Town annual report of Swampscott 1957, Part 1

Author: Swampscott, Massachusetts
Publication date: 1957
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 122


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SWAMPSCOTT PUBLIC LIBRARY


Desk


1957 ANNUAL REPORT


Town of SWAMPSCOTT


Jackson & Phillips, Inc., Printers 24-68 Mt. Vernon St., Lynn, Mass.


DO 33 COVER PHOTO - Courtesy of Robert G. Byrne, Jr.


SETTLED A.D. 1629.


INCORPORATED


TT. A. D. 1852.


A


SWAMP


Town of SWAMPSCOTT Massachusetts


1957 ANNUAL REPORT


Town of Swampscott


Index


Appeals, Board of


55


Assessors, Board of


56


Balance Sheet


109


Building Code Advisory Board


56


Building Inspector


88


Civil Defense, Department of


82


Contributory Retirement System


12


Dog Officer


70


Fire Department


87


Health, Board of


80


Housing Authority


106


Information, General


110


In Memoriam


89


Jury List


103


Library, Public


98


Planning Board


86


Police Department


100


Public Library


98


Public Welfare, Board of


84


Public Works, Board of


71


School Department


90


Superintendent of Schools, Report of Pupils Enrolled


97


Selectmen, Board of


10


Taxes, Collector of


57


Town Accountant


59


Town Clerk, Records of


13


Town Warrant, March 18, 1957


13


Special Town Meeting, February 11, 1957


13


Adjourned Special Town Meeting, March 26, 1957


28


Adjourned Annual Town Meeting, April 2, 1957


38


Special Town Meeting, May 21, 1957


44


Special Town Meeting, October 29, 1957


51


Special Town Meeting, December 3, 1957


53


Town Counsel


78


Town Meeting Members


7


Town Officers Appointed


3


Town Officers Elected


3


Town Telephone Numbers


111


Treasurer's Report


58


Veterans' Services, Department of


82


Weights and Measures. Sealer of


83


Where Money Came From


59


Where Money Went


61


Wires, Inspector of


6


World War II Memorial Fund


86


91


2


1957 Annual Report


Town Officers - 1957


ELECTED


MODERATOR


SELECTMEN Edward K. Hempel


TOWN CLERK AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES TOWN TREASURER ASSESSORS Anthony F. Pierre, 1958 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Harold C. Hudson, 1959


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


William H. Rothwell, 2nd, 1958 Lillian I. White, 1960


TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY Andrew R. Linscott, 1959


BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE Paul C. Curtis, 1958


BOARD OF HEALTH


E. Wallace Donald, 1958


CONSTABLES John J. Mattera


PLANNING BOARD Alexander B. Way, Jr., 1960 Ralph L. Williams, 1959


COMMISSIONER OF TRUST FUNDS Harold R. Austin, 1959


SWAMPSCOTT HOUSING AUTHORITY John A. Massey, 1958 Eugene S. Moreau, 1959 Gerald H. Pashby ***


*Deceased ** Appointed


Richard B. Johnson George B. Thomson, Chairman Vincent P. O'Brien


Malcolm F. MacLean, Jr., 1958; 1959 Robert G. Byrne, 1959 Thomas F. Collins, 1959, Chairman Ernest Manchin, 1960, Secretary Alfred N. Frazier, 1958, Chairman Roger R. Williams, 1960 Theodore C. Sargent, 1959, Chairman Osmond O. Keiver, Jr., 1959 George A. Chadwell, 1960 George W. Howe, 1958, Chairman Ruth M. Barry, 1960, Secretary Norbert A. Ulman, 1960, Chairman Donald Redfern, 1959 Dr. Robert C. Thompson, 1960, Chairman Dr. Robert H. Bessom, 1959 Leonard H. Bates Wayne Anderson Harold M. King, 1958, Chairman John F. Milo, 1961 James R. Maddock, 1962, Secretary Henry S. Baldwin, 1958* Albert F. Pashby, 1960 Thomas W. Duncan, 1960, Chairman Martin C. Goodman (State Appointee) 1961 David F. Doherty, 1961 Leonard H. Bates, Jr., 1958 ** *** Resigned


