USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1936 > Part 12
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622
Second Alarms
6
A. D. T. Alarms
3
Still Alarms
686
Total 1,317
Inhalator and Accident calls 22
Out of Town calls (included in Still Alarms) 204
False Alarm (included in Box Alarms) .. 109
The central office equipment consists of the following :
2- 6 circuit operating boards.
1- 5 tapper boards
1-5 gong boards
2-16 storage battery charging boards
1-32 protective board
1-12 Automatic repeater 2- 5 " punching registers and take up reels
13- 1 punching registers and take up reels
1- 1 dial 4 number manual transmitter
2-automatic time and date stamps 1-master clock
1-local telephone used on still alarm system
568-cells storage battery
4-10-foot 4-shelf battery racks 5-metropolitan tappers and gongs
32-low rate rectifiers
1-high rate rectifier
Apparatus outside the central office consists of the follow- ing :
157-Signal Boxes 31-Master Signal Boxes with remote control stations in adjacent school buildings
223
ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHITS
7-Tower Strikers 29-Cable Terminal Boxes 8-Punching Registers
35 Tappers (Primary) 8-Tappers (Secondary)
13-Still Alarm Bells 7-Local telephones used as a still alarm system
18-Private Telephones and two extensions
3-Traffic Sirens
POLICE SIGNAL SYSTEM
The police signal equipment is in good condition except for some defective cable conditions.
The police radio is giving good service except car receivers which are showing signs of wear and should be replaced.
The outside equipment consists of the following :
65 Police Signal Boxes
3 Special Boxes
16 Car receiving sets (Police and Fire Dept.)
The same attention has been given to the condition of poles and wires on the street as in the past. A number of de- fective poles have been replaced by the companies owning same. The Davis Sq., Cutter Sq., Grove St., and Highland Ave. underground program is rapidly being completed and carrying poles removed.
New Poles
Replaced Removed
Reset
Relocated
New Eng. Tel. &Tel. Co. Edison Elec. Ill. Co.
2 4
72
50
15
2
....
Boston Elevated Railway Permits given to Edison Elec. Ill. Co. for attach- ments to New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co. Poles 2
Permist given to Edison Elec. Ill. Co. for attach- ments to Boston Ele- vated Railway Co. Poles 6 Permits given to New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co. for attachments to Edison Elec. Ill. Co. 8
The number of street lights January 1, 1937, are as follows :
988 No. 20- 80 candle power lights
203 No. 30- 100 „ " "
23 No. 50- 250
506 No. 70- 600
342 No. 75-1000 „
7
0 13
0
1
220
2
....
2062
224
ANNUAL REPORTS
TRAFFIC SIGNALS
Ten Signal posts were replaced due to damage from col- lision during the year.
I recommend that the cycle period with the exception of the Northern Artery be changed from 90 to 60 cycle as recom- mended by the Department of Public Works.
For the cooperation of His Honor, the Mayor, the members of the Board of Aldermen and the heads of the various depart- ments I am deeply grateful.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES J. CUDDIHY, Commissioner of Electric Lines & Lights.
225
LAW DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF THE LAW DEPARTMENT
December 31, 1936.
To the Honorables, the Mayor and
Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville.
Gentlemen :-
The Annual Report of the City Solicitor for the year 1936 is herewith respectfully submitted.
At the outset, may I express my sincere thanks to his Honor, the Mayor, who has given me this opportunity for pub- lic service and to the Board of Aldermen, at whose hands I was confirmed. I also wish to express my appreciation to the heads of the various departments, for their kindnesses during the past year ; to my Assistant, for his able co-operation ; and to the In- spector of Claims, who has aided our department by his in- vestigations.
The department has, of course, handled the usual routine work of a City Solicitor. I have endeavored to be present with regularity at the City Solicitor's office, in City Hall, available for conferences with the several City Officers and members of the public wishing to consult me. The requests for opinions received from the Board of Aldermen, the School Committee and heads of departments have been honored to the best of my ability. Contracts of various kinds have been examined and ap- proved where proper and the interest of the City safeguarded where necessary.
