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ANNUAL REPORT 1960
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TOWN OF IPSWICH
MASSACHUSETTS
IPSWICH PUBLIC LIBRARY IPSWICH, MA 01938
COVER PICTURE
THE OLD NORTH CHURCH
According to local folklore, in the 18th century when the Rev. George Whitefield preached in Ipswich, the Devil himself perched on the belfry of the Meeting House to hear news of his own activities. At length in anger, he jumped to the ground and a print of one of his clovenhoofs can be seen in the rock even today .
1A
IM
1634
THE BIRTHPLACE OF AMERICAN / INDEPENDENCE 1687
ANNUAL REPORT
For the Year Ending December 31, 1960
The 327th of the Town's Incorporation
Area of Town, 33 square miles
Population 8529 (as of 1960)
Photos by Zaharis Studio
PRINTED IN U.S.A. BY BRADFORD & BIGELOW
IN MEMORIAM
Walter E. Callahan Director of Public Welfare February 23, 1960
Edward S. Graffum Board of Public Welfare December 14, 1960
Emile Marcaurelle Water Department April 12, 1960
A. Gordon Ewing Former Police Officer March 2, 1960
Lawrence R. Gwinn School Custodian April 8, 1960
Eli Trudel Highway Department August 10, 1960
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Dedication Page
2 Police Department 29
Reports:
Harbor 31
Board of Selectmen
4 List of Jurors 32
Executive Secretary
6 Municipal Family 34
Civil Defense
7 School Committee 35
Conservation
7 Superintendent's Report 36
Highway and Forestry
8
High School Principal 38
Cemetery
12
Intermediate School Principal
41
Accounting
13
Primary School Principal
42
Collector- Treasurer
13
School Health Department 43
Assessing
13
Cafeteria Supervisor 43
Town Clerk
14
Comparative Expenditures 47
Elections
14
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Veterans Services
15
Balance Sheet 49
Welfare
16
Consolidated Expenditures 52
Health
17
Detailed Expenditures 56
Public Library
19
Detailed Payments 77
Recreation
19
Detailed Cash Receipts 79
Parks
21
Comparative Tax Structure 85
Planning Board
22
Municipal Indebtedness 87
Engineering
23
Trust Funds 88
Sewer
25
Detailed Taxes 89
Water
25
Accounts Receivable 91
Electric -- Generation
26
Richard T. Crane, Jr. 92
Picnic Fund
Electric -- Distribution
27
Water Department 93
Zoning
28
Electric Department
95
Balance Sheet
Fire Department
28
Electric Department
Statement of Income
96
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
John A. Pechilis, Chairman
To The Citizens Of Ipswich:
This yearly report by your Board of Selectmen is intended to inform the citizens of Ipswich as to the general conditions of the Town and those matters relating to the activities of the Board in the performance of its duties. On the following pages you will read the various reports by the different departments all of which, with the exception of the school department, are governed by the policies set forth by this Board. As one would note, the duties and responsibil - ities of the Board of Selectmen are varied and numerous and are becoming more so as time progresses. Local government, wefind, is becoming increas - ingly complex and costlier because of the added federal and state laws which are imposed upon us and which tend to reduce "Home Rule" as we once knew it .
During the year 1960, your Board attended and participated in many hear - ings, both at the state and county level. The hearings on the petition of the Merrimac Essex Electric Company to construct overhead power lines through the town have been held before the Department of Public Utilities Commission both in Ipswich and at the State House. The Board has appeared at these hear- ings and has strongly opposed the passage of these power lines overhead be - cause of the obvious depreciation to many properties adjacent to and through which the proposed lines would be constructed. Our proposal has been to grant the power company the right to pass anywhere through the Town as long as it goes underground. Nodecision from the D. P. U. has as yet been forthcoming.
Another matter of great importance to our citizens is the piping of Farley Brook. This project has been slated to be done in the spring of 1961.
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As will be noted in the before and after pictures in this report, the bad situation which existed at the town dump has been all but eliminated. Through the years, the dump had been in deplorable condition and the rat population had increased alarmingly. In 1960, the Board ordered the area completely bulldozed and filled over. A rat poisoning program was initiated and an at - tendant has been placed at the dump. As of this report, the area is clear and flat, the rat population has been decreased by ninety percent and in the sum - mer of 1961, a fence will be erected to correct the dumping procedures toward maintaining a proper town dump.
