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TOWN OF IPSWICH
MASSACHUSETTS
1954
CH
MASS
. U.S
S
IN
1634
THE BIRTHPLACE OF AMERICAN / INDEPENDENCE
1687
ANNUAL REPORT
IPSWICH PUBLIC LIBRARY IPSWICH, MA 01938
COVER PICTURE WHIPPLE HOUSE Built in 1640
MASS
ICH
IPSW
SA
INC
1634
THE BIRTHPLACE OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE 1637
ANNUAL REPORT
For the Year Ending December 31, 1954
The 321st of the Town's Incorporation
Area of Town, 33 square miles
Population 6895 (as of 1950). New census in preparation.
Photos in this Report were supplied free of charge by Zaharis Studio, or taken by the Town of Ipswich.
Ipswich Chronicle Publishing Co., Printers Ipswich, Mass.
IN MEMORIAM
Town Employees and Officials Who Died in 1954
Hon. George H. W. Hayes Jan. 11, 1954 Judge of District Court School Committee Water & Light Commis- sioner
Thomas Gould Sept. 7 1954
Selectman Board of Health Constable
Thomas H. Reedy March 27, 1954 Housing Authority
Stuart McRobbie - Dec. 26, 1954 Selectman
Roy L. Bulger - Dec. 25, 1954 Housing Authority
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Report of the Board of Selectmen
To the Citizens of Ipswich:
At the election in March, 1954, the voters repealed The Selectman-Manager Act under which the town had been governed for the three previous years. In accordance with the provisions of the charter, the Town Manager was immediately relieved of his position, and it became necessary to appoint a Manager who would serve until the charter repeal should become final in March of this year. Mr. Nathaniel M. Quint, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen was chosen to fill this position during the transi- tion period. Because it was generally felt that there was an urgent need for a new charter, Mr. Quint, under his power as Manager, named a selected group of citizens for the purpose of formulating a charter which would be acceptable to the voters. The committee, after many weeks of work, produced a charter, which with some amend- ments made at a special Town Meeting, was passed by the General Court as "An Act establishing a Selectmen-Executive Secretary form of government for Ipswich." This act was accepted decisively by the voters at the State Election in November, and becomes effective on March 14, 1955.
The administrative departments of our town government, as they were reorganized under the Manager Charter, continued to function effectively under the acting Manager during this difficult transition period. The Board of Selectmen, although they recognized that the Town needed many improvements, deferred making any recommendations for lesser projects because they were deeply aware of the very great expenditures which are to be required of the Town for new school construction and sewerage.
BOARD OF SELECTMEN Nathaniel M. Quint, Chairman
John F. Conley Harry E. Munro Roland L. Singer Barclay H. Warburton III
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Board of Selectmen, left to right, Standing: John F. Conley, Harry E. Munro, Seated: Barclay H. Warburton, Nathaniel M. Quint, Chairman, Roland L. Singer
Mary Miller Giza, Secretary to Selectmen and Town Manager
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REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER
To the Citizens of Ipswich:
This is your 1954 Town Report, the final year of the Town Manager form of Government under Chapter 247 of the Acts of 1949.
At the end of the 1954 fiscal year there were $112,515.05 in surplus revenue in the Treasury, as compared with $152,400.29 at the end of 1953. The total valuation of real estate and personal property as of January 1, 1955 is $10,952,641.00, which is an increase of $290,528.00 over January 1, 1954. The outstanding debt of the Town of Ipswich, excluding the Electric Light and Water Departments, is $7,000.00. The Town is in excellent financial position to embark upon a school building and sewerage program.
During the year Chapter 90 Construction was continued on Argilla Road and will start again in the early spring of 1955. The reconstruction of a portion of Jeffries Neck Road and widening of South Main Street at the Honor Roll; the construction of Saftey Islands at Market Square, North Main and High Streets, and at Wilcombs Corner; new street signs new sidewalk construction, a new municipal parking area for Town employees off South Main Street through to Elm Street accommodating about thirty cars which relieves the congestion in the vicinity of the Town Hall, are but a few of the Highway Department projects that were accomplished.
