USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1947-1948 > Part 1
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CITY OF NEWBURYPORT
CITY OFFICERS
AND THE
ANNUAL REPORTS To the City Council
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT
TERRA MARIQUE MDCCCLI
FOR THE YEAR
1947
1948 NEWS PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. NEWBURYPORT, MASS.
City Government 1947
MAYOR HON. JOHN M. KELLEHER
CITY COUNCIL President EDWARD G. PERKINS
COUNCILLORS AT LARGE
Term 2 years James A. Croteau William J. Fenders
Edward G. Perkins
Michael E. O'Connor
Everett M. Follansbee
WARD COUNCILLORS
Term 2 years
Theodore P. Stanwood, Jr. . .. Ward One Arthur J. Smith Ward Four
Patrick J. Welch Ward Two James P. Reardon . Ward Five
Cornelius J. Sullivan Ward Three Herbert G. Poland Ward Six
CITY CLERK VERA M. KELLY
COMMITTEES OF CITY COUNCIL
General Government
Mayor John M. Kelleher, Councillor Edward G. Perkins, Councillor Everett M. Follans- bee
Public Service *Chairman, Theodore P. Stanwood, Jr., Couneillor Herbert G. Poland, Councillor James P. Reardon *Resigned March 24, 1947, Councillor Poland named chairman.
Public Safety
Chairman, James A. Croteau, Councillor William J. Fenders, Councillor Arthur J. Smith.
Public Welfare
Chairman, Patrick J. Welch, Councillor Michael E. O'Connor, Councillor Cornelius J. Sullivan
Clerk of Committees John J. Kelleher, William Pelletier
4
ANNUAL REPORT
CITY OFFICIALS
Mayor Hon. John M. Kelleher City Clerk Vera M. Kelly Treasurer and Collector. Charles E. Houghton Auditor . Norbert A. Carey City Messenger William H. Donahue City Solicitor Ernest Foss, James T. Connolly Superintendent of Highways James H. Ronan Relief Commissioner James F. Creeden City Marshal James E. Sullivan Chief of Fire Department . C. Frank Creeden .C. Frank Creeden
Superintendent of Fire Alarm and Wires.
Inspector of Meats and Provisions and Slaughtering
Building Inspector
Tree Warden and Superintendent Gypsy and Brown Tail Moths Walter O. Noyes Edward Robinson
Clerk of Committees
John J. Kelleher, William Pelletier William Sweeney John J. Connors
ASSESSORS
John H. Shea. Chairman. . Term expires 1948 Charles A. Morse, Clerk Term expires 1949
Everett F. Landford
Term expires 1947
BOARD OF HEALTH
Dr. Arthur Hewett Term expires 1950
Dr. Frank W. Snow Term expires 1949
Gordon Bingham Term expires 1948
Wilbur N. O'Brien, Clerk and Agent, and Inspector of Milk Helen O'Neil, Secretary Dr. Elwood G. Johnson, School Physician, Sidney Grover, Inspector of Plumbing. Martin Dugan, Deputy Inspector of Plumbing
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS
John J. O'Brien, Chairman. Term expires 1950
John O'Donnell Term expires 1948 Leon E. Oliver Term expires 1949
Vera M. Kelly, ex-officio
ATKINSON COMMON COMMISSIONERS
Frank J. McGregor Richard Williams James P. Dyer
Term expires 1947 Term expires 1948 Term expires 1946
Hon. John M. Kelleher, Mayor ex-officio Edward G. Perkins, President, ex-officio
Dog Officer
Director of Veterans' Services
Dr. Franklin C. Blakely George W. Hussey Superintendent of Cemeteries
5
CITY GOVERNMENT
TRUST FUND COMMISSION
Hon. John M. Kelleher, Mayor, ex-officio Edward G. Perkins, President, ex-officio Norbert A. Carey, City Auditor Henry B. Little John T. Lunt
WATER COMMISSIONERS
Daniel J. Reardon
Term expires 1952
John F. Cutter
Term expires 1948
Willard S. Little
Term expires 1949
Thomas P. McGrath
Term expires 1950
Freeman J. Condon
Term expires 1951
Gertrude C. Gorwaiz, Clerk
TRUSTEES MOSELEY WOODS
William Peebles .
