USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1955-1959 > Part 23
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SPECIAL ACTIVITIES
The only skating area suitable for use at the present time is in Ballardvale. This spot is sprayed and ice maintained whenever the weather permits, but in recent years skating has been spasmodic at best. It is not uncommon for us to have the skating surface sprayed for two or three nights thus obtaining a smooth coating of ice only to lose it a day or two later with a change in the weather.
Halloween-Parties were held at Central, Ballardvale and North District. Shawsheen did not desire a public party and the gymnasium in the West Elementary School was not available for a party there this year. The obvious lack of
202
interest on the part of many parents and the comparatively low attendance at the Central party have been some concern to us but we plan to continue our program as in the past for the enjoyment and fun of those who wish to participate.
The Easter Candy Scramble - although of short dura- tion, is always appreciated by a large number of youngsters and has become a traditional Andover activity in our all year round program.
Our sincere thanks goes forth to the following organiza- tions for their generous support and cooperation ; Andover Police Association, Andover Youth Center, Andover Ser- vice Club, Andover Public School Teachers Association, Chapter-12 D. A. V., Post-2128 V. F. W. and the Auxiliary, American Legion Post-8 and the Auxiliary and Post-427 All Women's Post American Legion and the Catholic School Guild. Our deep appreciation also to the Board of Select- men, Board of Public Works and the Police and Fire De- partments for their continued efforts in assisting our com- mittee in making our Recreation Program successful and enjoyable.
Respectfully submitted,
L. GLEYNN YEATON, Chairman JAMES D. DOHERTY WALTER PEARSON BART SMALLEY FRANCIS P. MARKEY, Secretary
203
Committee to Evaluate Compensation And Classify Town Employees
At the 1956 annual Town Meeting, the following Article was voted.
Article 10 - to instruct the Moderator to appoint a com- mittee to make a survey to evaluate the compensation and classify town employees and report to the next annual Town Meeting, without appropriation.
The Moderator appointed a committee of five in October, and weekly meetings of this committee were held from November through February. Many phases of Andover's personnel problems were investigated. A questionnaire for obtaining wages and salary information and personnel prac- tices was developed and mailed to 37 comparable communi- ties in Mass. and all communities within 25 miles. Answers to these questionnaires were received from over 20 com- munities. General discussions were held with representa- tives of all town departments which expressed an interest.
Prior to the establishment of this Committee groups of ci- tizens had studied Andover's wage structure and made re- commendations in certain cases to town meeting. Because their research lacked continuity and the committees did not have administrative authority, the value of their contribu- tion was temporary.
Your committee strongly believes the most satisfactory solution to this problem lies in the establishment of a per- manent Personnel Board consisting of five members with continuing authority to administer the personnel policies established. Section 108A of Chapter 41 of the General Laws of Massachusetts authorizes a town to adopt a by-law to establish a plan classifying town positions and to vote minimum and maximum salaries for these positions. Your committee recommends the adoption of a by-law under the enabling provisions of this act.
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Some comments on the nature of the wage and salary problem may be of interest. For many years, and particu- larly in the current inflationary period, the job of setting proper wages and salaries has been a difficult one. Each board or town department has handled this in its own way and made its own decisions. Considerable effort has been expended to bring about cooperative action, but this has been found difficult to accomplish. The result has been a con- fused and chaotic situation. The list of wages and salaries in the opinion of your committee contains many inequities and little real satisfaction has been experienced in spite of earnest efforts on the part of many public-spirited people to remedy the suituation.
The insertion of Article 24 in the warrant for the 1957 town meeting represents the considered judgment of your committee as the best way to seek a remedy. Other towns in Massachusetts have adopted the plan suggested by Sec- tion 108A and their experience has been very encouraging There is every reason to believe that Andover will be equal- ly successful.