The installation of the 1360 kilowatt Fairbanks Morse Generating engine at the Municipal Generating Plant has been completed at a cost of $166,862.00, of this amount $90,000.00 was bonded for a period of nine years at the rate of $10,000.00 per year from revenue of the Electric Light Department, and the balance was paid out of available funds in the Electric Light Department. This generator engine is a dual fuel engine operating on either deisel fuel or natural gas. Because the Town was able to obtain a contract for natural gas at a very low rate, it has been estimated that the Town will save $17,000 a year. Ipswich is the first municipality in New England to manufacture elec- tricity with natural gas.
The new well on High Street is completed and has a capacity of 750,000 gallons daily which relieves the immediate tension of a water shortage. Nevertheless, the Town must continue to explore for additional water for the future.
During the year the following capital equipment was purchased:
Police Cruiser Fire Department Cruiser Cemetery Truck
Sanitation Truck
These were all purchased from the lowest responsible bidder.
1954 was a year of many retirements and resignations of Town employees, in- cluding Departments Heads, some which necessitated reorganization. The following appointments were made during the year.
Permanent Chief of Police
Chief Assessor
Permanent Sargeant
Part-time Assessor
3 Patrolmen
2 Firefighters
Superintendent of Electric Light Department Foreman of Forestry Department
The hurricanes of August and September inflicted severe damages and has left its mark upon the Town. Six hundred of public shade trees were lost and application has been made for assistance from the State for replacement in the spring. The damage done to the Town-owned buildings were either insured or covered by reimbursement from the State Hurricane Fund. $66,000 has been spent by the Town through its various depart- ments in repairing damages to Town's property and removal of dangerous trees, all of which is reimbursable by the Commonwealth.
For the valiant work that was done during both hurricanes, the highest praises are due the Electric Light Department, Police Department, Fire Department, Highway Department, Water Department, Forestry Department, Civilian Defense, and particularly the Auxiliary Police.
I acknowledge with appreciation the cooperation given me by the Town Em- ployees during my term of office as Town Manager.
NATHANIEL M. QUINT
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FINANCE DEPARTMENT
James D. Smyth, Acct. - Fin. Dir. Gladys M. Poole, Treasurer-Collector
The Finance Department consists of the major Divisions of Accounting, Treasury, and also includes the Billing Division. All financial activity of the town is handled in the above departments.
During 1954 Coupon Notes were issued for the Water and Light Departments in the amounts of $30.000.00 and $90,000.00 re- spectively. These notes were issued through the Second National Bank of Boston at a comparatively low interest rate of 1.3%.
ACCOUNTING DIVISION: The gen- eral financial records of the town are main- tained in the Accounting Division as well as the books of account of the Water and Light Departments. Electric Light and Water Bills are processed by the Billing Division under the supervision of the Ac- counting Division.
Monthly statements were prepared show- ing the town's expenditures to date and also showing, for the benefit of each department head, the unexpended balances of their ap- propriations.
All Purchase Orders drawn on the dif- ferent departments were approved for pay- ment insofar as authenticity of debt and appropriated cash balance were concerned.
The year 1954 was busier than usual in this division with the added paper work necessary as a result of the unladylike hurricanes which caused such destruction in Ipswich. Bills, Payrolls, and Warrants were prepared in triplicate, two copies of each being sent to the State Hurricane Relief Board to sub- stantiate the Town's damage claims. Also, it was necessary to meet with representatives of the Relief Board to explain certain ex- penditures for which we were claiming reimbursement. However, the time involved was well spent, as out of the amount of $66,698.91 actually disbursed for Hurricane Relief Work through December 31, 1954 a little better than $64,000.00, will be reim- bursed by the State and Federal Govern- ments.
The 1954 Budgets, both preliminary and
final, were prepared and distributed.
Financial Statements for the year 1954 will be found in the Financial Section of the text.
COLLECTION DIVISION: Collections during 1954 totaled $1,075,485.20, a breakdown of which is shown in the financial section of this report. This figure includes approxi- mately 92% of the current year's taxes, leaving only 8% uncollected as of the end of the year.
Bills committed for collection during 1954, which were processed by the Collec- tors Office, amounted in the aggregate to $1,124,847.35. A breakdown of this total is shown in the financial section.
All commitments, pertaining to taxes, and excise were added and verified with the warrants from the Assessor's Department authorizing collection.
The following bills were made up and sent out from this office: 2236 Poll- 793 Personal-2861 Real Estate and 3298 Motor Vehicle Excise.
A record of collections, abatements and refunds on taxes, excise, and departmental accounts receivable (exclusive of light and water) was kept, and posted to individual accounts.
A breakdown of receipts was given to the Town Accountant monthly.
