USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Ipswich > Town annual report of Ipswich 1950 > Part 7
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
would have to be acquired so that this whole area would be available for the new building, off-street parking, landscaping, etc., needed with such a project. Colonial type of architecture would naturally be in keeping with the early history of our Town.
We were most fortunate in having the valued help of Mr. Philip Thiel, a student at the School of Architecture at M. I. T., who has given freely of his time to your Committee during the last two months and just recently turned in a report to us which so fully covers the subject matter that we feel it should be included and made a part of this Committee's report. Through the courtesy of our Board of Selectmen, it will be available to all voters and we sincerely hope all will study it carefully. It may well be the basis of our future building and we are greatly indebted to Mr. Thiel for his interest and co- operation.
Your Committee is well aware of the immediate other build- ing needs in our Town and probable heavy costs, but the time has come when such a building program must be faced and we feel the Town's financial position is such that, with mutual co-operation, it should now move forward to completion.
We will offer an article in the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting in March to accept this report, as one of pro- gress, and to continue the committee with such funds as may be necessary to further our studies to acquire land and bring in estimates and probable costs at a later meeting.
We take this opportunity to thank the Town officials, de- partment heads, and again Mr. Philip Thiel, for their sincere co-operation in making this report possible.
Respectfully submitted, JEROME RICHARDSON, Chairman M. CHARLES ARTHUR, Clerk STANLEY BENNETT BENJAMIN H. DAVIS PETER RETALIS
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
New Town Hall Committee, Ipswich, Massachusetts,
Gentlemen:
I take pleasure in submitting herewith a report on my space studies for a new town hall for Ipswich.
My procedure in this work has generally been as follows: first, to visit each of the present Town departments, interview the staff and discuss the functioning of the department, its special needs, its future trends and to observe the present con- ditions of occupancy. Secondly, with this information in hand, I then formulated an estimate of the space and facility require- ments of the various departments, allowing for the probable future reorganization of these departments under the selectman- manager plan. Although the advice of competent authorities was secured in this aspect of the work, it is not intended that this present work should eliminate the need for a future de- tailed study by qualified consultants. This report may be con- sidered only as a first approximation to the evaluation of the problem.
Two important concepts underlie the space estimates for the new building. These concepts are the town's insurance that the new building will be a structure of maximum usefulness throughout its entire life; providing flexibility and adaptability to changing conditions at the lowest utlimate cost.
The first concept is that of modular planning: using a standardized structural plan with identical and repetitive bay dimensions. Rooms with special dimensional requirements, as a court room, would be omitted from the regular block of offices and located adjacent to it. This will mean that expan- sion and rearrangement of the office space can take place with a minimum of cost.
The second concept concerns the two basic types of spaces required in the office building: storage space (vaults and files ) and office space. The former does not need window area for lighting, but does require stronger framing to carry its weight, while good natural light is important for the less heavily loaded office work space. Thus, files and vaults are located between
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a corridor and office space, leaving all window area free, pro- viding a noise barrier from the corridor, and concentrating all the heavier structural members.
This is the same arrangement recommended by Professors Anderson, Beckwith and Kelley of the M. I. T. Architectural Dept., in a survey for the town of Brookline. These experts proposed dimension of 14'x10' for the units of the file and vault space, and 14'x18' for the units of office space; these dimensions having been found to work out best for purposes of subdivision and combination.
Thus, using the above for the dimensions of the structural framework, the units of vault, file (and public waiting) space are hereinafter expressed as multiples of 14'x10' equaling 140 square feet; and the units of office space as multiples of 14'x18' equaling 252 square feet. A summary of these space estimates will then provide a reasonable approximation to the size of the necessary new building.
It is recommended that the new town hall have no base- ment space beyond that necessary for the heating and mechan- ical equipment. Due to poor ventilation and high humidity, basements are poor places to store records, and if such space is necessary, it is proposed that this storage space be located on the roof of the building, over the corridor and strong framing of the file and vault space.
The preceding has described the method of my survey and estimate. In conclusion, I would like to make some observa- tions on the location of the new town hall.
