USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Ipswich > Town annual report of Ipswich 1957 > Part 2
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OLD AGE ASSISTANCE: The case load in this category has dropped a very little during the year but costs of medical care continue to rise. Our reimbursements have been higher because of the increased amounts spent. During the middle of the year there was a cost of living increase to all recipients and all budgets were adjusted to put this increase into effect. The Old Age Housing Units were put into use this year and we availed our selves of some of the units for our own people.
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN: Our case load in this category is very low and the costs per ' case have been reasonable. This is one category of assistance, however, that we review each year with extreme caution in making out of budgets because one new case added can be very heavy as it deals with the whole family rather than an individual. We have only two cases at the present time but have had as high as six in the past.
DISABILITY ASSISTANCE: This case load has remained quite stable during the year. Again the medical costs in some instances have been high. We started the year in January with 22 cases and now have 25 cases on our rolls. As in the other categories of assistance, we use the State Standard Budget in computing the indivi- dual budgets. I do not look for this case load to drop. As a matter of fact I look for it to increase over a period of years. It has been extremely helpful in clearing our General Relief Rolls because before the advent of Disability Assistance most of these cases would have come under General Relief with no reimbursement to the Town.
PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT
During the year there were 8 employees appointed to various Town positions, and there were 7 separations, and 3 transfers. One employee was reinstated and one permanent employee was made part time. 197 days of sick leave were usedup, and 86 employees took vacations. All increases in 1957 were retroactive
INTERVIEWS
PERSONNEL
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The number of cases aided during the year was 48. Aid is given as either financial, medical, dentalor hospital. The number of cases at the end of the year was 20. On all cases aided, approval is received from the office of the Commis sioner of Veterans' Services at the State House, since the State reimburses the Town 50 per cent of the amount expended for veterans' benefits.
The total sum expended during 1957 in various forms of aid granted can be found in the Financial Section of this text.
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
GENERAL: The Engineering Department is a service department as well as an administrative one. It serves in an advisory capacity to the administrative offi- cials of the Town. It lays out and supervises most Public Works projects.
EQUIPMENT PROCUREMENT : Through this office, demonstrations were arranged and specifications drawn up for the purchase of major equipment. Plans and speci- fications for construction projects were prepared, analyzed, and advertised for bids.
PUBLIC WORKS: Studies, plans, speci- fications, and supervision were given on numerous projects. Individual car spaces for parking, cross walks, and center lines of streets were marked out for the High- way Department to paint. Many Town lots at Great Neck and cemetery lots on Town Hill were surveyed and plans made of same. Road widenings were made on Mt. Pleasant Street and Market Street and new sidewalks later staked out and constructed The following are some of the projects on which studies, plans, and supervision were given during the year .
Drainage - Warner Acres, Stage Hill Valley Drive, Heartbreak Road, Wash- ington Street, and Linebrook Road.
Road Construction - Perley Avenue North, Linebrook Road, Town Hall Exit, Town Hall Municipal Parking Lot, Valley Drive Washington Street, and Market Street.
MISCELLANEOUS: Many Sewage Treat- ment Plants were investigated with other Town Officials in order to properly engage a consulting engineering firm for our proposed new sewage plant and trunk line. Town Engineer and Rodman Look Over Town Garage Site Much time was devoted to the possible location of a new sewage treatment plant site, a new road location for Jeffrey's Neck Road in regard to the coming years, scheduled Chapter 90 summer work, the enlargement of the present Town Muni- pal Parking Lot between Hammett Street and Market Street, a proposed new highway garage and many other proposed future projects. Many new traffic rules and regulations were drawn up and initiated during the year. All subdivisions under construction in the Town were watched over and all necessary reports were sub- mitted to the Planning Board.