APPOINTED BY SELECTMEN


SECRETARY OF SELECTMEN TOWN COUNSEL


TOWN ACCOUNTANT DIRECTOR OF CIVIL DEFENSE


FOREST WARDEN MOTH SUPERINTENDENT BUILDING INSPECTOR ASSISTANT BUILDING INSPECTOR


SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES CUSTODIAN OF ADMINISTRATION BUILDING ASSISTANT CUSTODIANS


DOG OFFICER FENCE VIEWERS


MEASURER OF LUMBER


Richard A. Wales Lester B. Morley *** Richard Coughlin I. Murray Adams Robert O'Neill *** Forrest E. Mason, Jr. Walter M. Champion, Jr. Frederick C. Burk Raymond O. Doane Lawson H. O'Brien George A. Holt, Sr. John G. McLearn Leonard H. Bates John Cameron John J. Mattera Raymond O. Doane Howard L. Hamill Harold O. Durgin


3


Town of Swampscott


SHELLFISH CONSTABLES Stanley G. Potier


DIRECTOR OF VETERANS' SERVICES and BURIAL AGENT TRUSTEES OF WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL FUND Benjamin Goldberg, 1958 Ernest Manchin, 1959 Clement Kennedy, 1959


James W. Buchanan* Joseph C. Cardillo


Robert M. Leonard


Albert F. Pashby, 1958 Philip H. Stafford, 1960 John R. Cooper, 1960 David F. Doherty, 1959


BOARD OF REGISTRARS Dorothy M. Collins, 1958


SMOKE INSPECTOR INSPECTOR OF WIRES CHIEF OF FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF OF POLICE and KEEPER OF LOCKUP


WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION AGENT


BOARD OF APPEALS T. Paul Corcoran, Jr., 1958


C. Glover, Bowes, 1959, Chairman Eustis Grimes, 1960


FOURTH OF JULY COMMITTEE


Antonio Parletta Edward F. Flynn, Jr. Francis P. Wall, Chief of Police Frank G. Colletti


Ralph I. Lindsey Michael S. Pagnotta Frederick C. Burk Lawrence O. Witter


Walter M. Champion, Jr., Fire Chief Harold Norton


John G. McLearn, 1959, Chairman I. Murray Adams, Secretary


MEMORIAL DAY COMMITTEE Joseph E. Shanahan Howard M. Vatcher


Harry M. Shanahan


VETERANS' DAY COMMITTEE Austin D. Mosco Howard M. Vatcher Wendell F. Jones


Grace J. Holden Albert F. Pashby Catherine Valleriani


BUILDING CODE ADVISORY COMMITTEE


Donald C. Goss, 1958 Edwin A. Fuller, 1958 Raymond O. Doane


David J. Abrahams, 1960 John J. Milo, 1959


BOSTON AND MAINE RATE STUDY COMMITTEE


Dr. Howell E. Estey Samuel Freedman


Ervin D. Remick


CITIZEN'S HIGHWAY SAFETY COMMITTEE Arthur Burt Dr. Charles E. Donovan Donald D. Durkee


Joseph Bradley, Chairman Maxwell Field George Hambrecht John Clarke Kane Richard P. Symmes


ECONOMY PLANNING COMMITTEE


Robert C. Hunt R. W. Hubbs Donald Sullivan Richard P. Breed, Jr. Gardner S. Lamson


ELECTRICAL CODE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Walter M. Champion, Jr. Lester Farwell Fred D. Sargent


Samuel Freedman I. Murray Adams Edward Weinshanker Harold M. King Thomas D. Foy


Paul Nestor Thomas J. Cahill


4


Frederick R. Champion, 1959, Chairman Donald L. Sawyer, 1960 Malcolm F. MacLean, Jr., Clerk Ex-Officio Raymond O. Doane Fred Sargent Walter M. Champion, Jr. Francis P. Wall I. Murray Adams


Michael M. Ingalls


CONTRIBUTORY RETIREMENT BOARD Harold R. Austin, 1958


1957 Annual Report


COMMITTEE ON INSURANCE SPECIFICATIONS David F. Doherty Felix E. Dine Raymond P. Miller


Raymond J. Bufalino E. Benjamin Redfield, Jr.


INSURANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE - General Insurance Richard P. Breed, Jr. Raymond P. Miller


Daniel W. Wormwood Felix E. Dine Martin Sylvester


INSURANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE - Group Insurance Harold Willett William H. Rothwell


Edward F. Flynn, Jr. Joseph C. Cardillo John G. MeLearn


FIRE STATION STUDY COMMITTEE George J. Burke


John S. Humphrey Felix Marino


WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL COMMITTEE Thomas E. Burke, Jr. Douglas F. Allen


John Palmer Ingalls, Jr. Sydney Parlow Roger A. Williams, Jr.


TAX REVENUE STUDY COMMITTEE


Thomas C. Barrett Mrs. Israel Bloch George Boston John Cameron William K. Cobbett Ralph L. Dennis


John Der Bogosian John P. Drislane A. Bruce Durkee Loring R. Frazier Harrison J. Lesses Austin Mosco


APPOINTED BY MODERATOR


CENTRAL FIRE STATION COMMITTEE Charles H. Lampard John F. Milo


David S. Kunian Harold M. King J. Campbell Deveney


COMMITTEE TO STANDARDIZE BUDGETS David F. Doherty Eugene L. Abrams


Harold R. Austin, Chairman I. Murray Adams Charles L. Blatchford


COMMITTEE TO STUDY BEACH RIGHTS Anthony F. Pierre Dr. Charles E. Donovan


John J. Foley Norbert Ulman


COMPENSATION AND SALARIES OF ELECTIVE OFFICERS Harold P. Willett Charles W. Dwyer


Norman J. Randell


FINANCE COMMITTEE Howell E. Estey, 1958 Harvey P. Newcomb, 1959 Martin Kirkpatrick, 1960 Selden D. Hulquist, 1960


Jacob Shactman, Chairman, 1960 Charles M. Ewing, 1960 Richard G. Appell, Jr., 1960, Asso. Chairman Harry G. Davis, 1960 Herbert C. Heggie, Secretary


HADLEY SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE Roger G. Skinner Thomas Duncan


Burt Harding, Chairman George Knowlton Lillian White


HADLEY SCHOOL PLAY AREA George B. Thomson Bradlee M. Backman Leon A. Hackett John F. Milo


Osmund O. Keiver, Jr., Chairman James E. Hanley John Clarke Kane Marshall Kaplan Harold I. Power


5


Town of Swampscott


HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE


Frederick Broughton Charles M. Ewing Lawrence McGinn Lawrence Burns **


Richard Coughlin*


George Chadwell, Chairman Lucille A. Hinch John Lilly


John Donovan Herbert Klein


JOB CLASSIFICATION AND WAGE SCALE COMMITTEE


Arnold L. Snow George A. Promise Frederick N. Balsor Stanley Metz


John G. MeLearn George Jeffries Harrington William E. Carey


POST OFFICE COMMITTEE


Vincent P. O'Brien Edward K. Hempel Otto Friedman


Theodore C. Cooke, Chairman George B. Thomson Lewis Athanas Kenneth W. Ulman


REAPPRAISAL AND REVALUATION COMMITTEE


Edward K. Hempel


Thomas F. Collins


Andrew B. Holmes, Jr. Thomas M. Newth Austin D. Mosco


F. Martin Kirkpatrick


Alexander B. Way, Jr.


Loring R. Frazier


Mrs. Naomi Feinberg


Mrs. Edith M. Bloch Richard P. Breed, Jr.


STABILIZATION FUND COMMITTEE


Vincent P. O'Brien, Chairman Richard G. Appel, Jr.


APPOINTED BY MODERATOR AND SELECTMEN


SCHOOL SURVEY COMMITTEE


Howell E. Estey Charles W. Eiseman


John Clarke Kane Walter H. Forbes, Jr.


Inspector of Wires


FRED D. SARGENT, Inspector I herewith submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1957. This report covers the period from January 1, 1957 to December 31, 1957.


