USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1944 > Part 21
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It need hardly be said-it is in the very "nature of things" -that the beneficial effects of this practice of co-operation HAVE NOT BEEN LIMITED TO THE WORK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT. The Superintendent has been able- as he ought as a matter of elementary duty-to be the instru- ment and medium of TRANSMITTING these beneficial effects TO CO-WORKERS. It is a satisfaction and a privilege as well
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RECREATION COMMISSION
as a seasonal duty at this time to record a pronounced degree of increased efficiency among the year-round leaders and em- ployes under your Commission ; and that each month since last May has seen an even greater increase than its predecessor; so that now, at the turn of a new year, there is a rapid ap- proach toward the traditional standards of the organization -- as far as the year-round staff is concerned. The morale of the year-round staff and its individual members is steadily rising; its esprit de corps is good ; and I respectfully predict that your Commission will experience in another three or four months a pride and satisfaction in the quality of service by these workers -notwithstanding the great difficulties of the times, mentioned hereinafter.
11.
The favorable developments cited in the foregoing paragraph are not, in my judgment, the effects of ONLY ONE cause- discussed therein. Other contributing causes, as judged, have been the application-by the Municipality in general-of such a "new deal" as was urged in the Superintendent's Annual Report to the Commission one year ago-in the form of
(a) Substantially increased financial appropriation for 1944, which has led to less wretched salary rates for competent employes of your Commission.
(b) Recognition, at least in principle and to some degree in practice, that buildings and grounds, though le- gally under jurisdiction of non-Recreation Depart- ments, in this Municipality, are indispensable Rec- reational "tools", to which, as such, the Service under your Commission should have access.
(c) Revival of Municipal recognition that an accepted and advantageous (to the community) function of your Commission is that of co-ordinating the "Re- · creational" planning and thinking within those non-Recreational Municipal Departments which by Charter have control of and maintenance responsi- bilities for those "tools" of Recreation.
(d) The co-operative attitudes, practices, and acts-all in supplement to the factors cited in "(b)" and "(c)" -of Municipal Officials ; primarily His Honor The Mayor and the Commissioner of Public Buildings.
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ANNUAL REPORTS
Progressive developments based on Items "(b)" and "(d)" in the foregoing paragraph are illustrated in the impetus to the activities of many recreational groups through access, after so long a period of no access, to indoor premises, especially sections of public school buildings. This, of course, has come through approval, of these uses (as legally authorized by the General Laws of the Commonwealth), by the Commissioner of Public Buildings. And this approval has been released be- cause of additional appropriations made to the Public Buildings Department itself to meet. costs of "overtime" services of jani- tors. The 1943 Report of the Superintendent had cited from the past records, data to show that, when and as soon as use of facilities had been denied, progress had always been replaced by its opposite; and that the level and variety of programs always descend or rise according to the availability of build- ings. The renewed access to the buildings, coupled with the opening of more buildings than ever requested before, and oftener, has had a good effect on the activities of the Boys' Clubs and Girls' Clubs in particular; and since this new con- dition developed only in the very late months of 1944 and has already shown its effect, it is safe to predict that in the coming year the further developments in the same direction will be very noteworthy.
111.
It was timely and salutary that the past year did experi- ence the favorable and beneficial developments cited and sug- gested thus far in this Report; for without these developments the Commission's Service would have been unable to survive in the face of the NON-SOLUTION OF THE OTHER MAJOR DIFFICULTY which had beset the Service in these war-time years and which was emphasized in the Superintendent's Re- port to the Commission one year ago; namely, the numerical depletion of the employed staff (both as to the year-round per- sonnel and the seasonal personnel) and the impossibility of even half-adequate replacement in kind.
This difficulty of depleted staff was, and is, as previously emphasized, the result of three interwoven and inter-acting causes :-
(1) The long-continued disparagement and discourage- ment of the devoted employes whose traditional self- sacrifice had been the greatest asset of the Service;
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RECREATION COMMISSION
(2) A full decade of continuance of absurdly low salaries and wages ;
(3) The Conditions of the war, Selective Service, and the general manpower problem.
