USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Ipswich > Town annual report of Ipswich 1960 > Part 2
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State Primary
Votes Cast: Republican
616
Democrat
301
November 8
November 14
November 22
Special Ballotting Day to vote for the new Intermediate School
Result: Yes ---- 1738 No - 1015 Total - - 2753 Motion lost by 98 votes
The total number of registered voters as of December 31, 1960 was 4, 957.
VETERANS' SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Anthony A. Murawski, Veterans' Agent
Aid and assistance is given by this department not only to veterans but also to the veteran's widow, children, and parents. Whenever aid is given to the parents of a veteran, and the parents have an interest in real estate , the fair market value of which is more than $1, 500, a lien signed and ac- knowledged by the Veterans ' Agent is taken and recorded against said property .
Assistance is given not only in a financial way, but also in information about benefits available from the Veterans' Administration. Numerous forms
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June 7
June 15
June 22
National Elections Total Vote Cast, 4, 680
Special Town Meeting to appropriate $490, 000. 00 for a new Intermediate School.
are filled out for veterans and their dependents in connection with the V. A. Photo- stat work is also done by this department in helping out veterans and their dependents. In addition to liens against real estate, assignments are also taken. This is done when unemployment is caused by an accident or illness. During the past year, there were three assignments taken on vari- ous cases. There has been reimbursement in full on one case, one case is still pending, and one case is still being aided.
Numerous inquiries are forwarded to banks, doctors, place of employ- ment and the employment office to verify all the information submitted by applicants for assistance before aid of any kind is granted. Aid is granted only if the veteran is a war time veteran.
The number of cases receiving aid each month were as follows:
January - 17; February - 16; March - 16; April - 12; May - 15; June - 12; July - 12; August - 17; September - 15; October - 12; November - 13; and December - 16.
The position of Veterans' Agent is combined with that of the Town Clerk.
WELFARE DEPARTMENT
John K. Gilligan, Director of Public Assistance
A new assistance program commenced October 1, 1960 called Medical Aid for the Aged. This is a medical aid program for persons over 65 years with limited income. An account of the number of cases in each category of assistance is listed below.
Old Age Assistance: January, 141; February, 142; March, 140; April, 143; May, 144; June, 137; July, 135; August 135; September, 134; October, 122; November, 118; December, 118.
Aid To Dependent Children: January, 3; February, 3; March, 3; April, 3; May, 3; June, 3; July, 3; August, 3; September, 3; October, 3; November 2; December 2.
Disability Assistance: January, 21; February, 20; March, 20; April, 19; May, 18; June, 17; July, 16; August, 15; September, 14; October, 15; . November, 16; December, 17.
Medical Aid For The Aged: October, 12; November, 13; December, 11.
General Relief: January, 11; February, 6; March, 5; April, 4; May, 2 ; June, 7; July, 2; August, 4; September, 8; October, 7; November, 5; and December, 8.
The director is assisted by a social worker and a clerk typist and works under the guidance of a Welfare board of three members and the general su- pervision of the Executive Secretary.
In all cases, except general relief, the state and federal governments reimburse the Townfor more than 82 percent of the cost of assistance given.
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HEALTH DEPARTMENT
John J. Doheny, R. S., Health Officer
Sewage leaching fields were installed years ago for hundreds of individual buildings and have long since outlived their original intended purpose. Due to this condition, it is hoped that before long, many additional homes and busi- ness establishments will be able to tie into the town sewerage system and r e- move the health hazard of these overflowing, mal-functioning systems.
Clinics Held -- The following clinics were held throughout the year:
Well Child Clinic: The Well Child Clinic for pre- school children was held the first Wednesday of each month throughout the year. A total of 118 youngsters attended the clinic. Of these, 26 were new babies, present for the first time . The children are weighed, measured, examined and immunized against diph - theria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio. Dr. Frank Collins conducted the clinic with the assistance of School Nurse, Violet DeMille.
Immunization Innoculations: The annual diphtheria immunization clinic was held last spring throughout the public and parochial schools. Any child who had not received a "booster dose" within four years was eligible. A total of 323 children were immunized.
