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 1953 > Part 4
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At the same time the creation of a new salary administration committee was authorized. Its memt- bership has representatives of both employee groups and management. Its purposes included: (a) to
City of Quincy
46
put the new salary plan into operation; (b) to oversee administration of the plan; (c) to hear appeals; (d) to allocate new positions to proper classifications. The committee considered 172 cases.
The liberalized vacation policy authorized by the Council, which became effective in 1953, grants three weeks vacation for ten years of continuous service, and four weeks for 20 years.
An additional employment function was added to the personnel office with the appointment of the senior clerk-stenographer as Civil Service registrar.
In-service training was given special emphasis during the year, with approximately 125 city cm- ployees participating.
A police sergeant attended a 10-weeks course at the F.B.I. Police School in Washington, to illustrate the type of in-service training given some employees individually. Illustrative of group training was the driver training course sponsored jointly by the Registry of Motor Vehicles. the Massachusetts Highway Safety Association and the Massachusetts Bonding and Insurance Company. The course culminated with a Road-E-O at the city garage on October 24 in which 23 drivers competed for six cups awarded by the Quincy Safety Council.
THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Thomas Crane Public Library increased its total circulation, its total registered borrowers and its total number of volumes in 1953.
Circulation increased from 594,218 in 1952 to 602,314 in 1953. Borrowers increased from 23.305 to 23,854. Volumes increased from 154,355 to 158.945.
An outstanding accomplishment in 1953 was the relocation of the Norfolk Downs Branch in spa- cious, attractive quarters in the old Regent theatre building on Hancock Street. That patrons appreciated this move was attested by a gain in circulation of more than 4,000 books.
Unable to secure quarters in the Sung Harbor area, the library provided service to children during the summer, when school was closed, by setting up an outdoors library service under the trees on the grounds of the Quincy Housing Authority one morning a week. More than 200 books were issued during each week.
The Music Department contributed to the cultural life of the city by organizing orchestral and choral groups, forming a chamber music group and sponsoring a series of lectures on the history of music. Some 23.338 records were loancd.
Other new services during 1953 included a weekly radio program, exhibits by local artists and hobby- ists, installation of a rental collection. and book service to nursing homes. A Great Books Discussion Group was organized, with bi-weekly meetings at the Norfolk Downs branch.
Circulation 1953
Books and Periodicals
Adult
Juvenile Total
Fiction
192.482
162.630
355,112
Non-Fiction
130,732
80.895
211,627
Totals
323,214
243,525
566,739
Pictures
12,237
Records
23,338
Total Circulation
602,314
Books in Library
Number of Volumes, January 1953
154,355
Added in 1953
10,487
Withdrawn in 1953
5,897
Number of Volumes, December 31, 1953
158.945
Borrowers Registered
Total Registered December 31, 1953
23,854
Percentage of Population Registered
28.6
Circulation per Borrower
25.2
Annual Report
47
QUINCY RECREATION COMMISSION
The Quiney Recreation Commission, employing 84 paid part time recreation leaders, operated 34 different playgrounds, 12 indoor recreation centers, 10 regulation and 16 softball diamonds, 9 bathing beaches and 24 tennis courts. Recreation attendance figures were generally increased over the preced- ing year.
Accumulated season attendance, total. jumped from 219,129 in 1952 to 275.773 in 1953. Activities included softball for girls; senior baseball, 13-16 years: Little League baseball, under 12 years: basket- ball, tennis, track and field, arts and crafts, music, dramatics, dancing. club groups, water programs with swimming, rowing, sailing and casting.
Cost per individual for recreation. including capital outlay, was 18 cents plus.
BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS
Quincy's park system is supervised by an unpaid board of three commissioners appointed by the city manager.
The park department maintains 10 regulation baseball diamonds and 14 softball diamonds located in various parts of the city; 7 beaches, 24 tennis courts, 10 parks, five skating areas, one picnic area, two stadia, one bowling green. Routine work includes cleaning, grading, seeding, landscaping, masonry, car- pentry work, painting and construction.
During the year there were 16 days of skating, of which 5 days were rated good, 5 fair and 6 with snow on ice.
Improvements during the year included: shelters built at Heron Road and Columbia playgrounds; painted exterior of Forc River clubhouse; moved building at Avalon Beach to rear of Pageant Field, Merrymount Park, for a boathouse: built new float and cement landing at boathouse; erected fences at Faxon Park, Adams Field, Baker Playground and O'Neil Playground: installed playground equipment and made ballfield at Snug Harbor.
Estimated losses from vandalism were around $500.
