USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Ipswich > Town annual report of Ipswich 1952 > Part 2
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Awarded to the Burnham Bros. Con- struction Company of Essex.
3) Guard Rail construction on
County Street Bridge and for Chapter 90 installation.
Awarded to New England Fence Com- pany of Reading.
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PLANNING DEPT.
Amos Hayward, Chairman
INTRODUCTION: To many persons the Planning Board represents land-develop- ment control only. Others would connect public works planning with it. Actually, planning covers all phases of public ad- ministration, but these two items have absorbed the majority of the Board's time during the short interval that it has been functioning.
CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS: One of the Board's projects, and of primary importance to planning, is to formulate a guiding or master plan of the commu- nity showing desirable Town develop- ment. This physical plan must be based on an extensive study of geographic, social and economic factors.
Going hand in hand with a plan for Town development is the process of de- termining the logical order of construc- tion of Municipal projects. This is im- portant if the Town is to develop well- balanced services. From these decisions a long-range program is conceived to as- sure maximum value to the Town. Long range programs and capital expenditure budgets provide assurance that projects will be carried out according to prede-
No. of Board Members
1952 Expenditures $63 61
termined priorities of need within the Town's ability to pay.
This in general terms has been one of the major activities of the Board dur- ing 1952, and recommendations concern- ing the sewer project, the School Build- ing Needs, Town office space require- ments, and Town Garage needs were pre- pared.
PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT: Sub-division and land development problems of both the Town and private enterprise were studied. Rules and regulations for sub- division approval, although specified in general terms by State law, were estab- lished in June, applicable to the local situ- ation. Some items of State law were re- stated so that procedures and obligations might be better understood.
MEETINGS: Between November 8, 1951. when the first meeting was held, and December 1952 the Board has met thirty- seven times. In addition to the work pre- viously stated, several meetings were in- structional in nature with outside speakers invited. Planning Conferences were attended to exchange ideas, and to help gain a better understanding of vari- ous planning problems.
PLANNING BOARD
Left to right: Jerome Richardson, Rev. Daniel Boone, Amos Haywood, Gordon Hughes, and Chester J. Patch, Jr.
LEGAL DEPT.
William F. Hayes, Town Counsel
IPSWICH BEACH:
The legal matter of greatest interest to the Town of Ipswich last year was the settlement of the Ipswich Beach situa- tion. The Annual Town Report for the previous 5 years contained references to efforts to settle the Beach issue by Spe- cial Town Counsel, Raymond M. Sulli- van, and the Town Council. Imme- diately prior to the Annual Town Meet- ing of 1952, the various parties inter- csted held a series of meetings and finally a settlement was accomplished. Basically the settlement resolved the following: The Town of Ipswich has a deed and now owns in its own right a parcel of land next adjacent to the present parking area of the Trustees of Public Reserva- tions, which area the Town of Ipswich may use for a parking and picnic area. The Town of Ipswich will annually re- ceive 10% of the gross receipts of the Trustees at the Beach. The Town of Ipswich gave up its claim to rights of way over the Beach and specifically any claim of title to the areas of land set off to Cornelius Crane and Florence Belossel- sky. The agreement further stipulated that the Inhabitants of the Town of Ip- swich and the invitees of the Trustees of Public Reservations should have the joint use to the actual Beach and that no regulations or rules relating to the use of the Beach would be effective against the Inhabitants of the Town of Ipswich without the consent of the Board of Se- lectmen of the Town of Ipswich. Provi- sion is made for the parking of 200 auto- inobiles reserved for the Inhabitants of the Town of Ipswich to park without
No. of Employees 1 part time
1952 Expenditures $800.00
charge at the parking area at Ipswich Beach.
This agreement provides that the In- habitants of the Town of Ipswich have the use of the Beach and while the actual title to most of the Beach remains in the Trustees of Public Reservations, the li- cense for the use of the Beach substan- tially grants to the Inhabitants of the Town of Ipswich all the uses they would have by ownership.
The very effective position taken by Florence Belosselsky was instrumental in bringing the agreement to a conclusion. The unyielding position taken by her was of tremendous value in bringing about a settlement without a long and expensive Court litigation.
COURT CASES:
There was but one Court case during the past year and this case was settled in Court just prior to actual trial. This case involved injuries received from a fall caused by a defect in a sidewalk. The settlement was for substantially less than the amount asked for by the injured per- son and was made with the approval of the Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager.