The elimination of the first of these three causes has been recorded above.
The partial relief from the second of these causes-through substantial increase in the annual financial appropriation to your Commission's Service-was largely offset by the unfort- unate fact that the Board of Aldermen did not concur until June in the increase of appropriation-a fact which delayed until late in the calendar year the partial solution of this seri- ous difficulty and accordingly retarded the favorable develop- ments · already mentioned.
But the third-and greatest-of the difficulties still persists as your Commission is aware :- Employable men of desirable ages for Recreation leadership have become more scarce with each passing month of the year now ending; and it has been nearly impossible to employ men of ANY kind of aptitude at all. In the rare instances where men and young men have been enlisted, the duration of their service has scarcely exceeded the time of elementary "breaking-in". The situation as it affects women has been only slightly better-largely because of the attractive wages available elsewhere.
Examples of this situation are found in the following facts :
Notwithstanding two months of extensive and persistent search, in advance, only fourteen of twenty-seven scheduled positions for men in the Summer Playgrounds leadership corps could be filled ; and the fourteen men included one sixty-seven years of age, three seventeen year-old High School boys, and two just graduated from High School. Within the July and August season, three of these were lost to the Service through Selective Service causes.
Not only by deficiency in QUANTITY of leadership available for the reason mentioned, but also in the NON-PREPARATION of many of the leaders, was the Summer Season at great dis- advantage traceable to these war-time "man-power" conditions.
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ANNUAL REPORTS
Because pre-season weeks were occupied in recruiting and en- listing leaders, some not enlisted until the very eve of the sea- son's opening ; the time and effort given to the TRAINING of new leaders, the further training of those previously "seasoned", and the usual pre-season organization of the entire corps was greatly reduced. For example, in the special activities of Folk Dancing and Handcraft, the usual pre-season preparations were omitted for lack of the Special Supervisors and the un- availability of the trainees. One of these two Special Supervis- ors was enlisted two days before the season's opening; the other transferred from another line of duty almost on the eve of the opening.
Again, entry into the Armed Services by the man who had been the General Supervisor of the playgrounds for some years past, caused that position to suffer a great loss. The worker who was pressed into the succession had to combine duties of the General Supervisor with those of a maintenance worker- in the very season where supervision was most needed by the largest number.
Forty-two per cent of the entire Summer Playgrounds staff was made up of novices; only about twenty per cent was of more than one season's experience; and about twenty- five per cent were beginning their service at ages normally considered too young or too old for entry into this kind of work.
Similar difficulties have affected the Saturday Playgrounds work; though it fared proportionally better because of the smaller personnel required for its existing circuit of play units.
Although the "demand" for Boys' Club Counselors has greatly increased because of increased interest of boys and their increased needs ; only three men are available for this work, in addition to the Superintendent.
The case is similar for each other branch of the general program.
But severest has been the loss to the Service of that one worker who, excepting the Superintendent, has been longest in the Service and of the broadest and most versatile experi- ence; on whose experience and ability the Service has hitherto
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RECREATION COMMISSION
depended for co-ordinating and directing other subordinate workers :- Mr. Charles C. Kelley, who was taken into the United States Army at the end of February, 1944; and who not only has not been replaced, but is irreplaceable. The impairment to the Service through the loss of his high-calibre work is im- measurable.
IV.
(Perhaps this is the appropriate place to digress, to record high appreciation and commendation of perhaps the greatest assets to the Service during the greater part of the past year, and now :- the high-calibre, faithful, intelligent, zealous, and often self-sacrificing work of Mr. John H. McCarthy and Miss Helen G. Brown, Directors. Each is the corner-stone to the present "skeleton" organization. Each is greatly overworked, and each has given, without measure, a quality of service en- riched by broad and long experience. Each has been a strong arm to the Superintendent's efforts, and an example, to other employes, of loyalty and co-operation. That the Commission and the community should soon find and adopt some practical means of recognizing their work and fidelity, commensurate with its value, is a "consummation devoutly to be wished".)
Another asset is that the remaining year-round (part-time and full-time) members of the staff are of high competency, and faithful.
V.
