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RJ
EEL
MUNIC 1849
GIV
, ESTABL
SOMERVILL
LISHED À
1872
CITY STRENGTH
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Boston Public Library
https://archive.org/details/annualreportofci1945some
CITY OF SOMERVILLE MASSACHUSETTS
ANNUAL REPORTS
1945
GIVE
N
SOMERVILLE
FREE
FOUNDED 1842
AL
MUNICI
1842 ESTABLIS
LISHED
A CITY 1872 ONAL STRENGTH
SOMERVILLE PRINTING CO., INC.
1946
E.P.E.U. 548
HON. G. EDWARD BRADLEY Mayor of Somerville
INAUGURAL ADDRESS of MAYOR G. EDWARD BRADLEY DELIVERED AT CLAYTON C. ELLIS AUDITORIUM IN THE HIGH SCHOOL on Monday, January 7, 1946 - 8:00 P. M.
Fellow citizens of the City of Somerville :-
The problems of government were not brought closer to solution by the conclusion of the vast and horrible world-wide conflict in which we have been engaged for the past four years.
We face today, in our municipality, a condition not far removed from actual crisis, a condition aggravated by war- time restrictions but conceived in the do-nothing attitude of previous administrations.
We inherited a broken-down machine; inability to obtain necessary materials and skilled workmen compelled us, in the past two years, to confine our efforts to patch work and emergency repairs. The inroads of untrammelled depreciation would have dictated to reasonable men years ago, when the cost was far less than it is today, that replacement of obsolete buildings and equipment was imperative.
The lack of housing today approaches the state of a nationwide scandal.
·Progressive communities, in the years preceeding the war, took advantage of Federal Housing opportunities to eliminate run-down, sub-standard dwellings by substituting in their stead. modern housing developments erected and paid for by
6
ANNUAL REPORTS
the Federal government. Short-sighted officials refused to cooperate with governmental agencies or actually prevented construction. Millions of dollars were allotted Somerville for this purpose through the efforts of Judge-then Congressmau -Arthur D. Healy. Lower East Somerville would have been rehabilitated. We would now have over 1,000 apartments available for returning veterans, had the administration, which held office then, allowed the Federal government to carry out concrete plans for the construction of homes in Somerville.
The allotment of funds ultimately was used elsewhere. We still have our blighted areas of boarded-up, uninhabitable. and disgraceful tenement houses where decent families are com- pelled to pay rents almost as high as residents of the Federal Housing Developments in Cambridge, Charlestown, South Boston, Everett, and other forward-looking communities.
I have made application, in the name of the City of Somer- ville, for the construction by the Federal Housing Authorities of at least 1,000 units in our city. That application was filed over one year before the condition became acute. I expect ultimate favorable action. However, the apartments - because of do-nothing officials - are not now available when the need is most urgent. Materials for construction either cannot be obtained, or may be found in most limited quantities. Costs have increased by more than 33% over the years when the Federal government requested Somerville's officials for per- mission to assist the people of Somerville, and had its offer abruptly rejected.
We must now endeavor, under most unfavorable and vastly more expensive conditions, to obtain decent and adequate shelter for the citizens of our city. I am convinced that, in the immediate future, we will be able to point to real progress in our efforts toward this goal.
The trucks of the sanitary department, used for the col- Jection of ashes, are 15 years old. They are so completely worn out that not one of them had sufficient power to assist in plow- ing the snow from our streets during recent storms. An average day finds at least one third of them laid up in the garage for repairs. They have been falling apart for at least five years. Because of their age, obsolescence, and general run-down condition, the annual cost of repairs has been more than $15,000 and the cost of hired trucks, which substitute for them, has averaged better than $25,000 or a total of $40,000 each year.
7
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL
Had an intelligent plan for the replacement of worn-out rolling stock been initiated years ago, this entire department would now be operating with modern vehicles, and the annual expenditure would not have been large. We, this year, are confronted with the necessity of replacing the entire fleet of sanitary trucks, with the necessity of purchasing snow re- inoval and other equipment for the Highway department, and of sewer cleaning equipment for the Engineering Department ..
Much of the equipment used by the Fire Department is actually hazardous. Six months ago we were compelled to relegate the antiquated ladder truck at Teele Square to the junk yard, and that fire-house for that entire period has been serviced by a borrowed ladder truck. During the past two years we could not have purchased new equipment. Previous years should have made replacements from time to time. False economy dictated otherwise.
Here, also, extraordinary expenditures must be made if the entire service is not to break down completely.
