USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Inaugural address of the mayor, with the annual report of the officers of the city of Quincy for the year 1950 > Part 4
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Supervision was furnished by 110 part-time paid recreation leaders, 11 more than were employed in 1949, working under the over-all direction of the commission. In the absence of a full-time professional director, a post which the city has not seen fit to fill, William Bowyer, Quincy school recreation teacher for several years, again served as part-time supervisor of recreation.
During the year the commission furnished leadership for 33 different playgrounds, with an average daily attendance of 2,513 as against 2,225 for 1949. These attendance figures are gathered by actual count morning and afternoon. The accumu- lated count for the season was 189,915 as against 127,238 for the preceding year.
One recreation building and 17 recreation centers were in operation at times during the year. The total attendance at the recreation centers, opened 27 weeks, was 39,505 as against 36,462 in 1949. Popularity of various sports and pastimes is indicated by the following figures of attendance: girls' softball, 2,542; senior baseball, 3,480; little baseball, 3,444; basketball, 10,329; tennis, 940; track and field, 3,152; arts and crafts, 22,156; organ- ized activities, 117,760; music, 3,690; dramatics, 6,780; dancing, 5,863; club groups, 6,135; bathing beaches, 10,277. The accumu- lated activity participation was 196,568.
During the year the commission spent $46,737.15. This is a cost of only 23 cents per individual for recreation on the basis of current expenses, or a cost of 34 cents if capital outlay is included.
59
Board of Park Commissioners
The board of park commissioners, which has charge of main- tenance of all parks and playgrounds owned by the city, works in close harmony with the recreation commission to provide phy- sical facilities for out door municipal recreational activities. In 1950 the park commissioners made every effort to use all areas and facilities wisely and to the best advantage of citizens while keepng within the budgetary appropriations.
Again the park board had to contend with vandalism another year. J. Ernest Collins, chairman, pointed out that the wanton damage or destruction of park property simply means repairs and replacements which in turn means that money which could well be used for other purposes has to be spent unnecessarily.
Keen interest evinced in softball during the year revealed that the 12 diamonds available for this fine sport were insuf- ficient to meet the demands. Facilities for regulation baseball were also used to the limit during the playing season. Under the direction of Foreman Harry T. Boyd all playing fields were main- tained in excellent condition. In fact, football players and man- agers reported frequently that the gridiron at the Municipal Stadium was the best playing field they had seen in the state.
Six municipal beaches, Avalon, Mound Street, Bakers, Perry, Heron Road and Rock Island Cove, were maintained during the swimming season by the board. Maintenance was also provided for 24 tennis courts. Most popular were those at Faxon Field, Squantum and Fenno street.
Many tennis courts built under W.P.A. more than a decade ago are sinking and beginning to crack, and must be rebuilt in a short time, the commissioners pointed out in their annual report to the city manager.
The commissioners also maintained the bowling green at Merrymount park, and skating rinks at Stoney Brae, Sailors Home, Manet Lake, the Meadows and at Squantum.
With the funds at its disposal the commission was able to effect a number of improvements during 1950. These included : basketball backboards and nets at both the Washington school and Perkins field; fill at Heron road to start a new play area; relocation of softball diamonds at Fore River and LaBrecque playgrounds; repainting garage and workshop at Upper Merry- mount park; repainting concessions building and pavilion at Pag- eant Field; and various improvements at Faxon Park.
60
Department of Civil Defense
The outbreak of hostilities in Korea was followed on July 20, 1950, by the passage of legislation in Massachusetts establish- ing the Civil Defense Agency, requiring that each community set up a civil defense organization.
Pursuant to the Act, the city manager appointed Judge James A. Mulhall as director of civil defense in Quincy. The director immediately appointed an advisory council of three members to act as a policy making body. This council consisted of Gerald Hurley, G. Prescott Low and Mrs. George W. Nightingale.
On August 20, Judge Mulhall named Thomas F. Macdonald as assistant director. Thereafter the new city department was organized along the lines of the so-called Cambridge Plan, which was adopted by most cities in the Commonwealth.