Permits Issued


Collected


January


42


$ 57.75


February


42


83.50


March


35


39.75


April


37


41.00


May


31


45.00


June


50


58.50


July


23


29.75


August


29


50.00


September


35


36.75


October


39


41.00


November


33


58.75


December


31


37.25


Total


427


$579.00


Frequent inspections are made of electrical installations in new buildings and of changes made in old work. Work performed is in accordance with the require- ments of the Massachusetts State Code.


6


Alfred N. Frazier, Secretary


Raymond E. Werner


Fees


Month


1957 Annual Report


Town Meeting Members


Expiration 1958


Frederick N. Balsor Gertrude P. Balsor J. Dane Chandler Laura M. Cole


Anthony M. D'Agnese Lena M. Dennehy Thomas Douglas Abbott W. Fish, Jr. Geremia Foglietta Lillian T. Friedman


Bennett Gallo Robert B. Hegarty William A. Hinch Karl V. Johnson


Kenneth T. Johnson Harold Norton George A. Promise Woodbury L. Rodrick, Jr. Carl F. Turner


PRECINCT ONE


Expiration 1959


I. Murray Adams


Leonard H. Bates


Leonard H. Bates, Jr.


Lewis H. Berry


William H. Berry Chester E. Bradley Joseph A. Bradley


William J. Carlin


John H. Cropley, Jr.


Edward F. Flynn, Jr. Alfred N. Frazier Otto W. Friedman C. Frank Hathaway Andrew B. Holmes, Jr. + Paul L. Koch


J. Richard Maitland Laurence F. Picariello Frank Williams, Jr.


Expiration 1960


Reno S. Bisegna


į


Thomas J. Boyce, Jr.


Mary A. Cappucio


Herbert Dennehy


Joseph Fiore Nicholas Gallo Eric A. Holmgren


George A. Holt


Selden D. Hulquist


Ralph H. Jackson, Jr.


John E. LaPlante


Davis A. Nickerson Raymond H. Nickerson Charles P. Picariello Richard S. Rawding Joseph S. Rodrick Arthur Ventre


Ralph W. Wade


Expiration 1958


Charles L. Blatchford Howell E. Estey Cecelia H. Flynn Joseph F. Flynn Stuart W. Graham Edward P. Hannon Semah M. Klein Michael Lerner Robert P. Loring John A. Massey Elmer E. Morley Gerald H. Pashby Anthony F. Pierre Jean W. Potter Walter L. Ranger Joseph P. Ryan Kenneth W. Ulman Norbert A. Ulman


PRECINCT TWO


Expiration 1959


Thomas E. Andresen


Frederick P. Brown


Thomas J. Cahill


Peter Cassidy


George A. Chadwell


Harvey A. Craig


Albert E. Devitt


Raymond O. Doane


Lyndon W. Ellis Edward K. Hempel Harold J. Keating James D. McCarriston


Thomas M. Newth Albert F. Pashby Irvin R. Patten Donald J. Stinson Richard P. Symmes Richard A. Wales


Expiration 1960


James E. Champion


John R. Daley


David F. Doherty


Herbert F. Frazier, Jr.


Leo W. Frechette


William S. Healy


Herbert C. Heggie Harold M. King Cleo Leawood John J. Monahan James E. Pashby Philip H. Stafford


George J. Stinson John Stone Donald J. Warnock


John H. Watts Norman C. Whitten Philip M. Whitten


Town of Swampscott


Expiration 1958


Eugene L. Abrams Ezra Andelman John Cameron


Charles F. Chapman


Howard E. Dow Ann V. Enholm Donald W. Fessenden Leon A. Hackett


Roger W. Henry


George D. Horton


Harold C. Hudson


Arthur T. Lees Ralph I. Lindsey


Charles Losano, Jr. Joseph F. Massidda James J. McCarriston Austin D. Mosco Lawrence O. Witter


PRECINCT THREE


Expiration 1959


George B. Atkins


Harold R. Austin


#Henry S. Baldwin


Adolph J. Benedetto


John A. Boston


Philip A. Brine, Jr.


Robert G. Byrne


Harold G. Enholm


Clarence M. Finch


Marshall Kaplan


John J. Lally


Patsy J. Losano


Priscilla O. Newcomb


Spencer E. Olson James H. Pedrick


Margaret M. Scanlon


Harry M. Shanahan Roger G. Skinner George W. Smith


Expiration 1958


Barbara Bailey Benjamin Benson Benjamin B. Blanchard William E. Carey Edward P. Carroll Doris A. Coletti John R. Cooper Ethel M. Dermody James E. Hanley Burt F. Harding Carl E. Hardy John P. Ingalls, Jr.


