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SAUGUS, MASSACHUSETTS
52-18A Allan F & Julia A Alirich
For Reference
28 Grove St.
Saugus, Mass.
Not to be taken
from this library
U. S. POSTAGE PAID Parmit No. 157 LYNN, MASS. BULK RATE
THE TOWN REPORT Page ONĘ,
ANNUAL
SAUGUS PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1729 00051 5764
. OF .S
. 16
1629
1815
TOWN REPORT
LOCAL HISTORY Ref. 352 Saugus v.73
1960
Somusi W. Ludwig ... Selectmm)
Frank K. Berthold ... Selectman
Choirman Vemon W. Evans ... Seloctmon
Albion R. Rice ... Selectman
Arthur E. Guastofson ... Selectman
John B. Kennedy ... Town Manager
James W. Currier School Committeo
Anne Cogliano School Committeo
Robert M. Braid School Committse Chairman
George A. McCarrier School Committee
Peter A. Rossetti School Committee
52-18A
The Saugus
TOWN REPORT Page 2
1960Report
Town Manager
To the Citizens of Saugus: Submitted, herewith, are the various reports of Town Officers, Town Officials and Department to the citizens of Saugus for the year 1960.
Heads. These reports give you a detailed picture of what was accomplished during the year, also a complete financial picture.
Once again, 1 am happyto report that the business of the Town was carried on throughout the year within the framework of the appropriations and it was not necessary to have special Town Meetings for any supplementary departmental appropriations.
We have submitted our budget and recommendations for the year 1961 and we expect to manage the Town for the year 1961 with an even greater degree of efficiency and economy and with a better record of accomplishment than Board of Selectmen.
3. we did in the year 1960.
The Board has functioned as a In closing, I wish to thank, unit for the best interests of the first, the Board of Selectmen for their excellent cooperation in the matter of helping me get things done. Also 1 wish to express my extreme gratitude to all Town Officials, Town Employees and any citizens of Saugus who con- tributed in any way toward help- ing to make 1960 a year of accomplishment.
John B. Kennedy Town Manager
1960 Report Town Moderator
To the Town Manager:
I hereby submit my annual re- port as Moderator.
1 The annual Town Meeting com- pleted its business in 'seven ses- sions. There were two special Town Meetings.
I appointed three members to the Finance Committee for the regular three year term. Two members were appointed for, one year unexpired terms.
1 wish to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the cooperation of the Town Meet- ·ing members, the Finance Com- .mittee and all Town Officials. a. Respectfully submitted. C. F. Nelson Pratt Town Moderator
1960 Report Veteran's Benefits
Mr. John B. Kennedy Town Manager Dear Sir:
Herewith a brief summary of the activities in the Veterans' Benefits department for the year 1960
There has been numerous cases wherein requests for temporary aid furnished while the head of the home is unemployed due to illness. This has added to the permanent cases heretofore re- ported to a great extent. There were 55 cases handled in the need category with 120 persons receiving benefits.
In October, due to industrial .difficulties this department re- ceived 46 applications of which ,5 were rejected as not qualify- ing The cases accepted gave benefits to 218 persons at a cost to the town of $2,927.29. It was fortunate that the demand came in thez warm period of the year or much more would have been needed forufuel allowances,
: 06]The medical costs are increas- ing each year due to the con- stant rises in hospital rates and
1960 Report
To the Citizens of Saugus:
Your Board of Selectmen here- with submits it's Annual Report
The present Board of Selectmen comprises Chairman Vernon W. Evans, retired Superintendent of Schools, Arthur E. Gustafson, well known builder and former Chairman of the Board of As- sessors, Samuel W. Ludwig, a successful business executive, Albion R. Rice, an attorney and retired High School teacher, and Frank K. Berthold, long-time Sau- gus citizen, business man and far- mer.
Because of the experience and variety of interests of it's mem- bers, in all modesty, we believe it to be an extremely well-balanced
Town of Saugus. This is true, although, on many occasions, it's individual members have not hesi- tated to clearly express their own individual convictions. This has been done in public meetings, yet with no cheap publicity such as has so injured our community in recent years.
Your Board is pleased to re- port that our Town is presently enjoying a very healthy economic growth. During the tenure of the present Board of Selectmen, more new business has located, or is presently locating, in the Town of Saugus, than in any other com- parable period in the history of our community.
A partial list is as follows: 1. The huge new modern Sears, Roebuck and Company's store on Routel.
