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WAMPSCOTT PUBLIC LIBRARY
ILICE 5000 ISION MICH SCHOOL
200 /400
1959 ANNUAL REPORT
Town of SWAMPSCOTT
Cover Photo by Robert G. Byrne, Jr.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013
http://archive.org/details/annualreport1959swam
Printed By Weed Publishers Inc. Marblehead, Mass.
SETTLE
ED A.D. 1629.
INCORPORATED
O
T. A. D. 1852.
DAS
AP
SWA
Town of Swampscott Massachusetts
1959
ANNUAL REPORT
Town of Swampscott
Index
Accounting Department 85
Appeals, Board of 71
Assessors, Board of 69
Balance Sheet
94
Building Code Advisory Board
69
Building Inspector
83
Civil Defense, Department of .
85
Contributory Retirement System
100
Dog Officer
59
Election Commissioners,
of
Board
29
Fire Department
57
Forest Warden
13
Hadley School Building Committee
72
Health, Board of
82
Housing Authority
63
Information, General 111
In Memoriam 84
Jury List 103
Personnel Board 101
Planning Board
81
Police Department 60
Post Office Committee
59
Public Library 70
Public Welfare, Board of 98
Wires, Inspector of
69
World War II Memorial Fund 100
Town Officers-1959
ELECTED
MODERATOR SELECTMEN Donald E. Costin
COLLECTOR OF TAXES
TOWN CLERK
TOWN TREASURER
ASSESSORS Ernest Manchin, 1960
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Roger A. Williams, Jr., 1960, Chairman
SCHOOL COMMITTE Lillian I. White, 1960 George A. Chadwell, 1960 William H. Rothwell, 2nd, 1961
Richard B. Johnson
George B. Thomson, Chairman Vincent P. O'Brien Daniel W. Wormwood, Jr., 1962
Daniel W. Wormwood, Jr., 1961 Robert G. Byrne, 1962
Anthony F. Pierre, 1961, Chairman Thomas F. Collins, 1962, Secretary
Alfred N. Frazier, 1961 Francis N. Lang, 1962
Theodore C. Sargent, 1962, Chairman Walter H. Forbes, Jr., 1962
73
Superintendent of Schools,
Report of
74
Pupils Enrolled 81
Selectmen, Board of 11
Taxes, Collector of 67
Town Clerk, Records of 14
Town Warrant, March 24, 1959 14
Annual Town Meeting, March 24, 1959 34
Adjourned Annual Town Meeting, April 1, 1959
46
Town Counsel 106
Town Meeting Members 8
Town Officers Appointed
5
Town Officers Elected
4
Town Telephone Numbers 112
Traffic Committee 106
Treasurer's Report 97
Veterans' Services, Depart- ment of 58
Weights and Measures, Sealer of 59
Where Money Came From 86
Where Money Went 88
Public Works, Board of 51
School Department
4
1959 Annual Report
TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY Ruth M. Barry, 1960, Secretary
George W. Howe, 1961, Chairman Andrew R. Linscott, 1962
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE Norbert A. Ulman, 1960, Chairman
Paul C. Curtis, 1961 Richard Chambers, 1962
BOARD OF HEALTH Dr. Edward L. Cashman, Jr., 1960
E. Wallace Donald, 1961, Chairman Dr. Robert H. Bessom, 1962
CONSTABLES Joseph P. Ryan
Leonard H. Bates Wayne Anderson
PLANNING BOARD
Alexander B. Way, Jr., 1960 John F. Milo, 1961
Harold M. King, 1963, Chairman Ralph L. Williams, 1964
Sherman Lippa, 1961 Harold R. Austin, 1962
SWAMPSCOTT HOUSING AUTHORITY Thomas W. Duncan, 1960
John A. Massey, 1963, Treasurer David F. Doherty, 1961, Vice Chair. Leonard H. Bates, Jr., 1964, Chair. Austin D. Mosco, Executive Director Martin C. Goldman (State Appointee), 1961, Assistant Treasurer
APPOINTED BY SELECTMEN
SECRETARY OF SELECTMEN TOWN COUNSEL
TOWN ACCOUNTANT
DIRECTOR OF CIVIL DEFENSE
BUILDING INSPECTOR
ASSISTANT BUILDING INSPECTOR
CUSTODIAN OF ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
ASSISTANT CUSTODIANS
