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CHARLESTOWN 1629 POND FEILDE 1638
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Melrose Public Library Melrose, Massachusetts
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https://archive.org/details/cityofmelroseann1921melr
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ANGIER L. GOODWIN, MAYOR
CITY OF MELROSE MASSACHUSETTS
Annual Reports 1921
WITH
Mayor's Inaugural Address Delivered January 3rd, 1921
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CHARLESTOWN 1629 POND FEILDE 1638
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PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY CLERK AND SPECIAL COMMITTEE
MELROSE, MASS. THE MELROSE FREE PRESS, INC. 1922
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Inaugural Address Mayor of Melrose HON. ANGIER L. GOODWIN
DELIVERED JANUARY 3. 1921
Mr. President, Members of the Board of Aldermen:
To us has been intrusted the responsibility of directing the affairs of the city during the current year. It is my privilege to address the Board of Aldermen, at this, the commencement of our duties, on general conditions. Further communications and recommendations will be ad- dressed to the legislative branch from time to time as occasion may arise.
The fiscal condition of the city is good. Our total net debt on Dec. 31, 1920, is $608,203.90. Our taxable valuation is $21,085,400.001. Our borrow- ing capacity is $152,603.33.
While our financial condition remains satisfactory, giving us a credit and financial rating far above the average of the cities of the Common- wealth, yet we should exercise the utmost vigilance in our appropriations and expenditures. We begin our labors at a period in our national economic life which is most unsettled. I have grave hesitation in suggesting various public improvements of a major character which I would gladly recom- mend if general economic conditions were normal. Until conditions with respect to labor and the cost of materials become more settled, we must adopt for our guidance the old Latin maxim, "Make haste slowly."
The management of a municipality is dignified by the term "govern- ment". But city management, in the last analysis, is the running of a business, and I believe we have not thoroughly qualified for the duties before us until we have subordinated in our minds the idea that we are members of a government, to the larger and more practical idea that we are the managers of a business. To my mind, this means sacrificing nothing of dignity, but rather it means emphasizing our solemn responsi- bilities.
Our duty is not alone to the taxpayer of today. We must administer the city business also with reference to the further fact that we are the trustees for the citizen and taxpayer of tomorrow. And while we are endeavoring to legislate wisely for the future as well as for the present, let us remember that there is no such thing as conservatism which lacks the forward look.
It is my purpose to keep every city department on a business basis of operation. Nothing can so much insure the confidence of the citizens as a feeling that the city is being economically and efficiently managed, and no city management can be quite efficient without the confidence of the citizens.
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CITY OF MELROSE
There is no city department with which the people come into such close relationship as the Department of Public Works. Its chief functions are performed in the open, and before the eyes of the taxpayers. In the interests of having a contented people, the city government owes to these who maintain it the particular duty of insuring here the highest possible degree of efficiency and economy. It should be stated, and must be remembered, that this great department with its great variety of duties, in abnormal times like these, operates under conditions of the most trying sort, and criticism ought to be tempered with due regard for the difficulties involved.
We should continue the present policy of street construction, giving the priority to main and subsidiary arteries of travel. Now that our principal thoroughfare is completed, we should go on with the secondary ways as fast as conditions will allow. The building of sidewalks should be extended. We should be ready to undertake this work in every case where the abuttors are willing to pay their share of the cost. With the increasing use of the motor vehicle, we must give increased attention to highway repairs and maintenance. A city which neglects its streets, endangers its good repute, and our reputation as a city, say what you will, depends not on what we think of ourselves, but what our neighbors think of us. We will grow in self respect and increase in prosperity in proportion to the care we exercise in pursuing a forward looking policy in all public improvements.
I have long been of the opinion that we should give more specialized attention to city forestry. It is easy to underestimate the importance of careful attention to our shade trees, and the setting and care of new ones. Forestry now occupies a field of its own, and to an extent that could not have been foreseen by our wise predecessors who wrote our city charter twenty years ago. I recommend that we petition the legislature to amend our charter by taking from the Department of Public Works the care of public trees, and creating a Department of Forestry. Such petition should not be made, however, until the Board of Aldermen has considered the matter and given public hearings.