The auxiliary police was the first unit activated under the new city department, and Captain William Ferrazzi was named as liaison officer. Subsequently Deputy Chief James Daley was named to assist in the training of the auxiliary fire force; and other groups were organized. Edgar G. Lehmann was named deputy director in charge of police services, and J. Brooks Keyes was named deputy director in charge of fire services.
During November other division heads were appointed as follows: H. Kenneth Hudson, communications; Dr. Richard M. Ash, medical aid and health; Dr. Rowland S. Bevans, atomic war- fare, with James A. Pennypacker as administrative assistant ; Charles R. Herbert, public utilities; Anthony J. Venna, evacua- tion, housing, feeding, civilian war aid; George F. O'Brien, legal division ; Miss Virginia Curtin, administrative division; Ernest W. Ricker, records and supply.
On December 20, the state civil defense agency divided the Commonwealth in nine regions; and Quincy was placed in Region Five, the director of which was Mayor John B. Hynes of Boston.
On the same date the Quincy city manager detached three city officials from their regular duties and assigned them to a civil defense advisory council under the direction of Arthur I. Burgess, city solictor. They were Deputy Chief Robert Fenby of the fire department; Captain William Ferrazzi of the police de .. partment, and James P. Donovan, superintendent of the water department.
By the end of the year the various division heads were be- ginning to recruit volunteers for their respective organizations. As yet there was no federal civil defense agency, and the Quincy department was organizing under general instructions from the state department.
61
City License Commission
The board of license commissioners is composed of the fire chief, police chief, city clerk, commissioner of health and the build- ing inspector.
It has supervision, under the state law, of issuing licenses of various types. It may, after due legal procedure, suspend or revoke licenses for violations of various sorts.
Money collected for licenses issued by the board go into the general city funds. During 1950 these licenses brought $80,550.50 into the city treasurer.
Income from Licenses in 1950
Type of License
Common victualler
Amount Collected $ 900.00 730.00
Lord's Day
Garages, gas, repair shops, alcohol, inflammables
3,357.50
Motors and parking spaces
1,915.00
Amusements, public halls
440.00
Secondhand and junk shops
350.00
Bowling, billards, pool
1,820.00
Liquor
70,300.00
Miscellaneous
748.00
Less refund
10.00
Total net
$80,560.50
$80,550.50
62
Retirement Board
The Quincy Retirement board supervises the retirement and pensioning of municipal employees who are members of the two contributory retirement systems operating for their benefit.
The so-called Quincy retirement system, in which the em- ployees contribute four percent of their pay, was established in 1935, and is the smaller of the two. The so-called State-Quincy retirement system, which was installed in 1946, calls for a five percent contribution from employees. In each system the city matches the amount contributed by members.
The membership in the Quincy Retirement system dropped during the year from 186 to 173 through resignations or trans- fers of active employees; while membership of pensioners re- mained at 24 with one death and one retirement. The number of dependent beneficiaries of deceased members remained at two.
The balance sheet of this system at the end of the year re- corded : investments, $181,490.89; accrued interest, $1,732.90, and cash, $1,035.37, for a total of $184,259.16.
The much larger State-Quincy retirement system began the year with 1,022 active members; enrolled 176 during the year and lost 143 by death, withdrawal, retirement or transfer. The inactive membership rose from 53 to 69 during the year. The total active and inactive membership at the close of 1950 was 1,124.
As the year closed this system had total assets of $841,912.84. These assets included : investments, $783,985.10; Savings Bank deposit, $35,000; cash, $17,433.11; accrued interest, $5,494.63.
63
Department of Building Inspection
The estimated cost of construction for which permits were issued by the Quincy department of building inspection during 1950 was $3,952,753.
Construction by wards was as follows: Ward 1, $749,574; Ward 2, $391,125; Ward 3, $280,921; Ward 4, $708,470; Ward 5, $990,092; Ward 6, $832,571.