LEGAL OPINIONS:
The Town Manager has been furnished with various legal opinions during the year involving the interpretation of the Town Manager Act and of duties re- quired of the Town Manager. Some opinions have been formal and on these written opinions have been given; others have been oral.
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HEALTH DEPT.
Ernest Romano, Health Officer
PERSONNEL: In November the Board regretfully accepted the resignation of Mr. John LaPlante as Health Officer. On November 24, Mr. Ernest Romano was appointed to fill that position.
SLAUGHTERING INSPECTION: Many major improvements were made during the year at the slaughter house to insure a safe output of meat. Among these were the following:
Walls were repainted
Work benches were remodeled New work coats were installed Wooden barrels were replaced by metal ones
Transportation methods were im- proved
The number of animals slaughtered during the year were as follows:
Horses 1,235
Goats 2
Cattle 5
Calves 3
Sheep 9
Total 1,254
A total of $1,254 will be paid into the Town Treasury for the year in slaughter- ing fees.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES: The inci- dence of measles during the months of February and March had greatly increased as compared with these same months of the previous year. The same condition was noted throughout the State. Com- municable diseases in general dropped off sharply during the month of May and this trend continued throughout the year.
The number of cases reported for the year were as follows:
Measles
79
Mumps
9
Meningitis 2
Syphilis 1
Tuberculosis 3
Scarlet Fever 3
Chicken Pox 29
Whooping Cough 4
German Measles 17
Salmonellosis 4
Total 151
No. of Employees
1952 Expenditures ..
$6.8 9 80
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Of the twenty-one dog bite cases re- ported and investigated, twenty dogs were quarantined. There were no cases of Rabies.
Meat Inspection at Slaughter House
FOOD ESTABLISHMENT INSPECTION : Fifty swab tests were performed on local food establishments. Those receiving un- satisfactory results were notified and corrections were made.
The number of food establishments in- vestigated were as follows:
Bakeries 5
Restaurants 67
Grocery Stores 5
Drug Stores 3
During the year 1952 a code regula- ting eating and drinking establishments was drawn up by the Board, which has greatly improved the sanitary conditions in the local eating and drinking estab- lishments.
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T. B. X-RAY: In December the Board of Health, in conjunction with the Essex County T. B. Association, Common- wealth of Massachusetts, Department of Public Health, sponsored a free T. B. X-Ray program. Two hundred and fifty volunteers made the project a complete success, and 2,197 persons were x-rayed free of charge. Total cost to the Town was $280 of $.13 a person x-rayed.
X-Ray Survey
MILK INSPECTION: During the year 1952, fifty-eight milk and cream samples were analyzed and those dealers, whose milk was found to be below the mini- mum standards, were notified.
ANIMAL INSPECTION: During the an- nual animal farm survey, thirty-five local farms were inspected and seventy-eight ear tags examined of animals shipped to Ipswich. All farms were made to com- ply with the State Health Department Code.
LICENSES AND PERMITS: Sixty-three licenses were issued during the year, to- gether with twelve permits.
NUISANCE COMPLAINTS: Forty-three nuisance complaints were reported and all of them were investigated and abated.
SEWERAGE: During the month of May, the greater part of the Health Agent's time was spent with a State Department Engineer in surveying the sewage disposa! methods in Ipswich. The purpose of the survey was to ascertain the number of buildings, public, private, and commer-
cial, that were contributing to the river pollution.
OVER-NIGHT CABINS AND RECREA- TIONAL CAMPS: Seven over-night cabins and recreational camps were investigated and found to be operating properly.
VITAL STATISTICS: Eighteen premature babies were born at the Cable Memorial Hospital with two fatalities.
SCHOOL NURSING PROGRAM: In Janu- ary, 370 students, grades 8-12 constitu- ting 92.2 per cent of the enrollment, were given the Tuberculin Patch Test. In December, 299 students in grades 9-12 received a chest X-ray at the Mobile X-ray unit. This constituted 100 per cent of the High School group. Also during the year thirteen students and three adults working in the High School Cafeteria were taken to Middleton for chest X-rays. All known contact cases in the schools were taken to Middleton for check-ups and x-rays. The annual Dip- theria Clinic was held last Spring at which time 36 regular immunizations were given and 353 booster shots were given.
The Well-Child Clinic was held the first Wednesday of each month with the exception of August. It is hoped in the coming year the attendance in this clinic may be increased. A more suitable place than the Nurses office is needed, and it is planned to try to get more publicity on this clinic. In 1952, ninety-two babies and pre-school children were seen, of which thirty-one received initial im- munizations or booster shots.