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SHELLFISH DEPARTMENT
During the year 25 bushels of quahogs were planted in Eagle Hill River. There were 29 bushels of small seed planted on barren flats. Seventy-five wire bag s have been made and will be transported to the South Shore to obtain oyster seed for planting in Ipswich flats. The bounds between Ipswich and Essex and Ipswich and Gloucester were surveyed this summer and eighteen two inch pipes were placed three feet deep to make the line. Story Island was purchased by the Castle Hill Foundation, and they have agreed to grant permission to the clammers to park their cars and boats at the landing so they will have easy access to the clam flats in the Essex River. Twelve new barrels were placed under one of
the floats at the Town Wharf. Some of the mud and rocks were dredged out in front of the hoist, so the fishing boats could get close to the wall to unload fish. There were four life rings and ropes erected along the shore, one at each end of the Town Wharf, one at Green Street Bridge, and one at the foot bridge on South Main Street. There were 6, 224 bushels of clams dug by commercial diggers in 1957, as compared to 2, 413 bushels dug in 1956. There were 697 resident permits 791 non-resident permits, and 82 commercial permits issued in 1957. Green crabs were not so plentiful until later summer. 4, 094 horseshoe crabs were destroyed in 1957, as compared to 8, 871 in 1956.
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Building improvements for the year include the conversion of the basement level of the building into a stock room for 15, 000 of the library's volumes, plus a room for boys and girls of the first six grades. The opening of the latter room on September 9 enabled the Rogers Room to be used for Junior and Senior students. The former room for students on the second floor has been converted into an adult browsing section containing all books, pamphlets and manuscripts pertaining to Ipswich town history, books by local authors and the library's collection of gift
Thanks are due everyone who helped in any way to make the year a most successful one, either through the borrowing of its books and periodicals, or through gifts of service, flowers, and books, including the following: Friends of the Library Organization, for the new inlaid linoleum floor for the balcony of the main reading room; the Ipswich Woman's Club's Reading Group for a selection of classical fiction for older boys and girls; Mrs. Sophie Hayes, for making the window draperies for the new Rogers Room; and, the D. B. Lunts, the A. W. Smiths the Pierre Doucets, the George Parsons, the Reading Group of the Woman's Club the library employees, and the estate of the late Rev. C. Daniel Boone for the complete set of The Interpreter's Bible, placed in the reference room in his memory.
The steadily increasing use of the library which has necessitated the many changes in recent years has brought us to the end of space. A larger reading room for adults, more book storage space, a staff room, and a place for group programs seating more than one school class at a time; all are a present need which lack of housing prohibits. The library today is operating at its fullest capacity, and building expansion is a necessity for the near future in order to continue and expand the many services so obviously needed and used by the citizens.
The year 1957 was an eventful one in the history of the library, for more use was made of it than during any other year of its existance, as shown by the following statistics:
Total books circulated
53,713
Gain this year
2,038
Month of largest circulation
5, 745
New borrowers registered
502
Adult
224
Juvenile 278
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Total book stock Books added this year
28,620
1,864
Adult
1,317
Juvenile
547
Gifts of books, new and used
500
Record Albums borrowed
160
Class instruction at library
12
Story hours at library and schools
31
Number of hours open weekly
40
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New Rogers Junior Room for Grades 1 through 6
Tr
National Book Week Program
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CIVIL DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
This past year in Civil Defense has been most active and much has been accomplished. A new office with a phone has been installed in the main hall of the Town Hall. An Auxiliary Fire Department of twenty-five men has been formed. The men are equipped with helmets, coats, and boots. The Auxiliary Police Department is still active, and consists of thirty-four men. They have been called upon on several occasions. The Rescue Squad now has a new boat and engine.
The town, through Civil Defense, has obtained much government surplus sup- plies from the warehouse in Taunton, at very small cost tothe Town. Mrs. Hazel Cronin has consented to take the Medical Course at Topsfield, Area, I. This training will enable the teaching to a group in the handling of First Aid and equi p- ment is valued at $1800. 00. Being a graduate nurse, she is well qualified in this field.
I have attended many meetings on Civil Defense and these have proven ver y valuable to me in carrying out the Civil Defense program. There is much more to be done and much time to be spent. I therefore have included in my budget money for at least a part time salary, with this I will be able to spend more time from my own business. Radios are now on order and soon the town will have suitable communication in case our regular communication (phones, etc. ) is out of order. We also have an observation tower on Town Hill with the latest equip- ment installed by the Air Corp. I must pay tribute to our Chief Observer, Mr. Raymond, who has spent many hours of his time maintaining this tower.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Fire Department answered a total of 387 calls during 1957. Of these 292 were still alarms, 54 were bell alarms, and 4 1 were ambulance calls. Twenty five of these calls were for building fifty nine werefor grass and brush fires, thirteen were for fires in automobiles, and thirty seven were for dump fires. There were only threefalse alarms during the year. Many calls were to aid and assist citizens in such emergencies as flooded cellars, leaky refrigerators, people locked out of their homes, flooded oil burners and inhalator and resuscitator calls.