Article on Wage and Job Classification
To see if the Town will vote to enact a By-Law under the provisions of Chapter 41, Section 108A ... and establish a Personnel Board to be appointed by the Board of Selectmen to study the problem of compensation of all town employees, except those filled by popular election and those under the direction and control of the school committee and to pre- pare a Wage and Classification plan classifying all such em- ployees into groups and classes doing substantially similar work or having substantially equal responsibilities. Such a plan to provide minimum and maximum salaries to be paid to such employees in positions so classified and for the at- tainment of such maximum salaries by periodical step rate increases, such salaries to be appropriately related, if pos- sible, to salaries paid by commercial and business establish- ments and by comparable municipalities as well as a re-
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liable cost-of-living index. The Personnel Board to be au- thorized to employ professional consultants in connection with the foregoing if deemed desirable and to report to the Board of Selectmen on or before January 1, 1958 and sub- sequently to the next annual Town Meeting its recommenda- tions for a complete Wage and Classification Plan. The Per- sonnel Board to consists of five members, to be appointed for three years, two for two years and one for one year, and thereafter each member to be appointed for a three year term. No member of the Personnel Board to receive compensation or to be an employee of the Town, vacancies to be appointed by the Selectmen. To appropriate the sum of $3,000.00 for the use of said committee ; or take any other action relative thereto.
Among the chief requirements of a wage and salary plan are that it be in such form as to make its administration simple and understandable and that it can be kept up to date at all times. Any employee who feels that he has not been treated fairly must have the opportunity to have his case reviewed by impartial persons.
The employees of the Town are entitled to fair and im- partial handling of the wage and salary problem. The tax payers should be able to feel that the level of wage and salary payments is adequate but not excessive. These two objectives are quite consistent with each other and will, in the opinion of this Committee, be possible of accomplish- ment if the proposed by-law is passed. It will be necessary of course to have able and intelligent administration of the plan by the new Personnel Board to be appointed.
Role of the Personnel Board
The Personnel Board would be authorized to administer all the provisions of the currently proposed by-law and a consolidated Personnel By-law to be approved at the March 1958 Town Meeting. The by-law to be presented in 1958 would represent an expansion of the by-law recommended for passage in the March, 1957 Meeting and would cover
206
specifically conditions of employment and promotion, hours of work, vacations and other benefits as well as the esta- blishment of position classification and rates of compensa- tion. Changes in this By-law would be made from time to time by the Town Meeting upon recommendation of the Personnel Board or by other means.
The most significant part of the Personnel Board's work would be a continuous review of the salaries being paid by the town in relation to the nature of work performed in various positions. After an outside consultant has set up the classification plan, the Personnel Board would periodic- ally review and, when necessary, establish job descriptions for all new or revised positions. It would then fix proper salary rates through accepted job evaluation techniques, which include a periodic salary survey of the rates paid for comparable positions in other municipalities and similar work in local business or industry. The Board's recommend- ation's to the Annual Town Meeting would be based on such reviews.
It would also be the Board's responsibility to conduct hearings at the request of department heads or their em- ployees with respect to grievances and other personnel mat- ters. As a further source of information on current muni- cipal personnel practices, it would be highly desirable for the Board to become affiliated with the Massachusetts Mu- nicipal Personnel Board Association, whose membership in- cludes representatives of more than twenty other cities and towns of the state. The present personnel committee at- tended the annual meeting of this Association in December, at which time current personnel problems and practices were discussed and reports of surveys made throughout the year were submitted to the members.
Although the Personnel Board would have administrative authority under the provisions of the By-law, in practice, the successful operation of the personnel program would depend upon the cooperation of the Administrative Authori- ties, the Selectmen, Trustees of Memorial Hall Library, De-
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parment Heads and others who actually supervise the per- formance of town functions.
The experience of Massachusetts communities, which have adopted a personnel By-law and established a Person- nel Board has been excellent. Over twenty-five such boards are now in operation and the general consensus of opinion in these commmunities is that personnel administration has been tremendously facilitated and a good measure of ob- jectivity in the administration of personnel affairs has been achieved.
WHY PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS
It is possible for a town committee to prepare a classi- fication and pay plan of its own without professional help and a few Massachusetts cities and towns have done so adequately.
For the most part, however, such communities have not gone through the full procedure of job evaluation. Job des- criptions were sketchy at best and the proposed salary plan was based on sparse information. The committee thinks that the money spent on professional consultants is well spent: at the very least, the use of outsiders sidesteps the common charges of prejudice or partiality which plague unassisted town committees. Consultants when properly selected can provide a vast knowledge and background particularly in the area of municipal government. They provide a valuable source of statistical information for comparative purposes because they have performed this work for other municipal- ities.
It is felt a town appointed committee regardless of its skill and enthusiasm does not have the available time to ana- lyze the many town jobs during working hours. It is also extremely difficult for them to operate without bias or prejudice.