Term expires 1948
James T. French.
Term expires 1952
Charles Gattrell
Term expires 1951
RETIREMENT BOARD
Norbert A. Carey John F. Cutter, Jr. Luren Stevens
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
Edward F. Murphy
Term expires 1947
Joseph L. McLaughlin
Term expires 1949
Richard Little
Term expires 1948
PLANNING BOARD
Edward Hicken.
Term expires 1949
George E. Moulton
.Term expires 1949
Richard F. Churchill
Term expires 1948
Claude E. Briggs
Term expires 1947
Oscar Cox
Term expires 1947
William A. Kinsman
Robert A. Walsh
Term expires 1947 Term expires 1951
APPELLATE BOARD
William Balch
Edmund H. Burke. George L. Horsford
Term expires 1947 Term expires 1946 Term expires 1948
BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS 1947
* Allan R. Shepard, Chairman. . Term expires 1947 Term expires 1949
** Benjamin Kray, Chairman Charles E. Bridges Term expires 1951
*John J. Horgan to fill unexpired term of Allan Shepard who resigned. ** Named Chairman in place of Allan R. Shepard.
6
ANNUAL REPORT
Inaugural Address
To the City Council:
Gentlemen:
Permit me to say in my opening remarks that I am very sorry that our senior member of the City Council, Edward G. Perkins, could not be with us this morning as he is con- fined at the Anna Jaques Hospital owing to illness.
Councillor Perkins has presided over this honorable body for many a year and I be- lieve that this is the first inaugural in his thirty-odd years of faithful service to the citizens in general as an office holder that he has not been with us.
May I at this time wish, on behalf of your honorable body and myself, a Very Happy and Peaceful New Year, and pray God an early recovery for him, our faithful servant.
This is the seventh consecutive year, I, as your Mayor, have had the honor to address the City Council of the City of Newburyport, and the year 1948 will complete my ninth year of service as an elected representative to the city government, two years as City Councillor, and seven years as Mayor.
Not that my eight years, and particularly the last six as Mayor, have not been re- warding and gratifying from the standpoint of accomplishment consistent with war- time and post-war administration. They have been. My sincere hope is that 1948 will see not only complete recovery of any ground lost during the war years because of en- forced curtailments, but such substantial progress in our post-war plans.
The coming year will make heavy demands upon all of us, citizens and city officials alike, and the utmost in co-operative effort and conscientious judgment will be required in consideration of what projects must and should be planned for succeeding years.
Our financial commitments are greatly increased, with no equal increase in income . The 1948 tax rate cannot be forecast at this time, while it is very probable that some state legislation will be enacted for the relief of cities and towns, it is likely that some benefits will be realized from that quarter before 1949.
From 1942 to 1946 City Hall succeeded in holding the tax rate within an average of $43.68 with a comparatively low valuation.
War's inflationary aftermath and the demand for services and other factors largely beyond local control, however, forced a change in the 1947 tax rate that reached an all high of $49.40.
The percentage of increase in the tax for the years 1927 to 1937 are as follows:
In the year 1927 the tax rate was $32.00.
In the year 1937 the tax rate was $43.20.
In this ten year period your taxes were increased $11.20 or on the basis of 35 percent.
In the year 1937 the tax rate was $43.20.
In the year 1947 the tax rate was $49.40.
In this ten year period your taxes were increased $6.20 or 14 percent.
7
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
The Valuation for the year 1927 was $13,563,310.00
The Valuation for the year 1937 was 12,393,130.00
Showing a loss in valuation of
$1,170,180.00
during that ten year period.
The Valuation for the year 1937 was
$12,393,130.00
The Valuation for the year 1947 was. 12,923,140.00
Showing an increase in valuation of $530,010.00
So over the last twenty years the City of Newburyport had a net loss in Valuation of $640,170.00.