Some unusual features have arisen in connection with the work of the City Solicitor's office during the past year, to which I may refer.
226
ANNUAL REPORTS
BOARD OF TAX APPEALS
The City Solicitor, upon taking office, found that there were pending before the Board of Tax Appeals for the Common- wealth 105 open cases involving appeals by taxpayers. With the able co-operation of the Chairman of the Board of Assessors and his associates many of these appeals have been settled to the satisfaction of the taxpayers and the City. A few had to be tried, notably the appeal of the Ford Motor Company, which had been pending without action for a number of years and handed down to me by previous City Solicitors. This resulted in a trial of some length, involving the calling of experts to testify in behalf of the City. Trial was carried on without the employment of any additional counsel on the part of the City, although many cities and towns have employed special counsel in connection with work before the Board of Tax Appeals. This case has not as yet been decided.
We also had a case brought by one of our taxpayers in- volving one of the most valuable parcels in Teele Square, which was tried before the Board and decided in favor of the City.
As of December 31, 1936 there were pending before the Board 103 cases involving the City. There had been 91 new cases brought during the year 1936. Of the cases pending at the end of the year 5 were concerned with the appeal on the Ford property, above referred to, which really reduces the number pending December 31, 1936 to 98 cases, some of which may never be pressed. All the cases which came up on the hearing list during the year were attended to without post- ponement and we have, accordingly, kept abreast of the work. It is notable that tax appeal cases are on the increase. I ob- serve, from the Report of a former City Solicitor, that on De- cember 31, 1933 there were but 30 cases pending before the Board of Appeals. Three years later there were over three times as many.
Practice before the Board of Tax Appeals presents a seri- ous problem to all cities and towns, particularly so when it is considered that the Ford case must now be decided by a Board consisting of members who did not see or hear the witnesses presented at the trial and must be governed purely by the evi- dence which has been written out by the employees of the Board. This is contrary to all ideas of trial, because it is ele- mentary that a fact-finding body hearing witnesses has a right
227
LAW DEPARTMENT
to consider their conduct at the trial and to weigh their evi- dence by the estimate of the tribunal made on seeing and ex- amining the witnesses. The only alternative is a possible re- trial of the case with resulting very great expense to the par- ties and the Commonwealth.
TAX TITLE FORECLOSURES
Prior to my coming into office, the City of Somerville had not filed any petitions for tax title foreclosures since 1929 and a great number of tax titles had accumulated. The City Solic- itor, with the co-operation of the Collector's Department, un- dertook to reduce this number of tax titles. Several dunning letters were sent to the owner of each parcel, with the result that many paid in whole or in part and petitions were filed in the Land Court to foreclose 100 of the titles held by the City. These were cases where it was believed that the taxpayer, or those now interested in the real estate had shown no serious intention of making payment. These cases must now go for- ward in the Land Court and to them must be added many more similar cases, until such time as the City fulfills the obligation resting upon it by law to give active attention to tax title foreclosures. It is to be hoped that no great number of parcels of real estate will fall into the hands of the City, but this is one of the possibilities of the situation and may result in further complications.
This work of filing tax title foreclosure petitions was car ried on by the City Solicitor without the employment of any ad- ditional counsel, although such has been the practice in other cities and towns.
LITIGATION
This department has paid its way during 1936 and ends the year with a small balance. Upon my taking office, there were outstanding against the City of Somerville executions to the extent of $6,945.43 issued in tort cases and an execution of $13, 373.10 issued in connection with an agreement for judg- ment given by my predecessor to one Systrom, in a suit con- nected with the purchase of certain snow removal equipment. This latter execution was superseded, after a trial in the Wal- tham District Court, upon a petition brought by me in behalf of the City. The other unpaid executions were taken care of by a special appropriation by the Board of Aldermen. A further execution, in the sum of approximately $800, also arising out
228
ANNUAL REPORTS
of an agreement for judgment given by my predecessor, later turned up. This case was reopened and settled for a little more than one-half the amount of the execution.