Richard A. Wales Richard Coughlin I. Murray Adams Forest E. Mason, Jr. Raymond O. Doane Lawson H. O'Brien John G. McLearn Leonard H. Bates John Cameron
CONSTABLE TO POST WARRANTS AND OTHER SIMILAR WORK
DOG OFFICER FENCE VIEWERS
FOREST WARDEN HARBORMASTER
ASSISTANT HARBORMASTER
INSPECTOR OF WIRES
MEASURER OF LUMBER
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
SHELLFISH CONSTABLES
Leonard H. Bates John J. Mattera Raymond O. Doane George H. Melcher Walter M. Champion, Jr. George F. Boston Thomas E. Andresen Fred Sargent Harold O. Durgin George A. Holt, Sr. Stanley G. Potier Joseph C. Cardillo Raymond O. Doane
SMOKE INSPECTOR
DIRECTOR OF VETERANS' SERVICES AND BURIAL AGENT
CHIEF OF POLICE AND KEEPER OF LOCKUP WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION AGENT Paul C. Stevens ***
Robert M. Leonard Francis P. Wall Douglas F. Allen
*Deceased Moved *** Resigned
5
James R. Maddock, 1962, Secretary COMMISSIONERS OF TRUST FUNDS Sidney Epstein, 1960
Town of Swampscott
BOARD OF APPEALS Eustis Grimes, 1960 T. Paul Corcoran, Jr., 1961
C. Glover Bowes, 1962, Chairman Warren C. Hutchins, Associate Member BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS Donald L. Sawyer, 1960 Frederick R. Champion, 1962, Chairman Theodore S. Whitehouse, 1963 Dorothy M. Collins, 1961 BUILDING CODE ADVISORY BOARD Edward Weinshanker, 1960 Edwin A. Fuller, 1961
Donald C. Goss, 1962, Chairman John F. Mijo, 1963 Raymond O. Doane
CITIZENS' TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Ralph Maxwell, 1960 Maxwell Field, 1960
Thomas C. Barrett, 1960 *** Philip H. Kitfield, 1961 Arthur L. Burt, 1961
Dr. Charles E. Donovan, 1961, Chairman Richard P. Symmes, 1961* Joseph Beck, 1962, Secretary Harold Norton, 1962 Barbara MacGregor, 1962
CONTRIBUTORY RETIREMENT BOARD Harold R. Austin, 1961 Edward P. Carroll, 1962 (elected by employees)
I. Murray Adams, Secretary
COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE OPEN PITS, etc.
E. Wallace Donald, Chairman
Chief Francis P. Wall Chief Walter M. Champion
Raymond O. Doane Roger A. Williams, Jr.
ECONOMY PLANNING COMMITTEE Robert C. Hunt R. W. Hubbs Donald Sullivan Richard Breed, Jr.
Gardner S. Lamson Samuel Freedman Edward Weinshanker Harold M. King
FIRE STATION STUDY COMMITTEE George J. Burke, Chairman
John S. Humphrey Felix Marino
FISHERMAN'S MONUMENT COMMITTEE
Harvey L. Southward Frederick Bogardus John Boston Harry Cahoon
Stuart Ellis Clyde S. Emery Walter Kehoe Albert D. Stone
FOURTH OF JULY COMMITTEE Michael M. Ingalls, Chairman
Edward F. Flynn, Jr.
Antonio Parletta
Frederick C. Burk
Francis P. Wall, Chief of Police Walter M. Champion, Jr. Fire Chief Daniel W. Wormwood, Jr. Michael Palleschi Michael S. Pagnotta
Lawrence O. Witter
HARBOR COMMITTEE John J. Foley, Chairman
Cedric L. Arnold Paul A. Polisson Joseph A. Cardillo
Louis J. Williams John Marino Mrs. Phyllis M. Blanchette
INSURANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE-General Insurance Richard P. Breed, Jr. Daniel W. Wormwood
Felix E. Dine Martin Sylvester
INSURANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE-Group Insurance Harold Willett William H. Rothwell, 2nd
Edward F. Flynn, Jr. Joseph C. Cardillo John G. McLearn
MEMORIAL DAY COMMITTEE Harry M. Shanahan ***
Edward J. Corbett
*Deceased ** Moved ** Resigned
6
1959 Annual Report
Jack Ralph Donald Stinson Armond Leone
John H. Cropley, Jr. George E. Hutchinson
RAILROAD COMMUTER STUDY COMMITTEE Dr. Howell E. Estey, Chairman Samuel Freedman Nelson J. Darling, Jr.