Volunteers Check at X-Ray Survey
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WELFARE DEPT.
Walter Callahan, Welfare Agent
INTRODUCTION: The Welfare Depart- ment grants aid in four general cate- gories. These are General Relief, Old Age Assistance, Aid to Dependent Children, and Disability Assistance. Each category of aid is governed by a different set of regulations, and all but General Relief are eligible for State and Federal reim- bursements.
GENERAL RELIEF: This category of as- sistance provides for persons who are temporarily unemployed, or who, for one reason or another, do not qualify for one of the other categories of relief. Em- ployment conditions exert a great influ- ence on the General Relief load; however, all able-bodied applicants are required to work out their orders.
In 1951, the average load of General Relief recipients was about 25 cases per month. This decreased during 1952 to an average load of about 17 cases per month. Total aid rendered for General Relief was $19,947.13 in 1951, and this dropped to $10,158.54 in 1952. Part of this decrease was due to a smaller average case load in 1952, and part of it was due to the fact that as many as possible of the re- cipients were put under Disability As- sistance, so that the Town would be re- imbursed a portion of the total expendi- tures.
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE: This category of relief is for those needy who are over 65 years of age and citizens of the United States. The town is reimbursed a major portion of the aid rendered in this cate- gory by the State and Federal Govern- ment.
Total expenditures for O. A. A. dropped from $155,182.16 in 1951 to a total of $142,021.12 in 1952. This total expenditure was apportioned as follows: Federal Share $ 59,314.18
State Share 59,064.36 Other
municipalities 139.53
Local Share 23,503.05
Total $142,021.12
No. of Employees:
Permanent 2
Board Members
3
1952 Expenditures :
Gen. Relief $ 10,158.54
O. A. A. 142,021.12
A. D. C. 4,652.45
Dist. Asst. 12,845.23
Welfare Dir. Walter Callahan
On January 1, 1952, there were 176 active cases on the Town rolls. During the year, 21 cases were closed and 14 new cases added, so that as of December 31, 1952, there were 169 active O. A. A. cases.
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN: This category of relief is rendered in cases where the wage earner is taken from the family, due to sickness, death, or deser- tion.
In 1951, the average case load under this category was five families, with ten persons as recipients. At the end of 1952, there were three active cases with seven persons as recipients. Total expenditures dropped from $10,950.90 in 1951 to $4,- 652.45 in 1952. This total was appor- tioned as follows:
Federal Share $1,740.68
State Share 1,468.75 Local Share 1,443.02
Total $4,652.45 One of the serious problems facing the Welfare Department in past years has
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been that a wage earner who had deserted the family could not easily be brought back and forced to assume his obligations if he had left the State. In 1952, a new law was enacted which will make it easier to bring action against the deserter, wherever he can be located.
DISABILITY ASSISTANCE: This is a new type of assistance, which was enacted late in 1951. It is designed to aid those who are permanently disabled and unable to care for themselves. Case histories are sent in every instance into the State De- partment of Public Welfare, where they are examined by a panel of physicians
VETERAN'S SERVICES
Anthony A. Murawski Veteran's Agent
PERSONNEL: In December, Veteran's Agent John Dolan resigned this position, and Mr. Anthony Murawski was ap- pointed to fill the vacancy.
CASE LOAD: At present there are 119 cases on file; 19 are active, 1 pending. and the rest inactive at the close of the year.
There were 82 individual investigations for continuing, re-opening, and opening new cases during the year. These investi-
CIVIL DEFENSE DEPT.
Barclay Warburton III, Director
PERSONNEL: In July 1952, Mr. Barclay Warburton, III was appointed Civil De- fense Director to replace Mr. Robert Bamford, who resigned that position.
Much of the time of the new director has been spent in developing a nucleus organization, which could be expanded quickly in time of need. The new division heads that have been appointed are as follows:
Medical and Health- Dr. Herbert T. Foote
Civilian War Aid- Walter Callahan
Damage Control- Ralph Preble, Town Engineer
)
who pass on the extent of the disability and the necessity for aid.
As of January 1, 1952, there were ten active cases on the Town rolls. Dur- ing the year, three of these cases were closed, and nine new cases were added, leaving a total of sixteen active cases on December 31, 1952.
Total expenditures in 1952 for this
category of aid were as follows:
Federal Share $4,402.55
State Share 3,414.88
Local Share
5,027.80
Total $12,845.23
No. of Employees 1
1952 Expenditures $16,603.17
gations take considerable time and re- quire a great amount of correspondence before the final approval is granted by the Office of the Commissioner of Vet- crans' Services. Investigations are carried on even after the approval is granted.