The drought of 1960 pointed up more than ever the problem of inadequate water supply and distribution within the town. Your Board, after witnessing the water shortages which exist in the different parts of the community, took necessary steps toward obtaining a water survey and plans to begin correct- ing these water problems. At the annual town meeting, a report will be made and funds requested to insure to all people in the town an adequate supply of water.
Because of the increased use of electricity, the need for added generation is evident. An increase in the load of ten percent has occurred this year and in order to supply all electric users adequately, the Board is requesting funds to purchase a new engine at the Annual Town Meeting.
The Town's sewerage system has this year been extended to the Shatswell School and the Board anticipates that plans will be ready shortly to extend it to the Burley School and to the Jeffreys Neck Road area. This is a great step forward in cleaning up the health nuisance which has existed in the town for many years, and it is our hope that more extensions will be forthcoming in the near future.
The continuing need for additional school housing is still of major import- ance and your Board, although we have little to do with solving the problem, feels that the education of our children is being greatly hampered through the inadequacy of proper space.
After the vacancy of the office of Executive Secretary, about thirty appli- cations were received by the Board from applicants from many parts of the country. Through a process of elimination and full investigation, the Board feels that an excellent choice was made in the appointment of Mr. Robert Curtis, a person who has had extensive experience in municipal management .
At this time, we wish to extend our appreciation to the town departments for their cooperation. We also wish to assure the citizens of the town that we have tried to serve you in the town's best interests and that we will continue to do so that Ipswich may always be a better place in which to live.
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REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
January- July - Gordon Dillon
August-September -Elwyn F. McCarthy
October-December -John A. Pechilis
The year 1960 was extremely unusual in that there were so many changes in the office of Executive Secretary. In the previous nine years, the Town had been served by two regular paid general administrators who each served for periods of three to four years.
The Executive Secretary to the Board of Selectmen, like the Superintendent of Schools, is appointed by his board to keep it informed, to recommend poli- cies for the operation of the Town government, to carry out whatever policies are made by the board by supervising the administration of all departments , and by control over purchasing, personnel transactions. The principal differ- ence between the Executive Secretary in Ipswich and Town Manager in Massachusetts is that under the Ipswich Charter, all appointments and remov- als of department heads must be approved by the Selectmen.
Personnel Director
During the year, there were six employees hired to various town positions . There were nine separations -- 4 resigned, 4 deaths, 1 retirement. One leave of absence was granted. Four Hundred Thirty-three days of sick leave were used and 93 employees took their vacations. Ten paid holidays were allowed during the year. A 4 per cent wage increase was voted in March, retroactive to January 1, 1960. Several amendments were made to the rules and regula- tions of the Town Employees Association and approved by the Board of Select- men. The Executive Secretary serves as Personnel Director.
Purchasing Agent
During the year 6229 orders were sent out, of which 5984 were field pur - chase orders and 245 were purchase orders. Forty-five sealed bid purchases were processed for the various departments. All of these bids were advertis- ed in the local newspaper. At the time of the bid opening, all bids were tabu - lated and the purchases were made from the lowest bidders. All items over $100 were either sent out on bids, request for quotations, or telephone quota - tions. The work of the purchasing agent is performed in the office of the Executive Secretary.
LEGAL DEPARTMENT
Harold M. Willcox, Town Counsel
The Town Counsel consults with the Board of Selectmen and the other de- partments and committees of the Town with respect to the legal aspects of the Town's affairs, The regulation of municipal activities is necessarily increas - ing in scope as the Town grows.
In Superior Court, the Town won the first case brought under the zoning by-law, and in a second case the Town brought suit but has been able to ne- gotiate a fair disposition out of court. A number of land-taking claims re- sulting from road improvements have been filed against the Town. Some of these have been settled and at this writing, others are awaiting trial.
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Of considerable interest has been the appeal of the School Committee to the Supreme Judicial Court for clarification of its powers with respect to the selection, discharge and reinstatement of teaching personnel. At present writing, this appeal is about to be argued.
The principal tribunal for the resolution of legal questions with respect to the Town and its citizens is the Third District Court of Essex, which sits daily in Ipswich and considers scores of criminal and civil cases each year. On the criminal side, these cases are prosecuted by the Police Department and are covered in that Department's report. On the civil side, the Court found in favor of the Town with respect to a claim for personal injuries said to have arisen from a defective road.