TREASURY DIVISION: Check register balances are maintained by the Treasury Division and were reconciled bi-monthly with statements received from the banks. Approximately 20,000 checks were issued during the year.
A schedule of receipts was rendered monthly to the Town Accountant, and reports were made on all Trust Funds in the custody of the Town Treasurer.
Salary Cards were kept on each employee showing gross earnings, withholding tax, retirement, Blue Cross deductions, and net amount paid. W-2 forms were made out on each employee and distributed.
Six new Tax Titles were taken, in the amount of $469.55. One title was redeemed. There are now fourteen Tax Titles amount- ing to $2,930.21.
An analysis of the cash is shown in the financial section of this report.
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Finance Department, left to right: James D. Smyth, Finance Director; Beatrice P. Lampropoulos, Marjorie B. Horsman, Margaret Farley
Treasurer and Collector's Office, left to right: Barbara A. Bruni, Gladys M. Poole, Alice A. DeStefano
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LEGAL DEPARTMENT
William F. Hayes, Town Counsel
I wish to submit a report as Town Counsel on legal activities for the year 1954. It would be rather burdensome to give in detail all of the activities which required attention of the Law Department and, therefore, there will be only a generalization in this report.
The major concern, from a legal stand- point, to the Town was the form of Town Government itself. At the Annual Town Meeting the Town voted to abolish the Town Manager Form of Government. This, in legal effect, would have caused the Town to revert to the old system of Town Govern- ment as provided by General Laws. Your Board of Selectmen appointed a Committee which held many hearings and a charter was drafted for a new form of Town Government. This charter, with amend- ments and changes, was adopted at a Special Town Meeting and later approved by the Legislature. Many conferences with various Town Officials occasioned by this change
There have been several hearings envolv- ing streets to be accepted as public ways,
William F. Hayes, Town Counsel
of Government were required.
abandonments of ways, and the layout of Argilla Road, and these, of course, raised several legal problems, all of which have been determined.
ASSESSING DEPARTMENT
Seward S. Tyler, Chief Assessor
ASSESSMENTS: Real and Personal property assessments in 1954 were $10,662,113. This was an increase of $383,983. or 3.6% over the 1953 assessed valuation. The past five years have shown a steady growth for the town. The residential growth has been in all sections of the town.
During the year there were sixteen sep- arate tax commitments with a total of 3550 cards for motor vehicles. The total valuation was 1,764,065. and total excise tax was 72,844.78.
TAX MAPS: The tax maps and aerial photo- graphs of the town have been received in this office. They are being used every day and have proved of inestimable value to the staff.
PERSONNEL: The board of assessors Seward S. Tyler Henry Plander Stephen L. Prescott
Assessors' Department-Seward S. Tvler, Chief Assessor and Dorothy P. Lezen, Clerk
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RECORDS DEPARTMENT
Anthony A. Murawski, Town Clerk
DUTIES: The duties of the Town Clerk are many and varied. He must record all births, deaths and marriages in the limits and also of local residents outside the Town limits. He must issue dog licenses and sporting licenses. He is custodian by law of all Town Records and by Town By-law Custodian of the Town Seal. He is required by law to be clerk for the Board of Registrars of Voters. He must attend and keep records of Town Meetings and elections. At times he must be a general information bureau about the town, its citizens, its businesses, etc.
REVENUES: Receipts in the Records Depart- ment for 1954 totaled $4,509.20 classified as follows:
Marriage Permits CA 150.00
Certified Copies
121.25
Recordings 608.40
Gas Renewals 9.50
Dog Licenses
1776.05
Dog Fees
149.75
Sporting Licenses
1568.50
Sporting Fees
125.75
Disposition of these receipts was as follows:
Payments to state $1568.50 Turned over to Town Treas- urer 2940.70
(Ths figure includes $1,776.05 for Dog Licenses which are turned over to County Treasurer. )
LICENSES: Comparative statistics on Li- censes issued during 1954 as compared to 1953 are as follows:
1953
1954
Dog Licenses 661 737
Sporting Licenses 556 540
Not included in Dog Licenses, are 20 Kennel Licenses.
VITAL STATISTICS: Comparative vital sta- tistics recorded for 1954 were as follows:
1953 1954
Births
303 269
Marriages
72 78
Deaths
109 100
Of the total number of births recorded 172 were to Ipswich residents.