I recommend that attractive sign boards be placed at the main traffic entrances to the city. We are proud of Melrose and we should be proud to let the stranger know where Melrose begins. This would also encourage us both as officials and as citizens, to carefully watch the surroundings to our city approaches, and keep their character of high grade.
We should use every endeavor, officially and by seeking the co-opera- tions of citizens and organizations, to supplement the work of the Board of Survey and the Planning Board, in forestalling, wherever possible, the development of land along undesirable lines. A glaring example of what should be prevented or avoided is the present condition north of the Wyoming Cemetery. Some years ago we enacted a building code, which has been called one of the models of its sort. I had the honor to serve on
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS
the special committee which framed it, and I want to see that code lived up to in every detail. I believe it is not unreasonably stringent. Rather than break it down, I would strengthen it. I want to see every step taken which we can constitutionally take as a city, to prevent the use of un- sightly shacks for human habitation.
I recommend the passage of an ordinance to restrict to specified zones the further building of industrial plants or structures to be used for commercial purposes. Every incentive should be furnished for the up- building of industry, but a purely residential street or section, ought to be protected from the encroachment of business or industrial plants.
Our appropriation for schools comprises approximately one-third of our total budget. I am familiar with the close scrutiny which the Alder- manic committee on appropriations yearly gives to the requisitions of the School Committee for current expenses, an item which is increasing annually, sometimes with almost staggering proportions. And yet the conclusion is inevitable, that the present standard of Melrose schools must be maintained. We have tried to economize by withholding requested appropriations and forcing the School Department to postpone repairs which were undeniably needed. That sort of alleged economy cannot long be practiced. The appropriating power may well go slowly in approv- ing the non essentials, even though desirable, but the essentials, which really involve the welfare of the pupils in adequately training them to cope with the products of other schools, whether it be in advanced educa- tion or the ultimate school of earning a living, and what is more vitally important, those essentials which involve the present and future health of the pupils, must be provided, and we must furnish the funds to pay the bills.
But this is not all. The school buildings are overcrowded and more room is needed. We ought to start today on a definite program of school building improvements involving new construction, and this whole subject may well engage our most serious consideration.
It is worthy of note that the circulation of our Library has now exceeded 104,000 volumes. This circulation for a city of our size is little less than phenomenal, and it is readily apparent that our people will look to us to increase, rather than decrease the facilities for library service. I can think of no greater compliment that we can pay ourselves than to realize that we are one of the banner library towns in Massachusetts.
The Fire Department is charged with responsibilities of the most serious nature, involving not only the preservation of public property, but the preservation of lives. The citizens have the right to rely with the supremest confidence in this department, and we will fail in our solemn obligation to those who have placed us in office, if we neglect any pre- caution to insure, so far as is humanly possible, the continual functioning of the Fire Department at the maximum of efficiency.
The time will soon come when we should provide new quarters for this department at the Highlands and the East Side. I regard the problem
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CITY OF MELROSE
of a new station at the Highlands as being very definitely related to another very desirable proposed improvement, to wit, the extension of Greenwood Street southerly from Franklin Street. The Highlands fire station should protect not only the Highlands, but the section west of the Boston & Maine tracks, below the Highlands. One problem in connection with a fire station west of the railroad is the number of grade crossings, but there is the underpass at Melrose Street always available. The site of the Highlands station should be relocated and a new street connection made, both with reference to the saving of time in reaching this under- pass. We should extend Greenwood Street southerly from Franklin Street, through the present city property occupied by the fire station, to Vinton Street at the curve where it becomes parallel to the railroad. By ultimate extension this street should be continued through Florence Street, thus giving a direct thoroughfare from the Wakefield line to the Malden line, west of the railroad. The desirability of such an improve- ment was pointed out as far back as 1909, in a comprehensive report of the Metropolitan Improvement Commission. This extension from Franklin Street to Vinton Street would call for a surprisingly small taking of land, and only two residences would be disturbed. I recommend that a start be made this year on this proposition, and that the city proceed to make the necessary taking of land and lay out the street as far as Melrose Street. The assessed value of the land affected is approximately $9,000. This taking would include the lot on which the new station could be erected later, having egress on both Belmont Street and the proposed new street.