Fire Department equipment covered a total of 13, 582 miles during the year A total of 11, 400 feet of 2 1/2 inch hose and 8, 200 feet of 1 1/2 inch hose was laid. There were 915 feet of ladders raised, and a total of 38, 960 gallons of water from the booster tanks was used. The total value of property was indicated in th e amount of $236, 000, but the total losses were only $32, 000. The approximate amount of insurance paid was $28, 000. The Department made over one hundred and fifty inspections on all types of oil burners and also over fifty inspections on installations of Country Gas tanks. Also during the year all Churches, Rest Homes and the Cable Memorial Hospital were inspected and found to be in good condition. The Chief also made periodical inspections of the business district and all other establishments under his jurisdiction.
The Fire Alarm System was revised during the year with eight new street boxes being added to what was already in use. We hop to try and add more thi s coming year so that in time the town will be covered more properly. The motor in Engine 2 that was so badly damaged at the Manchester woods fire was replaced with no cost to the Town as this was taken care of by the State Reimbursement fund that was voted in after such a dry season in the State. The Town also has the benefit of an Auxiliary Fire Department that was set up and which was all outfitted with boots, coats, andhelmets. They were a great assist to the Depart- ment during the year.
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POLICE DEPARTMENT
Since the year 1954, six patrolmen have been appointed to the Police Depart- ment to fill vacancies which were caused by some officers retiring and others resigning from the Department to accept other positions for higher salary and a 40-hour week. In most surrounding communities a five day 40-hour week has already been put into effect, and every fair thinking citizen should endorse this plan for the Ipswich Police Department.
With the increase of summer traffic and population in the summer resident area, a police problem is created in policing this area during the summer months An extra officer should be available to remedy this situation during this period.
The present municipal parking space should be enlarged to relieve parking and traffic congestion on Central Street, Market Street, and Depot Square.
During 1957 there were 260 arrests classified as follows:
Assault
9
Delinquents
9
Disturbing the peace
4
Drunkeness
71
Excessive speed
33
Failing to keep to the right of the road
5
Larceny
11
Malicious mischief to property
4
Non - support
14
Operating under the influence of liquor
19
Operating so as to endanger
7
Operating after revocation or suspension of license Operating without a license
12
Operating unregistered car
2
Violation of inspection sticker
8
Passing car where view is obstructed
7
Miscellaneous 43
These cases were disposed as follows:
Appealed
12
Discharged
24
Filed
25
Filed on cost of court
25
Fined
104
Held for Grand Jury
1
Probation
10
Restitution
7
Released
14
Suspended sentence
23
Sentenced to House of Correction
8
Committed to Youth Service Board
1
Turned over to other Police Departments
4
Other Activities:
Automobiles stolen
5
Automobiles recovered
3
Ambulance runs
190
Auto accidents over $200 damage or injury
79
Auto accidents of under $200 damage & no injury
177
Automobiles transferred
1, 044
Violation notices sent to Registry
77
Animals found 38
Animals lost 59
M
2
18
Animals destroyed
41
Animals reported injured
65
Animals reported killed
49
Persons bitten by dogs
42
Bicycles registered
209
Businesses found open at night & secured
231
Clam permits issued non-resident
792
Clam permits issued resident
697
Criminal summons served
88
Persons reported injured
61
Parking summons issued
535
Resident Cranes Beach stickers issued
1,802
Summer resident Beach permits issued
421
Complaints investigated
1,579
The police car traveled 33, 565 miles and the ambulance traveled 2, 137 miles .