2. Thirty, or more, other stores presently being erected adjacent to Sears on the former Town Farm site.
3. A mammoth Zayre Department store at the junction of Route #1 and Walnut Street.
4. A large Gem Discount store to be constructed on the Lynn Fells Parkway.
5. The Rayco Company establish- ment now in the process of con- struction on Route #1.
6. A modern new hotel, also ín' the process of construction on the easterly side of Route #1
7. The handsome new plant of the Eastern Tool and Stamping Company on Ballard Street.
8. The new Star Market to be located at the junction of Route #1 and Walnut Street.
When all of these projects have been completed, they will prove to be a tremendous financial asset to our Town. This is so because they will materially broaden our municipal tax base and, over tbe years, lighten the taxburden which now rests rather heavily upon the shoulders of our home owners.
In each case, your Board of Selectmen has encouraged; and aided, these business establish- ments to locate within the boun- darles of our Town. We wish them every success and promise our cooperation.
In addition to the above, hun- dreds of new, and expensive, homes have been erected in Saugus within the past two or three years. This is especially true in the Oakland- vale, Lynnhurst, and Saugus Cen- ter sections of our Town.
seriousness of many of the ap- plicants illnesses.
Respectfully submitted, N. V. Bartlett
Veterans' Agent
Much real progress has also been accomplished in the areas of highway construction, sewer struction of water mains, includ- ing the replacement of the same.
Your Board of Selectmen is of the unanimous opinion that this triple municipal Improvement pro- gram has been ably carried out by our Town Manager, Mr. John B. Kennedy, and by Mr. Ernest Pesce, Superintendent of Public Works.
Two new major building ad- ditions are now being undertaken to alleviate the crowded class- room situation in our Public School System. The twelve classroom ad- dition, to the Hurd Avenue Elemen- tary School, is now nearly com- pleted and should be ready for occupancy around March 1, 1961. The spacious addition, to our Sau- gus High School, is also well under- way. Both additions are being con- structed under the supervision of the Town Manager, as Chapter 17 states they should be. They are being constructed without fanfare
and
without
the sounding of
trumpets, and also without charges of inefficiency, waste, and ex- travagance.
During the past year, and the previous year, your Board of Se- lectmen has made rapid strides in the reduction of long-standing, non tax producing, tax titles land held by the Town. By conducting public auction tax title land sales, we have disposed of hundreds of these parcels for cash. Many thousands of dollars, as a result, have been turned into the Town Treasury. Perhaps even more im- portant is the fact that these for- mer tax title lands are now pro- ducing much needed tax revenue for the Town. Most of these par- cels of tax title land were pre- viously tax liabilities, bringing in no taxes to the Town for periods ranging from ten to thirty-five years.
Your Board of Selectmen, to- gether with the Town Manager, has initiated and placed into opera- tion a plan for vastly improved street lighting. We have done so in the belief that modern and adequate street lighting makes for improved highway safety, the bet- ter protection of the homes and property of our citizens, as well as resulting in excellent adver- tising for the Town of Saugus.
Two steps, in this program, have already been completed. Lin- coln Avenue from Franklin Square, East Saugus, to Cliftondale Square, in Cliftondale, has been given a complete new look and is probably now the best lighted thoroughfare in the entire Greater Boston Metropolitan area. The other step, already taken, has been the placing of the same new modern lights in other sections of our Town.
In the near future, as fast as our finances will permit, the Lin- coln Avenue type of lighting will be installed on Central, Essex, Main, and Winter Streets.
Your Board, with the cooperation of the Town Manager, successfully negotiated a satisfactory agree- ment with Pierre Ruetten for the purchase of his property for the site of a new Junior High School, also with Allen M. Stocker for lus property for the same purpose. The consumated agreement, with Mr. Ruetten, resulted in a sub- stantial money saving to the Town from the asked for price when the negotiations started. A Special Town Meeting has unanimously ap- proved both agreements, made by your Board of Selectmen, and the purchases are presently to be duly recorded.
For years, our Town has been plagued with having various of our
tax rate and our general tax structure. It is imperative, in our opinion that our tax rate be kept within reasonable bounds and especially within the payable ability of our home-owner tax- payers. With Federal, State, and local taxes at an all-time high, it is of constantly increasing im- portance that our numicipal ex- penditures, for whatever purpose, streets bearing the same name. The situation has caused confusion to the Postal Authorities, to the Police and Fire Departments, and to people who visit our community.