Edward K. Hempel Ervin D. Remick
TAX REVENUE STUDY COMMITTEE
Thomas C. Barrett John Cameron Ralph L. Dennis John P. Drislane Harrison J. Lesses
George Boston William K. Cobbett John Der Bogosian Loring R. Frazier Austin Mosco J. Campbell Deveney
TAX TITLE COMMITTEE Harold M. King, Chairman Richard Coughlin
Robert G. Byrne
TRUSTEES OF WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL FUND Philip H. Stafford, 1960
John R. Cooper, 1960
Benjamin Goldberg, 1961
Richard B. Johnson, 1961
Ernest Manchin, 1962 Clement Kennedy, 1962 David F. Doherty, 1962
VETERANS' DAY COMMITTEE Austin Mosco Donald J. Stinson Armand Leone
Mrs. Howard M. Vatcher Mrs. Harvey Beadle
WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL COMMITTEE
Thomas E. Burke, Jr.
Douglas F. Allen
John Palmer Ingalls, Jr. Sydney Parlow Roger A. Williams, Jr.
APPOINTED BY SELECTMEN AND MODERATOR
CENTRAL FIRE STATION BUILDING COMMITTEE
J. Dane Chandler George J. Burke, Chairman
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE
Raymond E. Werner
Walter H. Forbes, Jr. Chairman Howell E. Estey
PENSIONS COMMITTEE Gerald H. Pashby Jacob Shactman, Chairman Martin P. Sylvester
Frank G. Williams, Jr. Secretary Mary A. Clapp
PERSONNEL BOARD M. Stanley Metz, 1962 Austin Mosco, 1962 *** John G. McLearn, 1962
Robert L. Yasi, 1960 Frederick N. Balsor, 1961 Captain Warren J. Doherty, 1961
APPOINTED BY MODERATOR
COMMITTEE TO STANDARDIZE BUDGETS David F. Doherty Eugene L. Abrams Charles L. Blatchford
Harold R. Austin, Chairman I. Murray Adams;
*Deceased ** Moved * Resigned
7 ,
Chester E. Bond
John Clarke Kane Charles W. Eiseman
Town of Swampscott
COMMITTEE TO STUDY SALARIES OF ELECTED TOWN OFFICIALS Harold P. Willett Charles W. Dwyer COMMITTEE TO STUDY BEACH RIGHTS Anthony F. Pierre Dr. Charles E. Donovan
Spencer E. Olsen
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Harry G. Davis, 1960, Chairman
Howell E. Estey, 1961
Selden D. Hulquist, 1960 Charles M. Ewing, 1960
Richard G. Appell, Jr., 1960, Asso. Chair .*** Henry R. Mayo, Jr., 1960
Lester B. Farwell, 1962 Otto W. Friedman, 1962 Herbert C. Heggie, Sec.
HADLEY SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE Roger G. Skinner, Chairman Thomas Duncan Burt Harding
George Knowlton Lillian White
HADLEY SCHOOL PLAY AREA
George B. Thomson
Bradlee M. Backman
Leon A. Hackett
John F. Milo Harold I. Power
Osmund O. Keiver, Jr., Chairman James E. Hanley John Clarke Kane Marshall Kaplan
MACHON SCHOOL STUDY COMMITTEE
George A. Chadwell
Donald C. Goss Selden D. Hulquist
Michael A. Palleschi Sidney A. Simmons Phillip H. Stafford
POST OFFICE COMMITTEE Theodore C. Cooke, Chairman George B. Thomson Vincent P. O'Brien Edward K. Hempel
Otto Friedman Lewis Athanas Kenneth W. Ulman
*Deceased ** Moved *** Resigned
Town Meeting Members
Adams, I. Murray Balsor, Frederick N.