Of the total number of deaths recorded 78 were Ipswich residents.
The total number of registered voters as of December 31, 1954 was 4,218.
Records Department: Anthony A. Murawski, Town Clerk and Veterans' Agent; Pauline Matheson
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PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Chester J. Patch, Jr., Chairman
MEMBERS: The Planning Board is made up of 5 appointed members and the Town Engineer who serves as an ex-officio member. The Board regretfully received notification of the resignation of its chairman Mr. Amos Hayward and Mr. Gordon Hughes. Both Mr. Hayward and Mr. Hughes had served on the Board since its formation in 1951. Mr. Donald Whiston and Mr. Richard Mans- field were appointed to fill the vacancies.
MEETINGS: Several successful joint meet- ings have been held during the year with the School Building Committee and the Sewerage Committee. Both committees have been very cooperative in keeping the Plan- ning Board informed of their progress. These good relations are beneficial to the Town as it results in an interchange of informa- tion and ideas.
AIMS, PAST AND PRESENT: Two major fields of planning have concerned the Board since their formation. These are the con- sideration of proposed capital construction in schools and sewerage and secondly to the attempt to mold the numerous small land developments into a beneficial growth
pattern for the Town. Legislation, during this time, has changed immeasurably the planning picture with the enaction of an ( entirely new set of sub-division laws, a zoning enabling act and other matters of vital concern to planning.
Without encroaching on the province of other municipal bodies, the Planning Board intends to expand their field of operations into studies and the accumulation of date on all phases of municipal operation, the trends of private enterprise and general town development. It is hoped that funds will be available to employ professional help in this project. This would form a basis for any work done on proposed zoning, and resolving many of the present-day problems that are too complex, demanding of too much research, to be resolved simply by introduction at a Selectmen's Meeting or Town Meeting. Without some background of this sort, major decisions may force the policy making bodies into complete accept- ance, complete rejection, or petty bickering without any real identification between the solution present and the problem to be solved. Town Hall improvements, Public Works Garage, Sewerage and Schools, are all cases that might have or could benefit from such analysis.
Planning Board, left to right, Standing: Donald F. Whiston, Rev. C. Daniel Boone, Richard F. Mansfield; Seated: Ralph E. Preble, Clerk; Chester J. Patch, Jr., Chairman; and Bernard M. Sullivan.
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ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Ralph Preble, Town Engineer
The work of the Engineering Department is both that of a service department and an administrative department. It supervises much of the work of the Public Works organization and serves as advisory branch to the administrative and policy making officials of the Town. Much of its work with other departments of the Town be- comes so mingled and assimilated that the identity is lost in the operation.
EQUIPMENT PROCUREMENT: Purchases of major equipment purchased during the year was followed through from arranging dem- onstrations to the actual acquisition. Speci- fications were drawn up after the demonstra- tions had been conducted, advertisements for bids written; and the bids analyzed upon their returns. This was done for the purchase of a Refuse Truck, a two-ton dump truck, 1 ton dump stake truck, salt spreader, hydraulic tree sprayer, police cruiser, fire chief's station wagon, office furniture, and files.
SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTE- NANCE: Supervisory work was done in connection with the installation of a new cafeteria at the Burley School. Specifications were drawn on the room renovation and procurement of equipment. The work was coordinated between carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and equipment suppliers. Other items handled for the schools included the new boiler installation at the High School, painting, carpentry, plumbing, and other work involving workers, other than regular school personnel.
PUBLIC WORKS CONSTRUCTION: Plans, specifications, and supervision were provided on a wide variety of projects. Services were provided for the completion of Stage Hill Road, Bay View Drain, South Main Street curve widening, Kimball and Fourth Street widening, reconstruction of the Jeffries Neck causeway, wharf ramp replacement, island and blinker installation, and street
sign procurement. Aid was given to both State and County Engineers on the Argilla Road reconstruction, and information re- garding this work was gone over with in- terested residents of this area.
MISCELLANEOUS: General work on the 1954 and 1955 budgets, including estimates of proposed work, preparation of individual Public Works Departmental Budgets and final compilation was done.
Many conferences with consulting engi- neers were held and a great deal of data was gone over connected with proposed sewerage for the Town and in a study of current water system.
Supervision was made of the compilation of Tax Maps which were prepared from aerial photos by the Sewall Co. of Old Town, Maine.