CIVIL DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
Elmer Cowperthwaite, Director
The past year a generator obtained through Civil Defense was installed in the fire station to keep the alarm system operating should there be a disrup- tion of power.
A 500-gallon capacity fire truck was purchased through Civil Defense for grass and brush fires.
The Auxiliary Police did a good job during Hurricane Donna as well as the Radio Group. The C.D. office was in operation from 6:30 a.m. until 10:30 p. m. during which time radio contact was maintained with sector as well as area headquarters.
Surplus supplies were purchased and distributed to various Town Depart- ments.
Project applications have been filed requesting matching funds for the in - stallation of the new municipal radio system which we are required to have in operation this year.
IPSWICH CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Nathaniel R. Harris, Chairman
The commission met at various times during the year with most of the attention given over to possible hunting restrictions in the town, use of vari- ous state land areas as they effect the tax structure of the town, and the need to clean up the town dump area.
The commission has followed the work of the Ipswich Clam Advisory Com - mittee and recommends that this be made a permanent town committee, be - cause it is achieving much success with our local shellfish industry and its problems.
As the town conservation commission movement seems to be growing in the towns of Essex County, the commission has suggested that a regional meet- ing be arranged during 1961 to study conservation matters of concern to neigh - boring towns. One such matter would be a study of the Ipswich River water- shed area as it relates to protecting an adequate future water supply for all of our towns, but most particularly for Ipswich.
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Topsfield Road Curve Improvement PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Highway and Forestry Division
Gardner Wile, Foreman -- appointed November 24, 1960
Street Maintenance
A total of 34, 750 gallons of asphalt were used in resurfacing various town streets. In addition to this, 2508 gallons were used on different schoolyards and 450 gallons on the road to Bakers Pond. This last was done by the Rec - reation Department. A total of 688 tons of patch were purchased and used in street repairs this year.
The few remaining gravel roads were scraped and graded several times during the year and most of them were treated with sludge oil from the power station in June.
All the catch basins were cleaned, some of them several times. All metal sign posts were repainted, and many new street and traffic control signs erected. All cross walks and curbings, where necessary, were repainted .
Except for the winter months, the sweeper was used at least three times a week. The bulldozer was used regularly at the town dump and at the end of the year, after the rat control program was completed, the department level- led the dump and gravelled over much of it. The street crew assisted the
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forestry division in Dutch elm work, especially in hauling logs to the forestry dump.
The beach near the Little Neck pavillion was cleaned. Congress Street was gravelled, graded and oiled, also Oakhurst Park Road and Valley Drive, Kimball Avenue, Brown Street, part of Stage Hill Road, Bay View Road and East Street, from Willcombs corner to the wharf; upper Spring Street and a section of Farragut Road. Wayne Avenue was hot topped and the corner at County and Poplar was widened and hot topped.
New Construction
With Chapter 90 funds, the shoulders of Jeffrey Neck Road were oiled, and a section of the Topsfield Road, starting at the Topsfield line was widened and hot topped. Onthis last project, a 48" pipe was put in Gravelly Brook, some 1700 yards of gravel brought in and the road resurfaced. With Chapter 90 Maintenance funds, a short section of Mill Road was resurfaced with hot to p to tie with the project across the town line.
With special town funds, 2 basins and 356 feet of pipe were put in on Tops - field Road above Mill Road, and one basin was built on the same road nearer town. Two basins and a cross pipe were put in on Newmarch Street and one basin and 60 feet of pipe on Ward Street. A 24" culvert was put under Heart - break Road to replace an old stone drain. On Broadway Avenue, an 18-foot cross pipe was laid and a new manhole built.
At the corner of Lafayette Road and Riley Avenue, the curb was removed, the corner widened, and 40 feet of new sidewalk built. The sidewalk on East Street, from Newmarch Street to the wharf, was hot topped and the County Street bridge was repaired.
A section of North Main Street, from Market Square to the top of the hill at the library, was hot topped. Thirteen new street name signs were purchas - ed and set up. The area at the old highway garage site was graded and oiled, a new entrance to the Winthrop School was made there, and a new hot top side - walk constructed.
The curve on Topsfield Road, at Goodhues, was reduced, a drain pipe and basin put in, the road widened and hot topped. Part of Plover Hill Road was regraded and oiled, and a section of the Old Right Road, from the turnpike in, was gravelled, widened and resurfaced. A curve on upper Linebrook Road , near the cemetery, was lessened and the road widened and oiled.
