker- son, Matthew P. Curran, George J. Gould and Harry H. Denning organ- ized by electing Thomas W. Ackerson, Chairman and Catherine E. Simpson, Secretary. Raymond S. Dower was appointed Clerk. COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS Police Department—Catherine E. Simpson, George J. Gould Fire Department—George J. Gould, Matthew P. Curran Veterans' Services—Harry H. Denning, Matthew P. Curran Civil Defense—Harry H. Denning, Catherine E. Simpson Building Inspector, Wire Inspector, Sealer Weights & Measures— Harry H. Denning, Catherine E. Simpson APPOINTMENTS Town Counsel—John I. Preston Fire Inspector—Robert P. MacDonald Lock-Up Keeper—John G. Gates Board of Appeals (3 years) —William C. McKie Veterans' Agent—Richard J. McGrail Burial Agent—Richard J. McGrail Agent, Care Veterans' Graves—Richard J. McGrail Director Veterans' Services—Richard J. McGrail Fence Viewers—Frank D. MacKay, Dennis Regan, Gaston Loubris Building Inspector—Frank A. Tredinnick Compensation Agent^—Frank A. Tredinnick Wire Inspector—John J. Curran Registrar of Voters (3 years) —Edmund W. Sliney Constable—John G. Gates Dog Officer and Animal Inspector—John W. Hopkins Sweetser Lecture Committee—Robert G. Reed, Katherine Nelson, Walter C. Hickey, George E. Potter, Roland H. Kinder, Martha B. Ackerson, William J. Lee. Package Store Liquor Licenses were granted by the Board of Selectmen for the year 1954 to the following, subject to the approval of the State Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission : Wakefield City Hall Liquor Store Inc., 6 Water Street Jeffrey's Package Store, Inc., 354 Main Street Ignazio Palumbo Jr., (Palumbo's Annex) 35-37 Albion Street S. Tine & Sons Inc., 38-38A Water Street Receipts from these and other licenses granted during the year 1954 by the Board are shown in the Tov/n Accountant's report. Reports of the various departments under the jurisdiction of the Board of Selectmen will be found under other headings in this report. Reports of activities of the departments under the jurisdiction of the Board have been received every month during the year. TOWN OF WAKEFIELD Upon the recommendation of the Board of Selectmen, the town voted at the annual Town Meeting to place the Fire Department per- sonnel under Civil Service. Since then, all but a few members of the department have taken the examination. When the results of the ex- amination have been received, the Board will take up the appointment of a Chief. The Board voted that all call men, as a prerequisite for appointment to the permanent firefighter force, take a physical examination includ- ing a cardiograph by a heart specialist. At the September 28 meeting the Board adopted rules and regula- tions for the Fire Department including hours of duty, requirements for appointment, duties, dress, and rules for driving the apparatus which should help to develop a well-knit organization. These rules will be found posted in the Central and Greenwood Fire Stations. At a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board, Mr. William Thistle was appointed to fill the vacancy on the Planning Board caused by the resignation of Mr. Arthur Harding. The traffic situation in town has become so serious that the Board appointed a committee of citizens consisting of Selectman Denning, Chairman, Sidney F. Adams, John A. Bogart Jr., Lloyd F. Curtis, Cyrus M. Dolbeare, James Horan, William J. Lee, Ervine E. Laughton, Mrs. Mark Newbegin, Secretary, Kenneth W. Odiorne, Melvin D. Peach, James Potash, John J. Round Jr., John M. Wenzel, and Richard Whipple. Three pertinent recommendations were made to the Selectmen by the committee. 1. Development of a new free non- time-limited parking area be- tween Richardson Street and Water Street. 2. Two additional police officers for parking duty only in the central business district. 3. The installation of parking meters to provide funds for a long range program. After a conference with Mr. Joseph Hartshorne of the Hartshorne Insurance Agency, that handles the town's insurance, an insurance commission was appointed to keep in constant touch with all insurance matters affecting the town. This committee has already made several recommendations to the Board that have meant substantial savings to the town and more adequate protection to the town's property and per- sonnel. The members of the committee for 1954 were Mr. Robert L. Churchill, Chairman, Selectmen Harry H. Denning and Matthew P. Curran, Thomas P. Hanson, Leslie W. Gaquin and John J. McCarthy, member ex-officio, secretary. The Board is continually faced with serious traffic problems arising in all parts of the town. Complaints of speeding, overtime parking, hazardous intersectional conditions have necessitated the establishment of many "Slow" and "Stop" signs throughout the town. School traffic is well under control through the appointment of four women traffic supervisors whose work has been so efficient that additional supervis- ors will be requested in 1955. The Board appointed the following super- visors: Mrs. Ann P. Carley, Mrs. Helen M. Moores, Mrs. Ruth H. Nolan and Mrs. Eleanor D. North. 143RD ANNUAL REPORT The Auxiliary Police with a large personnel, trained by Sergeant J. Merritt Wenzel, has served the town on many occasions most efficiently and unselfishly. The town can well be proud of these volunteer organ- izations. Through the attendance at the State Police School held at Fram- ingham each year, our police force is becoming a very highly trained and efficient corps of officers. The new Department of Civil Defense has been functioning very successfully under the direction of James T.