Osmund O. Keiver, Jr. Frank G. Melvin Wilbur T. Moulton George J. Place


Robert C. Smith


Frank S. Stowell Robert L. Yasi


PRECINCT FOUR


Expiration 1959


Mary E. Benford


Robert L. Benford


Charles H. Bickford


Edward F. Burke


Walter M. Champion, Jr.


Frank G. W. Coletti


Richard Coughlin


Paul C. Curtis Albert G. Doane


Charles W. Dwyer


Walter H. Forbes, Jr. Vera F. Gould


George E. Hutchinson Andrew R. Linscott Harry D. Linscott James H. O'Leary Fred D. Sargent


George B. Thomson


Expiration 1960


Edward R. Butterworth


Richard F. Coletti


Harry G. Davis


Joseph W. Dilk Ralph B. Earle Loring R. Frazier


George W. Howell


Harold G. Hussey Robert M. Leonard


James R. Maddock


Harris T. Phinney Harold I. Power +Arthur Shulkin Willard F. Stearns


Hatherley A. Stoddard, Jı B. Shapleigh Symonds Davis S. Thomson


Roger A. Williams, Jr.


Expiration 1960


Alfred F. Chatterton


Roland N. Devitt


Lester B. Farwell


Ralph E. Gould


Vernon M. Hawkins, 3rd


John Clarke Kane


Francis A. Losano


John G. McLearn


Dorothy W. Mills Ernest O. Mills Edward E. Moore


Ernest Manchin


Daniel J. Myers


Harvey P. Newcomb


Arnold L. Snow


Pearl A. Snow


Norman S. Stone


8


1957 Annual Report


Expiration 1958


Glenn W. Bartram C. Glover Bowes Leslie L. Broadbridge + William D. Brown, Jr. Charles F. Buckland


Joseph Cardillo Edward D. Cook Vincent B. Easterbrooks M. Virginia Fallon Edwin A. Fuller Eustis B. Grimes


Walter V. Hatfield


Francis N. Lang Ralph S. Maxwell June Morse Anthony J. Queena William H. Rothwell, 2nd Hartman F. Schmidt Harold P. Willett


PRECINCT FIVE


Expiration 1959


Carl A. Ackermann


Thomas A. Bailey Israel Bloch


Dorothy M. Booma


Ronald C. Booma


James W. Buchanan


Thomas F. Collins


Donald E. Costin


John P. Costin Samuel S. Fallon


John F. Grynkraut


Roger N. Howes


Edward D. Loveday


Francis H. Maitland


Ralph Mayo Marion Doen Morse Vincent P. O'Brien James W. Santry, Jr.


Expiration 1960


David J. Abrahams


1


Bernard L. Baker


Edith M. Bloch


Joseph Braccio Frederick C. Burk


Maxwell Field


Michael M. Ingalls


F. Martin Kirkpatrick


Sidney R. Lewis


John J. Mattera.


Elihu N. Morse Carl J. Pagano Ervin D. Remick, Jr. Jacob Shactman


Richard D. Stevenson


Harold P. Symmes


Donald S. Whidden


Thomas B. White, Jr.


PRECINCT SIX


Expiration 1959


John H. Blodgett


John H. Blodgett, Jr.


Richard P. Breed, Jr.


Nelson J. Darling, Jr. A. Bruce Durkee


Paul W. Fitzpatrick George W. Howe Chloe Johnson


Robert F. Kimball


Gardner Lamson Laurence B. Leonard


Henry R. Mayo, Jr. Jeanne W. McCarty Arnold L. Nylander Robert F. O'Neill Lawrence W. Powers E. Benjamin Redfield, Jr. Crawford H. Stocker, Jr.


Expiration 1960


Dorothy K. Allison


Richard G. Appel, Jr.