At the end of the year, work was started on replacing the sidewalk on Central Street, at the new Baptist Church. Other sidewalk replacement work was done on Market, Washington, East, Poplar and County Streets, Wayne and Brownville Avenues.
Guard rails were repaired on Labor-in-Vain Road, Choate Bridge, Wil- lowdale Bridge and sections were rebuilt on Heartbreak, Fellows and Line- brook Roads.
Winter Maintenance
A total of 230 tons of salt and 2778 tons of sand was used in snow remov - al and ice control work this year. Trucks, plows and men from the water , cemetery, forestry and recreation departments assisted the highway depart -
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TOWN of IPSWICH
SANITATION DEPARTMENT
New Rubbish Collection Truck
Guniting County Street Bridge -- New Method of Bridge Restoration
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ment when necessary in this work. In addition to the town equipment, the two big storms, one in March and one in December, made it necessary to hire some outside equipment ..
Equipment
The following equipment was added to the highway and forestry division in 1960: anelectric welder, two used Scotchman salt spreaders, a new Sparton 80 Chevrolet dump truck, a new plow for this truck and a new Chevrolet pick - up truck.
Work by Forestry Crew
Under the direction of Herbert Whittier during most of 1960, the Forestry Division was merged with the Highway Division in November in an effort to re- duce the cost for supervision and increase coordination of the two programs.
The battle against Dutch Elm Disease continued to be the principal problem for the forestry crew. To discourage its further spread by the Dutch Leaf Beetle, the elms were sprayed in early spring with a DDT solution with the mist blower. About 60 elms, which state laboratory tests proved to be infect - ed, were removed and burned at the tree dump. In many cases, the stumps also had to be removed. Help was received from the state forestry crew in removing the most difficult trees. This program was limited in 1960 to street trees with no action on diseased trees on private property in the center of the town.
In September, about ten days were spent in repairing the damage caused by the high winds of the 12th.
Tree removal work was involved in the Topsfield Road reconstruction, Goodhue's curve widening, Old Right Road reconstruction, Linebrook Road straightening, Town Farm Road straightening, and other street improvemets. Sixteen maples, either damaged or with root systems clogging drain pipes , were removed. Some trimming was done for the light department.
The forestry crew worked about thirty days on snow removal operations .
Some work was done in spraying poison ivy and roadside brush and mos - quito spray was used on several days. No airplane mosquito spraying was done. Many days were spent in roadside brush cutting and in mowing road - side grass.
Sanitation Division
John Ladderbush, Foreman
Rubbish and garbage collections were made on all town streets. Rubbish was collected once a week in the different sections of town and garbage, twice a week, except in the outlying areas where it was picked up once a week.
In other years, during the winter months, the collection of refuse and gar- bage had been combined, and only one truck used, but because of the increase in the number of collections to be made, it was found necessary to use both trucks and four men all the year. The new garbage truck was received and put in use at the end of May.
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Cemetery Division
Benjamin Homans, Superintendent
During the year 1960 there were 88 interments, 14 less than the previous year. This includes the interment of 5 infants and 6 cremations.
Two eight- grave and three four-grave lots were sold with perpetual care, also four single graves were sold.
Twenty -two new perpetual care funds, an additional amount to an old fund, and two flower funds were received. There were seven four-grave lots and one two-grave lot awarded by the American Legion in the Henry Augustus Cowles Memorial Cemetery.
Five hundred sixty-two feet of four-foot chain link fence was erected on the Highland drive at the cost of $1, 000. Two tons of hot top were applied to the center walk in the Old North Cemetery, and four tons of patch were used in the Highland and Cowles Memorial Cemeteries. Three tons of limestone were spread on the terraces in the Old North Cemetery. Weed killer was ap - plied in the various sections, with good results.
Fifty-two graves were raised. Foundations for monuments and headstones were prepared and boundary posts set.
The flag was raised and lowered each working day and the regular mainte - nance work was carried on.
Office records were kept up to date, and charges for cemetery services were made out and given to the Finance Department at the end of each month.
The Police and Water Departments and the Highway Division were very helpful to the Cemetery Division during the past year.