OFFICE OF CIVIL DEFENSE
Substantial progress toward the perfection of Quincy's civil defense preparations were made in 1953 when the city installed six 25-horsepower 126-to-128 decibel rating sirens in various locations. They were installed on the Fire Headquarters drill tower, Forbes Hill reservoir, Squantum School, Houghs Neck fire station, West Quincy fire station and Atlantic fire station.
A test conducted shortly after their installation indicated that the city-wide coverage is good, Thomas F. Macdonald, director of Civil Defense, reported. Cost to the City for the sirens was $12,981.
The Auxiliary Police Force numbered approximately 100 men on active duty status at the end of the year. Another group of 100 have had basic civil defense training and could respond in an emer- gency. Auxiliary police officers have been given emergency assignments, and a telephone call system has been deviscd.
The Auxiliary Fire Department has been built around the regular Quincy Fire Department at each of the seven stations. The auxiliaries have been trained by regular firemen; and as part of their training program they were on duty evenings and week-ends with the regular men.
In addition to auxiliary firemen and policemen, the Civil Defense department mans a regular ob- servation post with an active Ground Observer Corps: maintains medical unit centers. equipped with first aid supplies furnished by the federal government, at the Quincy hospital and at seven schools in various sections of the city.
Some 25 amateur radio operators are participating in the communications program of the depart- ment. In addition to radio, the department has a telephone hook-up, serving both city and sector. The communications division of the department received valuable practical experience, and also played an important functional role, in handling and relaying messages during the Worcester hurricane early in June. The department, working in conjunction with the police, fire and public works departments, dis- patched police, firemen, medical supplies and rescue equipment to the disaster area.
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48
On May 7 the department participated in an air raid test; and on May 5, 6 and 7 it conducted a blood typing program in conjunction with the Health Fair at the Quincy Health Center.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' SERVICES
Prolongation of the Korean conflict brought the veteran population of Quincy up to approximately 21,000. During 1953 these residents along with the veterans of other wars and their close of kin made 19,163 requests for assistance of one type or another to the Department of Veterans Services.
During the year 5354 requests for financial assistance were made. Compliance with requests for rent, food. clothing, medical care, hospitalization and burials came to a total cost of $226,354.64. Prompt applications for reimbursement by the state relieved the city of one half of this financial burden.
The hospital placement program, through which veterans necding hospital care are placed in U. S. Veterans Administration facilities rather than in local hospitals, has met with remarkable success. The director estimates that this program has resulted in savings of $170,000 during the year.
The director estimates that Quincy veterans arc now receiving pensions and compensation amount- ing to about half a million dollars monthly, forming a distinct factor in the economic life of the city. Plans for a World War Two Memorial in Mount Wollaston cemetery were perfected during the year.
This recognition to the men and women who served in the second world conflict, expected to be com- pleted in 1954, will be of the podium style with a granite monument. It will cost around $16,000.
During the year the department initiated the project of erecting and resetting granite markers in the National Sailors Home Cemetery to replace the disintegrating wooden markers.
THE QUINCY RETIREMENT BOARD
The Quincy Retirement Board, which is composed of three unpaid members, supervises the two retirement systems to which city employees belong, the Quincy Retirement System and the State-Quincy Retirement System.
The Quincy Retirement System membership dropped from 78 to 27 during the year through 41 res- ignations and 10 transfers. Retired members dropped from 20 to 19 through one death. There were 2 beneficiaries of deceased members, making a total membership on December 31, 1953 of 48. Investments as of the end of the year were valued at $168,111.91, book value.
The State-Quincy Retirement System had an active membership of 1146 on December 31, 1952: 1284 on December 31, 1953. Inactive members numbered 146 at the end of the year. There were 6 bene- ficiaries as of December 31, 1953. Book value of investments on December 31, 1953 was $1,271,270.43.
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING
The Department of Planning, which consists of an unpaid board of five citizens and a professional director, has the responsibility of guiding the physical development of the city. Although a large por- tion of land in the 328-year-old historic community is already developed, many activities required the attention of the Planning Department in 1953.
Several factors contributed to the growth of the city during the year: namely, its emergence as the primary shopping center on the South Shore, its continued high birth rate, its desirable location for both industrial and residential development. This growth, combined with the continuing use of land once considered useless, or at best submarginal, brought many problems to the Planning Board.
