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SAUGUS MASSACHUSETTS
SAUGUS MASS LS ZAOUD 8Z RESIDENT
For Reference
Not to be taken
from this library
U. S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 157 LYNN, MASS. BULK RATE
The Saugus Advertiser, March 2. 1963
THE TOWN REPORT Page Ons
ANNUAL
SAUGUS PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1729 00051 5889
TOWN
REPORT
AUOD
1029.
1815
JOHN O. STINSON TOWN MANAGER
SAUGUS BOARD OF SELECTMEN, Left to right: Frank K. Berthold. Herbert T. Upton, Chairman Vernon, W. Evans, Dr. Frederick J. Wagner, Richard L. Reynolds.
SAUGUS SCHOOL COMMITTEE, Left to right: Robert M. Braid, Anne Cogliano, Chairman Richard S. Carter, Jean Sherman, and Feter A, Rossetti.
1962 Report Town Manager
What is presented here in my first report is a brief picture of the problems that confronted the Town a year ago; areas where improve- ments have been and are being made.
Primarily this report will con- cern itself not so much with where we have been, but rather wherewe are going. It is important that you, the citizen, be awareofthe purpose and the direction of cr: Fax policies and programs.
OUTLOOK IN MARCH, 1962: Pressing problems last year revolved around the lack of plan- ning, the lack of effective coordination, cooperation, and the lack of governmental action in response to the requirements or even worthwhile suggestions of its citizens. A personal effort was made to provide not only this response, but in a broader sense specific programs necessary for the Town's continued growth and development.
It was essential that uniform and coherent administrative persomel be re-established, for the depart- ments were working under a com- bination of different successive Managers' directions, and had lived through a major upheaval in supervision and policy in a rela- tively short time,
PROGRESS: In spite of these conditions, the various depart- ments and boards have unquestion- ably done a very good job, and weus is more gratifying and encouraging is that the performance got notice- ably better as the year progressed. Some of the inaugurated policies and programs were:
1. A major revision in the wage scale,
2. A basic gauge for personnel .policies and procedures which will be expanded and formalized this coming year,
3. A continuation of a major school building program, high- lighted with the start of the con- struction of two additional ele- mentary schools, and the start of the design of a $2,500,000 Junior High School
4. The start of a formal per- iodic fire inspection procedure for all Town buildings.
5. Reorganization of several de- partments to provide better services.
6, The creation of new services . to make the Town Hall more re-
sponsive to its citizens" needs, 7. An expanded program of development and maintenance of parks and playgrounds.
8. An accelerated Public Works program started in 1962; and with the 1963 program, concrete results will be definitely evident on a broad scale.
Considerable effort was made in the development of Town govern- mental organization and the serv- ices it provides_ As a result of very successful changes that were made and with the specific recommen- dations that are being presented at this Town Meeting, Saugus can look with increased confidence to more efficient and responsive gov- ernment.
TAX PICTURE: Saugus is suf- fering from a major shift in the spending of your tax dollar. The trend is a long-range one extend- ing to the early days of the Manager form of government here in Saugus. In spite of the con- doval climb in the tax rate, and in spite of the comimed expansion of services rendered by general government, there bas been a steady decline in that portion of the tax dollar that it spends.
This curve demonstrates the continual improvements of effi- ciency in the fact of increasing services, programs, and facilities offered. It demonstrates the.per- formance of our general govern- ment, the pressures under which it has operated, and the basic ability for the Selectmen-Manager form of government to meet these needs in Saugus. The actual cost of general government, as expressed in the tax rate over the years, has been actually very stable, For example, general government utilized approximately $38 in 1956, while we anticipate using less than. $34.00 in 1963, This is despite the fact that additional services are being performed.
CONCLUSION: To those who have a pessimistic viewpoint of Saugus' future, 1 would suggest that you look again, first, not at where we have failed in the last few years, but instead look to what we have achieved, There is real progress. Look second at a poten- tial with large undeveloped areas both for residences and industry look at our location and our prox- imitv to the center of an awaken- (Continued on Page 2)
SAUGUS TAX DOLLAR
The percentage of the tax Rate
58
56
51
school
50
Gen.
Govt.
16
44
12
58
59
60
61
62
196.