Balsor, Gertrude P.
Bates, Leonard H.
Bates, Leonard H., Jr.
Berry, Lewis H. Berry, William H.
Bisegna, Reno S. Boyce, Thomas J. Jr. Bradley, Chester E. Bradley, Joseph A.
Cappucio, Mary A. Cassidy, Peter J. Chandler, J. Dane
Cole, Laura M. Corcoran, Lawrence R.
PRECINCT ONE
D'Agnese, Ralph J. Dennehy, Herbert Douglas, Thomas Fiore, Joseph Flynn, Edward F. Jr. Foglietta, Geremia Frazier, Alfred N. Friedman, Lillian T. Friedman, Otto W. Gallo, Bennett ** Gallo, Nicholas Hathaway, C. Frank Hegarty, Robert B. Hinch, William A. Holmes, Andrew B. Jr. Holmgren, Eric A.
Jackson, Ralph H. Johnson, Karl V. Johnson, Kenneth I. LaPlante, John E. Maitland, J. Richard Marble, Chandler E. *Nickerson, Davis A.
*Nickerson, Raymond H. Norton, Harold Promise, George A. Rawding, Richard S. Rodrick, Joseph S. Rodrick, W. L. Jr.
Turner, Carl F.
Ventre, Arthur ** Wade, Ralph W.
8
John J. Foley Norbert Ulman
Bernard L. Baker, 1962
1959 Annual Report
Corcoran, Pauline H. Cropley, John H. Jr.
Holt, George A. Hulquist, Selden D.
Williams, Frank Jr. Snow, Charles E. Jr.
PRECINCT TWO
Frechette, Leo W. Graham, Stuart W. Healy, William S.
Heggie, Herbert C.
Hempel, Edward K.
Janvrin, Philip S. Keating, Harold J. King, Harold M. Klein, Herbert D. Leawood. Cleo Loring, Robert P.
Massey, John A. Mattera, John J.
McCarriston, James D.
Miller, .John B.
Miller, Paul C.
Monahan. John J.
Morley, Pearl D.
O'Shea, John J. Pashby, Gerald H.
Pashby, James E.
Patten, Irvin R.
Pierre, Anthony F.
Polisson. Paul A. Potter, Jean W.
Ranger, Walter L.
Ryan, Joseph P. Stafford, Philip H.
** Stinson, George J. Stone, John Symmes, Richard P.
Ulman, Norbert A. Warnock. Donald J. Watts, John H.
** Whitten, Norman C. Whitten, Philip M.
PRECINCT THREE
Henry, Roger W. Hudson, Harold C. Jordan, Benjamin Kane, John Clarke Kane, Katherine L. Kaplan. Marshall Lally, John J. Lees, Arthur T.
** Losano, Charles J. Losano, Francis A. Losano, Patsy J. MacLean, Walter D. Manchin, Ernest McCarriston. James J. McLearn, John G. Mills, Dorothy W. Mills, Ernest O. Moore, Edward E.
Mosco, Austin D. Myers, Daniel J.
Newcomb, Harvey P. Newcomb. Priscilla O.
Olson. Spencer E. Pedrick, Edna Pedrick, James H.
Scanlon, Margaret M.
Scanlon, William J.
Shanahan. Harry M. Skinner. Roger G.
Smith, George W. Smith, Owen E.
Snow, Arnold L.
Snow, Pearl A. Wales, Richard A.
Witter, Lawrence O.
PRECINCT FOUR
Ackerman. Edward D. Benford, Robert L. Benson, Benjamin M. Bickford. Charles H. Burke, Edward F. Butterworth, Edw. R. Carey, William E. Carroll, Edward P.
Doane, Albert G. Dwyer, Charles W. Earle, Ralph B. Forbes, Walter H. Jr. Frazier, Loring R.
Gould, Vera F. Hanley, James E. Harding, Burt F.
Maddock, James R.
* McDermott, William A. McHugh, Joseph A. Moulton, Wilbur T. Phinney, Harris T.
Place, George J.
Power, Harold I. Robinson, Gordon F.