The Police Department should be complimented on its activity in the detection of such minor crimes and offenses as are brought to its attention. Youthful waywardness will always be a problem. Home influences and surroundings in this community are generally good. The city can do much, and our organizations and clubs can do much to provide and secure proper influences for the young of impressionable age.
Eventually there may be some sort of effective censorship of moving pictures. We are fortunate above many cities in the degree of confidence we can repose in the local playhouse managers in the selection of films. Our citizens should be constantly alert in this matter. The "movie" is a tremendous factor in moulding the minds of the young. Our public spirited clubs and organizations which have these matters at heart, would do well to direct a portion of the energy they now use in attacking the so called sex problem films, to that other equally insidious type of film which glorifies the hand that holds a smoking pistol.
The use of cigarettes by boys of school age should cause us deep concern, if for no other reason, from the standpoint of public health. Every ounce of power of the Mayor's office shall be used in conjunction with the Police Department, the School Department and right thinking citizens generally, in every possible endeavor to stamp out in the city of Melrose any illegal selling of cigarettes to minors.
There are three matters of importance which I desire to take up together, because they are, or may be, interrelated. First: the compelling need of quarters for the Police Department; second, the urgent need of
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS
more room for the departments in City Hall; and third, the desirability of starting now, on a suitable memorial to the veterans of the world war. The Police Department has no quarters worthy of the name. We do not even give the officers a room. They have a portion of a corridor in City Hall. We have in this city this splendid structure, which with its magnifi- cent organ and other equipment is the peer of any similar building in the Commonwealth. We have a citizenship probably unexcelled in civic pride and civic enterprise, and yet we continue to house our Police Depart- ment, the guardians of our public safety, in a hall-room police station. The cell quarters in the basement are bad from every standpoint. The department cars, which ought to be available in a matter of seconds, are part of the time at the mercy of the congestion of a public garage. The wonder is that public sentiment has not before this forced an improvement in these conditions. We ought to build a new police station and garage for the police automobiles, and I am ready to recommend that this be done, unless it shall develop after full consideration, that it is a wiser policy to provide police quarters in a remodeling of City Hall.
Other departments in City Hall need more room. There should be committee rooms for the Aldermen. The Mayor should have a private office, not because he wants it, but in fairness to those who have city business with him. The Treasurer and Auditor should have separate offices. The charter contemplates, and the theory of municipal financing and accounting is that the Auditor and the Treasurer should be a check on each other. And we perpetuate the paradoxical situation of placing these two departments in the same room. It does not alter the situation because our present Auditor and City Treasurer happen to be men of absolutely irreproachable integrity.
I was in favor of the former plan for the remodeling of City Hall, and I am not convinced but that even now, it is the wise thing to do, particularly in view of the suggestion now pending for the city to provide a permanent memorial to the world war heroes as a part of a plan to use the present City Hall structure as the basis of a comprehensive public improvement.
And so I am calling your attention to these three matters, new police quarters, City Hall improvement, and world war veterans' memorial, together, and I suggest that this whole subject matter be referred at once, to the committee on protection and licenses, the committee on public service, and the special committee on soldiers' and sailors' memorial, sitting jointly, for full consideration.
I particularly urge that we avoid any unnecessary delay in determining what we are to do as a city in permanent commemoration of the services of our world war veterans. Let us make amends for our tardiness in commemorating the valor of former veterans, by speedy action in honor of our latest heroes. Let us emulate the example set by the outgoing administration, for during the war, and since, no city did more for its service men than Melrose, and if his administration were marked by no other signal achievement than his consistent and persistent human interest
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in the men who went out from Melrose to take up arms in the country's .- cause, that remarkable work alone would be sufficient to hold in the- affections of our people for all time, the name of our war Mayor, Honorable Charles H. Adams.