During the next few years the State will build a new modern highway, the so-called Southeast Ex- pressway, through Quincy and other South Shore communities. This should aid in solving traffic problems by relieving Quincy streets of much through traffic as well as providing a new link with Boston. The Planning Board has been working closely with the state public works department on the location of this highway, particularly with respect to its connection with Quincy Center. During the year the Board con- tinued its study on the proposed use of Quarry Street as an access to the new Expressway, and believes that this modification of the original plan to have Adams Street as thic main access will have a significant and beneficial effect upon the future traffic problem as well as on the continued development of the business area.
Annual Report
49
Although the number of subdivisions and offers for city-owned land dropped in 1953 from 1952, building activity remained high. During the year the Board worked closely with the School Department in the evaluation of school needs and the selection of school sites, particularly those in the Adams Street and Furnace Brook Parkway where the city proposed to build two new elementary schools in 1954.
Other activities of the department included reports on possible future cemetery sites, space require- ments for a new city hall and site studies for a proposed new public works garage.
In tabular form, the 1953 activities compared with those of 1952 are as follows:
1953
1952
Street Acceptances
20
22
Strect Abandonments
1
1
Re-Zoning
1
1
Offers for City-Owned Land
17 30
Street Widenings
3
0
Subdivision Approvals, Final
3
7
Subdivision Approvals, Preliminary 2
2
BOARD OF MANAGERS OF HISTORICAL PLACES
The Board of Managers of Historical Places is charged with the general supervision and mainte- nance of the two famous American historical shrines, the birthplaces of John and John Quincy Adams. In one the Second President of the United States was born on October 19, 1735, old style; and in the other his son, the sixth President, was born on July 11, 1767.
During 1953, a total of 3357 persons, from 47 states and possessions and 15 foreign countries, visited the famous houses during the time they were open to the public from April 18 to October 31. On open- ing day 224 members of the Bay State League visited the birthplaces. Total visitors showed an increase of 340 over the preceding year.
During 1953 visitors registered from 633 cities and towns. Most visitors came from the following states: Massachusetts 1827; New York, 274; Pennsylvania, 141; California, 116; Ohio, 107 and Illinois, 104.
The two famous houses were deeded to the city by the Adams family in 1940. The Quincy Historical Society las cooperated by placing historical furnishings in the old buildings while the Germantown Gar- den Club assisted in planting gardens on the premises.
THE QUINCY HOUSING AUTHORITY
The Quincy Housing Authority manages and operates three separate projects: Westacres, 36 Chap. ter 372 permanent units: Snug Harbor, 400 Chapter 200 permanent units; and Riverview, 180 Federally aided low rent units.
During 1953 the Quincy Housing Authority closed out its two temporary housing units. Demolition of the 84 Title V temporary units at Pond Village was completed in July and demolition of the 60 Title V temporary units at Cleverly Court were completed in December. Liquidation of the Title V develop- ments was completed early in 1954, save for the collection of $1518.60 in accounts receivable which were in the hands of the attorney. On January 7, 1954, the Authority transmitted to the City $6,949.64 from 1953 operations.
Units in the three permanent projects were generally fully occupied during 1953, with more than 200 on the waiting list as the year closed.
The Quincy Housing Authority anticipates offering for sale in 1954 the Westacres project in accord- ance with the law. This project returned a surplus of $13,509.47 for the year, with a vacancy loss of only $21.69, or 1/10 of 1 pereent. Collection loss was nil.
Snug Harbor operations for the year reflected a surplus of $36,533.93. The project paid $10,541.89 to the City in lieu of taxes. Average rent, determined on the basis of income and size of family, was $45.05; and vacancy loss was only 4/10 of 1 percent.
Riverview, the low rent development, has remained practically 100 percent occupied since occupancy on June 25. 1952. Rents are determined on the basis of family and income, with average rent computed at $45.21. Income ceilings are somewhat below Snug Harbor.
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50
Although veterans receive preferenee, Riverview is not essentially a veterans" development. As of the date of the last report there were 82 veterans and 98 non-veterans living in the projeet.
Riverview, last of Quiney's housing developments completed, was finaneed through a bond issue of $2,050,000. Due to necessary extra construction work, additional funds of $62,214.46 were allotted, bring- ing the total development cost of the project to $2,112.214.46.
For the period from October 1, 1952 through June 30, 1953 a total of $5,043.31 was paid the City in lieu of taxes.
A survey showed that as of the final month in 1953, there were 1600 children living in Snug Harbor and Riverview.
A survey also showed that the 616 families oceupying the three permanent housing projects have an aggregate income of more than $2.000.000. Sinee the ineeption of public housing in Quiney the Quincy Housing Authority has paid the City $200,932.04.