The relationship between valuations and tax rates should be explained.
The rate represents the assessment per thousand dollars of valuation on taxable property. The determining factor in the total amount of money paid by the property owner is the valuation of his property.
In evaluating property for tax purposes there must be a basis for determining values. Otherwise there cannot be fair and equal assessments.
Factors that contribute to the problem over which the city and towns have no control are state legislation or state spending. Both saddle the city with heavy burdens, first in the cost of state-directed appropriations and second in revenue-raising limitations.
We have no power over the policies of the state commissioner of corporations and taxation, who controls the activities of boards of assessors.
Therefore, there are two things that the City of Newburyport can do; one is to go along with the increase of costs by assessing the home owner, the other is having a com- plete re-valuation by impartial re-valuation engineers. If this is done, it should be by an impartial group of men who know their business and who will defend their valuations before the appellate board.
Some people feel that a re-valuation survey is foolish because the assessors could do it. Assessors are political appointees and the city could not hire men for approximately two thousand dollars a year who would be competent to do that kind of work.
I'm not satisfied with the condition of the assessors' office. It is the inequalities that bother me. A re-valuation would correct this condition, therefore, making it fair for the tax payer in general.
THE DEPT. OF PUBLIC WORKS, otherwise known as the Newburyport Higliway Department:
This department as you are well aware has been very much handicapped for the need of proper equipment for the caring of our streets, removing snow, maintaining sewers and drainage.
Following is a list of the equipment on hand in this department:
1 Walter's Snow Fighter, New; 1 Oshkosh Truck, New; 1 New Austen Western Road Sweeper; 2 1946 Chevrolet 2 ton Trucks; 1 1941 International Truck; 1 1941 Dodge Truck; 1 1941 Chevrolet Truck; 1 1938 Chevrolet Truck; 1 1935 Ford Truck; 1 1934 Ford Truck; 1 1934 Chevrolet Truck; 1 1931 Ford Truck.
8
ANNUAL REPORT
Other equipment which has completely outlived its usefulness:
1 Barber Greene Snow Loader which is twenty years old and we have had it three years. Purchased second hand and has paid for itself several times over.
1 1938 Road Grader, very bad shape.
1 1937 Allis Chalmers Bulldozer purchased second hand to build Artichoke Water Basin.
1 1935 Caterpillar Bulldozer purchased second hand to build Artichoke Water Basin.
1 1934 Allis Chalmers Tractor-very bad condition and always broken down.
1 1925 Steam Roller which we are unable to purchase parts for.
Also a snow loader mounted on a Ford Truck which is out of order all the time. Positively of no use to the city.
I would recommend that this old equipment which has outlived its usefulness should be sold to the highest bidder at public auction. The repair and upkeep of this whole equipment runs into hundreds of dollars a year and is never available when needed as proved during the recent storm.
It is the head of this department's responsibility to the people to keep the streets of Newburyport in the best possible shape. If that is so, he should be given the proper equipment to do it with.
During the year 1946, a departmental equipment loan for the highway department was approved in the amount of $15,000 from which we paid on December 18, 1946, $10,494.50 for the Oshkosh truck and $5,000.00 for two Chevrolet trucks. The balance of this loan was used towards the purchase of the street sweeper which cost $4,802.00 and which proved a very good investment.
During the year 1947, a street and sidewalk loan in the amount of $30,000 was ap- proved, and much work was accomplished on the following streets which were rebuilt and resurfaced: State Street, Horton Street, Munroe Street, Maple Street, Payson Street, Bromfield Street from High to Prospect Street, Boardman Street from Washing- ton to Merrimac Street.
The entrance to Cashman Park and Norman Avenue, Murphy Street, and Farrell Street were built and paid for from money set up in the 1947 budget.
Several thousand feet of sidewalks, sewers, and drains were installed. I recommend that a similar Street and Sidewalk Program be enacted for 1948.