The Legislature of 1920 gave our Park Commissioners authority to make rules and regulations to control fishing, ice cutting and the letting of boats for use on Ell Pond, and those pursuits are now unlawful without a license from the Park Commission. Now that we are to have control of Ell Pond, we should regulate the various uses to be made of it. Early provision should be made for proper and adequate life saving apparatus, which should include two boats, under canopy, life preservers and ladders along the shore. With the increasing use made of the Pond for various recreational activities, we should not fail to take all reasonable precautions. to aid in the saving of life when endangered.
We are only just beginning to realize the value to the city, as a physical asset, of Ell Pond. Few cities are so fortunate as to have located in their center a body of water so well adapted to such a variety of recreational purposes. I believe we should further encourage winter sports. Each winter ought to see Ell Pond and the Park the scene of a winter carnival with exhibitions and contests in all the ice and snow sports. Nature has given us the setting, we should provide the rest. Our young people are eager for an opportunity to imbibe more of the health-giving zest which comes from winter sports. Whatever we can do as a city to encourage this will, I believe, return us dividends which we can scarcely estimate.
I renew the recommendation previously made by my predecessor,. that we provide by ordinance for a Recreation Commission, to be unpaid, the duty of which shall be to encourage and regulate outdoor sports.
Complaint is frequently made because there is delay in issuing common licenses. I do not sympathize with the idea that we should make it easier to procure licenses. The granting of a license to a common victualler or a junk collector seems like a simple matter, but I believe we should not cut any of the alleged red tape now employed. If a license is worth having it is worth waiting for until we can go through the formality of an inquiry by the Board of Aldermen.
There is comparatively little complaint among thinking citizens of our tax rate, for it is readily realized that we must of necessity find the increased cost of everything reflected in the amount we must pay for our current charges. But there is a rather widespread complaint as to real estate assessments. I believe we should authorize a complete revalua- tion of real estate in the near future. I recommend this subject to your consideration.
The merchants of Melrose are to be congratulated upon their enter- prise and activity during the recent holiday season. It is our duty to encourage the merchants to make both their stores and their prices at- tractive, and then to encourage Melrose people to trade at home. It is our duty because it is to our interests as a city to build up our local trade ..
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS
"There is a very vital reason why it is of very great importance for the City Hall and the local merchants to work in the closest co-operation.
The value of the printed city report to the citizens diminishes in proportion to the delay in the printing of it. I urge all possible speed in the work of compiling, editing, and printing of this volume for the year just closed.
It is abundantly apparent that the women voters are disposed to take their new duties of citizenship seriously, and to take a deep interest in city government. Eager to assume the responsibilities, they will not shirk in bearing their share of the burdens. I expect to see women more and more filling various places of public trust in city office.
Each year it becomes increasingly important for municipalities to watch proposed legislation at the State House. It is my purpose this year to be alert to any suggesting changes in state laws which will affect the city of Melrose. In this line of duty, I request the Board of Aldermen to co-operate, through standing or special committees as occasion may arise.
We are living in an age of action. Industry today tolerates no drones. Government must not lag in its functions. Every municipal office carries not only the opportunity for labor, but the obligation to labor. Every board and every commission has work to do. Otherwise it would be abolished. Appointment to a city office, board or commission is not made as a compliment, but in the expectation of service and work. It should be accepted in the same spirit.
And now, Honorable Aldermen, I request a continuance of your whole-hearted interest in all our city affairs. It has been my good fortune to serve in your body, and I know both the labor involved and the earnest service rendered, without any hope of reward except the consciousness of duty conscientiously performed and the good will of your constituents. Sometimes you will feel that you receive scant appreciation for your work. I speak from the heart when I say that it will always be my earnest endeavor at all times, whenever and wherever occasion may offer to magnify in the eyes and in the minds of the citizens the honor and dignity of the Melrose Board of Aldermen.
I hope we may work together in harmony. I desire to confer with you frequently, and trust you will frequently confer with me. I will not always agree with you, and you will sometimes disagree with me, but however we may differ in questions of policy, we will, I am sure, be as one, in an ambition to serve the city well.
We start tonight with a mandate from the people. With an oppor- tunity for service which may never be given to some of us again. The book of 1920 is closed. The book of 1921 lies open before us. What shall we do with it?
