USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1924 > Part 1
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.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11
EMI
M
CIT XPLORED 16.28 F
CHARLESTOWN 1629 POND FEILDE 1688
MALDEN. NORTH END
00
ED
1649 1850.
-
R. H. Cheeulaw Click of Committees
PAUL H. PROVANDIE, MAYOR
CITY OF MELROSE MASSACHUSETTS
Annual Reports 1924
WITH
Mayor's Address Delivered January 7, 1924
I
ROSE
PLORED 1620
CHARLESTOWN 1629 POND FEILDE 1638
· MALDEN.
NORTHEND
1649
1850
0.
IN
VCORPOR
ATED
D
AT
LROSE
PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY CLERK
Melrose, Mass. MELROSE FREE PRESS, INC. 1925
ADDRESS OF HON. PAUL H. PROVANDIE Mayor of Melrose, Massachusetts JANUARY SEVENTH NINETEEN HUNDRED TWENTY-FOUR
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Board of Aldermen:
We finish today the first year of our service to the people under a biennial election. It has been a year of arduous work for all of us. The duties of the office which I assumed last year have, at times been difficult, and there have been moments of discouragement. Due to your patience and loyalty, however, and to the support given by the majority of the Board, the year just ended has been of achievement such as may well be envied by other municipalities. It has been an honor, a pleasure, a satisfaction and an inspriation to work with you; and at the beginning of another year of responsibility, I wish to thank you for the generous measure of co-operation given the policies and measures I have advocated, and for the spirit of helpfulness manifested toward my efforts during the year ended.
A striking proof of the wise policy of economy adopted by your Honor- able Body is evidenced by the fact that only one piece of new work was ordered during the past year. You wisely chose to devote your efforts to completing the work approved by previous boards.
You will recall that in my inaugural address a year ago I recom- mended the consolidation of certain city departments as essential to their successful and efficient management. I am still of that opinion. Melrose is not a large city, and its growth is slow; the people are intelligent and generally speaking, possessed of business experience; they are discon- tented with anything that approaches retrogression, and they will not be satisfied until progressive business methods replace certain outgrown customs. Our problems in this respect are simple and can be easily solved, and I believe that if given the opportunity our people would generally approve the consolidations I have in the past recommended and am going again to recommend for your thoughtful consideration.
Of course, I am aware that the consolidations I refer to may in some instances conflict with ordinances of the city, provisions of our present city charter, or with special acts of the legislature. Wherever that appears to be the situation, my recommendation is intended to include within my approval of such changes in the ordinances, consideration of charter revision, or adoption of an entirely new charter, as may in view of all the circumstances best adapted to make these consolidations legal.
I recommend the consolidation of the offices of City Treasurer and City Collector. The work in both these departments is far from arduous, and with the women clerks now employed in each efficiently doing the work a combined department could easily be supervised by one head,
4
CITY OF MELROSE
to be called the City Comptroller. Other cities of similar population find that this system lends itself to economy of operation. We must constantly bear in mind in considering these consolidation purposes that Melrose is a small, slowly growing city, and that our departments have not, generally speaking, the amount of work to dispose of that falls upon the larger cities.
· The Parks and Cemeteries departments should be consolidated with a well qualified superintendent and a proper labor organization. One superintendent could co-ordinate the work of these two departments and secure greater efficiency and economy of operation. While I can conscientiously praise the work of both these boards, the logic of the situation nevertheless demands their consolidation. The Cemetery Board has well matured plans for extension development and repair work, which should, under any plan, be carried out annually and should be supported by a sufficient appropriation. Both boards should be entirely managed by those appointed for the purpose and not allowed to be con- trolled, even in part, by one who has not been given this authority by the appointing official.
Again, the protection of life and property as exercised by the Police and Fire departments, might properly be placed under a commissioner of public safety, who should be a business man with some military training. Better administration and discipline would result, and with captains and lieutenants of these departments as his deputies, police and fire protection of high efficiency would be secured for our citizens.
I am opposed to the two platoon system for our fire department. I advocate and shall require greater co-operation between the call and the permanent firemen. Bickerings and jealousies should not be per- mitted to impair the efficiency of a department so vital to the safety of life and property. The call men should be provided with the same equipment as permanent men. Mutual help in times of fire stress should be encouraged between our own and the surrounding cities. Although a new station at the Highlands is needed I cannot recommend it at this time.
The method of handling the work in both of the important depart- ments of Health and Charity deserves great praise and has needed noth- ing in the way of suggestion from my office. I recommend an auto- mobile for these departments to assist the nurse in making her visits and to enable the chairman of Charity Board to investigate cases more expedi- tiously.
The visiting nurse, who does general nursing in contradistinction to the public health nursing, should be a part of this organization. The appropriation for the Melrose Hospital should be increased to cover the cost of the care of patients from these departments.