Construction of Cooling Pond for the power plant engines
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CIVIL DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
Harold Bower, Director
This year of 1954 I was appointed as the director of Civilian Defense, and have carried on a program similar to that of the past. It is my hope that a still stronger program may be carried out this coming year.
To do this I have sought the advice of the state officials and have attended several important meetings pertaining to the or- ganizing of civilian defense.
We have to date the following organized divisions of civilian defense: The auxiliary police, search and rescue squad, communi- cations, and auxiliary firemen from the V.F.W. organization. The auxiliary police, consisting of about 38 men, have assisted on many occasions. During the two hurri- canes they did an outstanding job, assisting our local police and patrolling and directing traffic. Many hours of time was given at absolutely no expense to the town. We are very fortunate in having such a well or- ganized group under the direction of Capt. George Hovey and Lieut. Jerome Richardson, who stand ready at any time to assist in emergencies, parades, and other cases where they are needed.
The search and rescue squad under the direction of chief Warren McGregor, also deserve much credit for the service they have performed for the town. This squad consists of 35 specially trained men, with the latest equipment for search and rescue work. Since their activation in 1953 they have been called out on nine different oc- casions, not including the two hurricanes.
The auxiliary firemen, although not so active as other branches, do have a group cf men and an engine who are willing to assist at any time. Much equipment is
needed in order to properly perform the functions of the group. Even though the engine which they own is not the property of the town, I see no reason why the town should not help to properly equip the engine. The services of the group may be needed at any time.
COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION: Although the town does not own any communications equipment connected with civilian defense, we do have a group who have their own private equipment, who will and have used it on several occasions. I have in my budget this year added $350 to be used in the purchase of walkie-talkie phones. Al- though it may not be the best form of com- munication, the phones certainly would prove of great value in emergencies, when other means of communication are knocked out.
This year we hope to add a welfare and feeding program, also a health and disaster group. The biggest problem, and yet an important part of Civilian defense, is the ground observer corps. Soon there will be erected on Town Hill a new post. Vol- unteers will be needed to man the post. It has been stated by the Air Defense com- mand that Ipswich is the weakest point on the North Shore. We must have volunteers, to strengthen this job. The town does have several faithful volunteers, who have kept the present post at least at minimum strength of operation since the war years. The group includes Raymond Dodge, Elsie Cogswell. Mr. and Mrs. John Ward, and several others.
In closing I wish to thank the department heads, the Town Manager, the board of selectmen, and those citizens who have co- operated and assisted in the civil defense program for Ipswich.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES DEPARTMENT
Ernest F. Romano, Sealer
DEVICES INSPECTED: The following tabula- tion represents the various devices inspected and sealed during the year. The sealing fees
amounted to a total of $91.50.
Scales 32
Gasoline pumps 29
Oil trucks 14
Tanks 1
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PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT
Nathaniel M. Quint, Personnel Director
During 1954 seven employees were ap- pointed, and there were five separations and four transfers. Two hundred sixty seven days of sick leave were used up, and 74 employees took vacations. Ten paid holidays
were allowed during the year, and six posi- tions were reclassified.
Several amendments were made to the Personnel Rules and Regulations to become effective on January 1, 1955.
All increases in 1954 for employees were retroactive from March. The 4 per cent cost-of-living was paid quarterly during the year.
PURCHASING DEPARTMENT
Nathaniel M. Quint, Purchasing Agent
During 1954. 7.340 orders were sent out, of which 6,044 were field purchase orders and 1,296 were purchase orders.
During the year forty-one sealed bids
were processed for the various departments. All of these bids were advertised in the local newspaper, and a separate file was set up on each one. At the time of opening, all bids were tabulated and the tabulations for- warded to the correct Department Head.
Auxiliary Police Department
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POLICE DEPARTMENT
Stanley J. Surpitski, Chief of Police
PERSONNEL: 1954 has brought many changes in the personnel of the Ipswich Police Department by appointments made by the Town Manager, Nathaniel M. Quint, filling the vacancies which existed in the department.
Stanley J. Surpitski was appointed Chief of Police, Boleslaw Radzinski Sergeant, and officers William Alexopoulos, Armand Brouillette and Frank W. Geist, Jr. were appointed permanent patrolmen.
DOG OFFICER: Joseph H. Leet, town dog officer, has had a busy year. 728 dog and 20 Kennel licenses were issued in 1954. An increase of 69 dog and 10 kennel licenses over 1953.
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