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GIVI
SOMERVILT
STREN
CIT.
TAI
H
CITY OF SOMERVILLE MASSACHUSETTS
ANNUAL REPORTS
1939
GIVES NA
SOMERVILLE
FREEDO
FOUNDED
ONAL
PAL
MUNIC
A CITY 1872 STRENGTH
1842 ESTABLISHED A
SOMERVILLE PRINTING Co., INC.
1940
.
.
HON. JOHN M. LYNCH Mayor of Somerville
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Boston Public Library
https://archive.org/details/annualreportofci1939some
INAUGURAL ADDRESS of HON. JOHN M. LYNCH
MAYOR OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS
Monday, January 1, 1940
Mr. President, Members of the Board Alderman,
Members of the School Committee, and my Fellow Citizens :
To all my dear friends, loyal supporters, and all the people of Somerville I wish a Happy New Year.
As I enter upon another term as Chief Executive of your city, I am moved by the great responsibility which is mine. I am conscious of the fact, and I wish to impress upon you that these are tragic times. They are critically important. We have before us in the conduct of this municipality, many vexing problems which must be solved. If we are to attain the solu- tion of these problems, we must meet them with courage and. a willingness to give equal consideration to the rights of all our citizens.
I realize full well, and I know you also must, that with conditions such as they are, that everyone is affected in some way. The citizens are feeling the pinch of the tightening eco- nomic situation which prevails in our country, whether we be- taxpayers, rent payers, city employees, or relief recipients.
However, I find great consolation in the fact that, while- our economic circumstances might not be as pleasant as they
6
ANNUAL REPORTS
could be, nevertheless, we, in this country, are indeed fortunate in that we enjoy peace and contentment, which is being denied the peoples of many other countries.
It is my sincere wish at this time, that peace may con- tinue to reign in this country, and that peace may be restored to the native lands of so many of our fellow citizens.
With the beginning of another term as Mayor, I believe it fitting and proper at this time that we should pause and re- view the events of the past two years with relation to their effect on the problems which will confront us for the coming two years. If we are to preserve the stability of our city govern- ment, we must adhere to the fundamental principles of honesty, efficiency and humaneness.
We must provide for the needs of all our people, namely, by furnishing all of the essential services of government and providing assistance for our unfortunate citizens.
If we are to be successful in these endeavors we must rec- ognize the necessity for giving equal consideration to all classes of our citizens. The tax-payers who pay the bills have a right to expect that their money will be spent honestly and judicious- ly and that the tax burden will be kept at a minimum. The rent-payer shares these views because lower taxes mean lower rents. The city employees in return for faithful public service, expect fair wages, free from the fear of interruption. Our unfortunate citizens, forced through circumstances to seek as- sistance from their government, are entitled to receive adequate assistance, promptly and humanely. These are the fundamental principles which we must employ if our municipality is to con- tinue to enjoy prosperity and happiness. Let me repeat, we must strictly adhere to these principles.
One of the most important functions of my job as Mayor is to reduce the heavy burden of taxation. If this is done it will help to reduce rents, thereby making it easier for our citizens to live in comfortable quarters at reasonable rates. It will also be an incentive for more of our citizens to secure their own homes without fear that they may lose them later on by tax confiscation.
I take my job to mean also that it is necessary to bring some new industries into the city, thereby furnishing more jobs
7
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL
to our men and women. This can only be done by further re- ducing our tax-rate. Any legitimate industry desirous of locat- ing in Somerville, should, and will be encouraged by me during the next two years. New industries locating in Somerville will mean more tax revenue, the benefit from which will be passed on to the small home owners.
I found out very definitely during the past two years that taxes can only be reduced by applying simple common sense and honesty in government.
In the first year of my administration by applying this simple common sense and honesty in the conduct of the affairs of our city government, a small reduction in your tax-rate was effected.
In the past year aided by the experience we gained in the first year a very substantial reduction was made which was accomplished solely by the prudent and honest administration of the city's affairs.