Total expenditures for 1952 amounted to $15,674,28, an increase of $2,745.90 cver 1951. Reimbursements from the State and other cities in 1952 for assist- ance payments totaled $5,593.70 making a net cost to the Town of $10,080.58.
No. of Employees 1 part time 1952 Expenditures $188.20
Public Safety- Charles S. Bird
Within the Public Safety Division, the Auxiliary Police meet regularly and are very effective, due in great measure to the leadership of Captain George Hovey, Lieut. Jerome Richardson, and Acting Police Chief Stanley Surpitski.
ACTIVITIES: One air raid drill was held in June. The streets were cleared rapidly, but as yet there have been no shelters designated. This will be done after a sur- vey has been made.
Two open meetings were held at the Town Hall in November in an effort to stimulate public interest, but there is still a great deal of apathy regarding civilian defense.
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POLICE DEPT.
Byard W. Horsman, Chief
PERSONNEL: Chief Byard Horsman was on extended sick leave most of the year, and Sergeant Stanley Surpitski was as- signed the duties of Acting Chief on April 4, 1952. On July 10, 1952, Joseph Arcisz was assigned the duties of Acting Sergeant.
On September 12, Patrolman Joseph Leet retired after many years of faithful service because of ill health.
At present these vacancies are being filled by provisional appointees until such time as a Civil Service Register is established.
ARRESTS: There were 264 arrests made during the year, which was 70 less than in 1951. These were classified as fol- lows:
Drunkenness 97
Operating under influence 26
Stop-sign violations 17
Fornication 13
Leaving scene of accident 6
Driving on left 5
Driving so as to endanger 4
Miscellaneous 96
These cases were disposed of as follows:
Fined 78
Filed 55
Released 49
Filed on Cost of Court 18
Discharged 14
Sentenced to House of
Correction 11
Suspended Sentence 11
Miscellaneous Dispositions 28
OTHER ACTIVITIES: The Police Depart-
No. of Employees
8
1952 Expenditures $28,506.36
ment investigated 1,021 complaints, found 98 buildings open at night, and registered 142 bicycles.
Three hundred forty-five parking summons were issued, and 126 ambulance calls handled. There were 64 automobile collisions reported, but the Town of Ipswich completed its fourth year with- out a fatal accident on the highways. A plaque will be awarded to the Town from the National Safety Council this year in recognition of this fact.
Clam permits and beach parking stickers were issued as follows:
Resident Clam Permits 446
Non-Resident Clam Permits 618 Resident Beach Stickers 1218 Summer Resident Stickers 240
NEW EQUIPMENT: During 1952 the old cruiser was traded in for a new Ford at a cost of $459 and a new Cadillac am- bulance was purchased at a cost of $6,450.
POLICE PROBLEMS: Demands for police service are constantly increasing. Thorough investigations of complaints and accidents must be made, and much time is necessary for the proper enforce- ment of speed and parking regulations, traffic control, protection of business es- tablishments at night, and the protection of life and property at all times. The 1953 budget request for this Department in- cludes a sum for the addition of one more permanent patrolman, in order to give the level of police protection to which citizens of Ipswich are entitled.
Acting Chief Surpitski with New Ambulance and Cruiser
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FIRE DEPT.
Samuel W. Atherley, Chief
FIRE CALLS: The Fire Department an- swered a total of 314 calls during 1952 as compared to 206 calls the previous year. Of these, 64 were bell alarms, 196 were still alarms, and 54 were ambu- lance calls.
Fifteen of these calls were for building fires, thirteen for electrical fires, twelve for automobile fires, and nine for chimney fires. There were also sixty-six calls for grass, brush, and wood fires, and thirty-four dump fires.
There were only two false alarms dur- ing the year.
Many calls were to aid and assist citi- zens in such emergencies as flooded cel- lars, leaky refrigerators, flooded oil burners, heating boiler troubles, and people locked out of their homes. The Fire Department stands ready at all times to give whatever assistance is needed in such cases.
EQUIPMENT RUNS: Fire Department equipment covered a total of 1,116 miles, but it is estimated that the engine mile- age was nearly 10,00 miles. The Depart- ment laid one and one half miles of 21/2 inch hose, and nearly one mile of 11/2 inch hose. Seven hundred and ten feet of ladders were raised.