An important and progressive step, long needed and taken just in time to relieve in considerable part the strain upon an overworked personnel, has been your Commission's employ- ment of a year-round, full-time stenographer-secretarial worker as recommended in the Superintendent's Annual Report for 1943. It is a pleasure to report that the Commission and the Service are fortunate in the selection; and that the effects upon the efficiency of the Service through this forward step are quite in proportion to what was expected and predicted when this step was urged; and in the year ahead it is certain that this position and its incumbent will make even a much greater contribution to the organization and work under your Com- mission, as result of the experiente acquired and the inte-
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ANNUAL REPORTS
grating of the functions of this position into the system as a whole.
VI.
New developments in 1944 may be divided, for purpose of reporting, under two heads :- (1) Expansions, growths, and new variations within the content of previously existing pro- grams ; and (2) new features and programs.
A.
New Developments in Branches Already Established
In the organization of Summer Playgrounds for children, three units were added to the circuit this year (in compliance with the Superintendent's recommendations to the Commission in Annual Report for 1943) :- one at the grounds of the Pres- cott School in the extreme Eastern end of the City; another, at the extreme Western end of the City, on a section of the "Old Campus" of the Tufts College grounds-at Curtis Street, opposite Sunset Road, and contiguous to the College Hill Re- servoir : and the third (a revival of a discontinued unit) at the grounds of the Northeastern Junior High School. Two of these units -at Prescott and Campus-were distinctly suc- cessful ; the unit at Campus extremely so. The Campus Play- ground enjoyed a very high and uniform attendance, furnished an attractive surface and general setting, and was enthusi- astically received and appreciated by the parents and adults of the vicinity. The leadership provided by the Recreation Commission at this playground was assigned in response to a petition by a large group of adults.
In the Saturday Playgrounds organization a unit was added at the Brown School grounds, where one had been successfully operated several years previously but discontinued during the intervening years for reasons of inadequate finances.
In the Girl's Clubs (in which the vehicles for the pro- gram have for several years been a number of smaller and medium-sized clubs, and the Federation of these clubs) activities have increased and recreational enterprises have de- veloped ; notably the beginning of choral activities in an inter- Club group which promises soon to become very large, and a growth in dramatic activities as illustrated by the present
4
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RECREATION COMMISSION
preparations for an Inter-Club Tournament in one-act plays conducted by the Federated Girls' Clubs with performance scheduled for February, 1945. The life of the Federation as such has become more varied and active.
Activities for boys in "Model Aircrafting" (the vehicle be- ing The Somerville Young Aircrafters-of which there have been seventeen squadrons operating in as many spots through- out the City, indoors) had been successfully launched in the fall of 1943. as recorded in the Superintendent's Annual Report a year ago. Continuing through January, February, and March of 1944 and resuming again in October, these activities are still successfully in progress. They have reached a large num- ber of boys-sometimes 500 at a time, and, within the year, as many as 800 different boys. In keeping with the Superintend- ent's prediction recorded in the 1943 Annual Report, there have developed among the boys of the Young Aircrafters group many other recreational interests to meet the more varied lei- sure hours of the boys. This diversity of activities might have been successfully extended into many directions and have re- sulted in the permanent organization of groups to engage in various other hobbies as well as diversified-activities groups adopting the customary pattern of the Boys' Clubs ; if present conditions had not prohibited enlistment of leaders for the work. In actual fact, four or five diversified activities groups did crystallize from among the membership of the squadrons ; and three of these have still remained permanent after nine months and have bcome assimilated into the family of Boys' Clubs and become a member of the Federated Boys' Clubs.
B.
New Developments
Among the new developments should be recorded :-
(1) The inauguration of a program of boxing for boys and the employment of a leader-instructor to head the work of it, with three sessions a week, the individual boy attending one or two; this venture having been launched in. mid-October, and now in a state of evo- lution, with indications of success.