This Board of Selectmen intends to correct this bad situation. At their request, the Town Counsel has already given the Board a legal opinion as to the proper procedure to be taken to correct the existing situation. These steps will now be taken by the Town Manager and by the Boards and officials under his direction.
Our various Town Departments have functioned well during the past year, We areespeciallyproud of the snow removal work of the men of the Public Works Depart- ment under the direction of Super- intendent Ernest Pesce. It is no secret that our highway, after severe snow storms, are the envy of motorist and homeowners from other communities. We also speci- fically salute the officers and men of our Police Department for the speedy apprehension of those al- legedly responsible for the brutal and senseless Robert Hall Store murder. We mention these two departments with pride and with no desire to minimize the efficient accomplishments of our other Town Departments.
Looking ahead, it is the unani- mous opinion of your Board of Selectmen that, our greatest municipal problem concerns our be kept within the limits.of our municipal income. To proceed otherwise is to openly invite the ultimate confiscation of homes and to endanger and undermine the very financial solvency of the Town itself. An individual citizen cannot long spend beyond his income with- out courting financial disaster. that which is true of anindividual. is just as true of a municipality.
Our municipal needs are many. This fact, we all know! It is equally true, however, that all of our needs cannot be remedied at once. Neither can all of our problems be solved by the wave of a magic wand in the hands of a politician.
Thus we sincerely ask for the patient cooperation of all Town officials, as well as of all of our citizens. Working together we can continue to progress, and, at the same time, preserve our fun- damental financial soundness so necessary to our community well- being. The Nord Davis Associates, in their Master Plan Report, rather dramatically point out that the preservation of our municipal financial solvency is our most important responsibility. This fact should be remembered by every conscientious Town Official and by every thoughtful citizen.
In conclusion, we desire to thank our Town Manager, Mr. John B. Kennedy, and our faithful clerk, Mr. Jolın .T. Raiche, for their cooperation in our efforts to make Saugus a better place in which to live.
May we also express our grati- tude, and our thanks, to all of the heads of our various Town Departments, to the members of all the many Town Boards, and last, but certainly not least, to all of our faithful Town Employees, for their sincere cooperation with
1960 Report Fire Prevention
To the Town Manager:
I hereby submit the Report of the Bureau of Fire Prevention for the year ending December 31, 1960.
The purposes of the Bureau of Fire Prevention is to make in- spections, procure and remedy existing conditions that are a potential fire hazard against life and the protection of property.
The schools of the Town of Saugus which are one of the greatest concern are inspected approximately four times a year to keep them as safe as possible from fire and for the safety of our children, teachers, personnel and the public when meetings are conducted and public functions are held.
Many improvements have been made in the schools for better protection and housekeeping in the accumulation of rubbish and debris. In several of the schools approved incinerators for this purpose have been installed. Several new fire alarm boxes have been installed in schools that prev- iously did not have any. Fire drills are conducted by the depart- ment at least four times a year and more often by the principals of the schools.
In the past several years the Fire Chief has recommended that the schools be equipped with auto- matic sprinkler systems. This in our opinion is one of the greatest protection devices against fire and life safety. We strongly recom- mend that sprinkler systems be installed in schools. It is also strongly recommended that all schools be equipped with adequate fire escapes that lead directly to the outside ground level.
Nursing homes, rest homes and convalescent homes and- Saugus General Hospital are inspected every three months. Stores, public buildings, places of public assembly, gasoline service sta- tions etc., are inspected as often as possible for safety and protec- tion against fire.
During the year the bureau had two-hundred-twenty five oil burner inspections, twenty-four low pressure gas installations. Several gasoline tank removals and new installations.
The bureau alsoinvestigates many complaints of various nature and also conducts various inves- tigations. There are many'details connected with the bureau that require attention that have to be conducted outside the regular tour of duty hours.
In concluding this report I wish to extend my appreciation and thanks for their cooperation to the Inspector of Buildings Walter Daniels, Sup't of Schools Mr. Eddy, the Police Department, Town Electrician Thomas Green, Agent of the Health Department Mr. John Spencer, the principals and cus- todians of our schools who have assisied nie so gratefully in keep- ing our fire loss to a minimum. Respectfully submitted, Joseph L. Maguire
Chief of Fire Department Warren Newhall, Lieut. Bureau of Fire Prevention
the Board of Selectmen in the year 1960, which is now history.