9
Blair, Frederick C. Blatchford, Charles L. Burns, Laurence Cahill, Thomas J. Carlin, William J. Chadwell, George A. Champion, James E. Champion, Marjorie C. Craig, Harvey A.
Daley, John R.
Doane, Raymond O. Doherty, David F. Ellis, Lyndon W. Emery, Clementine L.
Estey, Howell E. Flynn, Cecelia H. Flynn, Joseph F. ** Frazier, Herbert F. Jr.
Andelman, Ezra Benedetto, Adolph J. Brine, Philip A. Jr. Byrne, Robert G. *Cameron, John Chapman, Charles F. *Chatterton. Alfred F. Devitt, Roland N. Doherty, Warren J. Dow, Howard E. Enholm, Ann V. Enholm, Harold G. Farwell. Lester B. Finch, Clarence M. Gould, Ralph E. Gregory, James A. Hackett, Leon A. Hawkins, V. M. 3rd
Town of Swampscott
Cassidy, Francis J. Champion, W. M. Jr. Coletti, Frank G. W. Coletti, Richard F. Cooper, John R. Coughlin, Richard Curtis, James E. Jr. Curtis, Paul C. Davis, Harry G. Dilk, Joseph W.
Ackermann, Carl A. ** Bailey, Thomas A. Baker, Bernard L. Beckert, William C. Bloch, Edith M. Bloch, Israel Booma, Dorothy M. Booma, Roland C. Bowes, C. Glover *Braccio, Joseph Broadbridge, Leslie L. Buchanan, James W. Buckland, Charles F. Burk, Frederick C. Cardillo, Joseph Collins, Thomas F. Connell, H. Marjorie Costin, Donald E.
Hardy, Carl E.
Howell, George W.
Hussey, Harold G.
Hutchinson, George E. Ingalls, John P. Jr.
** Keiver, Osmund O. Jr. Kraft, Robert W. Leonard, Robert M.
Linscott, Andrew R. Linscott, Harry D.
Sargent, Fred D. Smith, Robert C. Stearns, Willard F. Stoddard, H. A. Jr. Stowell, Frank S. ** Thomson, Davis S. Thomson, George B. Tisdell, John M. Williams, Roger A. Jr. Yasi, Robert L.
PRECINCT FIVE
Costin, John P. Easterbrooks, Vin. B.
Field, Maxwell
Freedman, Myron Fuller, Edwin A.
Grimes, Eustis B.
Grynkraut. John F. Hatfield. Walter V.
Howes, Roger N.
Ingalls, Michael M. Kirkpatrick, F. Martin Lang, Francis N. Lewis, Sidney R. Lippa, Sherman J. Loveday, Edward D. Maitland, Francis H. Maxwell, Ralph S. Mayo, Ralph
Morse, Elihu N. Morse, June Morse, Marion Doen
O'Brien, Vincent P. Pagano, Carl J.
Queena, Anthony J.
Remick, Ervin D. Jr.
Rothwell, Wm. H. 2nd
Santry, James W. Jr. Shactman, Jacob Smith, Samuel Soutter, J. Campbell III Stevenson, Richard D. Symmes, Harold P.
Way, Kathleen Whidden, Donald S.
White, Thomas B. Jr. Willett, Harold P.
PRECINCT SIX
Fitzpatrick, Paul W. Hanson, Josephine E. Harrington, George J. Howe, George W. Ingalls, Robert U. Jacobs, Bertram C. Johnson, Chloe
.Johnson, Harold A. Kimball, Robert F. Lamson, Gardner Lilly, John M. Mayo, Henry R. Jr. McCarty, Jeanne W. McCarty, Wm. H. Jr. McKenney, John S. Myers, Allen Nevils, Thomas Nylander, Arnold L.
O'Neill, Robert F. Powers, Lawrence W. Prichard, William W. Reynolds, Arnold C. Reynolds, Joel W. Rothermel. Albert N. Sargent, Theodore C. Sites, Marjorie C. Stiles, A. Hall, Jr. Stocker, C. H. Jr. Vincent, George F. Wallis, Frank B. White, Kenneth T. White, Lillian I. Whiteacre, Grace C. Whitehouse, Dorothy J. Williams, Ralph L. Williams, Robert I.