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ANNUAL REPORTS
(2) The successful estblishment of a basis for RECRE- ATION IN MUSIC; the earliest vehicle being the choral activities conducted, as mentioned above, in the name of the Federated Girls' Clubs; the plan of pro- cedure being to absorb boys into the activities in con- nection with certain coming public presentations, and subsequently, when leaders or instructors have been tested and assimilated, to extend gradually into pro- motion of instrumental and choral activities for both adults and boys and girls.
(3) The entry of the Commission's service-formally- into the field of CO-OPERATIVE ACTION WITH NON - MUNICIPAL RECREATION - PROMOTING AGENCIES of Somerville for the enrichment of their programs and that under the Commission-through reciprocity in use of municipal facilities and non- municipal facilities controlled or owned by those other agencies ; exchange of leaders; training of lead- ers and other spheres of mutual operation-according to a pattern treated in detail in the Superintendent's Annual Report for 1943.
(4) An increase of occasional services rendered by the Superintendent and other workers under the Commis- sion to citizen groups who have requested the profes- sional services of leaders for particular recreational and civic enterprises (Parent-Teachers' Associations, civic organizations, group conducting July Fourth celebration, social and fraternal organizations, etc.) ; indicating a growth in the community's understand- ing of the Commission's services.
VII
Recommendations
The Commission has acted upon several of the Recommenda- tions set forth in the Superintendent's Annual Report for 1943 -which was complete and comprehensive in its scope; the Commission is in process of making use of several others of those recommendations ; and must depend on other authorities of the City (including some of the executive Departments and
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RECREATION COMMISSION
the appropriating authorities) for the necessary conditions to its pursuing some of the remaining recommendations. That 1943 Report was, as your Commission is aware, aimed to in- clude such analysis of the entire Somerville Recreation situa- tion-past, present, and as anticipated-as would serve in long- run planning and policy-making; as had been' the case of the 1933 Report ten years earlier. Accordingly the Superintend- ent hereby respectfully recalls attention to the Recommenda- tions of the 1943 Report as applicable now, excepting those already acted upon finally or completely during the past year.
But especially urged now is your Commission's attention to the passages of the 1943 Report which deal with facing the war-time needs for adjustments of the Service to the changed times and the needs as to planning for the crucial post-war period.
Respectfully submitted by
FRANCIS J. MAHONEY Superintendent
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ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE STREET COMMISSIONER
OFFICE OF THE STREET COMMISSIONER
To His Honor, The Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :-
Gentlemen :-
I respectfully submit the sixty-ninth annual report, con- taining a brief summary of the work performed by the Highway Department, during the year 1944, with recommendations for necessary additions the coming year.
This department has charge of the construction, alterations, repair, maintenance and management of ways, streets, side- walks and bridges: the setting out and care of shade trees : suppression of gypsy and brown tail moths, elm leaf beetles and other pests injurious to trees, and the cleaning of streets.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Appro- priations
Expend- itures
Highways and Sidewalks Maintenance.
$138.322.76
$138.233.07
Street Cleaning
29.544.87
29.338.61
Suppression of Moths-Care of Trees
9.100.00
9.083.02
$176,977.63
$176,654.70
SNOW AND ICE
All streets were plowed and opened for traffic, snow was removed from the principal business centers, also around all public buildings and grounds. Special requests for funerals, weddings and other occasions were given prompt attention. Owing to so few dumping places for the disposal of snow, it is necessary to make long hauls from some parts of the city. This delays the work unless a large force of extra men and trucks are employed. I recommend that better facilities for dumping be provided to save this extra expense.
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STREET COMMISSIONER
Warning signs were posted on streets where coasting was allowed and ashes spread at the foot of the hills for the pro- tection of the public. Icy and slippery streets and sidewalks were made safe as soon as possible.
HIGHWAYS AND SIDEWALKS MAINTENANCE
Police and public reports pertaining to all kinds of defects in the streets and sidewalks were given prompt attention. Gen- eral repairs were made on streets, brick and granolithic side- walks, edgestones reset and gutters relaid. Dirt sidewalks were graded and filled.
On account of Government restrictions on all kinds of road materials, there was no reconstruction or resurfacing of streets and sidewalks this year. Many streets require extensive re- pairs but owing to conditions it is only possible to do temporary work by patching, filling in depressions and making highways safe for public travel.