YEAR
1962
LOCAL HISTORY Ref. 352 Saugus v.75
Predicted">
52
The Saugus Advertiser, March 28, 1963
TOWN REPORT Page 2
Town Manager
(Continued from Page 1)
ing metropolitan area, Our high- ways are good and with the ex- tension of Route 95, will be sup- erlor based on, any. set of standards. We bave large areas of undeveloped land available for commercial and industrial growth. We have within the Town, in the . urrounding area, a tremendous abor market available to us in the surrounding area, a tremen- "dous labor market available to us through expanding transportation facilities. Our potential future through expansion and development here in Saugus Is greater than any other metropolitan community. Our efforts must be coordinated and deliberate; they must support and capitalize on this potential. If they do, and only If they do, will the prospect of a long and steady declining tax rate change from a possibility to a reality. a look Into the future;
A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE
1. Financial budget reform. Although some improvements were made this year, I feel the budget should be a lot more expressive and better presented,
2. Both short and long range financial planning to be developed in conjunction with the Finance Committee,
3. A specific and down-to-earth. program to expand our tax base, 4. A balanced and continuing Public Works program based upon the broad needs of an expanding Community.
4. A balanced and continuing Public Works program based upon the broad needs of an expanding . were appointed to investigate the community.
5. The establishment of modern, equitable and coherent codes and by-laws, followed by vigorous and uniformed enforcement.
6. A specific analysis of our protective services to insure botb the howeowner and local merchant that they will receive the protec- tion that ts required for their welfare and safety.
7. À participation in available Federal and State programs which will ease the financial load borne by the homeowner. While it Is true that there Is no windfali moneys available, there Is moneys avail- able to those communities that not only qualify, but which will go out and work for them. We are currently very active and will con- tinue our efforts in this area in the corning year.
These programs are being cur- rently analysed and developed. Some will require Town Meeting action; some will not. All can be integrated in a substantial magni- tude with a stable tax rate. These Programs and improvements can De supported by a developed ex- pansion of the tax.base rather than ta jerk up the tax rate following crasb allocations and appropria- tions.
During this past year, we in Sau- gis have had more than a normal. share of problems, many deep seated and complex, But 1 feel that we have met these problems. with corresponding progress and considerable success.
This would not have been possible without the whole-hearted efforts of the department beads and their staffs, the consideration given my recommendations by the Finance Committee and members of the Town Meeting, and the sup- port and cooperation of the Board of Selectmen. To these people my sincere thanks.
John O. Stinson Town Manager
1962 Report Town Moderator
To the Citizens of Saugus;
A detailed report of all 1962 town meetings is found elsewhere in the Town Report, covering all; actions and decisions of that body. The town meeting is, as most know, the legislative branch of your gov- ernment. Its powers Include appro- priation of funds for your town operations as well as speclal pro- jects It may approve, li is also charged with the adoption and amendment of by-laws, acceptance of state statutes and a general review of proposals offered.
in general the 1962 meetings closely followed the recommend- ations of your Finance Committee, which has the thankless task of reviewing all requests of a fi- nanclal nature. I pay my compli- ments to this group which devotes months of serious consideration to all such requests,
Practically all matters present- ed to the Town meeting were clear cut to the point where decisions were possible. Only in one major fleld, school housing, was there indecision. I am confident that when there has been a complete "meet- ing of the minds" of those respon- slble, the town meeting wili as- sume its responsibilities on this natter.
In the matter of appointments, I have appointed Mr. William F. Cox, Mr. George H. Ossinger and Mr. Kenneth B. Nies to the FI- nance Committee. Mr. Ralph E. Gibbs served a temporary appoint- ment in early 1962. Under a vote of the town meeting, the following . necessity of additional fire sta- tions: Paul F. Harrington, Eugene C. Kneprath, Clarence H. Parker, Jr., Joseph H, Bruno and O. Al- blon Smith. Also by vote of the meeting the following were ap- pointed to investigate the situation at Prankers Pond: Bradbury F. Gilbert, JosephF. Kerwin, Richard Barry, Bruce F. Bishop, Hubert P. Connolly, Ralph E. Gibbs, Kenneth P. Babb, Fiore Sacco, Joseph W. Gerniglia and Basil A. Strout. Both committees are ex- .pected to report in 1963.
William H. Robinson Moderator.
1962 Report Civilian Defense
To The Town Manager
With considerable pride I pre- sent to you this annual report of he Saugus Civil Defense where a. great deal of progress has been made.
Emphasis all during the year has been on the Shelter Program. Many meetings, conferences andschools has been held in varlous parts of our State pertaining to this most important program.