I am as cognizant as every other resident of our city of the fact that ash collections are frequently behind schedule and that the work of snow removal has often been other than satisfactory. I know that it is human to criticize and that the employees of the Sanitary Department, of the Highway Department and of the Sewer Department have often been criticized for this condition. I want, at this time, to emphasize that-in my opinion-the vast majority of the men of these departments have done an extraordinarily good job with the tools the city has given them. Not they but city officials, who refused to provide them with the equipment necessary, deserve the criticism.
This year - the first year since the war when new equip- ment will be available - they are going to receive that equip- ment.
Schools and other public buildings, without one single- exception, were allowed to fall into disgraceful and hazardous condition. Heating systems did not function. Roofs leaked. Sanitary facilities for students were appalling. Only a miracle prevented a stark tragedy at the Western Junior High School. Six school buildings were erected during post Civil War days and should have been condemned years ago. Building costs are 35% greater now than they were 5 years ago, 50% greater
8
ANNUAL REPORTS
than they were 10 years ago. Intelligent utilization of WPA and PWA could have modernized all school buildings at one third of today's cost.
We, however, have no alternative. Money spent to repair antique buildings is generally wasted money. To make some of these old buildings servicable for only a few more years, and to protect the health of our school children, we were compelled during the past two years, to spend in the vicinity of $200,000. This year we must and shall begin a program of rebuilding this long neglected department of our city government.
Almost every street in Somerville should be resurfaced. Except for patch work nothing has been done since the con- clusion of WPA. We may hope that the legislature, recogniz- ing its responsibility to the motorist, will return to the cities and towns for highway repair and construction, funds taken through the gasoline tax. We may hope for but we cannot depend upon, this additional revenue. We ourselves, must pro- vide the money. We ourselves must perform the necessary work. Primarily it is our responsibility and we cannot evade it.
Directed by a group of sincere and qualified men and women, our Recreation Department under the immediate supervision of a nationally recognized expert in this field, has been revitalized and strengthened in its all-important work for the youth of our city. Our high school athletes have been recognized anel supported as never before in our city's history.
In the firm belief that a strong body is as essential to our younger citizens as a strong mind, and that one of our fore- most obligations is to provide opportunities and facilities for healthy recreation, this administration will continue, as in the past, to do all in its power to encourage and assist this cause which has already paid real dividends to Somerville. Herc we have had no problems of juvenile delinquency.
An additional extraordinarily large obligation, inherited from a previous administration, for which we shall be com- pelled to appropriate this year, is the payment to employees of our city, married women illegally discharged seven years ago. This was not of our doing. It has gone through every court of jurisdiction in our commonwealth. The final conclusion of the. Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts is that we must pay them for the time they were suspended from the municipal payroll.
9
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL
This may represent more than fifty cents of the 1946 tax rate, a pretty high cost for arrogant disregard of law and the legal rights of civil service employees.
I know that I have not outlined a program consistent with the desires of property owners for continued reduction in our tax rate. We are, however, faced with an immutable fact. Money must be expended now or we face physical bankruptcy. If the Federal and State governments recognize their responsi- bility to municipal governments, we shall again this year lower the real estate tax. If, even without this assistance, stern economy can achieve the goal, it will be done.
No one realizes more than I the disadvantage that a high tax rate places upon a community. We want to bring into Somerville more and larger industrial enterprise. Many have come to Somerville during the past year. Several great nation- al manufacturers are seeking locations within our bounds which may increase our valuation by more than two and one quarter millions of dollars, and employ hundreds of our citi- zens. They are coming to Somerville because they have faith in our financial condition, and believe that our tax rate will be further reduced annually. I pledge myself to a continua- tion, during this administration, of the same strict economy, as was practiced since I was first inaugurated in 1944.
Where expenditures are required, they will be made, but the taxpayer insofar as I am able, will receive 100 cents in value for every dollar expended.
During each of the past two years, taxes were lowered. Not one long term bond issue was authorized. Our tax rate last year was $2.20 less than it was in 1942, despite the fact that salaries paid city employees in 1945 totalled approximately $450,000 more than in 1942. Had it not been for our firm deter- mination that our foremost obligation to Somerville's tax- payers was to practice sane and prudent economy in every department, the lowest tax rate in ten years could not have been achieved.