For the benefit of those who would mis-state the facts to the public and those of the public who would mis-interpret these statements, let me make it emphatically clear at this time that were it not for the increased burdens placed upon us by the State and over which we have no control our tax-rate would have been even more materially reduced.
Real estate today bears too great a share of the cost of gov- ernment. The welfare load falls practically entirely upon real estate. The cost of operating the schools for the education of our children falls entirely upon real estate.
We have effected considerable economies in the administra- tion of our city's affairs during the past two years which in the ordinary course of events should sufficiently reduce our tax-rate so as to encourage new homes and the repairing and re-modeling of old ones. However beneficial these economies have been they are unable to cope with the uncontrollable bur- den placed upon us. Therefore it is my belief that we must consider the necessity for lowering the cost of local govern- ment. I believe that the time has now arrived when the cities and towns might well look to the State to provide funds for public welfare and to carry on the cost of schools.
8
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL
This subject is being considered very seriously by the States of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. There is no reason why cities such as Somerville, Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Revere and Lowell, which now carry a terrific strain because of the unemployment situation should be handicapped, and that cities and towns such as Newton, Brookline, Milton, and Wellesley, whose welfare load is small compared with ours should be so favored.
Those who are unemployed in the State of Massachusetts are nearly all citizens of Massachusetts and it is the duty of the State or Nation to care for their citizens and thereby re- lieve the local communities from this excessive burden.
In short, this city is tax conscious. It needs and demands a further reduction in its tax-rate. For the past two years, by a well-executed program of municipal planning we were able to arrest the upward trend of our tax-rate and I promise the people of Somerville that insofar as I am capable, every- thing within my power and every agency over which I have control will be utilized during the next two years for a further reduction of the tax-rate.
During the past two years I received from all city employees of Somerville the maximum amount of cooperation I wish at this time to publicly commend all the city employees for the part they played in the progress made by Somerville in the past two years, and I sincerely request that they continue their fine spirit during the next two. In return for their continued assistance, I give my oft-repeated pledge that as long as I am Mayor, they will receive their full wages when they are due, and they will not be subjected to requests for wage cuts or salary contributions.
The conduct of our relief agencies today is one of the most important functions of our city government. The welfare and Old Age Assistance recipients are growing in numbers every month and every year. No matter how much we struggle with this perplexing problem our struggle seems to be in vain be- cause of the fact that greater numbers of citizens are forced to seek aid from their government.
Many citizens who in the past would never approach the Welfare Department or Old Age Assistance Bureau for help
9
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL
have reached the point in their financial status where they must put aside their pride and all other considerations and seek public aid. To these people, I repeat the pledge that all worthy cases will be adequately and humanely provided for.
At this time let me impress upon everyone that while we may shudder at the staggering increase in the cost of public welfare, it is well for all of us to bear in mind the fact that it is a solemn duty on our part to provide for needy persons and let each of us remember that "the prince of today may be the pauper of tomorrow." While on this subject I also want to make it emphatically clear that unworthy persons who may be found receiving public aid will not only be removed from the public welfare rolls but will be prosecuted to the full ex- tent of the law. This is a duty which must be met if honest government is to prevail.
The WP A in Somerville during the past two years was conducted in an efficient and businesslike manner. More men were employed on Somerville projects than at any time since the Federal government undertook this great movement and yet the cost to the city was reduced by almost thirty-three and one-third percent over the previous two years. By the efficient and businesslike manner in which the WP A was conducted in Somerville during the past two years there was not one single lay-off due to the lack of materials or equipment and I pledge to the WP A workers that during the next two years the same policy of fairness, impartiality and businesslike ad- ministration of the program shall continue and the steady em- ployment of the maximum number of citizens shall be assured.
While this steadily increasing burden of relief must vex the tax-paying public, I call attention to the fact that, during the past two years the W P A program was executed in a man- ner most beneficial to the entire city. Worthwhile projects of a permanent and lasting nature were constructed to an ex- tent never equalled before in Somerville and I promise that for the next two years the citizens may expect in return for their share of the cost of the W P A program more new and modern improvements of the most beneficial nature at the min- imum of cost to the city.