It is my intention to call a conference with the Public Service Committee in regard to the housing of all Highway Department equipment and Tree Department equipment under one roof.
This is very important as the cost of rental of storage space would eventually pay a proportional cost of erecting a building.
I strongly advocate the city owning all equipment which is required to do its work. I have preached this in the past and still insist that the city should own the necessary equipment.
For the use of equipment hire such as power shovels for excavating for sewers, drain- age, water, rebuilding roads, etc., a small gas roller for building sidewalks, a road grader used for the re-building of streets cost the city a total of $5,996.13 last year.
I do not for one moment begrudge the owners of this equipment the money paid to
9
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
them by the City of Newburyport, but I do maintain that the City of Newburyport should own its own equipment.
The Highland Cemetery which is a city owned and operated cemetery was sadly neg- lected during the last two years causing hardship and distress to owners of lots. Great precaution should be taken in the appointment of a Superintendent in order to avoid a repetition of the neglect of the last two years.
Something, definitely, must be done in regard to the purchasing of additional land to make graves available.
I do not hesitate to say that while this Cemetery was under the supervision of the Highway Department good work was maintained, and trucks and other equipment were available, and it is my intention to name the Superintendent of the Highways as Superin- tendent of this Cemetery in 1948.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
During the last year all piping was renewed in the Police Station, and an oil burner was installed. Most of the vacancies that existed during the war were filled with the newly appointed veterans of World War II.
I would recommend that the patrol wagon be reconditioned and repainted, and that the cruising car be traded in and replaced by a new one.
The Police Signal System comes under the supervision of the Chief of the Fire Dept. who has kept it in excellent condition.
I will recommend some changes in the routes of the police officers for the good of the department and citizens in general.
I do not hesitate to say that the City Marshal, James E. Sullivan and Night Captain Neil Kelleher are doing a good job in the leadership of this department.
Something definite should be done in the handling of parking conditions within the City of Newburyport. Many conferences have been held between the City Council, the Northeast Essex Development Council and merchants in regard to ways and means of correcting this condition.
I would recommend that the City Council take some immediate action throughout the business district by installing parking meters on six month's trial, create one-way streets where needed, restrict parking at bus stops by marking curbing in these areas. This will, undoubtedly, correct a bad condition that exists in Market Square and will offer better protection to bus patrons.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The Fire Department, under the able direction of Chief Creeden can be classed with any department throughout the Commonwealth. This department is in excellent shape with the exception of one piece of equipment which is thirty years old. This is a Seagraves Pumper purchased during the administration of the late Hon. David Page.
I recommend that the Committee on Public Safety look into the trading or replacing of this piece of apparatus during the year 1948.
The headquarters of the Fire Dept. are in fine shape. In 1947 overhead doors were in- stalled which have been badly needed for a long time. The majority of improvements
10
ANNUAL REPORT
on this building were done by the firemen themselves for which we, the city government and taxpayers are very grateful for their splendid co-operation.
PARK AND TREE DEPT.
Preliminary work was started on the Perkins' Playground in the South End of the city and much was accomplished so that we will be in a position to complete the work next summer giving to the children of the district a splendid recreational spot.
Other parks in the city have been a source of pleasure to many, and plans will be made for further improvements throughout the city.
VETERANS' BENEFITS.
It is the duty of the Director of Veterans' benefits to care for the welfare of veterans of all wars and their families.
I would recommend that his office be moved upstairs in City Hall in the room now used by the Retirement Board. The increase in the duties of the Veterans' Director calls for a larger office and the office now occupied by him in the City Hall corridor could be used by the Retirement Board.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
I would recommend a complete survey of our public buildings. City Hall is in a de- plorable condition as you Councillors are well aware. It is in need of a complete painting job, recovering of floors, proper lighting, and a general over-hauling throughout. This is a well-built structure and it has been sadly neglected during the war years.
The school buildings should be thoroughly renovated, proper ventilation installed, up-to-date lighting and heating put in. The plumbing in some of these schools, par- ticularly toilet facilities, is deplorable.
