USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1921-1925 > Part 5
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Article 9. - To see if the Town will authorize the Board of Public Works to expend the amount of money now in the treas- ury to the credit of the Water Loan for the purpose of relaying pipes and making small extensions, on petition of the Board of Public Works.
Article 10. - To see if the Town will authorize the Board of Public Works to extend the water main from the residence of Charles G. E. Anderson, Ballardvale Road, to Edward Dimmock, and appropriate a sum of money therefor, on petition of Charles G. E. Anderson and others.
Article 11. - To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding $5000, to complete the macadam on Lowell Street; the same to equal an amount which the State and County will sever- ally appropriate, on petition of the Board of Public Works.
Article 12. - To hear and act on the report of the committee appointed to consider the sale of the Andover Town Farm, or change in method of operating the same.
Article 13. - To hear and act upon the report of the committee appointed to consider the question of a suitable memorial to citizens of Andover who served in the World War, the questions for consideration to be as follows:
(a) Will the town approve the recommendation that the said memorial shall take the form of a new civic cen- tre on the land bounded by Main Street, Chestnut Street, Bartlet Street and Punchard Avenue ?
(b) Will the town authorize the Selectmen to petition the General Court for authority to appropriate, outside of the debt limit now authorized by law, a sum of mon- ey not exceeding $300,000, to be used for the purpose of acquiring and improving said area, and the erection of such buildings as shall be authorized ?
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*
(c) Will the town authorize the appointment of a committee of seven citizens to be known as a "Com- mittee on War Memorial and Civic Centre," to make a study of all conditions involved in a proper development of such a civic centre, prepare plans for a beginning of the undertaking, to include the immediate construction of a new town building, designed to be later supple- mented by such other development as the town may from time to time authorize, and to further consider and act upon any matters relating to the question ?
Article 14. - To hear and act on the report of the Board of Public Works as to its conclusions and recommendations on the status of the Water Department, covering the question of rates, charges for fire service and other public services, and the advisa- bility of having this Department operated as a self-supporting Department.
Article 15. - To see if the town will accept as a town way, as laid out by the Selectmen, the street now known as Warwick Street in Shawsheen Village, so called, running from a point on North Main Street northerly about eleven hundred (1100) feet from the Post Office and westerly to Poor Street, on petition of William M. Wood and others.
VArticle 16. - To see if the town will accept as a town way, as laid out by the Selectmen, the street now known as Windsor Street in Shawsheen Village, so called, running from a point on North Main Street northerly about seven hundred (700) feet from the Post Office and westerly to Poor Street, opposite the residence of Henry Todd, on petition of William M. Wood and others.
Article 17. - To see if the Town will accept as a town way, as laid out by the Selectmen, the street known as Canterbury Street in Shawsheen Village, so called, from a point south of 59 Lowell Street, westerly six hundred (600) feet to an open lot, on petition of William M. Wood and others.
105
Article 18. - To see if the town will accept as a town way, as laid out by the Selectmen, the street known as Balmoral Street in Shawsheen Village, so called, from a point on North Main Street about five hundred (500) feet southerly from the Post Office to Burnham Road, on petition of William M. Wood and others.
Article 19. - To see whether the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to release a certain right of way for the maintenance of drainage pipes over the premises of Albert L. Hall and Clyde A. White, located on the northerly side of Park Street, in said An- dover, upon such terms and conditions as may be acceptable to the Board of Selectmen and to the Board of Public Works, on petition of Albert L. Hall and others.
Article 20. - To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of $2000, to place fire escapes on and otherwise put in a suitable condition the Old Schoolhouse building in Ballardvale to com- ply with the regulations and orders of the Building Inspectors' Department of the State Police.
Article 21. - To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of $6000 for tearing down and reconstructing the tomb in Spring Grove Cemetery, on petition of the Board of Trustees.
Article 22. - To see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to dispose of the Steam Fire Engine now located in the Central Fire Station.
Article 23. - To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money to place an electric light on Salem Street between Prospect Hill Road and the Woodbridge Cider Mill, on petition of Ernest A. Braddon and others.
Article 24. - To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money for an electric light in front of the Tyer Rubber Company, on petition of Dionisio Michelini and others.
Article 25. - To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money to place a fire alarm box at or near the junction of Salem
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Street and Prospect Hill Road, on petition of Ernest A. Braddon and others.