Respectfully submitted: Vernon W. Evans, Chairman Frank Berthold Arthur E. Gustafson Samuel W. Ludwig Albion R. Rice
Board of Selectmen Saugus, Massachusetts February 1, 1961
=
· Ths Saugus Advertiser, March 16, 1961
Board Of Selectmen main extensions, and the new con-
The Saugus Advertiser March 16, 1961
1960 Report Superintendent of Schools
Members of the School Committee
and the Citizens of Saugus:
This is the sixty-eighth Annual Saugus School Report and my fourth such Annual Report.
In my three previous Reports I have dealt with certain educational departures in the Saugus School System and the reasons why these departures were of benefit to the total education of the young people of this community. Briefly, these matters deal with:
1. Organization of the high school curriculum.
2. Requirements, electives and courses open to the high school pupils.
3. The testing, program in fundamental subjects in grades three through nine. (lowa Tests in Basic Skills.)
4. An aspect of in-service teacher training - the pre-school Workshops for teachers.
5. The need for a longer school day.
6. The promotion of a favorable 'school climate' to sur round the total school lives of our pupils.
The interested reader is urged to consult my previous Reports for details of the above departures.
There has been a continuing effort to supply our pupils throughout the system with modern testbooks and educational supplies and equipment. A long stride in this direction has been taken. For example: All high school departments are acquiring more and more of the equipment that is necessary to provide better instruction; the junior high school now has a satisfactory communications system, shop equipment has been increased somewhat, a larger budget allowance is making it possible to 'build up' the meager library: in the elementary school grades most of the pupils are now supplied with the newer textbooks that have been introduced in certain areas over the past four years; presently we are awaiting delivery of maps and globes for grades three, four, five, six, seven and eight - a type of instructional material that has been severely lacking up to this time. (The 1961 Budget carries an allowance of $4000 for elementary school reference books - particularly encyclopaedia.)
Developmental and remedial reading material, organized, class- ified and supplemented with self-checking progress devices for the individual pupil, known as the 'Reading Laboratory', is being supplied to all grades (including junior and senior high school grades) through- out the system. The use of the 'Reading Laboratory' is being forwarded by Mrs. Ina MacNeill in the grades, Mr. Ashton Davis in the junior high school and by Mr. John Burns, Head of the High School English Department, in the senior high school.
ENROLLMENT As of December 1, 1960, there were 4,661 pupils in the Saugus schools, distributed as follows:
Grade 1
478 Grade VII - J.H.S. 454
Grade IX - S.H.S. 411
Grade 11 444
Grade VIII - J.H.S. 362
Grade X - S.H.S. 306
Grade 111 470
Grade X1 -S.H.S. 277
Grade IV 436
Total J.H.S.
816
Grade XII-S.H.S. 281
Grade V
353
P.G. - - - S.H.S.
2
SP. classes19
Total -S.H.S.
1277
Tot. Elem.2568
In May, 1960, there were:
2545 Elementary School Pupils 807 Junior High School Pupils
1179 Senior. High School Pupils
Total
4531
As enrollment stands at the time of this Report there are 130 more pupils in our schools than there were when schools closed for the year 1959-1960.
THE SCHOOL STAFF
There are 261 full-time employees in the school system, distributed as follows:
Elementary School Teachers and Principals 91
Junior H. S. Teachers, Principal and Vice-Princ. 31 Senior H. S. Teachers, Principal and Vice-Principal,
Dean of Girls, Guidance Personal and Band Dir. 66
Superintendent and Administrative Assistant
Secretarial and Clerical 7
Custodial Staff 27
Cafeteria Staff and Lunch Program Director 29
School Nurses
2
Special Subject Teachers and Supervisors
6
Total 261*
* To this number there may be added 4 School Physicians and 1 half-time clerk.
PER-CAPITA EXPENDITURES
Saugus is grouped with sixty Massachusetts towns and four small cities having populations in excess of 10,000 people. In this group of sixty-four communities TABLE 1 shows how Saugus compares in the matter of per pupil expenditures over the last four years.
These per pupil expenditures are based on the amount spent for SUPPORT ** of all public day schools for the year ending December 31, 1959.
* The comparisons are among the same communities with which Saugus has been compared over the three previous years.