The committee, therefore, recommends the use of con- sultants by the Personnel Board.
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COST OF PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS
In order to make a recommendation for an appropriation by the Town for this installation your committee sent inquiries to ten professional consultants, most of whom have done this sort of work for other municipalities. These inquiries asked the individual firms to submit prices for such an installation.
Five of the firms submitted prices in time for this report, as follows :
Company A
$3450.00
Company B
$3450.00
Company C
$3000.00
Company D
$2950.00
Company E
$2500.00
CONCLUSION
Your committee strongly and unanimously urges the adoption of Article 24 in the 1957 Town Warrant. Failure to appropriate the funds requested would make it impossible for the proposed Personnel Board to discharge its duties and fulfill its obligation.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM MACKINTOSH
KENNETH C. BEVAN GEORGE C. NAPIER JOHN S. SULLIVAN JOHN C. YOUNG
209
Andover Town Infirmary
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February 1, 1957
To the Selectmen of the Town of Andover:
The following is the report of the Town Infirmary for the year 1956. On January 1st, we had six boarders, four wo- men and two men, all of whom were in general good health. During the year we had six temporary boarders or tran- sients at various times, both male and female. Two were removed when we could no longer care for them to other in- stitutions or nursing homes. Three returned to their res- pective homes and one has since returned here for the re- mainder of this winter, at least.
During the year we had the necessary repairs, window cleaning, inside cleaning of walls etc., done.
The state inspector for the Department of Public Health, Division of Hospitals was here in June and reissued us our license. Fire inspectors have been twice, Safety inspector and local board of health.
All boarders have been examined by a physician during the year to check on their health.
At the special town meeting in October the voters of An- dover decided not to close the Infirmary, much to the relief of our "folks" some of whom have been here fifteen to eight- een years. The same subjet is to be brought up at the annual town meeting in March.
The usual bountiful Thanksgiving dinner was served to those who were not invited out. Christmas brought hun- dreds of cards and visits from the girls of the Abbot Acade- my Christian Association, November Club, King's Daugh- ters, South Church Junior Choir, Room 7 of the Junior High School, carol singers from the different churches and indi- viduals who remembered the folks with cards and gifts.
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At the present time we have five women and two men, two in the sixties, four in the seventies and one who is 84. Our staff has always been only two full time workers including the matron and two part time employees. Our cook who had been with us for four years had a heart attack on January 5, 1957 and is no longer able to work. I am still doing the cooking plus all the other work and advertising in the pa- pers has proved useless. My mother is temporarily helping as much as she can, but she is limited. I sincerely hope that a good full time cook will soon be procured.
We need new screens and two of the floors in the "back" of the house need recovering. An additional washing ma- chine would be a tremendous aid, also, particularly if more people are to come to live here.
My thanks to the firemen and policemen for their aid dur- ing 1956.
Very truly yours,
JEAN E. WEEKS, Matron
211
Fire Department
Board of Selectmen Andover, Massachusetts
GENTLEMEN :
I hereby submit the Annual report of the Fire Depart- ment for the year ending December 31, 1956.
During the year the Fire Department answered the fol- lowing alarms; 79 bell alarms of which two (2) were false; 189 still alarms and we responded to call for help on a Mu- tual Aid basis to out-of-town calls to Lawrence three times (3), Lowell once (1), Tewksbury two (2), Wilmington two (2). and North Reading two (2).
The total assessed valuation of buildings where fire oc- curred amounted to $878,865.00 and the fire loss approxim- ated $22,800.00 mostly covered by insurance.
Ambulance calls for the year totalled 696, of which 589 were handled by the new 1956 Cadillac Ambulance which was purchased this year and put into service July 6, 1956. Fifty-six (56) calls were handled by the 1946 Cadillac and six (6) handled by the 1937 Henney Ambulance, both of which were traded as part of the purchase of the present ambulance.
Fire Inspections for 1956 totalled 746; thirty seven (37) installations of Liquified Petroleum Gas Systems were in- spected ; 279 power oil burners, installations and storage were inspected ; range oil burners installations and storage amounted to 32 inspections and newly constructed garages totalling 238 were inspected. Inspection for fire prevention is fast becoming a must for Fire Departments and I believe, that when man power is increased sufficiently, company in- spections of home and multi-family dwellings can be hand- led by in-service Engine companies where equipped with two-way radio facilities such as we have at present.