A team of U.S. Army Architects and Engineers visited the Town of Saugus and Inspected the exterior and interlor of approximately 27 buildings. Not ali of these build- ings were found to meet establish- ed Government requirements for protection against radloactive fall- out. Many of these structures con- tain falioutshelter space for 50 or more people, but first with a few minor changes by the owners of these bulldings, suchas blocking off cellar windows etc, they will then be considered by the Depart- ment of Defense, Office of Civil Defense, as public fallout shelters.
Signs Identifying these buildings as public shelters will soon be visible to residents of Saugus. (Continued on Page 17)
1962 Report Board Of Selectmen
TO THE CITIZENS OF SAUGUS:
We, the undersigned members of the Board of Selectmen, herewith respectfully submit this, our An- nual Report for the year 1962, to the Citizens of Saugus.
We are pleased to be able to report that, it Is generally con- ceded, that the year 1962 produced more substantial municipal im- provements, throughout the town, than in any year within recent memory. Moreover, such was ac- complished with a very small In- crease In the tax rate. This record was accomplished only through the untiring efforts of Town Manager John O. Stinson, Superintendent. Ernest Pesce of the Public Works Department, the splendid co- operation of Department Heads and Town Employees, and the sin- cerlty of a Board of Selectmen dedicated to a non-political admin- Istration,
It Is obviously impossible, in a report of this nature, to list all of the 1962 municipal improve- ments which have been accom- plished for the general welfare of all of our citizens.
We shall llst some of such which are indicative of many others which cannot be enumerated in this re- port because of lack of space.
More than four miles of high- way reconstruction and resurfac- ing was completed on the following streets:
Adams Avenue, Main Street, Winter Street, Forest Street, High- land Avenue, Springdale Avenue, Gllway, Falmouth Street, Atlas Avenue, Summer Street, First Street, Palmer Avenue, Staaf Road, Locke Lane, Jewett Street, Forest Avenue, Eagle Road, the John A. W. Pearce Memorlal Drive, the parking area at the Junior High School, and the Town Landing.
In addition to the above, approx- imately three miles of pea stone seal coating was applied to the fol- lowing streets:
Lenox Avenue, Falrmount Ave- nue, Morton Avenue, Forest Street, Central Street, Johnson Street, Blueridge Avenue, Evergreen Street, and Endicott Street.
Under Chapter 90, Jackson Street In Cliftondale, was recon- structed over Its' complete length with bituminous concrete con- struction.
Under Chapter #386, the fol- lowing streets were resurfaced, In whole or in part:
St. James Road, Laconla Avenue, Webster Street, King Street, Semi- nole Street, Palmetto Street, Mt. Hope Street, Oakwood Avenue, and Holiand Street.
New granolithic curbing, done under contract, was installed on Essex Street, Dudley Street, Maln Street, Saville Street, Summer Street, Central Street, and the John A. W. Pearce Memorlal Drive.
New granolithic sidewalks were constructed on Central Street, in Cliftondale Square, on Main Street, and on the John A. W. Pearce Mem- orial Drive.
New drainage systems were in- stalled at the following locations: Woodbury Avenue, Venice Ave- nue, Westland Avenue, First Street, the John A. W. Pearce Memorlal Drive, and the rear of Saugus High School.
An excellent, and extensive pro- gram of new main line sewer construction was carried out during the year 1962. New main line sewers were constructed to service 145 homes. These same
sewer lines, in some sections, also went by vacant land upon which houses may, In the future, be con- structed. Of these 145 homes, a total of 124 have already been connected to the sewer system.
Thus, Saugus now has a total of 1231 homes connected to our sewer system. As a result of this excellent sewer extension pro- gram, carried out in 1962, thousands of dollars in additional revenue wili be returned to the Town Treasury from sewer rentals and sewer betterment assess- ments.
To sum up, we added, during the year 1962, 6,505 linear feet ofnew sewer lines to our existing system, This represents nearly one and one half miles of new sewer extension which were completed in the year 1962. Saugus thus now has 1475 miles of sewer mains including two and two-fifths miles of out- fali lines from our pumping sta- tion to the Lynn outfali sewer located at the junction of Com- mercial and Friend Streets in Lynn.