It is not easy to reduce municipal expenditures. We are confronted with a vast number of appropriations which must be provided, and which are actually beyond our control. These include employees' salaries, interest and principal payments on the debts of previous years, state and county assessments, welfare and old age payments, veterans' aid and benefits and
10
ANNUAL REPORTS
the entire appropriation of the school department over which the Board of Aldermen and the Mayor have entirely no legal jurisdiction.
In 1944, these "must" expenditures equalled 89% of our total budget. We were thus compelled to start off by appro- priating $5,826,000 for the above. All other expenditures totalled only $704,000. . .. Here only could we practice econ- omy, these only could we reduce, and these expenditures were for utter essentials .... for fuel for schools and other public buildings, supplies and equipment, necessary requirements for the ordinary operation of the various departments of our city government.
This year, again, we are compelled to analyze and weigh each request for additional funds. Essential requirements must be met, luxuries must be eliminated, that which must be spent, must be appropriated.
We want a tax reduction. We are going to bend every effort consistent with good government toward that end.
But we are not going to follow the example of some pre- vious administrations, and borrow to reduce the tax rate. We are not going to juggle assessed valuations to reduce the tax rate. We are not going to authorize bond issues for annual and recurring expenses to reduce the tax rate.
Regardless of anything else, Somerville's tax rate, which for the past two years has been an honest tax rate, will for 1946 and 1947 continue to reflect an honest statement of our city's financial condition.
However, on the question of municipal borrowing, I want to make my position clear. Long-term borrowing for the pur- pose of artificially reducing the tax rate is clearly indefen- sible. Long-term borrowing to pay for unnecessary luxuries is wrong. Long-term borrowing to provide for commodities or materials which will be worn out years before the debt is paid off cannot be justified at any time.
But the cost of long-lived, and expensive necessities reasonably should be extended over the term of usefulness of the improvement.
In this regard a community does not differ from an indi- vidual. A property owner who installs a new heating system in his dwelling, who puts on a new roof and insulates his home against heat and cold, justifiably pays for these permanent and
11
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL
long-range improvements with borrowed money, a mortgage. For the short-lived improvements and repairs, interior paint- ing, papering, calsomining, he pays out of income because he knows the work will again be necessary in two or three years, and because a long-term mortgage to pay for these latter would mean that in two or three years he would be paying for a dead horse.
This Senior High School was enlarged and remodeled and the gymnasium erected in 1928 by Mayor Conwell at a cost of $1,200,000. Countless generations of school children will re- ceive the benefits afforded by these buildings. It is reasonable that those generations should pay their share of the cost. That is accomplished by means of a justifiable bond issue.
The Northeastern Junior High School was built in 1923 and the City Hall remodeled in 1924 by Mayor John M. Web- ster. Those were paid for by justifiable bond issues without which the improvements could not have been obtained. Ob- viously the impact upon the annual tax rate would have been terrific if an attempt had not been made to charge off these enormous sums out of current revenue. To this type of bond issue, I have no opposition, and this type of bond issue I have in the past supported.
My opposition has been, and will always be registered against waste, extravagance, and needless expenditures of the taxpayers' money, either by bond issue or direct appropriation.
We have re-established the financial base of our city. We are prepared for progressive advance. The future holds great promise for Somerville.
Salary increases, consistent with increased living costs, have been granted all city employees.
Legislation has been enacted guaranteeing better working conditions and providing greater protection than previously afforded.
We have liberalized-and at the same time placed on a pay-as-you-go basis-our employees retirement system, by ac- cepting the provisions of Section 26 to 31 H of Chapter 32 of the General Laws, which acceptance has been described as "the most progressive step taken in our civic government with- in recent years".
12
ANNUAL REPORTS
Our program for old age assistance, already recognized as the most liberal assistance program in the history of Som- erville, will be extended financially and by the institution of even greater medical facilities in the next two years. While this will undoubtedly increase the cost of our old age assis- tance program even above the total of $670,000 paid to recipients last year. I am certain that every taxpayer unites with me in my determination that Somerville's senior citizens must receive from their community all that it has in its power to provide.
In order that complete and adequate medical aid may be available at all times to our returning veterans of this war, and to the veterans of previous wars, a highly qualified Som erville physician will soon be added to the permanent staff oi our department of Veterans' Aid and Pensions.
In the belief that Somerville, as soon as material is avail- able, will see considerable activity in the building industry, particularly as it applies to the construction of industrial and business properties, we have substituted for our archaic and obsolete building code a modern and model code of regula- tions which will increase municipal revenue and guarantee that all future construction will be safe and properly adapted to the purpose for which it is to be utilized.