The following table gives a detailed picture of building opera- tions in Quincy for which permits were issued during the year :
Permits
Type
Estimated Cos:
290
One family dwellings
$2,057,700
6
Two family dwellings
44,850
Four family dwellings
33,000
15
Mercantile
212,700
1
Manufacturing
123.000
9
Storage
11,750
242
Garages
153,475
846
Residential alterations
503,141
141
Other alterations
583,536
32
Removals
8,660
2
Elevators
5,300
22
Signs
11,441
14
Miscellaneous
204,200
Total
$3,952,753
During the year the building department collected $10,700 in fees.
Building permits issued in 1950 provided for 310 additional living units from new construction and 48 units from alterations to existing structures.
The Board of Appeal for building rendered decisions on 13 applications. Of these nine were granted, four were denied and one was pending at the end of the year.
The Board of Appeals for Zoning rendered decisions on 20 applications, of which 15 were granted and five denied.
64
Sealer of Weights and Measures
Quincy maintains a department of weights and measures in an effort to guarantee fair play in business. The sealer, of course, has no say as to the quality of goods sold or the price paid, but he is the umpire in questions as to whether or not the buyer gets the amount of goods paid for.
It is the function of the sealer to protect both vendor and buy- er by maintaining the accuracy of the measuring devices. In rare instances inaccuracy in the measurement of goods conveyed is the result of fraudulent intent. Very frequently short or long measurement results from a mechanical defect in the measuring device unknown to either party. Usually such inaccuracies devel- op in scales as a result of their complicated mechanical construc- tion ; the yard stick and the gallon container. however, are less inclined to get out of order.
Frequent checking of measuring devices by the sealer of weights and measures protects both the buying public and the vendors from unfair measurement, intended or otherwise.
During the year the department made 3,354 reweighings. of which 2,444 were found correct, 608 underweight and 302 over- weight.
Commodities
Tested
Correct 652
Under 137
Over
Bread
853
64
Butter
157
109
48
0
Coal, in bags
25
22
3
0
Coal, in transit
19
2
2
15
Confectionery
101
89
0
12
Dry Commodities
34
34
0
0
Flour
45
31
14
0
Fruit, vegetables
592
431
115
46
Lard
22
22
0
0
Liquid commodities
55
47
0
8
Meats, provisions
1155
879
229
47
Potatoes
296
126
60
110
Totals
3354
2444
608
302
65
Sealer of Weights and Measures (cont.)
During the year the department collected fees of $3,416.20; including $2,698.30 in sealing fees. $32.90 in adjusting charges and $685 from peddlers and hawkers.
A total of 1,339 scales were sealed, 64 adjusted and 116 con- demned. Some 2,661 weights were sealed, 39 adjusted and only 3 condemned. A total of 405 capacity measures were sealed and 48 condemned. Following tests, 778 automatic measuring devices were sealed, 32 adjusted and 49 condemned. In testing linear measures, 169 yardsticks were approved and 23 were condemned.
Out of a total of 6,230 checks made, only 239 measuring or weighing devices were condemned while 5,352 were sealed, or ap- proved, and 135 adjusted.
During the year the department made 13,881 inspections. Only two court actions were brought, one resulting in an acquittal and the other in a $50 fine.
Department of Wire Inspection
The division of wire inspection consisting of only an in- spector and a clerk, is one of the smallest municipal departments with respect to personnel, but its efficient operation is of vital importance to the inhabitants of Quincy. Electricity, like fire, is a useful servant, but it must be kept under rigid control, or it may become a menace to life and property. It is the duty to this department to keep electricity properly channeled.
During 1950 the department issued permits for the wiring of 301 new dwellings, including 199 one-family houses, one two- family house and 101 four-family houses. Permits were also issued for wiring 10 garages, two mercantile buildings and 16 miscellaneous other new structures.
Permits issued for additional wiring of old buildings were as follows: 854 one-family houses, 588 two-family houses, 13 three-family houses, 48 four-family houses, 252 mercantile build- ings, 12 manufacturing buildings, 43 garages and 148 miscellan- eous structures.
The issuance of a total of 2,574 permits brought in fees of $5,833.37.