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The personnel of the Department has remained the same as the report of 1955 shows and also the equipment on hand with the change as stated in placing the new ambulance in service. The members of the department through their com- bined efforts and skill have helped to add a valuable piece of equipment to the Fire Alarm Division by converting an old Civil Defense trailer pump into a sparkling maintenance trailer for use on the Fire Alarm.
A training program has been instituted whereby all per- manent members receive daily an hour or two hours in- struction six days a week in fire department evolutions and knowledge required for the most efficient and expedient means of operating at fires and the use of equipment pur- chased by town funds. Through the two First Aid instruct- ors in the department all members of the permanent force and those members of the call force who so desire are kept abreast of , or take and pass first aid standard and advanced courses during the evening hours when said courses are scheduled.
Fire protection coverage has remained the same as in the 1955 report and those same recommendations of 1955 I hope will receive a step in the right direction this year by increasing our permanent personnel.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY L. HILTON, Chief Andover Fire Department
213
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Police Department
To the Board of Selectmen, Andover, Massachusetts.
GENTLEMEN :
I hereby submit a summary of the activities of the Ando- ver Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1956.
Miscellaneous complaints received and investigated 695
Summons Served for Out of Town Police 187
Automobiles Stolen in Andover
3
Automobiles Recovered in Andover
2
Bicycles Stolen in Andover 7
Bicycles Recovered in Andover
7
Breaks in Camps and Dwellings
14
Doors in Business District Found Open and Secured 87
Lost Children Returned to Parents 3
Runaway Children Returned to Parents or Institutions
13
Dogs Killed by Automobiles
22
Dogs Injured by Automobiles
64
Attempted Suicides
1
Street Lights Reported Out to Lawrence Electric Co.
425
Dogs Lost and Returned to Owner 22
Number of Persons Bitten by Dogs 69
Board of Health Notified on Dog Bites
69
Cattle Lost and Returned to Owner
10
Dead Bodies Cared for by Police
6
Persons Notified for Out of Town Police
29
Dwellings Inspected While Owners Away 412
Articles Found and Returned to Owners 6
Summons Served on Local Complaints in Andover 23
Missing Persons Reported, Located and Returned 6
Highway Conditions Reported to B. P. W. 88
Persons Taken to Danvers State Hospital 6
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1
Persons Taken to Hospital in Cruiser 13 Bell Alarms Covered by Police 79
Cards Sent to Registry of Motor Vehicles for Violation of Motor Law Arrests Made for Out of Town Police Breaks in Business District
810
1
9
Persons Given Lodging
1
ARREST AND CHARGES
Drunkenness
49
Speeding
46
Operating Under the Influence of Liquor
22
Allowing Improper Person to Operate Motor Vehicle
2
Leaving Scene of Accident
4
Operating Without License
4
Operating After Suspension of License
1
Operating to Endanger
2
Violation of Law of the Road
4
Parking Meter Violation
8
Larceny
2
Breaking and Entering
3
Delinquent Child
21
Non Support
2
Malicious Damage to Property
1
Assault with Intent to Rape
1
Statutory Rape
1
Carrying Unloaded Pistol in Motor Vehicle
1
Operating Unregistered Car
2
Operating Uninsured Car
2
Failure to Stop for School Bus
2
Passing Motor Vehicle when View was Obstructed
2
Default Warrant
1
Capias
1
DISPOSITION OF CASES
Convictions in District Court
104
Placed on File
15
Probation
15
215
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Released by Probation Officer
25
Sentenced to Concord Reformatory
3
Sentenced to House of Correction 1
Sentenced to Youth Service Board 5
Dismissed
2
Appealed to Superior Court
2
Turned Over to Out of Town Police 3 Fines Paid $2,545.00
In 1956 there were 216 reportable accidents in Andover. These include fatal accidents, personal injury accidents, and property damage accidents where damage to one or more vehicles or other property amounts to more than $100.00. This accident total, 216, is 68 more than the year 1955. However, 100 of the accidents occurred in the first three months of 1956 during the severe stormy weather. A break- down of the accidents shows the following information :
Fatal accidents 3 (4 deaths)
Personal injury accidents 109
Property damage
86
Pedestrian accidents
9
Bicycle-motor vehicle accidents
9
In 1956 there were 810 motor vehicles violations notices issued by the police department, and 1758 parking viola- tions were issued.