Cemetery Income for 1960
Opening graves
$3173.00
Sale of Liners
88.00
Annual Care
889.50
Care of lots & graves under perpetual care
3196. 82
Sale of lots & graves
260.00
Foundations & setting posts
844.03
New perpetual care funds
3430.00
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FINANCE DEPARTMENT
Accounting Division
Robert Leet, Accountant
The general financial records of the Town are maintained in this office, as well as the books of accounts for the Water and Light Department. Muni - cipal activity reports were prepared monthly for all departments and for other interested persons. The annual budgets, both preliminary and actual, wereprepared and distributed. New budget forms were initiated. The Town's cash balance was verified with the Treasurer's Office each month. All pur - chases were post audited by this department before being released for pay- ment. Detailed financial statements for the Town of Ipswich for the year 1960 are set forth in the blue pages in the back portion of this report.
Collection Division
Gladys M. Poole, Collector
Bills committed for collection during 1960 totaled $2, 137, 324.50. The following tax bills were typed and sent out: Poll 2284, Personal 706, Real Estate 3464, Motor Vehicle Excise 4561, Farm Animal Excise 12 and Sewer Betterment 99. A schedule of receipts was given to the Town Accountant monthly.
Treasury Division
Receipts paid into the town treasury by the Collector totaled $1, 968, 910. 5 8. Treasury receipts amounted to $869, 415. 50. Check register balances were reconciled with bank statements bi-monthly. Approximately 11, 500 Payroll checks and 11, 600 General checks were issued.
Salary cards were kept on each employee. Federal income tax with - holding forms were made out and distributed. A record of trust fund income and expenditures was maintained and verified with bank balances.
Maturing debt was reduced in the amount of $ 116, 600 by" payments of $19, 600 on the water debt, $35, 000 on the electric light debt and $62, 000 on the general debt.
A schedule of receipts was rendered to the Town Accountant monthly .
Assessing Division
Seward S. Tyler, Assessor
The assessed valuation on Real and Personal Property, in the Town of Ipswich for 1960 is $13, 225, 662.00. This was an increase of $246, 008.00 or 1. 86 per cent.
There were 9 Motor Vehicle Commitments with a total of 4, 561 excises committed to the Collector. The total valuation was $2, 534, 030. 00 and the total excise was $143, 762. 47.
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TOWN CLERK' DEPARTMENT
Anthony A. Murawski, Town Clerk
VITAL STATISTICS: Comparative vital statistics recorded for 1959 and 1960 were as follows:
1959
1960
Births
311
271
Deaths
133
125
Marriages
76
66
Of the total number of births recorded, 178 were to Ipswich parents, 93 to non-resident parents. There were 5 sets of twins recorded for 1960. Of the total number of deaths recorded, 89 were Ipswich residents, which in - cluded 7 children under 5 years of age, and 52 over 70 years of age. The old - est Ipswich resident who died during the year was 92 years, 6 months and 19 days of age. Of the total number of marriages recorded, there were: 17 where both bride and groom were Ipswich residents; 23 brides were Ipswich residents who married out of town residents; and 22 grooms were Ipswich residents who married out of town brides.
LICENSES: Comparative statistics on Licenses issued during 1959 and 1960 are as follows:
1959
1960
Marriage Licenses
70
61
Dog Licenses
791
769
Sporting Licenses
548
482
Archery Stamps
20
In addition to the above licenses issued, the following papers were also recorded during the year :
Financing Statements
289
Termination Statements
82
Discharge
11
Pole Petitions
23
Bill of Sales
13
Business Certificates
8
Federal Tax Liens
3
Chattel Mortgage
1
Discontinuance of Business
1
TOWN MEETINGS AND ELECTIONS
Town Meetings and Elections were held on the following dates:
February 15
Special Town Meeting to appropriate $1, 200, 000 for a new 4-year High School.
February 23
Special Ballotting Day to vote for a new 4-year High School
Result: Yes- -- - 1210 No - - 1289 Blanks - 1
Total 2500
New 4-year High School Lost.
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March 7
Annual Town Meeting Voters present, 578
March 14
Annual Town Election Votes Cast, 3, 286
April 26
National Primary Votes Cast: Republican 180
Democrat 67
Special Town Meeting Adjourned for lack of quorum
Adjourned Special Town Meeting of June 7 to appropriate $ 490, 000.00 For a new Intermediate School.
Special Ballotting Day to votefor the new Intermediate School.
Result:
Ye
-- 1241
No
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652
Blanks
4
Total - - 1897
Motion lost by 24 votes
September 13
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