Bradlee M. Backman


Richard E. Blake


Philip N. Clerke Donald D. Durkee


Charles M. Ewing


George J. Harrington


Robert U. Ingalls


Bertram C. Jacobs Harold A. Johnson Thomas Nevils Arnold C. Reynolds George F. Vincent


Frank B. Wallis


Lillian I. White


Grace C. Whiteacre Robert I. Williams


Expiration 1958


Douglas F. Allen Donald W. Blodgett Dorothy S. Breed Fred S. Brennan


Bernard F. Carey Andrew H. Cox Constance B. Cox J. Campbell Deveney Charles E. Donovan Josephine E. Hanson William H. McCarty Allen Myers William W. Prichard Joel W. Reynolds Albert N. Rothermel Theodore C. Sargent A. Hall Stiles, Jr. Marjorie C. Sites Kenneth T. White Dorothy J. Whitehouse Ralph L. Williams


+Moved #Deceased


9


Town of Swampscott


Board of Selectmen


GEORGE B. THOMSON, Chairman


VINCENT P. O'BRIEN


EDWARD K. HEMPEL


To the Citizens of Swampscott:


We submit the following report for your information and consideration.


FIRE DEPARTMENT


The officers and men of the department have continued to maintain high standards of performance in providing fire protection to our citizens and their property. Deserving of special attention is the emergency work performed during last year's forest fires, particularly in Manchester, Massachusetts, and the protection of adjoining buildings during the Ionic Club fire.


The Selectmen appointed a special Fire House Study Committee to review the Central Fire Station situation. As a result, repairs to the existing building will be made in 1958 to maintain it for its present or other future town use. Another re- commendation will result in a report in the near future, relative to the possibility of constructing needed new facilities consistent with the Town's fiscal situation.


POLICE DEPARTMENT


Our police organization has continued its fine work, and in the area of traffic safety, received during the year another annual award for its pedestrian safety record in 1956.


Chief Wall and his department also performed invaluable service in assisting the Citizens' Traffic Safety Committee and the Massachusetts Safety Council in preparing their report and recommendations referred to below.


Continuing the practice of sending men to the State Police School for special training and courses, Harold J. Keating, who graduated May 2, 1957, and Joseph P. Ryan, who graduated October 30, 1957, attended this year.


TRAFFIC AND DRIVING PROBLEMS


The special attention given to this matter during the past two years by the Selectmen has resulted in a detailed and constructive report from the Massachusetts Safety Council, based on Police Department records and a study by our Citizens' Traffic Safety Committee.


The Board of Selectmen adopted virtually all of the program recommended, and as a result, Swampscott has been commended by the Safety Council as the Massachu- setts municipality which has given the most complete cooperation they have received in this vital field. Many evidences of the changes to be made will be visible in 1958 when State agencies give final approval of the new regulations and physical changes.


As a result of a tragic bus accident during the year, changes relative to bus stops and procedures have been effected in the Monument and other areas.


There will be an article in the 1958 warrant, calling for the establishment of a permanent Traffic Safety Committee to give the Town an official body to continue this important work.


STREET LIGHTING


In a field related to traffic safety and the protection of lives and property, the Board continued its improvement of the Town's street lighting system.


10


1957 Annual Report


Burrill Street and Humphrey Street, from Lynn to Marblehead, have new lights in operation, and the Board has authorized work on the replacement of lights on Paradise Road with modern equipment.


These major projects are over and above the lighting of new streets and the correction of local situations.


As an indication of the success of this program, an article appeared in the local press during the year, complimenting Swampscott in its handling of its street lighting.


STREETS AND SIDEWALKS


As a basis for a long range program proposed jointly by the Boards of Selectmen and Public Works, the Public Works Department is preparing a list of all streets and sidewalks to be arranged in order of priority by age, use, and condition.


It is proposed to put all streets and sidewalks in good condition according to an orderly annual program, selecting top priority streets for work in each precinct each year.


If followed, this approach will introduce a systematic and logical basis for future street and sidewalk work.


GROUP INSURANCE


Following a review of the general insurance setup, coverages have been main- tained consistent with present replacement values.


Improvements have been made in our Group Insurance program and sub- stantial dividends have been received as a result of an excellent record among our employees.


Advisory committees have been maintained to assist the Selectmen in over- seeing these programs.