Allen, Douglas F. Allison, Dorothy K. Appel, Richard G. Jr. Backman, Bradlee M. *Blake, Richard E. Blodgett, Donald W. Blodgett, John H. Jr. Breed, Dorothy S. Breed, Richard P. Jr. Brennan, Fred S. Carey, Bernard F. Cox, Andrew H. Cox, Constance B. Darling, Nelson J. Jr. Deveney, J. Campbell Donovan, Charles E. Durkee, Donald D. Ewing, Charles M.
** Moved
* Resigned
10
1959 Annual Report
Board of Selectmen
George B. Thomson, Chairman
Donald E. Costin
Vincent P. O'Brien
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
The following report is submitted for your information and consideration.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
High standards of performance in providing alert, efficient fire protection for our citizens were continued by the officers and men throughout 1959. First rate equipment has aided their excellent personal efforts in behalf of the Town.
In 1958, the Town Meeting authorized construction of a new Central Fire Station on the site of the Old Town Hall in accordance with the previous rec- ommendations of the Study Committee appointed by the Board in 1957. This committee had also repaired the old station for use by the Auxiliary Fire De- partment and for other town requirements.
The Building Committee, appointed in 1958 by the Moderator and the Se- lectmen, has the project well under way and 1960 should see its completion within the appropriation from present indications.
Personnel changes included the retirement of Captain Arnold Milberry and his replacement by Captain Thomas Boyce, appointed by the Chief after receiving the highest and an excellent grade on the qualifying Civil Service examination. Boyce was replaced as a Firefighter by Firefighter Robert Don- ahue. Junior N. Clark also was appointed a Firefighter during 1959.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
The officers and men of the Police Department also deserve commenda- tion for their fine work during 1959. Annual traffic increases have added more problems, but the Department has maintained an excellent record which has shown a decline in accidents. The Department again received a safety award.
Department cooperation with our Citizens' Traffic Safety committee and the Massachusetts Safety Council has continued. The Council has called Swampscott's attention to this vital problem second to none in the State since 1956.
First class police vehicles; ambulance, ambulettes, and motorcycles, have been maintained. The Board, in an article, will ask the 1960 Town Meeting for the latest three-way transistor radio setup for the vehicles to replace the out- moded leased equipment in accordance with F.C.C. regulations.
Innovations during the year included new police boxes and floodlights at critical Humphrey Street intersections, new reflecting raincoats for the pro- tection of the men in bad weather and poor visibility, and new white police caps for summer use ..
STREET LIGHTING
The Street Lighting program laid out in 1955 and subsequently praised in the press as it was put into effect during previous years, is now virtually completed. Future action undoubtedly will be taken to up-grade lighting on secondary streets as the need arises.
In 1959 Salem Street, bearing an increasing traffic load, was relighted, the remainder of Puritan Road is scheduled to be done in conjunction with the reconstruction of that street.
STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
The long range priority program of street reconstruction recommended by the Economy Planning in 1957 and sponsored by the Boards of Selectmen and
11
Town of Swampscott
Public Works is under way. All citizens in all sections of town can be there- by better informed as to the scheduling of major and minor repairs to streets and sidewalks. This procedure should prove to be more orderly and economic- al over the years.
INSURANCE
Insurance coverages have been maintained consistent with current re- placement values. Increasing amounts of coverage have been placed with mu- tual companies as an economy measure. The new Junior High School caused an increase in necessary coverage as will the new Central Fire Station to a lesser degree when it is completed.
CONTINUED ATTENTION TO REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES
There was no let-up during 1959 in the Board's attempts to deal with the vexing problem of rising taxes.
Joint meetings with the Finance Committee were held during which all departments were urged to control their spending in behalf of our taxpayers.
It can be expected that, excepting only the School Department, with its own special problems, all town departments have managed to hold the line. Thus the costs of General Government have again remained stable.
The Tax Revenue Study Committee and the Economy Planning Committee were assigned by the Board to the Finance Committee where they will be available for studies in their special areas. The fine personnel of both com- mittees thus remains available to the town. Economies and revenues resulting from zoning and subdivision regulation changes bear testimony to their eff- orts.