Two years ago in my inaugural address I pointed out the serious and chaotic financial condition of the city. While we
10
ANNUAL REPORTS
have made noticeable improvement in this direction and the financial condition of the city is improved, if we are to attain further improvement in our financial status there must be a continuation of the same sound, conservative common sense policy of conducting the city's affairs. In this respect I wish to point out that during the past two years the borrowing pro- gram of the city of Somerville was confined solely to borrow- ings which were permitted and provided for by the State Legis- lature for relief requirements, hurricane damage and the fund- ing of the 1938 tax State Tax Deficit. In the coming two years I shall continue the same policy of restricted borrowing con- fined solely to relief requirements. This, of course, means that there will be no borrowings for land taking, for construction of new buildings or any such kindred projects, except in the case of extreme public emergency.
In the past two years we embarked upon a policy of no capital outlays. While there are a great many things we would all like to see done, it must be borne in mind that they cannot de done except in a manner compatible with the city's ability to pay.
Although it may be an unpopular course, I shall adhere strictly to the policy of not adding any persons to the municipal payroll, except when absolutely necessary.
Here and now I wish to un-equivocally and un-qualifiedly re-affirm and subscribe to the great social and economic prin- ciple of barring from the public pay-rolls married women who have husbands gainfully employed. It is my fond hope and opinion that this great movement which has spread through- out the entire nation will meet with continued success. In times like these when millions of our fellow citizens, men and women, boys and girls, are walking the streets without em- ployment; with some families without even one member em- ployed, it is my opinion that the great American people have and will respond even more enthusiastically to the unselfish principle of an equal distribution of governmental positions so that no one may have a monopoly and that the suffering of hundreds of thousands of our citizens may be alleviated.
I inaugurated this great movement in Somerville two years ago and I intend to follow it through to whatever extent may be necessary to reach a successful and lawful conclusion.
11
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL
Members of the Board of Aldermen, Members of the School Committee, and My Fellow Citizens :
There are a great many things that I could say in this, my second inaugural address, but I am convinced that what you desire more than words is continued intelligent action. The coming two years are going to be difficult ones. There are many clouds on the horizon and many obstacles stand in our way. They can only be overcome by constant application and the complete cooperation of all branches of our city govern- ment.
I am thoroughly convinced that the result of the last elec- tion is a clear and direct mandate from the people for the continuation of the same type of decent and orderly government in Somerville. Likewise I am sure that public opinion demands that we continue the conduct of the affairs of our city with dignity and honor and that there be no dilatory tactics on the part of any branch of our city government or any individuals therein. If we are to continue to maintain progress we must continue to coöperate with each other in order to bring about this result.
I shall not transgress upon the functions of either the Board of Aldermen or the School Committee. I shall, however, main- tain a keen interest in the actions of both these branches. I sin- cerely solicit their cooperation with me, and, at no time shall either of these branches, collectively or individually, be sub- ject to any unreasonable requests from the Chief Executive of this city.
I shall at all times be most pleased to entertain appeals and requests from the elected members of our city government, and from the citizens themselves but I shall not tolerate un- reasonable and unwarranted demands upon the Chief Execu- tive of the city.
As Mayor of Somerville during the past two years I was able to obtain favorable action upon a petition to have a sur- vey made of the possibility of a Rapid Transit System in Som- erville. This project is now being studied by a Recess Commis- sion of the Legislature and I hope within the next two years to obtain improved transportation facilities for our citizens.
12
ANNUAL REPORTS
In conclusion let me re-iterate what I have previously said that I construe the results of the last municipal election as a direct mandate from the people that good government shall en- dure in Somerville.
With the help of God and the cooperation of all it will en- dure.