STUDIES OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES


In its continued belief that the tax rate calls for unrelenting special effort and attention, the Selectmen retained the two committees set up in 1956 to study the income and outgo situations.


The Economy Planning Committee, which studied government operations with a view to possible economies, has made several recommendations, the most important of which called for a professional study by municipal consultants to point the way for increased efficiency and cost reductions in town affairs. An article in the 1958 warrant embodies this recommendation.


The Tax Revenue Study Committee, seeking means of improving the Town's income picture, has offered a program of physical and fiscal improvement through a surplus-deficit community resources study, cost reducing changes in the subdivision regulations, and zoning requirements, which, if accepted, should go a long way to resolving some of these problems in the years ahead. These, too, will be considered by the 1958 Annual Town Meeting.


Studies will continue meanwhile to be sure land use is in the best overall interest of the town. In this connection, the preservation of open areas for future town use as parks, playgrounds, school sites, etc., is being considered.


We trust these programs will warrant favorable consideration at the town meeting and will be the basis for an improved physical and financial picture in the future.


11


Town of Swampscott


COMMUTER SERVICE


The Selectmen also continued its Boston and Maine Study Committee in the hope that we could effectively register our protests against service cuts and rate increases with the consequent inconveniences to our communities. This committee's report and recommendations were endorsed by the Attorney General of New Hampshire and the Massachusetts Senate Minority Leader. Members of the Board attended hearings on these matters and protests were put in the record.


GENERAL


The Board represented the town at various hearings during the year before various state agencies and elsewhere. We have again been fortunate in having near perfect attendance at regular meetings for the routine business.


The procedure of close cooperation with neighboring communities in matters of mutual concern was continued. The solution of vital problems, such as highways, waste disposal, etc., depends in large part on an extension of this cooperative approach between municipalities.


As noted above, it has been the Board's intention to continue to call on citizens to participate in the study and solution of our common problems. All the public spirited citizens who have helped us and our town by serving on special committees, contributing to the cause of good government, deserve our public thanks. Their names appear elsewhere in the report.


Our gratitude goes also to all officials, department heads, and employees of the Town, and to the many citizens, all of whom have cooperated with us during the year. This assistance and cooperation has made it possible for us to accomplish what we have.


We are fortunate and proud to live in a fine town, but we should keep in mind the common goal of making this an even better town in which to live through continued team work, cooperation, and broader citizen participation, understanding, and interest.


Contributory Retirement System


JOHN G. MCLEARN, Chairman HAROLD R. AUSTIN I. MURRAY ADAMS, Secretary


As of December 31, 1957, assets of the system were $350,794.00, an increase of $40,829.00 over 1956. Pension payments total $37,738.00 compared with $40,489.00 for 1956. This figure includes death benefits to widows whose husbands died as a result of injuries incurred in the line of duty, and which are actually not pensions.


Active members total 164; 1956 163. Pensioners 25 ; 1956, 26.


12


1957 Annual Report


Town Clerk


MALCOLM F. MACLEAN, JR., Town Clerk SPECIAL TOWN MEETING Monday, February 11, 1957


Article 1. To see if the Town will vote to authorize and direct the High School Building Committee to prepare detailed plans and specifications and the cost thereof for the construction of an 800-seat auditorium as an alternative to the 350-seat auditorium for the new High School and appropriate the necessary money thereof or take any action relative thereto.


Petitioned for by Ruth P. Pritchard et al.


Article 2. To appropriate and raise by borrowing or otherwise, under any general or special law which authorizes the Town to raise money by borrowing or otherwise, such sum of money as may be necessary for any or all of the purposes mentioned in the foregoing articles.


Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.


SPECIAL TOWN MEETING Monday, February 11, 1957


The Town Meeting Members were called to order at 8:10 P.M. by the Moderator, Richard B. Johnson. There being no quorum present, it was voted to adjourn to Tuesday, March 26, 1957 at 7:30 P.M.


Attest: Malcolm F. Maclean, Jr. Town Clerk


TOWN WARRANT Monday, March 18, 1957


Article 1. To choose a Moderator for one (1) year. To choose three members of the Board of Selectmen for one (1) year.




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