** The SUPPORT figure does not include any CAPITAL OUTLAY expenditures (bond issue payments and interests) made by any community. The SUPPORT figure does include expenditures for ordinary building repairs and renovations.
Number of Towns School Years
1959
1958 1957 1956
1960
1959
1958 1957
Between $475
& $500
2
0
...
0
...
0
Between $450
& $474
0
1
0
0
Between $425
& $449
1
0
1
0
Between $400
& $424
0
1
0
1
Between $375
& $399
5
1
2
13
4
11
6
Between $275
&
$299
14
20
13
9
LESS THAN -- $275
6
12
...
19
15
LESS THAN
--- $250
0
4
...
14
...
30
TABLE 1I Comparison of Expenditures
1959 1958
1957
1956
1060 1959
1958
1957
Highest per pupil expenditure
Median per pupil expenditure SAUGUS
$320.00 $293.22 $273.86 $255.48
LOWEST
$252.38 $229.02 $198.38 $204.68
(Group Av. '59-'60) State Ave.other yrs.($326.42) 324.51 296.15 275.57
*** In 1959-1960:
14 towns spent less than Saugus - 49 towns spent more.
In 1958-1959:
6 towns spent less than Saugus - 57 towns spent more.
In 1957-1958:
9 towns spent less than Saugus - 54 towns spent more. In 1956-1957:
9 towns spent less than Saugus - 54 towns spent more.
(The source of all per pupil expenditures: - Massachusetts Depart- ment of Education.)
PUPIL TRANSPORTATION
School transportation in Saugus constitutes a major school service, and, under present conditions, an extensive administrative task. Because transportation of pupils is a matter of interest to many citizens, a brief report may be timely.
Pupil transportation costs in Saugus appear high when the amount budgeted annually is scrutinized. However, the actual cost to the town is relatively reasonable when the state transportation reim- bursement is deducted from the total expenditure. (Although this should not be interpreted to mean that the expenditures of any money, no matter what its source may be, should be made without care.)
For the school year 1959-1960 the net transportation cost to Saugus was $23,185 even though the actual expenditure was $54,730. This is to say that Saugus spent $54,730 for reimbursable transportation and received a state reimbursement of $31,545.
"Reimbursable transportation" refers to the transportation of pupils who live one and one-half miles, or more, from the schools they attend. During the school year 1959-1960 there were, very approximately, 1200 Saugus pupils who were entitled to this 'legal' transportation.
Under certain very specific circumstances, the School Committee authorizes transportation for pupils who live less than the 'legal' (reimbursable) distance from the schools they attend. In the school year 1959-1960 the sum of $4,235 was spent for this purpose. All Such transportation is not subject to state reimbursement; the entire cost is borne by the town. For example, the School Com- mittee authorizes the transportation of all pupils in the Trainable Class; for safety's sake these pupils are taxied to school.
*The State of Massachusetts requires free transportation for all pupils living two miles or more from the schools they must attend. The state permits a local school committee to shorten the distance to one and one-half miles and still be eligible for trans- portation reimbursement.
SCHOOL NEEDS
Many Saugus citizens have expressed an interest in a survey of the Saugus school system; a Survey to be made by a team of profess- ional educators experienced in this type of evaluation. Such a survey would bring extraordinary educational benefits to the young people of this town if the town would go on to implement the recommendations of the Survey Team; otherwise a substantial sum of money would be wasted.
In connection with the desires of those who want to have a school survey, however, it should be said that extraordinary educational benefits may also be brought to the school population of Saugus by a further implementation of the recommendations that have been, and will continue to be, made by the administration - possibly involving the expenditure of that money that would be spent for a professional school survey.
Over the past three years, the administration has made several significant recommendations affecting desirable educational, organ- izational and curricular departures in the senior high school. (See School Reports for 1957-1958-1959) Almost without exception these senior high school recommendations were given the 'green light' and our senior high school population is benefiting as a consequence.
1960 Report
Building Department
To the Town Manager:
The year 1960 saw many needed improvements and repairs to our town buildings. Although most of the work was done on our school buildings, we did have a wing added to our Library. This addi- tion also included a new beating plant that was greatly needed, and after the old section of the library is painted this building will be in very good condition.
During the year 1960 this de- partment concentrated most re- pairs and renovations on the build- ings which we know the town will have to continue to use as school buildings for many years to come. These consist of the Sweetser, Roby Jr. High, Ballard, Armitage and the Cliftondale schools.
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