During the year 1962, the De- partment of Public Works reln- stalled 99 water meters, Installed 164 water meter replacements, and installed 130 new meters. The net result was an increase in water metered revenue from $162,973.54 in 1961 to $171,902.79 in 1962, an increase of nearly $10,000 in one year.
Nine badly needed new hydrants were Installed and added to our water system in 1962. They were instalied at the following locations:
4 at Saugus High School 2 at Austin Court
1 at Pearl Road
1 at Webster Street
1 at Altamount Avenue
During the year 1961, It became obvious that a second access high- way, to and from Saugus High School, was not only desirable, but necessary. Two different routes, across privately owned land and property, were Suggested to the Board of Selectmen. Both involved the purchase of private property and the cost of constructing an access road, over either route, was estimated at approximately $50,- 000. Both proposed routes were re- jected by the Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager. At the sug- gestion of the Town Engineer and the Superintendent of Public Works, the Board of Selectmen approved a route across town own- ed land from Main Street to the High School, Mr. Ernest Pesce, Superintendent of Public Works then proceeded to construct the new access road at a cost to the tax payers of $11,000. Thus a total of $39,000 was saved on this one pro- ject due to the splendid co-opera- tion of these town officials. This new highway, an excellent one, Is now known as the John A. W. Pearce Memorlal Drive.
in 1962, the Town Manager sug- gested, and the Board of Select- men approved, a program whereby a start would be made to install new ali metal street signs through- out the town. A total of 108 of these attractive looking signs were in- stalled during the year 1962. Fifty- two more such signs were installed during the year 1962. Fifty-two more sucb signs are now in the pro- cess of manufacture and will be in- stalied in the near future. It is the intention of the Town Manager and the members of the Board of Se- lectmen to continue this program each year until every street in Saugus is identified by one of these attractive modern nondestructible all metal street signs.
During the year 1962, a 50' by 50' three lay cement block fire proof building was added to the
Public Works Garage on Wood- bury Avenue.
More new modern street lights were placed throughout the town in 1962. Probably the greatest improvements in street light- ing were apparent on Winter and Essex Streets. This Improved mo- dern street lighting program is also a continuing program and will be augmented by many more such new installations during the year 1963.
in Saugus, the Board of Select- men also acts as the Local Liquor Licensing Authority. Upon their election to office, the members of this Board of Selectmen pledged that they would mete out severe penalties to proven violators of Chapter 138, the liquor statutes of the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts.
During the year 1962, the Board heard evidence in several such violations involving the sale of liquor to minors. No Board of Selectmen in recent years acted with more courage or imposed more severe penalties than did this present Board of Selectmen. in one flagrant case, the Board per- manently revoked the license of the offender,
It Is the bellef of the present Board of Selectmen that only through the meting out severe pen- alties, to liquor law violators, can the sale of intoxicating liquors be properly and legally controlled. It Is also our belief that only by such methods can the law-abiding liquor dealers be protected in their investments.
We, the members of the Board of Selectmen, voted in 1962, to in- crease the fees for liquor licenses in certain categories. We took such action only after an exhaus- tive survey was made to ascertain the fees charged for liquor li- censes in twenty other Massachu- setts communities. As a result of this action of the Board of Se- lectmen, the total amount of liquor license fees, paid to the town in 1962, exceeded that paid in 1961 by approximately $5,000. To the credit of the liquor dealers, whose fees were increased, it should be stated that not one complained to the Board relative to the Increased fees.
The Board, also in 1962, voted to
increase the fees for many other various types of licenses under Its' jurisdiction, These li- cense fees had not been revised in many years and some of them were extremely low. This action, by the Board, has resulted in in- creased revenues to the town which will certainly be needed In 1963.
The Town of Saugus, during the past year, as did many other communities, suffered probably the heaviest three day rainfall in Its history. The United States Army Corps of Engineers estimated that a maximum of fourteen inches of rain fell near the Saugus-Wake- field town boundary line. Serlous flooding conditions thus occurred in several areas of the town,
-The Board of Selectmen, In be- half of our citizens, desires to express its sincere appreciation to the men of the Fire, Police, and Public Works Departments for their unselfish devotion to duty during this perlod of extreme emergency.
May we also express our devout thanks to the members of our vari- ous Civil Defense units who, with- out financial compensation, labor- ed long hours alding citizens in distress on this same occasion. They certainly proved that their Auxiliary Fire and Police units are a definite asset to our oom- munity.
. (Continued on Page 3)
.