In passing I desire to call attention to the desirability of substituting the title "Board of Public Welfare" for that of Overseers of the Poor, which action I regret your Board recently saw fit to report as being inex- pedient. The reasons which influenced the Legislature to enact Chapter
5
MAYOR'S ADDRESS
26, Acts of 1923, permitting this change to be made by cities and towns accepting its provisions, ought to have some weight with us. They were briefly, that all of the functions of a board of overseers of the poor are not now strictly confined to pauper aid. They embrace such public welfare as mothers' aid, for example. Under this enlightened vision of our public duty, the term "Overseers of the Poor" carries an unjustified stigma we should be glad to eliminate.
The Department of Public Works has given me great concern during the year. We all know that it had not been modernized and that the time was at hand for its reorganization. This has been done by a centra- lization of the subdivisions of the departments, the introduction of modern accounting and new equipment. The conduct of the work in this department is now businesslike, economical and efficient. The reorganization of this department affords an outstanding example of your appreciation of conditions and willingness to aid in correcting them by giving certain courageous support and making wise appropriations. Certain changes in the personnel were made after careful study, which will surely be beneficial in the future. Those in charge of this most important department must familiarize themselves with the most advanced standards of municipal engineering, in order that our citizens may enjoy the same service and advantages which obtain in the most progressive cities and large towns.
Our highways are in good condition and have not suffered from the lack of oil during the past year. The cost of oiling should be a part of maintenance expense and should be included in the budget for general taxation.
Stricter economy should be practiced in road construction and maintenance. A constructive program should be laid down and followed accordingly. Our interests should be general, not local. We must rot create work or replace serviceable sidewalks with new ones to satisfy our aesthtic tastes.
Certain practical street-cleaning appliances should be purchased and I will approve a larger appropriation for this purpose.
The sanitary condition of our city is excellent. The removal of garbage and ashes can best be done by the city itself, the contract method being generally unsuccessful. Although the first-named method may be somewhat more expensive, I am convinced that it is better for the city to have absolute control in this matter.
I approve of a larger appropriation for fly and mosquito suppression.
The stone crusher as operated at this time is unduly wasteful and expensive. The comparative cost of production should be carefully considered, as well as the type of power used, together with the advisa- bility of the crusher's abandonment. Also the question should be con- sidered of the wisdom of the city owning and operating its own gravel pit.
Our extensive underground system has been neglected. It should receive more attention and a larger amount of money should be appro- priated for its maintenance.
6
CITY OF MELROSE
Spot Pond Brook should be freed from obstruction in the City of Malden and proper drainage given to the area which is relieved by this water way. We should unite in our efforts to secure co-operation from the City of Malden to this end.
The water supply in certain districts of our city having the highest altitude is insufficient for fire protection and new mains of larger diameter should be laid at once. There are not enough hydrants, and I recommend that additional ones be put in service as soon as possible.
Greater attention should be given the matter of street lighting. I appreciate the fact that the Board has passed an order creating a com- mission to survey our lighting system. This is a wise procedure and I am confident the commission will find that much of the lighting is impro- perly placed and that the system as at present conducted is unnecessarily expensive.
Our older public buildings deserve and require greater care. The present condition of certain buildings is due entirely to neglect. Had amounts been appropriated each year sufficient for their upkeep it would not now be necessary to recommend substantial appropriations for their repair. The School Department has in a very efficient manner shown how to care for public buildings. We should not be visionary in planning for new buildings but should bear in mind that the taxpayer bears the burden.
I do not approve of a new city hall. Our present building is ample, with slight extensions, and with a fair expenditure for upkeep will serve. A consulting engineer is studying the best way to enlarge the city hall or to reconstruct certain parts thereof so as to provide for a new Alder- manic Chamber and offices which are needed. It must be borne in mind that the reconstruction of old buildings is very expensive and it will have to be determined whether or not it will be preferable to build a small extension to meet our requirements. Of course, if the membership of the Board of Aldermen should be reduced this would have some effect upon the size of the new Aldermanic Chamber.
I recommend that the present city stable be abandoned and that a lease be taken for a period of three or five years of the stable property at the corner of Vine and Essex streets. I do not approve of a new stable at present.
The Planning Board and Board of Survey may be made very valu- able to our city government. The Planning Board has been untiring in its efforts to prepare a zoning ordinance, which is now complete and which should be promptly adopted by your Honorable Body, if only as a temporary measure to be amended after a trial. For the welfare of our city we must lose no time in enacting and enforcing an ordinance of this nature. This Board's work should not be in vain. We have only to note the unhappy experience of neighboring cities which neglected to safeguard their interests to be sufficiently warned. We do not want blocks of stores and other buildings not sightly or suitable, placed at random in our residential districts.