New wiring was installed in 79 dwellings and 34 other struc- tures. Permanent wiring for appliances included 1,302 oil burn- ers, 268 electric ranges, 4 refrigerators, 49 hot water heaters, 10 stokers and 11 gas burners.
66
State Election
November 7, 1950
Quincy registered vote-45,186 Quincy total vote cast-34,606 QUINCY VOTE FOR REPRESENTATIVE 13th Congressional District
* Richard B. Wigglesworth, Republican 21,402
David J. Concannon, Democrat 11,971
William R. Ferry, Prohibition 187
QUINCY VOTE FOR GOVERNOR
:* Paul A. Dever, Democrat 16,895
Arthur W. Coolidge, Republican
16,977
Mark R. Shaw, Prohibition * Elected
80
The Democratic party elected all of its candidates on the state ticket. Elected were: Charles F. Jeff Sullivan, lieutenant gov- ernor; Edward J. Cronin, secretary; John E. Hurley, treasurer ; Thomas J. Buckley, auditor; and Francis E. Kelly, attorney gen- eral.
Clayton L. Havey, Republican, was elected to the executive council from the Second District, which includes Quincy.
Charles W. Hedges, Republican, was elected state senator from the First Norfolk district, which includes Quincy.
Clifton H. Baker, Alfred B. Keith and Carter Lee, all Re- publicans, were elected representatives from the First Norfolk District, which includes Wards 3, 4, 5 and 6 of Quincy.
William W. Jenness, Republican, was elected to represent the Second Norfolk district, which includes Ward 1 of Quincy.
John L. Gallant, Raymond P. Palmer and Albert E. Roberts, all Republicans, were elected representatives from the Third Nor- folk District, which includes Ward 2 of Quincy and the towns of Weymouth and Braintree.
Data on Quincy Dogs
The City of Quincy employes a dog officer and maintains a pound to enforce the various laws and ordinances pertaining to canines. In addition to his enforcement duties with respect to owners, the officer befriends stray and homeless dogs, both in an official and in an unofficial capacity.
During 1950, D. Francis Sweeney, the Quincy dog officer, picked up 257 dogs. Of these only 185 were disposed of by killing. Homes were found by Mr. Sweeney for 44 dogs, and 26 lost dogs were returned to their owners.
He found it necessary to bring only four owners into court for violations. Two were fined five dollars each; and the cases of two were placed on file.
67
Quincy Housing Authority
The Quincy Housing Authority, created by the city under state laws, is a separate legal entity which has supervision over all public housing. It consists of five unpaid members, one ap- pointed by the state and the others appointed by the mayor, or, now by the city manager.
Its members are Louis A. George, chairman; J. Girard White, vice chairman; Matthew Cushing, treasurer; Lawrence A. Foley. assistant treasurer; and Rev. Victor V. Sawyer. The salaried executive director is Frank C. Hendry.
The Authority has under its supervision three projects in active operation, and a fourth that has been authorized and was well advanced in the planning stage as the year ends.
In active operation are: One, the so-called temporary pro- iect on Pond street and Cleverly court, 144 units; Westacres in West Quincy, 36 units; and Snug Harbor in Germantown, 400 units. Authorized and now in the planning stage is Riverview, also in Germantown, 180 units.
The temporary project includes 12 buildings of the barrack type, each containing 12 apartments. Title in these buildings, set up here by the federal government, was relinquished by the federal government to the city through the Housing Authority on January 31, 1950.
Operations for the period of February 1 to December 31 re- reflected a net surplus of $18,472.15, which was turned over to the city. Due to the type of construction and the age of these buildings. the Authority pointed out, maintenance and upkeep will be rather heavy in the future. The exterior of all 12 buildings were re- painted in 1950.
By the end of the year 50 percent of the veterans and their families who were living in these temporary units on the first of the year had moved to Snug Harbor, and the apartments they had vacated were filled by other veterans' families.
The 36 permanent units at Westacres, constructed under Chapter 372 of the state law, were completed in November, 1948. They are rented to veterans at $50 a month. The year of 1950 reflected a net surplus of $16744.98, which was turned over to the city, which had built the project with a bond issue.