One of New England's happiest traditional aspects is the town common, or green, expressing the center of the town's activity. Here were located roundabout the churches, town hall, post office, banks and various public buildings, and here, on the pleasant green planted with great foresight took place the public functions of the community: the musters, meetings and fairs, and the everyday business and social intercourse. The existance of this visible and definite civic center as the focus of the town's daily activity and common life, is the reason for most of the charm and coherence of the New England town.
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Unfortunately, questions of expediency over a period of time have in some cases resulted in a neglect of this traditional and worthwhile consideration. As time goes on, land uses be- come fixed, land values increase and it becomes increasingly difficult to take the necessary steps. But "man does not live by bread alone" and on this challenge future generations of our children will judge us.
Finally, I want to express my sincere appreciation for the opportunity to make this study. The town officials have been exceedingly co-operative and it has been a privilege and pleasure to work with the committee.
Respectfully submitted,
PHILIP THIEL
January 5, 1951.
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
General Government
Under this heading are included the selectmen, town man- ager, town counsel, planning board, accountant, treasurer- collector, town clerk and assessors. These departments have a functional relationship with each other, and receive many public visits. They should, therefore, be closely situated and on the first floor near the main public entrance.
Selectmen - At present the selectmen meet in a small room of about 340 square feet, also used as a juvenile court, and by the state auditors. Occasionally this space is inadequate for the public hearings that are held. It is proposed in the interest of efficient use of space that the selectmen share the use of a hearing room in the new building for their meetings. This room will be discussed later.
Town Manager - For the new office of town manager, there should be a private office, large enough for small con- ferences, and an outer office for a secretary and the use of the planning board. One unit of public space would suffice, in addition.
1 unit of 140 sq. ft. 140
2 units of 252 sq. ft. 504
Total
644 sq. ft.
Accountant - The present accountant's office occupies an area of about 400 sq. ft., including a public space. Although it appears crowded, this amount of space was considered ade- quate. The present staff consists of the accountant and one clerk. Public visits to this department are small. It should be easily accessible to the town manager and treasurer-collector. With two units of office space, and one unit each of public and vault space, about the same area as at present would be available with the vault space forming an increase.
2 units of 252 sq. ft. 504
2 units of 140 sq. ft. 280
Total
784 sq. ft.
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Treasurer-Collector - This department with about 600 sq. ft of floor space, including public space is considered to be adequate with the exception of the vault. The staff includes the Treasurer-Collector and two clerks. Another clerk is needed. This department has probably the greatest number of public visits. Two units of office space, two of vault space and public space, and one of file space appears to be necessary.
2 units of 252 sq. ft. 504
5 units of 140 sq. ft. 700
Total
1204 sq. ft.
Assessors - Occupying about 190 sq. ft. at present with inadequate file and vault space, this department is staffed with the chairman of the board and one clerk. Public visits, for which private conference space is desirable, are fairly heavy at different times of the year. There should be adequate space for the regular meetings of the board, and for proper provision of the necessary accurate maps and records. One unit of office space, and one unit each of file, vault and public space are indicated here.
1 unit of 252 sq. ft. 252
3 units of 140 sq. ft. 420
Total
672 sq. ft.
Clerk - Present occupancy, including the pitifully small vault, is about 220 sq. ft. The clerk reports that with provi- sion of public space and private conference facilities, the present office area would be about adequate. Vault space for town records is, of course, a vital necessity. A location easily acces- sible to the public is desirable. Thus, one unit of office space, two units of vault space and one unit of public space appear to be required.
1 unit of 252 sq. ft. 252
4 units of 140 sq. ft. 560
Total
812 sq. ft.
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Public Works
This division includes highways, rubbish, water and light, tree, parks, forest, moth and sewerage.
The Water and Light Department at present has about 790 sq. ft. of floor space including manager's office, engineers' office, general office and public space. This area includes space for blueprint files. Staff includes a manager, engineer and two clerks, with another clerk needed in the near future. This department receives a moderate number of public visits.
The Highway Department now occupies a small space of about 100 sq. ft., inadequate for its important plan files and records. The Superintendent and bookkeeper use this office in- ยท termittently.
The other departments at present have no regular town hall facilities.