Seventy-seven additional suits, arising out of highway ac- cidents, were disposed of during the past year, by our depart- ment, by a trial or satisfactory adjustment, on an average cost to the City of approximately $254. Other cases have been out- lawed by reason of inactivity. An attempt has been made to handle law suits as they presented themselves and bring them to a prompt conclusion. With this in view many cases were left for trial in the local District Court and tried there with satisfactory results, whereas, under some former administra- tions many cases were removed to Superior Court and thereby the outcome of these cases was delayed and the losses there- from transferred from the year of the happening of the accident to the year which has just passed. I am convinced that the City has been the gainer by prompt trial of these cases and am sure that honest claimants are entitled to early disposition of their claims.
I wish to express my appreciation of the work of my As- sistant in connection with attendance at court and handling of many of these claims.
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
Under the Old Age Assistance Law, when help is given to certain aged persons who happen to own property, there is a requirement that a mortgage be given to the City Treasurer in a sum dependent upon the assessed value of the realty and the equity therein owned by the recipient of the aid. It has been necessary to provide for forms to be used in the execution of these papers and several such mortgages have been drawn by this department. It is evident that this work will demand more time and attention at the hands of the City Solicitor as the volume of old age assistance increases.
Respectfully submitted,
DAVID H. FULTON,
City Solicitor.
229
BOARD OF ASSESSORS
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
January 1, 1937.
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen :
The following report is respectfully submitted as the An- nual Report of the Board of Assessors for the year ending De- cember 31, 1936 :-
RECAPITULATION - 1936
City Appropriations :
(a) To be raised by taxation $5,416,439.59
(b) To be taken from available funds 984,085.12
$6,400,524.71
1931 Overlay Deficit
887.40
1932 Overlay Deficit
34.07
1934 Overlay Deficit
12,026.93
1935 Overlay Deficit
9,135.45
22,083.85
State Tax
181,700.00
Charles River Basin Loan Fund
11,785.98
Metropolitan Parks
49,931.09
Metropolitan Planning
412.11
Metropolitan Parks, Series 2
6,041.98
Metropolitan Parks, Nantasket
2,696.88
Wellington Bridge Maintenance
103.53
Metropolitan Sewerage North
77,084.25
Metropolitan Water
290,832.15
Wellington Bridge Special
1,676.14
Abatement of Smoke
1,181.66
Auditing Municipal Accounts
298.87
Hospital & Home Care C. W. V.
572.80
Veterans Exemptions
107.29
Boston Metropolitan District Expenses
301.21
Boston Elevated Deficiency
106,254.18
Boston Met. Dist. El. Rental Deficiency
7,343.26
Land Taking Revere Highway
341.34
Ocean Ave., Revere
255.80
West Roxbury-Brookline Parkway
66.60
County Tax
178,786.44
Tuberculosis Hospital
46,579.32
225,365.76
Overlay (Current Year)
57,747.63
57,747.63
Total
$7,444,709.07 $7,444,709.07
738,987.12
230
ANNUAL REPORTS
ESTIMATED RECEIPTS
Income Tax
$222,862.42
Corporation Tax
95,115.31
Race Tracks
7,268.00
Motor Vehicle Excise
85,000.00
Licenses
94,000.00
Fines
6,500.00
Special Assessments
3,200.00
General Government
11,000.00
Protection of persons and property
1,100.00
Health and Sanitation
20,000.00
Highways
900.00
Charities
226,000.00
Old Age Assistance
57,000.00
Soldiers' Benefits
12,000.00
Schools
40,000.00
Libraries
2,000.00
Recreation
500.00
Public Service Enterprises (Water)
450,000.00
Dog Licenses
3,400.00
Electrolysis
700.00
Interest on taxes and assessments
80,000.00
Tax Title Loan Chap. 49, Acts 1933, as amend- ed Chap 281, Acts 1936
110,000.00
Excess Int. on E. F. Loans Sec. 2 Chap. 300,
Acts 1935
21,561.88
Total Estimated Receipts
$1,550,107.61
Available funds (voted by City Government to be used by Assessors on authority from the
Commissioner of Corp'ns. & Taxation) 984,085.12
Total Deductions
$2,534,192.73
Net amount raised by taxation on polls and property
4,910,516.34
Number of Polls -31,582 @ $2.00 each