Article 26. - To see if the town will accept the provisions of General Laws, Chapter 94, Section 120, as follows: -
"In towns having less than ten thousand inhabitants which accept this Section or have accepted corresponding provisions of earlier laws at any Annual Town Meeting, the annual license fee for carrying on the business of slaughtering neat cattle, sheep or swine shall be such sum not exceeding one hundred dollars as the selectmen fix, on petition of the Board of Health."
Article 27. - To see if the Town will name as Chestnut Lane the town way leading from River Road at a point east of the Shattuck Farm past the property of Jane Devlin.
Article 28. -.- To see what action the Town will take in regard to a certain fund left by the late Anna Holt for the benefit of the Scotland District School and held in trust by Brooks F. Holt.
Article 29. - To see if the Town will accept as a gift from the late Edward R. Lemon, a native of Andover, an oil painting of "Washington at Monmouth" and a bust of Longfellow.
Article 30. - To fix the pay of the call firemen for the ensuing year.
Article 31. - To determine the method of collecting the taxes for the ensuing year.
Article 32. - To authorize the Town Treasurer to hire money for the use of the town in anticipation of the revenue of the cur- rent financial year, with the approval of the Selectmen.
Article 33. - To determine what disposition shall be made of unexpended appropriations.
Article 34. - To act upon the report of the Town Officers.
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Article 35. - To determine the amount of money to be raised by taxation the ensuing year.
Article 36. - To transact any other business that may le- gally come before the meeting.
The polls will be open from 6 o'clock a.m. to 5 o'clock p.m.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies and publication thereof, seven days at least before the time of said meeting as directed by the By-Laws of the town.
Hereof fail not and make return of this warrant with your do- ings thereon, at the time and place of said meeting.
Given under our hands this twenty-third day of February, A.D. 1921.
WALTER S. DONALD CHARLES BOWMAN ANDREW McTERNEN
Selectmen of Andover
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RECOMMENDATIONS OF FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Finance Committee appointed by the moderator at the Town Meeting last March comprised the following: George Abbot, Henry A. Bodwell, John H. Campion, William B. Corliss, E. V. French, George B. Frost and Chester W. Holland. The Committee organized with Mr. Bodwell Chairman and Mr. French Secretary. During the year Mr. Frost and Mr. Corliss resigned and the Committee selected George L. Averill and John C. Angus to fill the vacancies. Eight meetings have been held to consider the matters which are to come before the Town at the March Meeting and conferences have been held with the officials of every town department.
The Committee has given careful consideration to the budgets prepared by the various town departments and has examined in detail the appropriations requested; the results of this examina- tion are embodied in the recommendations presented herewith.
The cost of maintaining the different town departments in- creases yearly and there is little prospect that the coming years will see anything other than steady increase in expense of main- tenance and administration. However, the situation warrants that the Finance Committee should make an examination dur- ing the coming year to the end that the citizens may be advised in accurate detail of the exact condition of affairs in every town de- partment. As a result of such an examination it is the confident expectation of the present Finance Committee, that many changes. will suggest themselves, which, if adopted, will make for a saving in money and an increased efficiency in operation.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
Almshouse
$5000.00
Almshouse repairs
300.00
Almshouse relief out
4000.00
Aiding Mothers with dependent children
2500.00
Board of Health
3000.00
Brush Fires
600.00
Fire Department
23000.00
(This amount will cover $835.90 already spent in Shawsheen Village in putting fire alarm wires underground and provides $1000 for renewing in other parts of the town overhead wires which are rusting out. About one-half the total cost of the department is due to wages of the perman- ent men in part made necessary by the two- platoon system. Noimmediate change is possible but the Committee recommends consideration at once of such changes in the present methods of operating the Department as may be found pos- sible after careful study, and believes that it will probably be feasible to maintain a thoroughly efficient department at an appreciable saving in cost.
Hay Scales 125.00
Highway Department
Maintenance
New Construction
(The general plan of new construction proposed by the Board of Public Works a year ago and ap- proved, was of necessity changed on account of the assumption of the larger part of the Main Street work by the State and on account of the agreement between the State, the County and the Town to finish Lowell Street at an earlier date than originally planned. The Board of Public Works propose in 1921 to do new con-
30000.00 30000.00
Amount carried forward
$98525.00
110
Amount brought forward
$98525.00
struction work on the following streets: Andover Street to Ballardvale, Lowell Street, Summer Street, Abbot Street, Phillips Street, Pearson Street and ashes on country roads. This work will be done in the order found most advanta- geous and only about three-fifths of it can be fin- ished this year. The rebuilding of Main Street from Chapel Avenue to the Square will have to be still deferred until the street railroad com- pany is in a position to do the track work neces- sary. In the meantime, it is stated that the street can be kept in fairly good condition by a moder- ate outlay for repairs.)