A natural sequence to this, in the next two years, will be a competent and thorough survey of our entire community, as regards zoning, in order to eliminate the evils of spot zoning, so called, and to provide for changing conditions in various sections of our city.
In the past two years was laid the foundation of a better Somerville. The completion of plans begun in 1944 evolve upon us, Somerville's city government for the ensuing two years. Our responsibilities to the people who chose us to represent them are great. They are responsibilities which will be with us 24 hours a day for each day of 1946 and 1947.
By constant cooperation, and with a sincere determination to perform to the best of our ability the obligations we shall each here tonight assume, with the aid of Divine Providence, be successful.
G. EDWARD BRADLEY,
Mayor.
13
CITY AUDITOR
REPORT OF THE CITY AUDITOR
Office of the City Auditor, January 31, 1946.
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 2 of the Revised Ordinances of 1929, I herewith submit a re- port of the expenditures and receipts during the year 1945, as shown by the records in this office, giving in detail the appro- priations, expenditures and the receipts from each source of income. Also a statement of the funded debt and temporary loans, table relative to maturities and interest, a balance sheet showing the assets and liabilities at the close of the fiscal year and a statement of the treasurer's cash.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANCIS MACDONALD, City Auditor
14
ANNUAL REPORTS
I hereby Certify that I have verified the Treasurer's cash as of December 31, 1945, 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 31, 1945 was $657,026.72 as follows :
Somerville National Bank
$140,484.29
Somerville National Bank (Welfare)
11,973.86
First National Bank
46,034.64
Second National Bank
40,000.00
United States Trust Company
10,000.00
Merchants National Bank
91,041.10
Webster and Atlas National Bank
74,022.50
State Street Trust Company
67,715.28
National Shawmut Bank
47,151.42
Somerville Trust Co. (Sol. Benefits)
7,983.06
Somerville Trust Co. (Teachers)
119,820.57
Cash in Office
800.00
$657,026.72
I further Certify that I have examined the Trust Fund Securities in the hands of the City Treasurer and find them to be correct, as follows :
Charles M. Berry Fund, 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
Arthur A. Smith Fund, School
2,500.00
S. Newton Cutler Fund, Library
1,067.73
Martha R. Hunt, Book Fund, Library
14,105.25
Martha R. Hunt, Art Fund, Library
1,299.77
Isaac Pitman Art Fund, Library
4,689.10
Isaac Pitman Poetry Fund, Library
1,172.28
Francis A. Wilder Children's Fund, 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
1,515.00
J. Frank Wellington Fund, Library
4,000.00
Edward C. Booth Fund, Library
3,000.00
Arthur A. Smith Fund, Library
5,000.00
Olive C. Cummings Fund, Welfare
1,751.45
Mary A. Haley Fund, Recreation
3,645.76
$56,269.94
15
CITY AUDITOR
And the following Invested Funds :
Municipal Buildings Insurance Fund $17,439.38 Retirement System (Cash and Securities) 733,666.95
$751,106.33
HELEN E. VARNERIN, Temporary City Auditor
December 31st, 1945
BALANCE SHEET, DECEMBER 31, 1945
Revenue Accounts
Assets
Liabilities
Cash :
In offices and Banks ..... $651,912.00
Cash Variations Tailings
745.34 2,746.59
Accounts Receivable:
Temporary Loans 1945
400,000.09
Taxes, 1943
4,268.10
Taxes, 1944
16,253.74
School Deposits
386.96
Taxes, 1945
265,624.07
City Clerk's Deposits
429.25
Tax Titles
143,037.62
72,520.89
Tax Possessions
36,278.34
Appropriations Income of Trust Funds
5,486.14
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax,
1943
2,491.46
Blue Cross Deductions
3,325.95
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax,
1944
1,788.45
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax,
1945
3,940.91
Federal Tax Withholding
88,914.31
8,220.82
Reimbursements Old Age As- sistance
1,882.20
Departmental Bills Receivable: Health Department
3,584.11
Contagious Hospital
30,384.13
117,603.40
Inspection Milk and Vinegar
157.50
Highway Department 16.50
65,628.02
Welfare Miscellaneous
12,823.05
Old Age Assistance
884.67
3,753.30
City Home
1,022.58
School Contingent
1,252.17
11,337.45
State Aid
1,850.00
C. of M. State Taxes and As- sessments 1941 C. of M. State Taxes and As- sessments 1942
C. of M. - Legal Expenses Boston Elevated Railway Co. C. of M. State Taxes and As- sessments 1945 County, Dog Licenses 33.00
ANNUAL REPORTS
16
Pay Roll Deductions for Pur- chases of War Bonds
1,272.50
$651,912.00
286,145.91
Unexpended Balances :
BALANCE SHEET - Continued
Assets
Liabilities
Military Aid
1,382.50
Soldiers' Relief
15.00
War Allowance
5,106.87
Soldiers' Burials
200.00
Foreclosed Property Rentals ..