Space allocations for the new building should provide for all the above in addition to a possible blueprint and photostat room. A committee room may be desirable. These offices should be grouped together and could be on the second floor. One unit of public space, three units of file space, one of vault space and one unit for a reproduction room seem reasonable, with five units of office space.
5 units of 252 sq. ft. 1260
6 units of 140 sq. ft. 840
Total Public Schools
2100 sq. ft. .
The space needs for the public schools administration have been set forth as follows:
Superintendent's office.
Conference-committee room with special storage and other facilities.
General small private offices for supervisors.
General office space.
Supply storage.
Vault Space
Public space.
Space for School Committee public meetings.
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
If the above facilities are included in the new town hall, the School Committee public meetings could be held in the common hearing room, to the end of greater efficiency.
The other requirements work out to one unit of public space, one of vault space, three of file and storage space and five units of office space.
5 units of 252 sq. ft. 1260
5 units of 140 sq. ft. 700
Total
1960 sq. ft.
Third District Court
Three separate spaces are required for the court. These are the courtroom proper, the clerk of court's office and the judge's chamber which is also used as the juvenile court. The present town hall courtroom is occasionally used for various committee meetings and hearings; and it is proposed that the future court be arranged to continue this economical arrange- ment by designing it as a general purpose hearing room, for selectmen, school committee and others.
The area of the present facilities are approximately:
Court Clerk
1000 sq. ft. 300 sq. ft. 340 sq. ft.
Judge
Total
1640 sq. ft.
These areas are considered adequate, and they are there- fore included without change. (Since the courtroom has spe- cial shape requirements, it and its accessory spaces are not ex- pressed in terms of the modular units. )
Welfare Department
Present occupancy is about 375 sq. ft. and lacks space for necessary private conferences. Staff includes the Clerk of the Board and one other clerk. Future needs have been ex- pressed as one more clerk and two social workers. This office should be located on the first floor and near a public entrance, not necessarily the main public entrance.
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
The area requirements work out to one unit of public space, one of file space and one of vault space, plus three units of office space.
3 units of 252 sq. ft. 756
3 units of 140 sq. ft. 420
Total
1176 sq. ft.
Veterans' Services
The needs of this department appear to be one unit of public space and one of office space.
1 unit of 252 sq. ft. 252
1 unit of 140 sq. ft. 140
Total
392 sq. ft.
Health Department
It is understood that the functions of this department will be assumed by the Commonwealth within the next few years as part of the recently enacted regional health plan. However, some office space may be needed locally for the State agent and for this purpose one unit each of public and office space are included.
1 unit of 252 sq. ft. 252
1 unit of 140 sq. ft. 140
Total
392 sq. ft.
Unassigned
In addition to the preceding activities, the Town has cer- tain other committees, trustees and commissions who at present do not have facilities in the town hall. Also, at various times during the year, special semi-official committees are formed, such as the Community Chest, Red Cross, March of Dimes, etc., and it is suggested that some general unassigned space be allotted for such activities to be used as required.
This space will also act as a built-in safety factor in the event of unforeseen need for space by the regular town de- partments.
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
For these purposes, two units each of file and office space appear adequate. (The file spaces could be fitted with locked cabinets for each of the various groups that would use the space. )
2 units of 252 sq. ft. 504
2 units of 140 sq. ft. 280
Total
784 sq. ft.
Public Safety
Under this heading are included the Police and Fire De- partments. Although there are as many reasons against locating these departments in a new town hall as there are for it, an estimate for the Police Department is included in this report. (The Fire Department was not surveyed. )
With the exception of the lock-up, officers' locker room and pistol range, the present department office space of about 675 sq. ft. is considered adequate. One unit of public space, three of office space, and an allowance for a modest above ground cell block and toilet space and a pistol range seem reasonable.
3 units of 252 sq. ft. 756
1 unit of 140 sq. ft. 140
Cell block
252
Pistol range
750
Total
1898 sq. ft.
Auditorium
There is a definite need in the town for adequate space for community social functions: plays, dances, meetings, and not the least, for town meetings. This suggests that some sort of auditorium-social hall should be considered in connection with the new town hall.