QUINCY RENT CONTROL BOARD
The Quincy City Council voted on July 24, 1953, to continue rent control at the local level on the expiration of Federal Rent Control in midsummer. In passage of the order, the Couneil recognized the existence in the eity of "a substantial shortage of rental accommodations" and "that the control of rents is therefore nceessary in the publie interest."
A nine-member board was appointed by the eity manager, with five members representing the pub- lic interest and two cach representing landlords andn tenants. Offices were established at 77 Parkingway and a professional paid staff headed by the director, Ralph W. Lakin, who had enjoyed wide experience in rent control work, and ineluding three assistants was appointed.
At the organization meeting held on August 20. Harry E. Wilkins was elected chairman; Joseph P. McDonough vice chairman and Mrs. Phoebe Forsythe secretary. Later in the year Mr. Wilkins asked to be relieved of the chairmanship. Mr. MeDonough was chosen to succeed him, and Franeis I. Hackett was ehosen vice chairman.
Indicating a desire to render fair equitable decisions for both landlords and tenants and acting with- out politieal pressure, the unpaid board acted upon 689 petitions during the year. The board took favor- able action in approximately 95 percent of the 452 petitions for rent increases. Action was also taken in 5 tenants' complaints, 220 decontrol petitions, 12 oral hearings.
THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
The year 1953 found the Quincy School Department increasing in enrollment and costs and con- tinuing its multi-million dollar construction program.
The enrollment figures, cheeked on October 1, jumped from 12,910 in 1952 to 13,475 in 1953.
Expenditures increased from $2,961,075 to $3,173,940; an all-time high with public education tak- ing slightly more than 32 eents out of the Quincy taxdollar, as against 29 cents in 1952.
During the calendar year 1953, two four-classroom additions have been constructed. Also, a minor remodeling job was done at the Wollaston School, and extensive alterations and repairs were made at the Central Junior High School building.
A four-room addition was added to the recently completed Snug Harbor School at a total projeet cost of $110,033. It was designed by Anderson-Nichols, architeets and engineers, and constructed by C. L. Blake Construction Company. The building is of one story steel frame construction with masonry block construction, exterior walls of briek veneer, elerestory lighting with glass bloeks, ceramic tiled corridor walls and walls and floor of two private toilets for each room. Heating system is by steam, and univents with supplementary heat in floors by radiant heat systems. Projeet included new oversized boiler and miscellaneous items ineluding supplementary heat for existing administrative suite.
At Squantum, a four-room addition was added to the casterly end of the building at a total projeet cost of $93,033. Features of the building inelude: All walls and roof of prefabricated panels welded in place, conerete floors on filled ground covered with asphalt tile, steel window sash, all doors of metal, and an inexpensive heating plant using hot air furnace and blower distributing filtered humidified air through exposed metal duets along ceiling of exterior walls by two zones each controlled by a thermostat.
Annual Report
51
At the Wollaston School, the easterly basement area was remodeled to provide a temporary classroom at a project cost of $7,558.00. Mr. Albert West was the architect, and work was done by James S. Kelliher. Work included asphalt tile floor, cinder block partition, installation of fluorescent lighting, steam uni- vents, etc.
Central Junior High School was remodeled and improved by plans drawn by Albert West, archi- tect, and two contracts awarded to James S. Kelliher at total cost of $180,435. Work included installing new oil fired oil burning boilers and general improvements to heating system, moving cafeteria from third floor location thereby providing three new classrooms, relocating cafeteria in unused basement area and installing asphalt tile floors, fireproof acoustical tile ceilings and new steam heat by univents.
Tabulation of New Classrooms Constructed (1948 - 1953)
1948
Squantum Schol
4 room addition and Aud .- Gym.
1950
Squantum School
2 room (remodeling of old And.)
1950
Atherton Hongh School
4 room addition
1950
Wollaston School
5 rooms by alteration of old Aud.
1952
Beechwood Knoll School
10 rooms and Aud. Gym.
1952 Snng Harbor School
18 rooms and Aud .- Gym. and small All Purpose room
1952
Montclair School
4 room addition
1953
Snig Harbor School
4 room addition
1953
Squantum School
4 room addition
1953
Wollaston School
1 room (E. Basement alteration)
1952
Trade School
19 classrooms, new addition
New School Construction Is Followed By Increase In Enrollment and in Teachers
SQUANTUM SCHOOL (Adds.)
Enrollment Prior to Construction (as of Oct. 1947) : 240 Enrollment as of October 1953: 390
Number of Teachers ( as of Oct. 1947) : 7 Number of Teachers (as of Oct. 1953) : 13
ATHERTON HOUGH SCHOOL (Add.)