Presentation of Pedestrian Award to the Police Department
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WATER DEPARTMENT
WATER SUPPLY: During 1957 over 288, 000, 000 gallons of water was supplied to the Town. Had it not been necessary to impose a water use ban this figure would have been well over 300, 000, 000 gallons, a usage that present facilities cannot adequately meet. It is evident that another well must be located this year and placed in operation as quickly as possible. To develop this additional source will call for the incurrence of greater bonded indebtedness and thus greater bond and interest payments. In order to meet these committments, it has been necessary to seek additional revenue to keep the department solvent. Feeling that all services per- formed by the Department should be charged for before recourse was taken in raising water rates, it was decided to charge the Town for hydrant rental. This is not a new thing for Ipswich since hydrant rental was paid to the Department for many years in the past. The charge of $35. 00 has been placed in the annual budget for 280 hydrants making a total of $9, 800. 00 that will be realized by the Depart- ment. Discussion with the State Department of Public Utilities reveals that this is a very nominal charge since the average rental throughout the Commonwealth is $85.00 per hydrant. These additional funds will enable the Department to expand its supply sources to the point where water demands can be safely met.
TOWN OF IPSWICH WATER DEPARTMENT
OPERATION: The year 1957 was one of testing of the department resources in regard to both the financial strength and in the adequacy of its water supply ability. In this respect payments of interest and principle increased approxima- tely $20,000. However, by careful operation the department was able to assume the additional financial load and end the year with a $22, 338. 00 surplus that will be available for use as construction money in the coming year. Compared to the favorable financial picture is the rather bleak situation that developed in the water supply ability of the department. Drought conditions created a very heavy demand for water that taxed our supply facilities to the utmost. Browns Well, which was assumed to be an extremely reliable source, had to be throttled back. Dows Basin and Mile Lane Well were unable to supply the additional gallonage required, and ' it was necessary to impose a strict ban on all outside water usage. Fortunately the summer ended at about the time Browns Well had to be cut back and consump- tion dropped to the point where water pumpage was just able to meet the demand. After a steady drop in the dynamic level in Browns Well it finally was stabiliz ed at an output of 460, 000 gallons per day and this coupled with the limited output from the other well and the reservoir enabled the department to get by without pumping from the river.
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WORK ACCOMPLISHED: The Department personnel installed 68 new services during the year, laid 1,670 feet of 8 inch pipe, 2, 421 feet of 6 inch pipe, and 1, 163 feet of 4 inch pipe. Improvements were made in connection with the main reloca- tions on Routes 121 and 1A where the State reconstructed the road. Much of this work was performed on a force account basis for the contractor with the depart- ment being paid for labor and materials used. By insistance that the contractor pay his bill promptly $2, 900. 00 was collected before year end. Continuation of the hydrant gating program saw ll added to the system, and 18 gate valves were added during relocation and construction work. The metering program continued with 130 meters installed where none were located previously, 83 meters were changed and 49 meters were put back on. No additional personnel were hired to supplement the regular force and comparatively little overtime was worked.
GREAT NECK SYSTEM: The first year of operation of the new water tower and pumping station was completed with success. Water pressures were adequate at all times throughout the Neck area despite heavy demand for water. Early in the year the rates were raised from the $14.00 per year minimum to $25.00 per. min. This action was taken to aid the departments in meeting the additional expense of operation imposed by the improvements.
ELECTRIC LIGHT DEPARTMENT
Sales and Distribution
NEW CONSTRUCTION: In conjunction with the rebuilding of Essex Road by the State Department of Public Works it was necessary for the Electric Department to place 81 new poles and seven miles of wire. This part of the distribution system is entirely new and with the additional phase wires installed, it has capacity to carry the load for che next fifteen years. The State reimbursed the Electric Department a sum of $13, 870.88 as its share of the cost for the additional work involved in moving the wires and poles. A total of 27 poles, 29 streetlight fixtures 8200 feet of wire, 76 service connections, 16 transformers and three voltage regu- lators were added to the system.
FUTURE EXPANSION: Plans are being prepared for the expansion of the distribu- tion system during the year 1958. A 5000 KVA 3-phase transformer with the necessary controls will be installed at the Power Station yard. This will increase the voltage from the generated 4160 volts to 13, 200 volts which will be carried to the center of the Town. A unit 3000 KVA tap changing under load transformers will step-down the voltage to 4160 volts and three outgoing circuits controlled by air circuit breakers will be connected to the existing primary distribution circuit. An auxiliary compartment will be provided at this time to take care of another 3000 KVA transformer in the same location. The second transformer will not be required until the year 1964. In order to utilize the full capacity of the existing circuit wires connected to the station buss we will continue to distribute power within a radius of 1 1/2 miles from the Power Station. The expansion as outlined will cost approximately $200, 000.00. The number of service connections in- creased from 2755 in 1956 to 2829 in 1957. The total meters in service is 3468.