Selectmen (Continued from Page 2)
The Town Manager informs us, at the time of the writing of this report, that the new Oaklandvale and Lynnhurst Elementary Schools are approximately seven per cent completed. A reasonably open win- ter has thus far materlally aided in this rapid progress. With con- tinuing reasonably favorable con- ditions, it is Town Manager Stin- son's opinion that the new schools could be ready for pupil occupancy by January 1, 1964. These two ele- mentary schools were badly need- ed to replace outmoded school structures which were almost totally inadequate to serve the edu- cational needs of these two sec- tions of the Town,
It appears, at the present time, almost certain that our town faces an increased tax rate in 1963. The amount of the increase will be de- termined by the amount of the ap- propriations voted at the Annual Town Meeting and upon the attitude of the School Committee in re- spect to their 1963 School Budget and the $48,000 of Federal money which it is anticipated they will receive in 1963.
The General Budget of the School Department, requested for the year 1963, exceeds the total of their General School Budget in 1962 by approximately one quarter of a million dollars. This giant in- crease represents an increase of approximately $6.00 in the tax rate for each one thousand dollars of valuation. in other words, if your property is assessed for $6,000, this means $36.00 additional real estate taxation for you in 1963 unless other means are found as an offset. In order to partially off- set the effect of this enormous in- crease in the General School Bud- get, your Town Manager and your Board of Selectmen have been for- ced to reduce, or abandon alto- gether, several very much needed and essential public municipal im- provements.
It is the hope of both the Town Manager and the Board of Select- men that the members of the School Committee will co-operate with them, and with the Finance Com- mittee, in reducing their proposed 1963 General School Budget and in applying their $48,000 Federal gift to a still further reduction in their budget, We recognize that they are unpaid public officials and that they are undoubtedly performing their duties in good falth.
It is, however, our sincere be- lief that the School Department should, at all times, consider the needs of the town .as a whole. No one department should concentrate its' alms upon building up its' own department without giving serious concern and consideration for
1962 Report Planning Board
To the Town Manager:
During the year 1962, the Plan- . ning Board edited and had re- printed, the Zoning By-Law, put the subdivision Rules and Regulations in book form, and did considerable work on the proposition of a new apartment district in the Zoning By-Law, which will come before the next annual Town Meeting.
The Building Department and Board of Appeals have assisted greatly in forcing compliance with the zoning by-law and at the pre- sent time the three departments are working harmoniously for the best interests of the Town.
Respectfully submitted, Lewis O. Gray, Chm. . Planning Board
1962 Report Police Dept.
John O. StInson, Town Manager Town Hall
Saugus, Mass. Dear Sir:
I hereby submit to you my twelfth annual report of the. Police Department, together with its activities, for the year 1962. ROSTER Chief - Roland E. Mansfield Captain - Fred Forni
Sergeants - Ernest A. Dunham, Inspector
Charles N. Wormstead, 3rd. James F. Maher Joseph P.A. Coliette Regular Patrolmen
William F. Cahill
Rosario A, Bucchiere Walter J. Elsmore Joseph Markowski
other badiy needed municipal im- provements.
All departments, and particular- ly the School Department with its' enormous financial costs, should also seriously consider the man who pays all municipal costs -- namely the real estate home own- er tax payer. For it is certainly true that excessive local real es- tate taxation, levied on him, can weli be the straw that will ul- timately break the camel's back, This is especially true in Massa- chusetts where State financial aid to local communities is far be- low the national average,
We thus beseech the mem- bers of the School Committee, with no trace of animosity, the co- operate with the Town Manager. the members of the Board of Se- lectmen, the members of the Fi- nance Committee, and our tax paying citizens, to the end that our town may remain solvent and our tax rate may be maintained at a reasonable figure.
May we, in conclusion, state sincerely that each, of us, as in- dividual members of the Board of Selectmen, has truly worked hard to make Saugus a better com- munity in which to live. We have not been afraid to express our opinions and our convictions upon every public issue. We have not expected, nor do we anticipate, that everyone will approve of all of our opinions or decisions. Such unanimous agreement, in any dem- ocratic community, would indeed be a curse rather than a bless- Ing. Each member of this Board of Selectmen welcomes construc- tive criticism from any citizen at any time, We are also undaunt- ed by the destructive criticism and misrepresentation of a few carping critics of ali public of- ficiais. In our opinion they are undergoing a period of chronic frustration.
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