Fire Insurance
3000.00
(This increase of $1000 over the appropriation of last year provides for increased coverage in ac- cordance with the new appraisal which has been made of all town property.)
Workmen's Compensation
2500.00
Interest
17500.00
Library
3000.00
Memorial Day
600.00
(The increased cost of music, flowers, conveyan- ces and all the other items entering into the Me- morial Day observance makes necessary a larger appropriation than has been made in past years. G. A. R.
100.00
Miscellaneous
3000.00
Parks and Playsteads
1200.00
Police
9000.00
(One new officer who shall act as a night watch- man in Shawsheen Village is provided for in this appropriation as recommended.)
Printing and Stationery
1800.00
Amount carried forward
$140225.00
111
Amount brought forward
$140225.00
Public Dump
75.00
Retirement of Veterans
300.00
Retirement of Bonds
Water
8000.00
Punchard School
6000.00
Sewer
6141.78
Schools
101000.00
(This is the gross expenditure recommended for the school department. Against this there are certain credits which if placed to the credit of the School Department would make the net cost ap- proximately $94,000. The recommendation of the Finance Committee does not include the sum requested by the School Department for the em- ployment of a physical training teacher.)
Sewer Department Labor and Power
3000.00
Sinking Fund
1000.00
Soldiers' Relief
1500.00
Spring Grove Cemetery
1500.00
State Aid
1000.00
Street Lighting
7900.00
(The Lighting Committee plans for various chan- ges in the street lighting arrangements and also increased lighting in several sections. The Fi- nance Committee recommends that the congested sections of the town be adequately provided for and that uniformity of lighting over the town should be the aim in the plans of the Lighting Committee.)
Town Officers 8900.00
(This is a slight increase over last year, recom- mended in order to increase the pay of the audi- tors from $75.00 to $100.00 a year.)
Amount carried forward
$286541.78
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(and receipts)
Amount brought forward
$286541.78
Town House
Tree Warden and Moth Work
3000.00 7000.00
(The Town is required by the State to spend this year $4000 for moth work. It is found that the growth of brush along the roadsides is getting ahead of the cutting, necessitating an increase from $1000 to $3000 for this work. This road- side cutting and other care of trees in the town is exclusively in the charge of the tree warden, who is elected by the voters of the town. The moth work is in charge of a superintendent appointed by the selectmen. The control of moths and the work on the trees are so related that the tree warden and moth superintendent should be the same man and this is now the arrangement in Andover. It is believed that both these lines of work have somewhat outgrown the earlier con- ditions, and that they are in part so allied with the Highway Department of the Board of Pub- lic Works that a closer connection between the two should be made if possible, thus permitting the use of the Highway equipment wherever available and insuring the care of all tools by a permanent department having proper means for storage and repair work.)
Water Department
20750.00
(It is advised that the method of handling the Water Department recommended by the special committee be adopted and this will make un- necessary after this year an appropriation for the retirement of bonds, sinking fund, interest, main- tenance and construction, and will cover all re- quirements by a single appropriation.)
$317291.78
The Finance Committee respectfully recommends the fol- lowing action in reference to the articles in the warrant: - Article 4. Approved.
113
Article 5. Approved.
Article 6. Approved.
(It is recommended that the town issue bonds in the neces- sary amount to cover the construction of sewers called for in these three articles; but it is further recommended that the Board of Public Works defer until another year, such part of this work as may advantageously be postponed in view of the prospect of lowered costs.)
Article 7. Approved.
Article 8. Approved.
Article 9. Approved.
(It is recommended that no part of this sum be used for any considerable extension work until such has been approved by the town.)
Article 10. Not approved.
(The cost of this water extension is estimated about $1200.00 and the line will furnish water for one house. The revenue from this extension and the prospective development of the section does not in the opinion of the Finance Committee warrant the cost.)
Article 11. Approved.
Article 12. The plan incorporated in the report of the committee which has investigated the Town Farm situation is ap- proved by the Finance Committee.
Article 13. No final action recommended at this time.