Fire Dept. in Action
No. of Employees :
Permanent 8
Call 28
1952 Expenditures $36,656.42
Chief Atherley Watches Hose Laid
FIRE LOSSES: The total value of property threatened exceeded $103,000, but total estimated losses during the year were only $19,000, while total insurance paid was approximately $16,000. In spite of the fact that there were 108 more calls in 1952 than during 1951, the increase in fire loss was only $12,000.
PERMANENT FIRE CHIEF: In November, Chief Samuel Atherly assumed the per- manent duties of Chief after having served as Call Chief for eight years, and call Deputy for 15 years. This change has resulted in an expanded fire preven- tion program, a more efficient building and equipment maintenance program, and better training and fire fighting pro- cedures.
NEW EQUIPMENT: The only new equipment added to the Department dur- ing the year was 300 feet of 21/2 inch hose, 300 feet of 11/2 inch hose, and 100 feet of 3/4 inch hose at a total cost of $733.62.
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SHELLFISH AND HARBORS
Lionel Sheppard, Sr., Director and Harbor Master
PERSONNEL: In September, Lionel Shep- pard, Sr., was appointed to the position of Shellfish Director and Harbor Master, replacing Bernard V. Farley who resigned after three years in this position.
SHELLFISH PROTECTION AND PROPAGA- TION: In May, the Third Creek area was screened off in an experimental attempt to protect these flats from invasion of the horse-shoe crab. It was found that as long as these screens were in place, the number of crabs in the area decreased, but due to tidal action, there was a great deal of washing under the screens and it became impossible to protect the flats adequately in this manner. $300 of State funds was used during the year in trap- ping green crabs. The Director and the deputies checked all diggers for viola- tions of the Shellfish laws, and Richard's Ground and Eagle Hill Landing were closed to digging.
Thirty-six signs for posting the flats were made.
There was, during the late fall, con- siderable amount of seed clams on the flats, and it is the plan of this Depart-
CUKED
NOTICE
Director and Deputy Check Signs and Crab Traps
No. of Employees:
Permanent 1
Part Time Deputies 2
1952 Expenditures $3,101.43
Shellfish Propagation Seeding Clams
ment to attempt to eliminate the green crabs and horseshoe crabs to save the seed clams that have already started.
TOWN WHARF: The joint Town-State reconstruction of the Town Wharf was completed in October with a new face wall and new pilings. Several hundred yards of gravel were put on the wharf by the Highway Department, and the entire area was graded. A new permit system was put into effect, and all boat owners may now use the Town Wharf only under the supervision of the Harbor Master.
Twenty new channel buoys have been built and painted red and black with white reflector paint on top. These will be put in the river this Spring to re- place the birch channel markers that have been used in the past. An attempt will be made to get a light on the black buoy in the end of North Spit next year to assist night navigation.
Much work is needed on the floats this Spring, and it is now planned to replace much of the flooring and to paint this equipment.
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RECREATION DEPT.
John Bialek, Chairman
SUMMER PLAYGROUND: The summer playground was continued as in previous years under the supervision of William Peatfield, with Ann Lombard and Con- stance Somers assisting. Two hundred fifty children participated in the base- ball, softball, volleyball, tennis, and arts and crafts.
SWIMMING PROGRAM: The Recreation Department continued to co-operate with the Red Cross swimming program at Ipswich Beach and provided the trans- portation for this program. While four hundred children enrolled at the begin- ning of the season, only one hundred fifty completed the scheduled program. Next year it is planned to charge a nominal transportation fee per child. This may help to attain a more equitable attend- ance throughout the season.
WINTER BASKETBALL: The YMCA Field Representative in this area has worked with the Committee during the fall and winter months in carrying out teen age basketball programs on Monday and Wednesday evenings. An average of about twenty people have attended these programs.
ADULT RECREATION: Three adult recre- ational groups were formed in December. Miss Ruth Wellman is conducting a class
No. of Employees :
Board Members 5
Part Time 3
1952 Expenditures $1,669.71
of twenty people in pottery making on Monday evenings at the High School, Mr. Howard Von Suck is conducting art classes of twelve adults on Wednesday evenings, and Mrs. Harold Peters is di- recting fourteen theatrical aspirants who plan to produce the play "Harvey" in February, 1953.
RECREATION DIRECTOR: Included in the 1953 budget request for this Department are funds for obtaining the services of a trained-recreational director on a full- time basis. Part of the cost of a full- time director would be because it would then be unnecessary to hire a Summer Playground Director.
The job of a full-time director would be:
1. To analyze the present recreational structure of the Town.
2. To make a survey of the available facilities for recreational activities.
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