13
CITY AUDITOR
REPORT OF THE CITY AUDITOR
Office of the City Auditor, January 31, 1940
To the Honorable, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville,
Gentlemen :
In accordance with the requirements of Chapter 7, Section 3 of the Revised Ordinances of 1929, I herewith submit a report of the expenditures and receipts during the year 1939, as shown by the records in this office, giving in detail the appropriations, expenditures and the receipts from each source of income. Also a statement of the funded debt and temporary loans, table rela- tive to maturities and interest, a balance sheet showing the assets and liabilities at the close of the fiscal year and a state- ment of the treasurer's cash.
Respectively submitted,
FREDERICK W. HALE,
City Auditor
14
ANNUAL REPORTS
I hereby Certify that I have verified the Treasurer's cash as of December 30, 1939, by actual count, and have verified by reconciliation of the bank accounts the amounts on deposit in the banks as of the same date.
The total cash balance December 30, 1939 was $1,135,053.69, as follows :
Somerville National Bank
$275,335.10
Somerville National Bank, Welfare
17,474.86
First National Bank
48,981.72
Merchants National Bank
103,613.24
Merchants National Bank, P. W. A. Sewers
2,945.25
Merchants National Bank, P. W. A. Water Mains
612.07
Merchants National Bank, P. W. A. Highways
4,916.96
Merchants National Bank, P. W. A. Schools
23,268.37
Merchants National Bank, N. E. Jr. High
School
3.70
Webster and Atlas National Bank
329,073.52
State Street Trust Company
91,646.68
National Shawmut Bank
87,601.98
Somerville Trust Company, Benefits
7,665.76
Somerville Trust Company, Teachers
35,889.21
Highland Trust Company
90,242.36
Highland Trust Company, Messenger
158.49
Charlestown Trust Company
15,000.00
Cash and checks in office
624.42
$1,135,053.69
I further Certify that I have examined the Trust Fund Se- curities in the hands of the City Treasurer and find them to be correct, as follows :
Charles M. Berry, Contagious Hospital
$1,000.00
S. Newton Cutler Fund, School
5,322.22
Caroline G. Baker Fund, School
300.00
Sarah Winslow Fox Fund, School
401.38
J. Frank Wellington Fund, School
2,000.00
S. Newton Cutler Fund, Library
1,064.45
Martha R. Hunt Book Fund, Library
14,105.25
Martha R. Hunt Art Fund, Library
1,299.77
Isaac Pitman Art Fund, Library
4,665.75
Isaac Pitman Poetry Fund, Library
1,166.45
Francis A. Wilder Children's Library
100.00
Sarah Lorane Graves Fund, Library
400.00
Buffum Memorial Book Fund, Library
1,000.00
Eunice M. Gilmore Fund, Library
2,000.00
Thomas J. Buffum Fund, Library
2,020.00
J. Frank Wellington Fund, Library
4,000.00
Edward C. Booth Fund, Library
3,000.00
Olive C. Cummings Fund, Welfare
1,751.45
Mary A. Haley Fund, Recreation
3,645.76
$49,242.48
15
CITY AUDITOR
And the following Invested Funds :
Municipal Buildings Insurance Fund $23,842.79 Retirement System (Cash and Securities) $346,325.32
$370,168.11
FREDERICK W. HALE, . City Auditor
16
BALANCE SHEET, DECEMBER 31, 1939
Revenue Accounts ·
Cash:
In Offices and Banks
$913,141.06
In Closed Banks
105,400.85
$1,018,541.91
Street Sprinkling, 1934, J. D. M. $17.68
Accounts Receivable:
Taxes 1930
4,694.37
Taxes 1931
13,050.54
Taxes 1932
21,747.99
Taxes 1933
19,795.22
Sidewalk Assessments - Added to Taxes 1938 8.52
Taxes 1934
9,020.78
Taxes 1935
19,763.58
Taxes
1936
15,908.36
Taxes 1937
22,330.26
Taxes 1938
276,812.98
Taxes 1939
1,516,566.10
Old Age Assistance Tax 1931
2.00
Old Age Assistance Tax 1933
9,574.00
9,576.00
Motor
Vehicle Excise Tax
1929
2,205.65
Motor
Vehicle Excise Tax
1930
12,215.49
Motor
Vehicle Excise Tax
1931
12,579.00
Motor
Vehicle Excise Tax
1932
13,481.27
..