(The Committee appointed to consider this matter at the Annual Town meeting a year ago recommend the adoption of the general plan then described and action providing for the issuing of $300000 in bonds. The Finance Committee appreciate the advantage to a community which may come through a broad vision as to the probable future needs
114
and from the preparation of a comprehensive far-sighted plan in accord with which developments may be made to the end that the final result may be a complete work best fitting the conditions and the needs of the community. The information presented to the Finance Committee, however, was not sufficiently detailed and comprehensive to make it possible at this time to judge reasonably of the ultimate cost, or of the wisdom of proceeding in exactly these lines. It is, therefore, recommended that no definite action be taken other than to provide for the continuation of a com- mittee to study the matter further and report on all de- tails with definite estimates and full working out of the preliminaries so that the final result may be estimated with approximate accuracy.)
Article 14. Approved.
Article 15. Approved.
Article 16. Approved.
Article 17. Approved.
Article 18. Approved.
(Articles 15, 16, 17 and 18 refer to petitions for acceptance by the Town of certain streets in Shawsheen Village. Three of these streets are completed and the fourth, namely Bal- moral street, named in Article 18, will be completed by private individuals without cost to the Town. The accept- ance of Balmoral street includes acceptance of the bridge passing over the Shawsheen river at this point.
Article 19. It is suggested that the interested parties work out some plan with the Selectmen and Board of Public Works which will conserve the purposes for which the Town ac- quired the easement referred to in this article. This should involve no cost to the Town.
Article 20. Approved.
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Article 21. Not approved.
(The Finance Committee recommends that further plans and specifications be presented in reference to this pro- posed expenditure.)
Article 22. Approved.
Article 23. Referred to Lighting Committee.
Article 24. Referred to Lighting Committee.
Article 25. Referred to Selectmen.
Article 26. Approved.
Article 27. No action required of Finance Committee.
Article 28. No action required of Finance Committee.
Article 29. No action required of Finance Committee.
Article 30. It is the recommendation of the Finance Committee that the call Firemen in Ballardvale be paid $75.00 each per year and the call firemen in the Center be paid $150.00 each yearly. This seems a reasonable adjustment of pay in view of the number of alarms answered by each department.
Articles 31 to 35 inclusive, do not require action on the part of the Finance Committee.
SUMMARY
Department appropriations recommended
Special appropriations recommended
$317291.78 8000.00
$325291.78
State Tax (estimated) County Tax (estimated)
$35000.00 16000.00
51000.00
$376291.78
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RESOURCES
Cash
$22100.00
Corporation and Bank tax (estimated)
30000.00
State Aid
600.00
Outside relief
1600.00
Water rates
26500.00
Sundries
66
1700.00
From State for Schools
66
7500.00
Income tax
25000.00
$115000.00
Total to be raised from Andover Taxes
$261291.78
VALUATION
1919
1920
1921 (est.)
Personal
$ 184835.00
$ 2042541.00
$ 2042541.00
Real Estate
6639050.00
8044225.00
8344225.00
$8487400.00
$10086766.00
$10386766.00
Computation of tax rate using these figures. $261291 $10386788 $25.15
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY A. BODWELL, Chairman
GEORGE ABBOT
GEORGE L. AVERILL
JOHN H. CAMPION
E. V. FRENCH
C. W. HOLLAND
JOHN C. ANGUS, Secretary
Finance Committee.
66
117
TRUSTEES OF MEMORIAL HALL LIBRARY
E. KENDALL JENKINS FREDERIC S. BOUTWELL
CHARLES U. BELL
ALFRED E. STEARNS
BURTON S. FLAGG NATHAN C. HAMBLIN
FREDERICK A. WILSON
President E. KENDALL JENKINS
Secretary and Treasurer FREDERIC S. BOUTWELL
Librarian EDNA A. BROWN
Assistants
JULIA E. TWICHELL EDITH DONALD
In Charge of Ballardvale Branch MARTHA D. BYINGTON
Janitor ROBERT DEYERMOND
118
MEMORIAL HALL LIBRARY
FORTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The Trustees of the Memorial Hall Library herewith submit their report for the year 1920:
Any extended statement from them is rendered unnecessary by the full and suggestive reports of the Librarian and of the Trea- surer, which all the citizens are urged to read.
The large increase in the circulation of the books of the library and in the use for reference give evidence of its growing impor- tance as an educating influence in our midst.
Its value to the community depends not merely upon the num- ber and quality of its books but also upon the wise use of them. The lectures given by the Librarian to High School pupils upon the use of reference books and upon the classification of books are proving of much value, especially to those who become teachers.