$63,164.00
Total Valuation-$115,688,600. Tax Rate $41.90 Property Tax
4,847,352.34
Additional betterment assessments (outside the taxes levied on property at the tax rate as follows :
Sidewalk Assessments
283.46
Highway Assessments
1,975.71
Committed Interest
518.37
Water Liens
4,444.72
Total amount of all taxes listed in the col- lector's commitment list for the year nine- teen hundred and thirty-six 4,917,738.60
231
BOARD OF ASSESSORS
The Board of Assessors wishes to thank the other depart- ments for their co-operation extended during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
HORACE A. LEWIS MAURICE F. AHEARN JOSEPH J. BORGATTI
JOHN A. COLBERT MICHAEL J. CONNOR
232
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
March 1, 1937.
To the Honorable The Board of Aldermen,
Gentlemen :
The Planning Board of the City of Somerville respectfully submits the following report for the year ending December 31, 1936.
There were six petitions presented to the Board seeking a change on the Building Zone map of the City of Somerville and public hearings after due notice were held by the Board on these petitions. The Board also met in executive session on many other occasions to take action on these petitions and other business of the Board.
Of the six petitions presented three sought to change from Residence "B" to a business district; two from Residence "C" to a business district and one from Residence "A" to a business district. Of these petitions the Board recommended that two be granted ; two be not granted; one petition was withdrawn and no action was taken on the other.
The sum of $18.00 was collected as fees and was paid over to the City Treasurer.
Respectfully submitted,
EUGENE C. MCCABE, Chairman WILLIAM J. CALLAHAN ROBERT P. JACKSON VINCENT A. SENNA JOHN J. HURLEY
233
LICENSING COMMISSION
REPORT OF THE LICENSING COMMISSION
March 2, 1937.
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville
Gentlemen :
The Licensing Commission respectfully submits the fol. lowing report for the year ending December 31, 1936.
During the year the Commission issued one hundred and eight alcoholic beverage licenses out of a total of approximately one hundred and thirty-six applications.
In the course of the year, the Commission suspended four alcoholic beverage licenses for different periods of time, due to violations of the rules and regulations. None of these licensees took advantage of their right to appeal to the Mass. A. B. C. Commission.
After the denial of two malt beverages and wines licenses, package stores, appeals were heard by the Mass. A. B. C. Commission and in both cases the decisions of the local board were upheld.
Several changes were made in the alcoholic laws, by the Legislature, one of which was allowing package stores to open on certain holidays of the year, between the hours of one P. M. and six P. M. Another was relative to prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages in restaurants until one P. M., on October 12th and November 11th.
On September 10, 1936, Mr. Lawrence L. Sheehan was ap- pointed to the Commission to take the place of Mr. Richard J. Mclaughlin, whose term had expired.
Attached hereto is a table showing the number of different licenses granted and the total income of this department. After deducting the sum of $3,266.18, which was the expense of run- ning this department for the year, the total income would be $69,654.82.
234
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF LICENSING COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 1936
Licenses granted and fees received :
6 Transfers of Lord's licenses @ $.50
$3.00
1 Transfer of Common Victualler license @ $1.00 1.00
19 Garage licenses granted @ $2.00 38.00
26 Special alcoholic licenses granted
37.00
33 Entertainment permits granted @ $5.00
166 Common Victualler licenses granted:
165.00
163 granted @ $5.00
$815.00
1 " 3.00 3.00
2
2.00 4.00
822.00
268 Lord's Day licenses granted @ $5.00
1,340.00
108 Alcoholic Beverage licenses granted
70,515.00
Total
$72,921.00
Expenses
3,266.18
Net total revenue of the department for 1936
$69,654.82
Respectfully submitted :
EUGENE M. FLANAGAN, Chairman EUGENE W. DRISCOLL, LAWRENCE L. SHEEHAN,
Commissioners.