During 1956, the police cars travelled a total of 188,970 miles.
Respectfully submitted, DAVID L. NICOLL, Chief of Police
DOG OFFICER
January 10, 1957
To the Board of Selectmen,
Andover, Massachusetts.
GENTLEMEN :
I hereby submit my annual report as Dog Officer for the year ending December 31, 1956.
216
Total number of dogs licensed in Andover 1428
Number of Kennel licenses in Andover 16
Number of complaints received and investigated 83
Total number of dog bites received and investigated 69
Number of dog bites reported to the Board of Health 69
Stray dogs picked up and cared for
79
Number of dogs reported lost by their owners 150
Total number of dogs returned to their owners
86
Total number of homes found for stray dogs
22
Number of dogs struck and injured by automobiles
64
Number of dogs struck and killed by automobiles 22
Dogs destroyed by police
5
Dead dogs removed from the highways
12
Number of Hens killed by dogs
22
Number of Geese killed by dogs
10
Number of Ducks killed by dogs
12
Number of Pigs killed by dogs
1
Total number of dogs turned over to the M S C P A
26
Dogs reported lost by out of Town owners
10
Returned to out of Town owners
7
Dogs killing Hens shot by owner of the poultry
1
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM R. HICKEY
Dog Officer of Andover
217
Board of Health Nurse and Agent
To the Townspeople of Andover:
We submit herewith a brief resume of the activities of the Board of Health for the year 1956.
The following contagious diseases were reported to this office :
1956
1955
1954
Dog bites
63
45
66
Tuberculosis
3
3
4
Scarlet Fever
18
101
16
Chicken Pox
37
106
24
Whooping Cough
6
4
14
Measles
6
307
17
Mumps
25
24
107
Syphilis
1
3
0
Infectious Hepatitis
1
5
0
Meningitis, Influenzal
1
0
0
Anterio Poliomyelitis
0
9
2
Diphtheria
1
0
0
German Measles
9
1
1
Mononucleosis
1
0
0
Encephalitis (Eastern Equine)
1
0
0
Menigitis, pneumonia
1
0
0
Salmonellosis
0
1
0
Totals :
174
609
251
DEATHS FROM CONTAGIOUS DISEASES
Pulmonary Tuberculosis
1
0
0
Meningitis
1
0
0
Poliomyelitis
0
1
0
Totals :
2
1
0
The following licenses were granted and the fees for the same have been turned over to the Town Treasurer:
218
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Septic Tank Permits (new category this year)
90
Garbage and Refuse 14
Maintenance of Piggeries
7
Slaughtering 2
Milk
65
Oleomargarine
28
Pasteurization of Milk
6
Ice Cream Manufacture
4
Boarding House
In addition a number of investigations were made of res- taurants, dairy barns, milk samples, milk trucks, Boy Scout Camps, Girl Scout Camps, water supplies, piggeries and sewage nuisances. One restaurant was closed due to unsani- tary conditions.
One outstanding feature of the year was the number of individuals who received the Salk Polio Vaccine. A total of 3,000 people went to five clinics. In 1956, Andover also held free Baby Clinics and Anti-Rabic for dogs.
Respectfully submitted,
ANDOVER BOARD OF HEALTH
R. A. WALSH, Secretary
219
Committee to Explore the Question of Municipal Garbage Collection
Board of Selectmen, Town of Andover Andover, Massachusetts
GENTLEMEN :
The committee appointed by the moderator to explore the question of municipal garbage collection beg to report them- selves unanimously in favor of the adoption by the Town of a system of garbage collection by means of a contract between the Town and a private collector.
Correspondence with thirteen Massachusetts towns, com- parable to Andover in population, number of residences and road mileage has revealed that eleven of these towns em- ploy this system of garbage collection, and that they report ease of contract placement and complete satisfaction with this method. Comparison of figures submitted by the towns indicates that such a program could be effected in Andover at an approximate cost of $2.50 per family per annum.
Because a number of private contractors have already entered into garbage collection contracts with many fa- milies in Andover for the current year, we request that this committee be continued, in order that the private collectors may have fair notice, and that we may come before a future meeting to submit an Article to appropriate the necessary funds to put a contract system of garbage collection into effect in the Town of Andover, commencing in the calendar year 1958.
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