I would suggest that this work on our public buildings be done by ten year bond issue which would be of no greater burden to the taxpayers if done at once rather than piece- meal, and it would, therefore, eliminate maintenance cost that is set up in the budget every year.
TO ALL HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND EMPLOYEES.
During the war years and up until the present time, the City of Newburyport has in- creased the pay of its employees in an effort to meet with the high cost of living, but in many cases where increases were given the employee has given less labor in return. Some department heads take the attitude that they are over-burdened with work in their department and need additional help, and in many cases conditions have not affected that department in the least.
Working for a municipality is the same as working in a factory or in any other place of business. You are expected to produce and when you do not you are immediately re- placed.
The taxpayers are entitled to a dollar's worth of labor for a dollar spent regardless of whether the employee is a school teacher, policeman, fireman, city hall employee, janitor, or laborer.
I will not hesitate to recommend changes when I believe that the taxpayer will benefit.
11
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
MISCELLANEOUS.
As the operational cost of all departments has and is continuing to increase, I believe that the Town of Newbury, which has for a number of years been using the facilities of the Public Library on the same basis as our own citizens, a privilege which we are only too happy to extend, should pay the City of Newburyport a thousand dollars a year to help to defray the increase in the operational cost.
I believe that the rent of the District Court, now occupied by the County should be increased a thousand dollars over the present rent as the cost of help, lights, and heat has increased.
CONCLUSION.
Once again I am pleased to acknowledge gratefully the courtesy and co-operation of Department Heads and employees, and the advice and assistance of my City Solicitor, James T. Connolly, Jr. With assurance of continued co-operation, I wish you all happi- ness and success in our New Year.
JOHN M. KELLEHER, Mayor.
12
ANNUAL REPORT
Mayors of Newburyport
*Hon. Caleb Cushing 1851-1852
Hon. Henry Johnson . 1852-1853
** Hon. Moses Davenport 1854-1855-1861
Hon. William Cushing 1856-1857-1858
Hon. Albert Currier. 1859-1860
Hon. George W. Jackman, Jr. 1861-1862-1864-1865-1877
Hon. Isaac H. Boardman 1863
Hon. William H. Graves
1866
Hon. Eben F. Stone
1867
Hon. Nathaniel Pierce
1868-1869
Hon. Robert Couch.
1870- -1881
Hon. Elbridge C. Kelley 1871-1872
Hon. Warren Currier 1873-1874
Hon. Benjamin F. Atkinson. 1875-1876
Hon. Jonathan Smith.
1878
Hon. John James Currier
1879-1880
Hon. Benjamin Hale
1882
Hon. William A. Johnson 1883-1884
Hon. Thomas C. Simpson. 1885
Hon. Charles C. Dame 1886
Hon. J. Otis Winkley.
1887
** Hon. William H. Huse
1888
Hon. Albert C. Titcomb
1888-1889
Hon. Elisha P. Dodge 1890-1891
Hon. Orrin J. Gurney 1892-1895
Hon. Andrew R. Curtis . 1896-1897
Hon. George H. Plumer
1898
Hon. Thomas Huse
1899-1900
Hon. Moses Brown.
1901-1902
Hon. James F. Carens
1903-1904
Hon. William F. Houston
1905-1906
Hon. Albert F. Hunt
1907
Hon. Irvin Besse
1908
Hon. Albert F. Hunt
1909
Hon. Robert F. Burke
1910-1911-1912
Hon. Hiram H. Landford
1913-1914
Hon. Clarence J. Fogg
1915-1916
Hon. Walter B. Hopkinson
1917-1918
Hon. David P. Page
1919-1920-1921
Hon. Michael Cashman.
1922-1925
Hon. Oscar H. Nelson 1926-1927
Hon. Andrew J. Gillis. 1928-1931
Hon. Gayden W. Morrill 1932-1935
Hon. Andrew J. Gillis 1836-1937
Hon. James F. Carens.