Worthy of special note is the gift to the library of more than one hundred volumes which have been used in army camps at home and abroad. They deal chiefly with technical subjects such as farming, the care of animals, chemistry, engineering, rub- ber working and business, and many of our citizens are finding them helpful in their occupations.
The generous donation of books from one of our fellow-towns- men, mentioned in the Librarian's report, may well be imitated by others who reduce their libraries or change their residence.
The recent death of Rev. Francis H. Johnson recalls to our minds the long period of service which he gave as a Trustee of the Library, dating from its beginning in 1872 to 1909.
An active and influential member of the Board during the formative period of the Library, his activities and influence found
119
their culmination in the Cornell Art Gallery, the entire contents of which were purchased by him during his travel's in this country and abroad. Upon the completion of this duty he resigned from the Board.
The Library was fortunate in having such a man on its Board of Trustees at two important periods in its history.
The "high cost of living" inevitably affects libraries, as is seen in the advancing price of books and in the necessary increase of salaries.
It is hoped that the town will show its appreciation of the library by a no less generous appropriation for its needs in 1921 than it voted last year.
E. KENDALL JENKINS Chairman
NATHAN C. HAMBLIN
CHARLES U. BELL
ALFRED E. STEARNS BURTON S. FLAGG
FREDERICK A. WILSON FREDERIC S. BOUTWELL
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TRUSTEES OF MEMORIAL HALL LIBRARY In account with the Town of Andover, Mass.
RECEIPTS
Balance from last year
$2001.22
Town Appropriation
3000 00
Dog Tax
504.14
Income from Investments
3299.73
Fines
199.27
Cash paid for lost books
20.40
Gifts for books and periodicals
26.50
Total
$9051.26
EXPENDITURES
Salaries
$4343.00
Lighting and Heating
639.44
Periodicals
206.45
Bookbinding
275.29
Books
715.33
Insurance
126.99
Office Expenses
92.99
Sundry Items
217.19
Cash on hand
2434.58
Total
$9051.26
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Classification of Income and Expenditures for the year 1920
INCOME
Maint.
Book $827.64
Cornell $345.50
Total $3299.73 3000.00
Income from Investments
$2126.59
Town Appropriation
3000.00
Dog Tax
504.14
504.14
Cash for lost books
20.40
20.40
Fines
199.27
199.27
Gifts
6.50
20.00
26.50
Total
$5836.50
$868.04
$345.50
$7050.04
EXPENDITURES
Salaries
$4240.86
$102.14
$4343.00
Lighting and Heating
539.44
100.00
639.44
Periodicals
206.45
206.45
Bookbinding
275.29
275.29
Books
715.33
715.33
Insurance
126.99
126.99
Office Expenses
92.99
92.99
Sundry Items
217.19
217.19
Total
$5699.21
$715.33
$202.14
$6616.68
Unexpended balances
137.29
152.71
143.36
433.36
Condition of Funds and Unexpended Income Jan., 1920
Income®
Maintenance Fund
Funds $46600.00
$ 8.51
Book Funds
17400.00
1164.00
Cornell Fund (Permanent)
5000.00
425.63
Cornell Fund (Purchase)
4148.45
630.35
Special
64.94
Total income on hand
2293.43
Principal cash on hand
141.15
Total cash on hand
$2434.58
Total Funds
$73148.45
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INVESTMENTS
Bangor & Aroostook R. R. 4s
$11000.00
Boston Elevated Ry. Co., 4s
10000.00
Boston Elevated Ry. Co., 41/2s
1000.00
Chicago Railway Co., 5s
9962.50
Montreal Tramways Co., 5s Michigan State Tel. Co., 5s
9962.50
Boston & Albany Equip. Trusts, 412s
2981.10
Boston & Maine R. R., 4s
2000.00
Pacific Tel. & Tel. Co., 5s
1000.00
American Tel. & Tel. Co., stock, 4s
571.50
Savings Banks
15548.45
Mortgage on Real Estate
4000 00
Principal Cash
141.15
Total
$73148.45
FREDERIC S. BOUTWELL, Treas.
January 31, 1921
We certify that we have examined and found correct the above statement as of January 18, 1921, whereby all securities held against the several funds have been examined and the income accruing from same accounted for.
All disbursements are supported by receipts in proper form and the cash has been verified and found correct.
BURTON S. FLAGG CHARLES U. BELL
Auditors
January 31, 1921
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.
4981.25
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
JANUARY 12, 1921
To the Trustees of the Memorial Hall Library:
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