However, there are other matters to consider in connec- tion with this. A building adequate for these purposes would be at least half the size of all the other new town hall space.
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Usually, a combination auditorium-social hall does not give satisfactory performance for either function, and a good audi- torium is an expensive facility when its relatively infrequent use is considered.
But these facilities are important to the civic life of the Town. It remains to see if alternate possibilities exist. Per- haps the solution lies in providing adequate social facilities, in- cluding pantry and kitchen space with the new town hall (or a separate civic center), and then to either construct the new auditorium as part of one of the new schools that the Town will have to build in the near future, or to build the auditorium under an arrangement for its use as a movie theatre, subject to prior town uses. Either of these arrangements would mean a more economical utilization of this facility.
The above is, incidently, a good example of the necessity of planning the future of the town in an over-all concept, in- stead of by wasteful and costly piecemeal dribs and drabs. The Town is facing the problem of a major construction program, and at the very least it makes dollars and cents economy to consider the matter as one big picture.
Service Facilities
Under this heading are included the necessary corridors, stairways, lobby, toilet spaces, custodian's facilities and me- chanical equipment space. The following allowances are sug- gested for this:
Lobby
700 sq. ft.
Custodian
200
Toilets
300
Corridors and stairs
3000
Mechanical equipment
1000
Total
5200 sq. ft.
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Recapitulation
General Government
4216 sq. ft.
Public Works
2100
School
1960
Court and Hearing
1640
Welfare
1176
Veterans' Service
392
Health
392
Unassigned
784
Public Safety (Police)
1898
Service
5200
Total 19,758 sq. ft.
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
A Report of the Special Committee on Present and Future School Needs Established by Vote of the Annual Town Meeting of 1950
To the Town Meeting:
The annual Town Meeting of 1950 directed the Moderator to appoint six citizens to serve together with the members of the School Committee as a special committee to report to the Town on present and future school building needs. In accord- ance with the instructions given to this committee at the time of its appointment we are submitting our findings and recom- mendations. Due to the importance and scope of the survey, we felt that hasty action on the part of our committee would be an unsound policy, and for this reason we proceeded with our work slowly and carefully. We are all in agreement that more time is needed to study such a vital problem, and because of this we filed an article in the Town Warrant asking for an extension of this committee for one year. Therefore, we are calling this report a "Progress Report."
Many meetings were held and present at these sessions was the Superintendent of Schools, who gave his time generously after being invited to attend by the committee. From these meetings there gradually emerged from the committee's discus- sion, the understanding that in order to report to the Town on school building needs, five basic questions need to be answered:
1. What kind of an educational program
do we need? do we expect? are we able to pay for?
2. How many children must we plan to educate now and for a considerable period of time in the future?
3. How adequate are our present buildings to provide the kind of program the people want?
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
4. What facilities do we need in addition to those we now have? Where do we need them? And in what order?
5. How can these needs be related to the larger problem of improving the general conditions of our community living?
It is impossible to answer all these questions definitely. Some of the answers (like those to the questions about the nature and scope of the educational program) can emerge only out of meetings and discussions between professional and lay groups, which is presently stimulated by the school adminis- tration. The other questions can be answered through refer- ence to data which can be provided only by expert, fact-finding groups.
This committee has solicited data from the Superintendent of Schools and has received it. It has read some literature on schools and reviewed the recent local school reports. It has visited all the elementary school buildings, and with the assist- ance of members of the staff has rated the buildings on a standard school rating scale. It asked for assistance from the Parent-Teacher groups of the Winthrop, Burley and Shatswell Schools to take a census of all youngsters from 0-6 years of age, and to evaluate the buildings in relation to health, safety, accessibility and the needs of an adequate elementary school program.
The committee has discussed these matters with the study groups.
As a result of these activities, and in view of the data it has acquired, the committee has arrived at some very general and very tentative conclusions:
1. That in the next five years we are going to need several more classrooms than we now have.
2. Some of the rooms which we are now using need to be thoroughly remodeled or replaced if they are to implement a modern program of education.
3. Certain facilities, considered essential to good elemen- tary education, are felt, by school people and by a substantial number of parents, to be lacking in our schools.