68
Quincy Houses Its Veterans
FOUR FAMILY UNIT AT WESTACRES
Occupancy turn-over at Westacres was low, with an occu- pancy rental during the year of 99.42 percent. Upkeep and main- tenance costs were low. The Authority points out that within two or three years it will be necessary to repaint all exteriors and some interiors.
The Snug Harbor project, erected with state aid in accord- ance with Chapter 200 was 99.5 per cent complete at the end of 1950, the uncompleted portion consisting merely of some road building, curb installation and landscaping.
First of the seven zones was open for occupancy on August 15, and by the end of the year all zones were completed and 381 families had moved in.
Rentals are based in accordance with the income and size of the family. A small family, consisting of less than three minor dependants, pays 19 percent of the veteran's income. The maxi- mum income for admission for a small family is $3,650; and this income can increase for continued occupancy until it reaches $3900. A large family, consisting of three or more minor depend- ents, pays 15 percent of the veteran's income as rent. The maxi- mum income for admission of a large family is $3,950; this may increase to a maximum of $4,200 for continued occupancy.
Snug Harbor, built on the site of the old sailor's home bear- ing that name, consists of 100 frame houses, each containing four dwelling units. Apartments are of three sizes: 220 are two-bed- room units; 160 are three-bedroom units, and 20 are four-bed- room units.
Snug Harbor is not subject to municipal taxation; but the Housing Authority pays the city five percent of the rentals in lieu of taxes.
The fourth public housing project in Quincy is the River- view development, to be built with federal aid through the Public Housing administration. It will contain 45 family buildings, generally similiar to the houses in Snug Harbor, and it will be built on a site adjacent to the latter. Edward J. Shields, architect who designed both Westacres and Snug Harbor was retained to design plans for Riverview, and it was expected that the contract for construction would be let in the Spring of 1951.
Riverview will be the first public housing project in Quincy in which non-veterans are eligible as tenants. However, veterans will be given the priority and officials of the Housing Authority are of the opinion that there will be a sufficient number of quali- fied veterans seeking admission to fill the project. There will be a ceiling on income for those eligible to admission.
Completion of Riverview will give Quincy 760 single-family units of public housing, of which 144 are temporary units slated for demolition within a comparatively few years.
71
Quincy Takes Care of Its Sons Who Fought
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小林
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PART
OF 400
FAMILY
SNUG
HARBOR
PROJECT
FINANCIAL SECTION
Annual Reports for the year 1950
CITY TREASURER COLLECTOR OF TAXES BOARD OF ASSESSORS CITY AUDITOR
1950 ANNUAL REPORTS
Treasurer's Department
TREASURER SMALL TRUST FUNDS PERPETUAL CARE FUND WOODWARD FUND ADAMS TEMPLE AND SCHOOL FUND CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS FUND RETIREMENT SYSTEM
Treasurer's Statement
RECEIPTS
Cash on Hand-January 1, 1950
$1,454,843.34
General Revenue
Taxes 1950
6,330,372.85
Taxes Previous Years
282,690.28
Taxes-Motor Excise
459,310.96
Tax Titles Held by City-Redeemed
60,366.73
Licenses
87,390.50
Permits
3,349.00
Court Fines
3,303.17
Grants and Gifts (Dog Licenses)
4,401.78
State of Massachusetts
1,037,830.94
Special Assessments
Sewer Assessments
6,254.13
Sidewalks
28.59
Street Betterment
60,063.91
General Government
Tax Collector and Treasurer-Cost
3,695.03
City Clerk
9,627.00
Police Department
313.20
Fire Department
101.49
Sealer Weights and Measures
2,731.20
Building Inspector
10,700.00
Engineering
117.80
Wire Inspector
5,833.37
Gypsy Moth
222.50
Board of Health-Contagious Diseases Contagious Diseases-T. B.