14.00
Revenue Reserved until collected:
Departmental 58,693.08
Water
61,206.80
'Tax Titles
143,037.62
Tax Possessions 36,278.34
Motor Vehicle Excise
8,220.82
Middlesex County Tax 1945
407.77
Overlay 1932
553.63
Overlay 1933
1,179.10
Overlay 1934
1,759.41
Overlay
1935
1,783.71
Overlay 1936
2,070.10
Overlay 1937
2,010.91
Overlay, Reserved for Abatement of Taxes:
Levy 1944
2,652.64
Overlay 1939
4,724.24
Levy 1945
17,719.68
Overlay 1940
4,158.53
Reserve Fund, Surplus from
Overlay
1941
4,194.94
Overlay
20.00
Overlay 1942
12,037.63
Overlay 1943
10,654.20
Smith-Hughes Fund
4,458.82
George-Deen Fund 3,670.22
58,693.08
Water Department Accounts ....
61,206.80
119,899.88
307,436.66
Sale of Land 8,682.38
CITY AUDITOR
Excess and Deficiency ..
172,041.18
1,292,746.88
1,292,746.88
17
..
Overlay
1938
1,718.14
NON-REVENUE ACCOUNTS
Cash in Offices and BankS ....... 5,114.72
Non-Revenue Appropriations .... 5,114.72
..
5,114.72
5,114.72
NET-FUNDED or FIXED DEBT
Net Bonded Debt
2,450,000.00
Loans within Statutory Debt Limit :
Bridge Loan
4,000.00
High School Loan
133,000.00
Junior High School Loan 221,000.00
Garage Loan 14,000.00
Chapter 44-Sewer Loan
175,000.00
Funding Loan Chap. 315, Acts 1941
39,000.00
586,000.00
Loans outside Statutory Limit: Elementary School Loan
6,000.00
Police Station Loan 30,000.00
Municipal Relief Loans
1,473,000.00
P.W.A. Sewer Loan
19,000.00
P.W.A. Water Main Loan 8,000.00
P.W.A. School Loan
135,000.00
Chapter 44-Water Main Loan
155,000.00
Emergency Storm Loan
20,000.00
Civilian Defense Loan Chap. 487, Acts 1941
18,000.00
1,864,000.00
2,450.000.00
18
ANNUAL REPORTS
2,450,000.00
1
TRUST AND INVESTED FUNDS
Trust Funds:
Cash and Securities ...........
56,269.94
Contagious Hospital Funds ....
1,000.00
School Funds
10,523.60
Library Funds
39,349.13
Welfare Funds 1
1,751.45
Recreation Funds
3,645.76
Invested Funds:
Investment Funds:
Cash and Securities
750,267.76
Municipal Buildings Insur- ance Fund
17,373.97
Retirement System Funds ...
732,893.79
806,537.70
806,537.70
CITY AUDITOR
19
Trust Funds:
20
ANNUAL REPORTS
CASH STATEMENT-DECEMBER 31, ,1945 REVENUE
Receipts
General :
$4,568,902.72
Taxes
C. of M. Income Tax 402,770.68
C. of M. Corporation Tax 258,271.98
C. of M. Meal Tax
18,583.81
C. of M. Tax Title Interest Refund
658.36
C. of M. Highway Fund Distribution
102,586.16
C. of M. In Lieu of Taxes
117.60
C. of M. Boxing Commission
196.85
Motor Vehicle Excise
79,482.31
Licenses and Permits
101,225.96
Fines and Forfeits
3,456.76
Grants and Gifts
361,287.77
Tax Titles Redeemed
52,347.28
Income, Foreclosed Property
1,325.00
Tax Possessions
9,650.00
Sale of Land
1,500.00
$5,962,363.24
Departmental:
General Government
7,660.41
Protection Persons and Property
1,760.70
Health and Sanitation
31,975.38
Highways
464.08
Welfare
23,506.78
City Home
5,522.06
Aid, Dependent Children
47,001.43
Old Age Assistance
338,825.21
Veterans Aid and Pensions
17,460.94
Schools and School Buildings
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