7
MAYOR'S ADDRESS
The Board of Survey has a great field. It should be given the power to enforce its rules and regulations. This is a matter vital to the future welfare of our city. Our present engineering department is delinquent in not following these rules and regulations. A thorough examination of the engineering branch of the Department of Public Works must not be neglected.
Both the Planning Board and the Board of Survey are advisory to our various city departments, and they are entitled to your co-operation and support. Without your authority behind them they cannot function, and the city loses the benefit of their extended studies.
I advocate the creation of a Superintendent of Buildings who shall also be the Inspector of Buildings. In this department other inspectors might well be included. The Superintendent of Buildings should be the custodian, and should handle appropriations and expenditures for all public buildings, with the exception of course, of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial, the school buildings and possibly certain departmental buildings.
I approve of the traffic regulations now in force, with some reser- vations, and advocate regulations regarding parking on side streets in congested districts. Alleys and ways adjacent to the center of the city should be made through streets. The matter of corner clearance and vision at corners demands your attention for the public safety. We should not usurp the power that rightfully belongs to the police and fire departments, but should encourage their work and cooperate with them.
Our Park System is too large for a city of our size. We should allow to revert to former owners, if their abandonment as parks is possible under the law, certain lands which have been given to the city. The development and maintenance of these parks seems unnecessary when we consider the immense areas of the Metropolitan Park System, lying available at our very doors.
We should take great pride in the care and preservation of our trees. The most advanced methods of treatment should be given trees which show inroads of disease. Reforestation should be considered and practiced on Mt. Hood, the gift of the Hon. John C. F. Slayton. Such plans should be adopted and carried out as will make this tract a fitting memorial to its donor.
The outstanding creative piece of work which your Board, in co- operation with the executives of the School Department, has done during the past year is the construction of our three new school buildings. The co-operation of your Honorable Body and the School Committee with the Mayor in bringing about this very necessary and long delayed piece of municipal work has been very gratifying to me. The very valuable assistance rendered to the city by the engineer, and the co-operation and helpfulness contributed by the School Committee and the Superintendent of Schools made the carrying out of this project a pleasure, and I hear upon all sides from our citizens most favorable comments for all those concerned.
8
CITY OF MELROSE
It is not unknown to you that even with the work already done and the appropriations already made, we have still more to do before our schools will be properly provided with school buildings. For some years it has been apparent to the School Committee, as brought to my attention when a member of that body, that soon there must be a building in the Winthrop District.
During the past year the School Committee and the Superintendent of Schools have given careful thought to the next step in our building program, and a Special Committee is recommending to the full School Committee the acquiring of the land adjacent to the Winthrop School, and the erecting thereon of a modern building about the size of the Meadows School.
I have reason to believe that within a few days we shall recieve a communication from the School Committee asking that appropriations be made to carry forward this project.
I am willing to go on record now as favoring the continuation of our school building program along the lines specified above, and I hope that your Honorable Body will see its way clear to appropriate the necessary funds made possible through an enabling act of the Legislature giving us authority to borrow the money outside of our debt limit.
I heartily approve the advanced methods which have been inaug- urated in our Library by the Library Trustees, such as recreation rooms and story-telling hours. I feel that the requests for increases in the salaries of their staff which they make at this time are not excessive. I advocate the closest relationship between the schools and the library.
Previous administrations have recommended the creation of a Recre- ation Commission, in the language of one to "encourage, promote and regulate outdoor sports." It is my conviction that these recommendations are sound and I heartily give them my endorsement. As has been pointed out, such a commission would not supplant or duplicate the activities of the Park Commission, the School Committee or other existing organ- izations, but would comprehensively plan our sports throughout the year and would give them a co-ordination they now lack. I shall later place before you a definite proposal to this end.
Your attention is called to the foundation of the Memorial Building which is settling. A sufficient appropriation must be made to render the foundation secure. In the reconstruction work necessary to be done it might be well for you to consider the advisability of providing for an addition, which would increase the usefulness of this building so important to the community life of the city.
While our attitude toward the erection of a fitting and permanent memorial to our heroic dead has been no more delinquent than that of many other cities, I strongly feel that the time has come for Melrose to take action. You will recall that I included this project in my inaugural address last year and made provision for it in the first budget. The Board did not adopt my recommendation, but I shall again submit it for your consideration. It seems to me that we may properly regard the erection
9
MAYOR'S ADDRESS
of a stone or bronze tablet preserving these honored names in durable form as beyond the ordinary dictates of economy; that we are, in other words, justified, regardless of the general need of economy in the expen- diture of the public money, in appropriating an adequate sum for this purpose without further delay.