26,446.64
Plumbing Inspector
6,425.00
Milk Licenses
222.00
Scavenger
816.00
Garbage Disposal
11,840.00
Highways
1,643.73
Highways-Trimming Trees-Quincy Elec. Light
4,939.26
Welfare Department
132,516.04
Welfare-Old Age Assistance
490,678.44
O.A.A. Federal Grant
511,695.67
Dependent Children Federal Grant
79,187.35
Veterans' Benefits
59,923.26
Hospital Department
988,836.30
School Department
8,072.27
Trade School Receipts
401.30
School Accounts Receipts
22,511.44
Smith Hughes and Deen Funds
6,021.37
Library Fines, Etc.
5,585.47
Particular Sewer Receipts (Treasurer)
27,306.19
Miscellaneous City
14,845.81
Departmental Refund Account
15,875.70
Sale of Tax Possessions
6,122.00
Income from Tax Possessed Property
488.00
77
4,428.25
Public Services Water Rates 1950 Water Rates Prior Water Liens-Tax Collector Water Service Connections
406,544.31 7,952.68 15,058.19
37,199.57
Cemetery
48,738.83
Interest
Tax Collector-Taxes and Assessments
14,743.27
City Treasurer-On Tax Titles
2,021.41
Perpetual Care Fund
12,401.58
Other Trust Accounts
757.93
Accrued Interest on Bonds
1,780.56
Premium on Bond Sale
4,770.35
Municipal Indeptedness
Temporary Loans-1950
2,750,000.00
General Loans
1,075.000.00
Agency Trust and Deposits
City Clerk-Dog Licenses (County)
6,746.80
City Clerk-Hunters' Licenses (State)
4,304.50
Perpetual Care Fund
19,925.00
Other Trust Funds
9,167.62
Deposits-Scavenger
1,275.00
Particular Sewer
27,160.00
Water
7,525.00
Tax Possessed Property
1,513.41
Withholding Tax
506,895.37
Parking Meters
78,495.97
Westacres Surplus
53,850.02
Construction School Projects-State
11,800.74
Quincy Housing Authority
540.00
Quincy Housing Authority-In Lieu Taxes
3,602.20
Quincy Housing Authority-Cleverly Court and Pond Village- Surplus
18,472.15
Rebuilding-Chapter No. 90
30,973.30
Quincy Health Center
110,992.11
Quincy School Athletic Fund
17,815.95
Special School Lunch Account
45,788.03
TOTAL
$17,584,187.11
PAYMENTS
Paid out on Manager's Warrants 1950
15,840,750.90
Cash on Hand
1,743,436.21
TOTAL
$17,584,187.11
Cash on Hand January 1, 1950
1,454,843.34
Cash Receipts 1950
16,129,343.77
Cash Payments 1950
15,840,750.90
Cash on Hand December 31, 1950
1,743,436.21
MILDRED L. TYLER, City Treasurer
78
ROCK ISLAND FUND
FUND-Quincy Savings Bank
Unexpended Income January 1, 1950
$143.17
Interest receipts 1950
20.10
Expended by School Department
45.55
Balance on hand December 29, 1950
$117.72
C. C. JOHNSON TURKEY FUND
FUND-Quincy Savings Bank
$2,000.00
Interest receipts-1950
$40.20
Credited to Welfare Department
40.20
CHARLES E. FRENCH FUND
FUND-Quincy Savings Bank
$3,000.00
Interest receipts-1950
$60.30
Credited to Burial Department
60.30
GEORGE PIERCE FUND-PERPETUAL CARE FUND LOT 252
FUND-Quincy Savings Bank
$200.00
Unexpended Income January 1, 1950
$28.73
Interest receipts-1950
4.02
32.75
Expended 1950
4.00
Balance on hand December 29, 1950 $28.75
C. C. JOHNSON FUND-PERPETUAL CARE FUND LOT 945
FUND-Quincy Savings Bank
$150.00
Interest receipts-1950
$3.01
Credited to Burial Department
3.01
MARY WILLSON TUCKER FUND-PERPETUAL CARE LOT 679 FUND-Quincy Savings Bank
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