$138,233.07 was expended on Highways-Sidewalks Main- tenance.
STREET CLEANING
All streets are thoroughly cleaned during the year. The public squares and business sections receive daily care. Special reports of dirty streets are given prompt attention.
The automatic street sweeper was operated throughout the year, the main thoroughfares and squares being cleaned in the early morning hours thus avoiding traffic and parked cars. During the day side streets were swept.
I recommend that at least two more automatic sweepers be furnished to this branch of the department.
$29,338.61 was expended for Street Cleaning
SUPPRESSION OF MOTHS-CARE OF TREES
This department cares for the trees, both public and pri- vate, in regard to moths and other tree pests. Gypsy and satin moth nests were painted with creosote. Tussock, tent and brown tail moth nests were destroyed.
-
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ANNUAL REPORTS
The department should be equipped with a new motor power sprayer to do more efficient work.
The majority of the public trees in this city are in good con- dition. Old and unsightly trees have been removed and some replaced, others have been trimmed and pruned. New trees have been planted on request, guards and supports renewed. Many poplar trees have been removed on account of the roots growing into and obstructing drainage systems.
On account of the hard paved streets and sidewalks, city trees do not thrive as on private property or parks and conse- quently need constant attention.
$9,083.02 was expended for Suppression of Moths and Care of Trees.
MISCELLANEOUS
Permits were issued to the various corporations and con- tractors by this department, to open streets and sidewalks. Said openings to be restored to original conditions at the expense of the petitioners. To cross sidewalks and occupy streets for building purposes, permits were issued on specified conditions. Driveways for garages and filling stations were constructed after the owners petitioned for same and deposited a sufficient sum of money to cover the cost of the construction.
This department maintains its own municipal repair shop for the various lines of work. Most of the maintenance and repair work on the motor equipment of the department is done in our shop at the city stables.
TRAFFIC CONTROL
Traffic lines were painted and warning signs erected at schools, playgrounds and dangerous locations. Particular at- tention has been given to painting of cross walk lines in busi- nes centers and squares. Parking and No Parking signs at designated locations and safety zones were plainly marked.
The use of the trackless trolley has greatly improved traffic conditions especially on some of the main streets.
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STREET COMMISSIONER
RECOMMENDATIONS
I recommend that, as far as possible, old brick sidewalks be replaced by granolithic. That the city acquire more motive streets cleaning equipment especially for night work on through streets and business sections. Several trucks should be pur- chased to replace some very old ones now in use.
I should also recommend that the Northern Artery and Lowell street railroad bridges be repaired as soon as possible and that the reconstruction of the underpass walls and side- walks on Medford street near the packing houses be given early attention. Both of these locations are a menace to public safety.
I wish to extend my sincere thanks to His Honor, the Mayor, the members of the Board of Aldermen and the men of the department for their support and co-operation.
Respectfully submitted
A. JOSEPH GOGUEN Street Commissioner
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ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
June 28, 1945
To the Honorable Mayor and Board of Aldermen :
Gentlemen :-
In compliance with the Revised Ordinances of the City of Somerville, I have the honor of submitting for your informa- tion the Annual Report of the Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1944.
ALARMS AND LOSSES
Number of First Alarms .. 790
Number of Second Alarms
8
Number of Third Alarms
0
Number of A.D.T. Alarms
5
Number of Still Alarms
1168
1971
Number of Alarms during the year 1943
1942
Increase in number of Alarms during the year 1944 29
Value of Buildings at risk $1,933,100.00
Insurance on Buildings at risk 1,822,150.00
Insurance Damage on Buildings 132,119.01
Value of Contents at risk 864,164 25
Insurance on Contents at risk 838,580.00
Insurance Damage on Contents
95,051.94
TOTAL VALUE AT RISK
2,797,264.25
TOTAL INSURANCE DAMAGE
227,170.95
APPROXIMATE LOSS PER CAPITA 2.20
Make
Type
Date In Service
Sept. 6,1916
Eng. 2 Cross & Broadway
Seagrave
800 GPM Pump 750 GPM Pump
June 8,1920
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