As to the question of erecting a memorial building, as advocated by the American Legion, that is for the people to decide.
I advocate that certain squares and triangular spaces be named in honor of these soldiers of ours who died in the World War. We have a sufficient number of such places to confer this distinction upon every name on the list.
The introduction of modern accounting methods which so successfully brought to light conditions in the Public Works Department should be continued. In fact, all the departments should be examined and their systems of accounting simplified and brought up to date. Of course, the State already has standardized, and supervises all important accounts controlling municipal finance, but there are many departmental and incidental accounts which should be checked up.
During the past year it was thought best to buy certain supplies by contract. This was done in the case of coal, oil and gasoline. This year I propose to buy all supplies for all departments by contract, wherever possible, such as office and janitor supplies. Money has been saved and will continue to be saved, and the procedure will be more businesslike. The city printing should be done by contract. I am having a survey made of the heating problem for all public buildings, and I shall submit the advantages of oil over coal, if such are found to exist. It might be well to consider the advisability of a central heating plant.
Certain insurance policies now taken for one year should be put upon a five-year basis. As these policies expire we should consider the advisability of renewing them with Mutual Companies, thereby making a possible saving to the city.
The members of the Police and Fire Departments have had their pay increased and the citizens have a right to expect in return even better police and fire protection than ever. I feel, inasmuch as increases have been granted in these two departments, that our policy should be an equitable one and that the salaries of other city officials might well be considered. This should be done not only in fairness to the present incumbents, but to make the salaries of such offices high enough to attract the highest type of men in case of replacements.
It gives me pleasure to refer to the spirit of co-operation which has existed during the year between the city and the public utility corporations which serve within our borders. The Malden & Melrose Gas Light Company and the Malden Electric Company have effected reduced charges for their services. The Boston & Maine Railroad has worked with us in track work at grade crossings. The Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Company has relaid certain tracks at the request of the city, and I am pleased to inform you that the trustees of this road have
10
CITY OF MELROSE
included in their budget for the coming year a sum to cover a substantial amount of work on Main Street.
In referring to public service corporations, I deem it proper at this time publicly to compliment the Melrose operating force of the New Eng- land Telephone Company for the loyalty to the public shown them during the strike. Their decision to remain at their posts of duty was a wise one, and I believe their action was appreciated by the citizens of Melrose, who at a time when other communities were suffering from interruption of service, enjoyed service to the full.
Plans are under way for the improvement in our local postoffice service. Congressman Dallinger has conferred with our Board of Trade and is to cooperate with the chairman of the board in securing better facilities and increased service in this postal district. There is reason to believe that this will be brought about at no distant date.
The vital issue of the day is our financial condition. Our great bonded indebtedness is already too large and any attempt to add to it is, in my opinion, most unwise, except bond issues for construction of new school buildings, the life of which is from fifty to seventy-five years or even longer. Much as we would like to see in our city all sorts of improvements we must not create additional burdens for future generations. We must adopt and adhere to the pay-as-you-go policy.
Some method should be adopted to reduce the amount of money it is necessary to borrow in anticipation of taxes. If possible, we should secure the co-operation of the citizens in promptly paying their taxes, either in installments, or in some other manner expediting the collection of money due the city. We are yearly carrying large sums for unpaid taxes, assessments, and water rates. I believe we ought, if necessary, take advantage of legal means to obtain this money. We should, for example, accept the provisions of Chapter 391, Acts of 1923, which makes the water rates a lien on real estate.
Whenever it does become necessary to borrow money by issuing bonds or notes they should be issed for as short a term as possi? le and some provision be made at the same time for their liquidation.
There is an opportunity to increase the revenue of the city through the development of certain lands which have not been built upon because we have not offered the owners modern betterments. I recommend that a commission be appointed to investigate this matter and inform you of the results which could be hoped for in this direction. However, water supply, for example, should not be furnished newly devoloped sections of our city unless the real estate promoters first meet the requirements of the Board of Survey.
The problem of the budget is pertinent at this time, and it should be treated simultaneously by the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen. As previously handled, valuable time has been wasted. Surely there is no need of working at cross purposes when all concerned are anxious for the same result-efficiency and economy. I propose to invite your Honorable Body to an open discussion of the Budget so that you may have the first hand information.
11
MAYOR'S ADDRESS
While it has been the custom in this and other cities to submit a supplementary budget, I do not propose to do so. When insufficient sums are provided in the original budget, with the idea of making up the deficiencies in a supplementary budget, the public is almost necessarily given an erroneous impression of economies effected. It has seemed to me the frank and sensible course suggests that we look our entire problem in the face and provide for the city's needs accordingly, thus doing away with a duplication of work. This can be done if careful and sufficient estimates are submitted by the departments, and sufficient provision is. made for emergencies.
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.