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Each of these conclusions suggests that a very substantial investment in school building may have to be made in a short time. We have hesitated to proclaim even that general state- ment before all the facts are in. We have done so, never- theless, because we think that we owe it to the townspeople to let them know as early as possible what they are in for. We should like to suggest as strongly as possible that any long- range fiscal policy for the town will be unrealistic if it does not provide for substantial capital outlay for schools. The committee, therefore, has recommended that an unbiased pro- fessional group be hired to study and evaluate the school build- ing needs. This it has done by the insertion of an article in the Town Warrant, and it asks the townspeople for their support in backing this article.
In conclusion the committee wishes to thank the various Parent-Teacher groups who attended the meetings and will- ingly took part in tasks assigned to them by the committee. We want to acknowledge the wonderful spirit of co-operation that Mr. Merson, the school superintendent, has given us, and to all others who in any way made the committee's tasks easier.
JOHN BIALEK, Chairman ROLAND SINGER
WILLIAM DAVISON CHARLES LAMPSON PAUL JODOIN JOHN WARD ROBERT FRANKLIN CECELIA MCKENZIE RICHARD MANSFIELD LOUISE RICHARDSON CHARLES MIHOS IVAN NICHOLS
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Town Property, 1950 December 31, 1950
Land
Buildings
High School Burley School
1,500.00
75,000.00
Shatswell School
1,000.00
65,000.00
Memorial Building
2,000.00
58,000.00
Town Hall
2,500.00
50,000.00
Winthrop School
1,000.00
50,000.00
Manning School
4,000.00
Fire Station
3,500.00
40,000.00
Highway Department
750.00
5,000.00
Payne School
1,500.00
4,000.00
Infirmary
4,000.00
1,000.00
Wharf Property
3,350.00
Cemeteries
5,000.00
Public Grounds
32,500.00
500.00
Great Neck
8,300.00
Veterans' Housing Project
4,200.00
19,500.00
Light House Property
200.00
1,300.00
Store, High Street
500.00
R. F. Kinsman Land (County Rd.)
2,300.00
Woodland-Linebrook
125.00
Woodland-Common Fields
75.00
$88,300.00
$634,300.00
TAX TITLE POSSESSIONS
Land Assessed $100.00
Buildings Assessed
Lot 52, Bar Island Lot 404, Bar Island
100.00
150.00
Grape Island (Fuller Trust)
600.00
950.00
$800.00
$1,600.00
$10,000.00
$265,000.00
$ 500.00
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
List of Jurors
Amerio, Veto, 54 East Street Bailey, Walter R., Newmarch Street Bagley, Wendell M., 50 County Barrows, Raymond, 4 Hovey Street Barth, Elmer J., 3 Turkey Shore Road Bell, William F., 16a Argilla Road Belosselsky, Serg, Labor-in-Vain Road Benedix, George W., 10 Maple Avenue Betts, Robert E., Woods Lane Bialek, Joseph W., 7 River Court Blake, Howard, 45 No. Main Street Bolles, Chester A., 15 Turkey Shore Road Bolles, Gardner, 12 Woods Lane Brooks, Conrad H., 8 No. Main Street Burns, Peter F., 23 Turkey Shore Road Burrage, Albert C., Heartbreak Road Carman, Richard B., Topsfield Road Carstones, William, 90 Central Street Chadbourne, Frank, 8 Agawam Avenue Chadwell, George H., 94 High Street Chapman, Fred F., 16 Kimball Avenue Chase, Joseph T., 18 Linebrook Road Ciolek, Theodore J., 17 County Manor Claxton, David B., 68 East Street Cole, Harry F., 7 Woods Lane Collins, Ben, 3 Poplar Street
Conley, John F., 31 High Street
Cooper, Walter C., 1 Turkey Shore Road Davis, Benjamin H., 6 Linden Street
Clam Dealer United Shoe Engineer Office Clerk Accountant Insurance Farmer Clerk Sylvania Sylvania Undertaker
Broker
Investment Broker
United Shoe
Bookkeeper Retired Manager
Manager
Teacher
Sylvania
Merchant
Retired
Clerk
Bank Clerk Salesman Merchant
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