Attest :
JOHN P. DROMGOOLE,
Secretary.
235
BOARD OF APPEAL
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF APPEAL
January 31, 1937.
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville
Gentlemen :
The Board of Appeal respectfully submits the following report for the year ending December 31, 1936.
The Acts of 1933 of the General Laws, Chapter 269, has greatly enlarged the duties and powers of the Board of Appeal in the cities and towns which have established zoning laws, and helped to clarify certain provisions which prior to its passage were vague. Section 30 of the aforesaid chapter, ex- pressly points out that the Board of Appeal "may in appro- priate cases and subject to appropriate conditions and safe- guards, make special exceptions to the terms of the ordinances or by-laws in harmony with their general purpose and intent, and in accordance with general or specific rules therein con. tained."
Because of this Act, the Board of Appeal has been made a very important department in the city's work. It has been delegated by statute with extraordinary power. For this reason it brings many cases before the Board of Appeal for its opinion which hitherto they would be unable to consider. The members of the Board therefore have had to act on many intricate cases, leaving it subject in two particular cases to a question of opinion as regards the decisions of the Board. In both cases the decision of the Board of Appeal was upheld by the court.
The members of the Board have made it a part of their duty and responsibility in conjunction with the work of hear- ing and deciding the appeals to visit the places that would be affected by the appeal before them.
The Board has at all times acted on the facts of the ap- peals presented to them, with the attitude of strict fairness and justice in each appeal.
236
ANNUAL REPORTS
The increase in tax rates in the last several years has been due largely to the fact that there has been a constant decrease in the valuation of the city. The reason for this is apparent. There remains only one means of increasing the valuation of the city and that is to open new districts to busi- ness or industrial uses and in the case of the Northern Artery, now named the McGrath Boulevard, particularly, it must be evident that the opportunities for business enterprises would be exceptionally good were it not for the fact that the zoning ordinance prohibits it. Therefor the Board again suggests that the Planning Board take into consideration the re-zoning of certain areas and make its recommendations to the Board of Aldermen.
The Board wishes to report that it has received the fullest cooperation and assistance from the Commissioner of Public Buildings, the City Solicitor, the Fire Chief and other city officials, and sincerely hopes that its work in the past year has been satisfactory to both the city's welfare and the ap- pellants.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed ) HERBERT W. CARR, Chairman, ROBERT J. MOSELEY, Secretary, CHARLES R. BRUNELLE, WILLIAM J. WRIGHT, RICHARD J. SLINEY.
Attest :
· ROBERT J. MOSELEY,
Secretary.
237
SOLDIERS' RELIEF DEPARTMENT
REPPORT OF THE SOLDIERS' RELIEF DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville
Gentlemen :
I am submitting the Annual Report of the Soldiers' Relief Department in which is presented a tabulated statement of the aid rendered to the veterans of the Civil, Spanish, German and Mexican wars for the year ending December 31, 1936.
Two thousand one hundred ninety-three cases were aided during the year and the total amount spent for Military Aid, State Aid and Soldiers' Relief, including medical services, was $79,466.62.
Many of the relief cases worked on W. P. A. projects but they received supplementary aid from this department each month.
The relief schedules were increased and more money al- lowed for fuel, thus making the amount spent per person this year more than in 1935.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS F. MCGRATH, Commissioner.
238
SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS MADE BY THE SOLDIERS' RELIEF DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR 1936
Military Aid
State Aid
Soldiers' Relief Cash Payrolls
Soldiers' Relief Work Payrolls
Medical Attention
Orders
Total Relief
Number Cases
January ..