..
Committed Interest, Sidewalks 1938 1.02
ANNUAL REPORTS
Cash Variations Tailings
73.37
1,919,690.18
839.82
Assets
Liabilities
Temporary Loans 1939 ........ 2,700,000.00
BALANCE SHEET-Continued
Assets
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
1933
10,717.87
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
1934
7,263.26
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
1935
8,584.15
Accounts Payable
1
$57,326.18
Motor 1936
Vehicle Excise Tax
10,235.29
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
1937
13,841.99
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
1938
6,144.04
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
1939
6,812.41
$104,080.42
City Clerk's Deposits
957.46
228.98
Assessments :
Street Sprinkling 1930
24.48
Street Sprinkling 1931
21.78
Street Sprinkling 1932
21.78
Street Sprinkling 1933
13.86
Street Sprinkling 1934
3.22
Sidewalks Assessments- ,
Added to Taxes 1935 .. Highway Assessments-
52.14
Added to Taxes 1935 428.01
Highway Assessments- Added to Taxes 1936 52.73
Highway Assessments-
Added to Taxes 1937
85.05
C. of M. State Taxes and As- sessments 1939 28,377.51
17
CITY AUDITOR
Water Deposits Unexpended Balances: Income of Trust Funds .. Appropriations ..
5,511.13
29,013.95
..
Liabilities
18
BALANCE SHEET-Continued
Assets
Liabilities
Sidewalk Assessments-
Added to Taxes 1937
11.05
Highway Assessments-
Added to Taxes 1938
249.96
Sidewalks Assessments-
Added to Taxes 1939
83.24
Highway Assessments-
Added to Taxes 1939
747.90
1,795.20
Premiums on Bond 7,798.99
Committed Interest:
Sidewalk Assessments
10.44
Highway Assessments
107.46
Committed Interest 1936
12.64
Committed Interest 1937
12.37
Committed Interest Highway, 1938
31.02
Committed Interest Side-
walks, 1939
8.13
Committed Interest Highway, 1939
55.64
Departmental Bills Receivable:
Health Department 21,081.08
Contagious Hospital
16,753.94
Inspection Milk and Vinegar .. 169.50
Sanitary Department
518.88
Maintenance Sanitary Build- ings
2,640.00
237.70
Revenue Reserved until Collected: Departmental $523,846.24
Water 62,434.38
Special Assessments 1,769.00
Tax Titles 388,753.59
Motor Vehicle Excise 104,080.42
Committed Interest
236.68
1,081,120.31
ANNUAL REPORTS
County, Dog Licenses ....... ..
19.80
BALANCE SHEET-Continued
Assets
Highway Department
Welfare Miscellaneous
404.42 429,008.58
Welfare- Aid to Dependent Children
7,659.67
Old Age Assistance ..
17,265.81
Welfare - City Home
6,638.49
School Contingent
7,270.41
Sale of Land
4,782.38
State Aid
8,178.00
Military Aid
5,792.96
Soldiers' Burials
449.50
Soldiers' Relief
15.00
Overlay, Reserved for Abatement of Taxes:
Levy 1930
3,017.20
Levy 1933
4,215.58
586,280.62
Tax Titles
Tax Possessions
386,113.10 2,640.49
Overlay 1931
2.00
Overlay 1932
4.00
Overlay 1934
331.30
Reserve Fund Surplus from
Overlay 1935
606.34
Overlays
10.00
Overlay 1936
963.19
Reserved for Deposits in Closed Banks
105,400.85
Revenue 1939
37,061.31
Excess and Deficiency
6,585.60
4,073,332.97
4,073,332.97
CITY AUDITOR
523,846.24
Water Department Accounts .... 62,434.38
Levy 1938
8,325.31
Levy 1939
29,701.33
..