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ELECTRIC LIGHT DEPARTMENT Sales and Distribution
During 1957 the Power plant generated 18, 978, 700 K. W. of electricity, an increase of 1, 706, 300 K. W. over last year's generation. This is a normal in- crease that represents approximately 10 per cent over last year's production. The new engine generator unit installed in 1956 was accepted after the proper tests and inspections were performed by the manufacturers. At that time the normal year's guarantee of normal life expectancy on cylinder liners using heavy fuel This guarantee will cover from 4 to 5 years operation according to the hours operated. Considerable progress was made in the burning of heavier and cheaper fuel; over 500, 000 gallons of this type fuel was burned representing substantial savings. Two engines operated on natural gas most of the year and took advantage of the savings in fuel costs.
At the end of the year all units are in good repair and operating. General plant condition is good and all equipment has been maintained and proper records kept.
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PUBLIC WORK DEPARTMENT
HIGHWAY DIVISION
SUMMER MAINTENANCE: Atotal of 35, 912 gallons of oil was used in resurfacing town streets, and an additional 18, 784 gallons were used on different streets and the Town Hall parking area under construction appropriation. Another 4, 728 gallons were used in making 275 tons of patch and 424 tons of patch was purchased All remaining gravel roads were repaired, scraped, and graded. Early in the summer nearly all these gravel roads were treated with sludge oil from the power station. This had proved very effective and has materially reduced the cost of maintaining them. All catch basins were cleaned out this year, many of them twice. Traffic lines were repainted all over town, and separate spaces marked on the Town Wharf. A curb was put in from Scottons Lane to Hovey Street and the side- walk rebuilt. The old drain under Heartbreak Road was torn out, a new pipe put in and the road widened at this point. Construction of a gravel sidewalk along part ot Town Farm Road was begun and will be continued in 1958. Sections of cement sidewalk were replaced on both sides of Market Street, on Lafayette Road, Wash- ington Street, and Estes Street .. A total of 31,466 gallons of gasoline was supplied to various Town Departments through the highway tank. The Highway Department cooperated with the Forestry Department during the year in the disposal of elm logs resulting from tree removal because of the Dutch Elm disease.
WINTER MAINTENANCE: A total of 1, 283 tons of sand and 105 tons of salt were usedthisyear, mostly in January. Additional salt was purchased and is available for use in 1958. Town plows and sanders worked a total of 1, 029 hours. Town trucks worked a total of 281 hours and the loaders 109 hours in removing all snow from the center and other parts of town. Hired plows and sanders worked a total of 35 hours.
NEW EQUIPMENT: The following new equipment was added in 1957: a new Elgin sweeper, a new jet sander which was mounted on an old Ford F-6 chassis, and a new F-600 chassis and cab to which the old F-6 truck body was transferred
NEW CONSTRUCTION: Chapter 90 construction work on Argilla Road and North Gate Roads was completed as far as the new Essex Road. With Chapter 90 main- tenance funds 480 feet of drainage pipe was laid, and 1 manhole and 2 catch basins built in the Warner Acres section of town. The town completed the work in this section of town by laying 380 feet of pipe and constructing 1 catch basin. This should improve the drainage in this section. Considerable work was done on the town land at Great Neck and Stage Hill Road. A total of 1, 070 feet of drainage pipe was laid, 10 catch basins built, and 1, 200 yards of gravel brought in for the con- struction of the new road on town land. The resurfacing of these roads will be completed in 1958. Sections of Jeffreys Neck Road and Little Neck Road were resurfaced. This required the use of 265 tons of pea stone and 6, 247 gallons of oil. On the Old Right Road 120 feet of fence was built and 230 feet on Linebrook Road. Repairs were made to the rails Labor-In-Vain Road bridge and 662 feet of fence was put up on Turkey Shore Road. Work on widening the corner on Line- brook Road was completed and the road oiled. The new sidewalk along Newmarch Street was oiled, and the Town Hall parking lot was oiled and a brick wall removed Sections of hot top sidewalk were constructed under private contract on Linebrook Road, Fourth Street, and Estes Street.
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