1,122.50
579.75
1,992.19
3,773.25
356.00
2,031.49
9,855.18
240
February
1,058.00
527.75
2,722.48
4,027.00
318.70
1,166.79
9,820.72
293
March
1,111.25
522.75
2,270.36
3,302.00
546.45
2,147.34
9,900.15
276
April
1,085.50
512.75
2,000.41
3,186.75
333.68
1,369.12
8,488.21
247
May
913.75
467.75
1,720.54
2,544.00
703.15
1.178.37
7,527.56
217
June
496.00
442.25
1,172.82
1,598.50
432.25
906.37
5,048.19
191
July
310.50
449.00
1,217.98
555.00
602.79
753.27
3,888.54
95
August
321.00
439.00
1,414.09
1,339.63
197.73
530.77
4,242.22
124
September
466.00
439.00
1,449.80
1,577.25
265.99
690.07
4,888.11
129
October
526.00
464.00
1,303.63
1,154.00
282.79
688.65
4,419.07
129
November
571.00
424.00
1,565.54
739.00
233.80
1,198.86
4,732.20
128
December
614.25
444.00
1,781.72
982.50
584.92
2,249.08
6,656.47
124
Total
8,595.75
5,712.00
20,611.56
24,778.88
4,858.25
14,910.18
79,466.62
2,193
TOTAL RELIEF ORDERS INCLUDING ORDERS AND MEDICAL CARE
$79,466.62
ANNUAL REPORTS
239
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE CITY OF SOMERVILLE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ROOMS
December 21, 1936.
Ordered, that the Annual Report of the Superintendent of Schools be adopted as the Annual Report of the Board of School Committee, it being understood that such adoption does not commit the Board to the opinions or recommendations made therein ; that it be incorporated in the reports of the City Officers, and that six hundred copies be printed separately.
EVERETT W. IRELAND, Secretary of School Board.
240
ANNUAL REPORTS
School Committee-1936
EDWARD M. MCCARTY CHARLES A. CAMPBELL
Chairman
Vice Chairman
Members
EX-OFFICIIS
LESLIE E. KNOX, Mayor 275 Alewife Brook Parkway G. EDWARD BRADLEY, President Board of Aldermen . 10 Madison St.
WARD ONE
CATHERINE E. FALVEY 15 Rush St.
WARD TWO
LAWRENCE J. DONOVAN
68 Elm St.
WARD THREE
EDWARD M. MCCARTY . 40 Highland Ave.
WARD FOUR
EDITH L. HURD
125 Central St.
WARD FIVE
WILLIAM J. KOEN
34 Lexington Ave.
WARD SIX
EDWIN A. SHAW
63 College Ave.
WARD SEVEN
CHARLES A. CAMPBELL .
22 Barton St.
Superintendent of Schools EVERETT W. IRELAND
Office: West Building, High School, Highland Avenue.
Residence: 137 Powder House Boulevard.
The Superintendent's Office will be open on school days from 8:00 to 5:00; Saturdays, 8:00 to 10:00. His office hour is 4 o'clock on school days and 8:30 on Saturdays.
Assistant Superintendent of Schools WALTER P. SWEET 71 Hume Ave., Medford
241
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Superintendent's Office Force
Mary A. Clark, 15 Pleasant Avenue Mildred A. Merrill, 108 Highland Avenue Marion E. Marshall, 30 Gilman Street S. Regina Truelson, 38 Rogers Avenue Bernice A. Tuck, 17 Irving Street Margaret R. O'Connor, 2 Adrian Street Frances C. Geaton, 29 Tennyson Street
Board Meetings
January 6 January 27 February 17 March 30
April 27 May 25
June 29 September 28
October 26 November 30
December 21
242
ANNUAL REPORTS
TO THE HONORABLE SCHOOL COMMITTEE SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS
Ladies and Gentlemen :
The Superintendent of Schools herewith submits the sixty-fifth annual report of the Somerville public schools cov- ering the year 1936. This report is the ninth written by the present Superintendent and is prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Rules and Regulations of the Somerville School Committee.
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