Enrollment Prior to Construction (as of Oct. 1949) : 651 Enrollment as of October 1953: 744
Number of Teachers ( as of Oct. 1949) : 20 Number of Teachers (as of Oct. 1953) : 23
WOLLASTON SCHOOL (Add.)
Enrollment Prior to Construction (as of Oct. 1949) : 507 Enrollment as of October 1953: 612
Number of Teachers (as of Oct. 1949) : 16 Number of Teachers ( as of Oct. 1953) : 19
BEECHWOOD KNOLL SCHOOL (New School) Enrollment as of October 1953: 289
Number of Teachers (as of Oct. 1953) : 10
SNUG HARBOR SCHOOL (New School)
542
Number of Teachers (as of Oct. 1953) : 19
MONTCLAIR SCHOOL (Add.)
Enrollment Prior to Construction (as of Oct. 1951) : 582 Enrollment as of October 1953: 630
Number of Teachers ( as of Oct. 1951) : 18 Number of Teachers ( as of Oct. 1953) : 21
QUINCY TRADE SCHOOL
Enrollment Prior to Construction (as of Oct. 1951) : 195 Enrollment as of October 1953: 227
Number of Teachers ( as of Oct. 1951) : 16 Number of Teachers ( as of Oct. 1953) : 19
Enrollment October 1, 1952 and 1953
1952
1953
1952
1953
By Grades
1
1730
1609
Quincy High School
1293
1338
Grade
2
1274
1614
North Quincy High School
1566
1657
Grade
3
1297
1266
Central Junior High
758
767
Gradc
4
1322
1251
Quincy Pt. Junior High
456
499
Grade
1323
1325
South Junior High
521
523
Grade
6
1058
1294
Adams
375
385
Grade
7
100
908
1063
Atherton Hongh
708
744
Grade
8
849
883
Beechwood Knoll
277
289
52
-
City of Quincy
By Schools
Grade
5
Enrollment as of October 1953:
1 room (library) in basement, plus new Aud .- Gym.
Grade
824
780
Coddington
267
260
Grade 10
767
774
Cranch
283
289
Grade 11
665
660
Daniel Webster
366
343
Grade 12
........ 579
620
Francis W. Parker
508
499
Post Grad.
Gridley Bryant
244
253
John Hancock
222
241
Lincoln
319
336
Massachusetts Fields
492
522
Merrymount
271
275
Montclair
637
630
Nathaniel S. Hunting
207
293
Quincy
564
598
Snug Harbor
499
5.42
Squantum
372
390
Thomas B. Pollard
303
303
Washington
149
153
Willard
435
436
Wollaston
546
612
Class for Older Boys
27
31
Physically Handicapped
16
15
Sight Conservation Classes
22
20
Trade
207
232
Total
12,910
13,475
Money Received by City Treasurer Due to Operation of Public Schools
Tuition
$ 25,610.17
State and Federal Reimbursements
350.999.99
Miscellaneous Receipts
6,166.76
Total Receipts
$382,776.92
Financial Statement For the Fiscal Year Ending December 31. 1953
Appropriated by City Council (exclusive of Federal Funds)
Appropriated for outstanding 1952 bills and contracts; salaries held over
Total available (exclusive of Federal Funds)
$3,372,288.53
Expended: Regular and State-Aided School and Classes" (exclusive of Federal Funds)
$3.173.940.83
Outstanding bills and contracts: salaries held over
175.263.57
3,349,204.40
Balance
Itemized Expenditures
Additional Equipment
$ 37,358.82
Coordinate and Auxiliary Agencies
73,803.64
Evening Academie School
3,977.64
General Control
66,906.24
Instruction
2,321,136.28
Library Fund
3.857.80
Maintenance
69.118.42
Miscellaneous
7,862.17
Operation of Plant
342.951.33
Pensions
13.738.96
Remodeling
96.923.41
Speakers Fund
390.50
Travel Outside State
303.53
Total for Regular Schools
$3.038.328.24
Adult Civic Education Distributive Occupations
6.007.42
Distributive Occupations, George Barden Fund
-
Annual Report
53
2
4
Special Cl.
105
100
Trade
207
232
Total
12,910
13,475
$3,190.419.00 181,869.53
S 23.084.13
S 1.663.82
Evening Apprenticeship Classcs
3,959.71
Evening Practical Arts Classes
16,165.31
Evening Practical Arts Smith Hughes Fund
645.34
Evening Trade Extension 4,104.18
Evening Trade Extension Sinith Hughes Fund
76.11
Out of City Industrial
4,344.47
Trade School
99,367.68
Trade School Smith Hughes Fund
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