As before, we must effect every possible economy on the local level and continue to seek prudent revenue-producing land use changes to reduce the home owner's share of the real estate tax.
PHYSICAL PROGRESS
1959 saw the completion of the largest and most important building pro- ject in the town's history when the Alice C. Shaw Junior High was opened for pupils in September. A building committee, appointed by the Selectmen and the Moderator in 1958, did an outstanding job in completing this fine 750 pupil school in record time to end platooning and overcrowding. Of special importance is the fact that they were able to do so within the appropriation.
Before this report was completed a new Swampscott Post Office was ded- icated and made available to our residents. This building will provide revenue as well as service, and meets another long standing town need. Special credit must go to the capable Chairman of the Post Office Committee, appointed in 1956, Theodore C. Cooke, as well as to Donald Goss, Swampscott Architect, and the popular and experienced Postmaster, Thomas Wilkinson.
The Fire Station will complete the town's major building program, which should meet all needs for the foreseeable future.
1960 should see the addition of a town pier to our new harbor facilities, barring further delays in the State Department concerned with this work.
Private construction should provide a broader tax base in 1960 with the completion of a new hotel and a department store. Further development of the Shopping Center should aid substantially in this balanced program of pro- viding new revenues to offset rising costs.
COMMUTER SERVICE
The Commutor situation, as it affects Swampscott, has not improved, our local committee working on this problem since 1956, has developed logical grounds for maintenance of service and frequently appeared before the D.P.U. with Town Counsel Coughlin. Since convenient transportation affects
12
1959 Annual Report
property values in the town, the Board and the Committee have devoted many hours to this State-wide problem.
It is regrettable to report that the capable and hard-working chairman of this committee, Dr. Howell E. Estey, has had to relinquish this post due to other pressures.
We have completed a most important phase in the transportation prob- lem. The fact that B. & M. Officials were disturbed, Officials of the D. P. U. likewise, and that a Massachusetts Commission has been set up by the Com- monwealth, is largely due to the impact of the work of our committee, through the service of our Town Counsel, Richard Coughlin, upon the whole transpor- tation problem. The need for action in the direction taken by us was also self evident.
An impartial, non-partisan committee, in action, by a community with the reputation of Swampscott; can have a moving and lasting effect upon action taken by the Legislature, and by other means, upon the transportation problem within the Commonwealth.
We have deduced the fact that an extended and revised, overall pattern of Rapid Transit, serving all communities within the Commonwealth, is a vi- tal necessity for their proper existance and Commuter protection.
To achieve this will require action, achieved by conferences, and con- sultations with individuals and finally with the Massachusetts Transport-Com- mission.
GENERAL
Inter-municipal cooperation was continued in 1959, particularly in our efforts to arrange a joint incinerator project to reduce future costs of waste disposal.
Attendance at regular and weekly meetings again was excellent in 1959.
Our sincere thanks go to the citizens and officials who have provided such fine assistance and cooperation during 1959. All have a share in the town's continuing progress.
The high level of interest and participation by many people speaks well for the future improvement of our fine community.
Forest Warden
Walter M. Champion, Jr.
During the year 125 permits were issued for fires in the open air.
13
Town of Swampscott
Town Clerk
Daniel W. Wormwood, Jr., Town Clerk TOWN WARRANT MONDAY, MARCH 16, 1959
Article 1. To choose a Moderator for one (1) year.
To choose three members of the Board of Selectmen for one (1) year.
To choose a Town Treasurer for three (3) years.
To choose a Tax Collector for three (3) years.
To choose one member of the Board of Assessors for three (3) years. To choose one member of the Board of Public Works for three (3) years. To choose two members of the School Committee for three (3) years.
To choose one member of the Board of Trustees of the Public Library for three (3) years.
To choose one member of the Board of Public Welfare for three (3) years.
To choose one member of the Board of Health for three(3) years. To choose three (3) Constables for one (1) year.
To choose one (1) member of the Planning Board for five (5) years.
To choose one member of the Board of Commissioners of Trust Funds for three (3) years.
To choose one (1) member of the Swampscott Housing Authority for five (5) years.
To choose eighteen (18) representative Town Meeting Members in each precinct for three (3) years.
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