GOVERNMENT of the City of Melrose, 1921
Mayor ANGIER L. GOODWIN
President of the Board of Aldermen LESLIE F. KEENE
Clerk W. DeHAVEN JONES
Aldermen-at-Large
Ward
William A. Carrie, 22 York Terrace
1
Llewellyn H. McLain, 76 Wyoming Avenue, East 5
John Dike, 112 West Emerson Street 4
Carl E. Shumway, 25 Bellevue Avenue. 4
Leslie F. Keene, 146 Wyoming Avenue, West 5
Arthur L. Marr, 236 Foster Street, East 6
Albert M. Tibbetts, 109 Meridian Street 7
Ward Aldermen
Ralph G. Harmon, 19 Belmont Place 1
Henry L. Restall, 19 Ferdinand Street .
1
Lorenzo J. Peabody, 1087 Main Street . 2
H. Ray Wilson, 818 Main Street 2
Frederick W. Patten, 54 Cottage Street
3
Benning L. Wentworth, 46 Cleveland Street.
3
George H. Jackman, 498 Lebanon Street
4
Willis A. Smith, 21 Lake Avenue.
4
Charles B. Camerlin, 88 Florence Street. 5
James Otis Davenport, 45 Florence Street
5
Walter F. Chapman, 321 Foster, Street East 6
Walter A. T. Norris, 136 Foster, Street East
6
George W. Rogers, 39 Argyle Street . 7
Nelson J. Sanford, 379 Swain's Pond Avenue 7
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CITY OF MELROSE
MELROSE BOARD OF ALDERMEN STANDING COMMITTEES FOR 1921
Appropriations Alderman Tibbetts, Chairman. Harmon, Marr, Carrie, McLain, Wilson,. Jackman, Shumway and Dike.
Education, Health and Charity Alderman McLain, Chairman. Chapman, Patten, Tibbetts, Restall Davenport and Jackman.
Finance Alderman Shumway, Chairman. Marr, Norris, Davenport, Restall, Dike and Peabody.
Highways Alderman Carrie, Chairman. Patten, Marr, Sanford, Wilson, Shumway and Camerlin.
Protection and Licenses Alderman Wilson, Chairman. Camerlin, Harmon, Wentworth, Chapman, Rogers and Smith.
Public Service Alderman Jackman, Chairman. Norris, Harmon, McLain, Wentworth, Sanford and Smith.
Legal and Legislative Matters Alderman Keene, Chairman. Patten, Sanford, Tibbetts, Carrie, Peabody,. and Rogers.
Clerk of Committees VICTOR C. KIRMES
City Officers
City Clerk W. DeHAVEN JONES
Assistant City Clerk and Clerk of Committees Victor C. Kirmes
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City Treasurer William R. Lavender
City Collector James W. Murray
City Auditor William T. Wolley
Engineer and Superintendent of Public Works George O. W. Servis
Mayor's Clerk Blanche E. Nickerson
City Solicitor Charles H. Gilmore
Chief of Fire Department Joseph Edwards
Chief of Police George E. Kerr
Inspector of Buildings William S. Allen
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CITY OF MELROSE
Inspector of Plumbing Andrew J. Burnett
Inspector of Food David O. Parker
Inspectors of Slaughtering
David O. Parker Calvert H. Plavid 1
Inspector of Milk and Vinegar H. E. Berger, Jr.
Collector of Milk Samples Thomas F. Harris
Inspector of Animals Calvert H. Playdon
Sealer of Weights and Measures William J. Bowser
Superintendent Brown Tail and Gypsy Moth Joh J. Mccullough
Burial Agent Mary A. Kenah
Agent State Military Aid and Soldiers' Relief Mary A. Kenah
Assessors Frank R. Upham, term expires 1922 Joshua T. Nowell, term expires 1923 John C. Crolly, term expires 1924
Assistant Assessors
Nellie L. Messenger
Mary Anderton
Harriett C. Holdich
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CITY OFFICERS
Inspector of Wires Fred A. Edwards
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Board of Health Clarence P. Holden, M.D., Chairman William A. Tomer Melvin A. Walter Lillian H. Wiley, Clerk
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