Overlay 1937
5,409.21
Liabilities
19
20
BALANCE SHEET-Continued NON-REVENUE ACCOUNTS
Assets
Liabilities
Accounts Payable
15,435.76
Appropriations ..
96,286.39
State and County Revenue
1,845.95
Aid to Highways
1,845.95
Loans in Anticipation Federal Grants
6,883.00
Federal Grants
2,093.37
120,451.10
120,451.10
DEFERRED ASSESSMENTS
Assets
Deferred Revenue:
Apportioned Sidewalk AS-
Sessments
81.60
Apportioned Highway Assess-
207.28
ments
288.88
Deferred Special Assessments .. 288.88
ANNUAL REPORTS
Cash in Offices and Banks
116,511.78
Accts. Rec. State and County
Liabilities
NET FUNDED OR FIXED DEBT
Assets
Net Bonded Debt 5,054,274.67
Liabilities
Loans within statutory debt limit:
City Hall Addition Loan ....... .. 28,000.00
Sewer Loan
5,000.00
Bridge Loan
10,000.00
Highway Loan
115,000.00
Schoolhouse Loan ..
144,000.00
High School Loan
499,000.00
Junior High School Loan
497,000.00
Garage Loan
26,000.00
School Equipment Loan
58,000.00
Chapter 44 - Sewer Loan .... 241,000.00
Chapter 44 - Highway Loan
128,000.00
1,751,000.00
Loans outside Statutory debt limit:
Elementary School Loan 44,000.00
Police Station Loan
120,000.00
Tax Title Loan 353,274.67
Municipal Relief Loans
2,088,000.00
P. W. A. Sewer Loan ... ..
25,000.00
P. W. A. Water Main Loan ..
20,000.00
P. W. A. Highway Loan
76,000.00
P. W. A. School Loan
231,000.00
Chapter 44 Water Main
Loan
143,000.00
Emergency Storm Loan ..
50,000.00
State Tax Funding Loan ... 153,000.00
3,303,274.67
5,054,274.67
5,054,274.67
21
CITY AUDITOR
..
..
22
TRUST AND INVESTED FUNDS
Assets
Trust Funds:
Trust Funds:
Contagious Hospital Funds .... 1,000.00
Cash and Securities
49,249.30
School Funds
8,029.62
Library Funds
34,822.47
Investment Funds:
Welfare Funds
1,751.45
Cash and Securities
369,576.44
Recreation Funds
3,645.76
Invested Funds:
Municipal Buildings Insur-
ance Fund 23,842.79
Retirement System Funds ....
345,733.65
$418,825.74
418,825.74
ANNUAL REPORTS
23
CITY AUDITOR
CASH STATEMENT, DECEMBER 31, 1939
REVENUE
Receipts
General:
Taxes
$4,686,163.16
C. of M. Income Tax
300,020.94
C. of M. Corporation Tax
50,368.56
Refund Boulevard Maintenance
8.54
Motor Vehicle Excise
137,952.34
Licenses and Permits
98,746.58
Fines and Forfeits
4,058.89
Grants and Gifts
461,786.98
Tax Titles Redeenied
191,832.90
- $5,930,938.89
Special Assessments 1,772.61
Departmental:
General Government
12,053.65
Protection Persons and Property
1,582.89
Health and Sanitation
24,677.76
Highways
818.50
Welfare
543,818.54
Soldiers' Benefits
11,619.32
Schools and School Buildings
21,009.96
Libraries
2,286.59
Recreation
681.76
Teachers' Retirement Deductions
58,022.32
Retirement Deductions
28,046.80
All Other
588.98
705,207.07
Water Department Accounts
448,307.32
Temporary Loans
5,300,000.00
Municipal Relief Loan
587,000.00
Tax Title Loan
152,400.00
State Tax Funding Loan
153,000.00
Emergency Storm Loan
50,000.00
Premiums on Bonds
7,798.99
Interest on Taxes, etc.
64,199.61
Trust Fund Income
1,040.61
Refunds
11,690.06
Deposits
4,780.00
Refund of State & Federal Old Age Grants
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