1938-1941
Hon. John M. Kelleher
1942-1947
*Resigned. ** Died in office.
13
CITY AUDITOR
Ninety-Seventh Annual Report of the City Auditor
Office of the City Auditor. December 31, 1947.
To the Honorable Mayor and City Council:
The undersigned herewith presents a report of the receipts and payments of the City of Newburyport for the year beginning January 1, 1947 and ending December 31, 1947.
The first part of this report consists of schedules, which are made up from receipts and payments arranged upon the schedules for Uniform Municipal Accounting as issued by the Department of Corporations and Taxation, Division of Accounts, of the Common- wealth of Massachusetts.
It will be noticed that the terms "revenue" and "non-revenue" are used. "Revenue" meaning money accruing to the municipal treasury and under general taxation, police powers, gifts, or services rendered. "Non-revenue" meaning offsets to outlays, such as permanent improvements, bond issues, money hired in anticipation of taxes, temporary accounts, etc. Following these schedules are presented detailed statements arranged in the same order together with the usual matters given in the auditor's report including a report of trust funds held by private trustees, the income of which is for the benefit of Newburyport or any of its inhabitants.
SCHEDULES
Schedule A is a consolidated statement of total cash receipts and payments during the year, and the cash balance at the beginning and end of the year. This schedule shows that during the year the city has expended $67,640.34 more than was received.
Schedule B is a consolidated statement of the receipts and payments for operation and maintenance of the different departments, showing total receipts from revenue $1,180,707.61 and expense of maintenance to be $1,227,849.35, making excess payments of $67,640.34 for the year, which amount with the excess of non-revenue payments for the year is indicated in the decrease of cash on hand.
Schedule C is a statement of revenue receipts and payments by departments, less transfers, which make up the figures for Schedule B, also a statement of non-revenue re- ceipts and payments during the year.
NORBERT A. CAREY.
City Auditor
14
ANNUAL REPORT
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
Schedule A
Consolidated Statement
Cash balance at beginning of year Receipts during year .
$72,895.43
Payments during year
$1,579,811.81 1,647,452.15
Excess payments.
67,640.34
Cash balance at end of year
$5,255.09
GENERAL EXHIBIT OF THE RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
Schedule B
Receipts
Payments
Revenue Accounts General and Commercial.
$940,709.42 239,998.19
$1,227,849.35
Total Revenue Accounts (Operating and Maintenance)
$1,180,707.61
$1,227,849.35
Non-Revenue Accounts (Note Issue, Construction, etc.).
399,104.20
419,602.80
Total transactions for the year
$1,579.811.81
$1,647,452.15
ACTUAL FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE CITY FOR THE YEAR
Revenue receipts as above, from taxation and other sources, not in- cluding money borrowed.
Revenue payments as above for operations and maintenance
$1,180,707.61 1,227.849.35
Excess of revenue payments during year Excess of non-revenue payments during year .
$47,141.74
20,498.60
Excess payments during year
$67,640.34
Depart mental.
15
CITY AUDITOR
EXHIBITS OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS, REVENUE AND NON-REVENUE GROUPED ACCORDING TO FUNCTIONS
Schedule C
General and Commercial Revenue
Receipts
Payments
General Revenue
Taxes
$727,707.70
Licenses, Permits, etc.
23,453.00
Fines and Forfeits .
1,561.00
Grants and Gifts.
163,137.16
All other.
145.50
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax.
24,705.06
Departmental
General Government .
2,175.29
$46,329.51
Protection of Life and Property.
2,496.66
112,965.26
Health and Sanitation.
1,603.43
66,386.84
Highways and Bridges.
902.50
111,011.56
Charities.
108,220.60
340,250.55
Veterans' Benefits.
1,588.00
28,179.41
Education
11,048.49
268,370.69
Library and Reading Room
954.34
25,492.10
Recreations
59.40
16,088.17
Pensions.
21,907.80
Unclassified
19,373.58
33,999.85
Public Service (Water) .
80,705.73
72,868.99
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