Polio Vaccine Clinic: (No cost to the Town) During the spring and summer months, four polio vaccine clinics were held on Sundays at the Cable Memorial Hospital. The clinic was open to residents of Rowley, Essex, Ipswich, Wenham, Hamilton. All Ipswich doctors gave their time.
Flu Vaccine Clinic: In October, 80 Town Employees were given Flu Vaccine innoculations.
A rabies clinic for Dogs was conducted for Dogs at the Town Garage, 87 dogs were innoculated.
Inspections and investigations are made of the following: Foods, milk and ice cream, animals and animal housing, sewage, schools, hospital and nur s- ing homes, births, camps, cabins, Motels, animal quarantine, housing, wat - er supply, hospital patients, day nuseries. All animals from out of state are inspected as to the condition of health, dog bite and animal quarantine.
Permits and licenses were issued for funeral directors, sewage installers, cleaning sewage systems, fat,. bone and tallow collection, milk pasteurizing, milk vehicles, retail milk dealers, ice cream manufacturing, oleo-margarine, alcohol, day nursery, garbage transportation, keeping pigs, camps, cabins, motels, recreational camps, slaughtering, individual sewage systems, plumb- ing, burial, and nursing homes.
The Board of Health conducted regular meetings to confer with the health officer regarding health department matters to sign licenses, to receive r e - ports and to establish health policies and regulations.
A rodent control program was conducted at the dump and a limited sani- tary land fill program was inaugurated by bulldozing the entire contents of the dump and back filling the area with earth and gravel.
During the year the State Legislature enacted many new health laws which create an additional work load in the way of additional duties and reporting.
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The most stringent of these laws were the Housing Code and the Farm Labor Law. Where health law violations occurred, the Health Officer conferred with violators, explained the violation in detail, secured the cooperation of su ch parties without the service of abatement notice or court action. We find that conference, persuasion, and conciliation gets the violator to conform in most cases. Despite the many and various services rendered by the Health De part- ment plus the increased enforcement of regulations and laws, it is operating at the lowest expense per capita of any Health Department in the county .
Health Officer Directing Rat Campaign
Sanitary Land Fill At Town Dump -- Rat Problem Solved
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PUBLIC LIBRARY
Hester L. Mitchell, Librarian
Statistics:
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Circulation of Books
41,824
27,958
69,004
Registration (3-year active)
2,133
1,095
3,228
Books added:
1, 386
712
2,097
Books withdrawn:
1,397
207
1,604
Total book collection; 31, 416 -- Periodicals received by subscription; 70 -- Periodicals received by gift, 7.
Continued wide use of the library by high school students as well as elemen- tary boys and girls using the same entrance, lessens the library's availability for adults, who for many years now have been feeling the crowded conditions in the buildings. The library should adequately serve the young people while not restricting the rights of adults, which at present it seems impossible to do . The library is open forty-two hours weekly, every morning except Monday primarily for afternoon session student use.
Constant effort to keep the building in good repair resulted in the planned maintenance program which in 1960 included redecoration of The Rogers Room and painting of the outside trim of the library.
The addition of Joseph R. Rogers to the Board of Trustees this year to fill the vacancy left by former high school principal Wilbur C. Connon marked the only change in that group. Twopersonnel losses gave us a new building custo - dian and a part-time assistant as replacements .
The Librarian extends thanks to all who contributed so generously through the "Friends of the Library' following the unfortunate emergency early in the year, and to the Library Board of Trustees and Staff for their continued ser- vice to the librarian's project of improving the library year after year. With- out them, it couldn't be done.
RECREATION AND PARKS DEPARTMENT
Recreation -- Harry McFarland, Director
The Recreation Department in its quest to provide wise use of leisure time for all citizens of the town has a varied program that provides for in - struction and supervision in activities for the pre schooler to the senior citi - zens of Ipswich. The department maintains five playgrounds under trained supervision, where more than one thousand different children spent summer hours with arts and crafts, sports, dramatics, group work, interest clubs and other activities, as well as a swimming instruction class with three hun - dred children participating. For summer recreation, the department also maintains tennis courts, the Town Hill park area, baseball for young boys, a baseball field and league for teen age and adult use, a softball field with leagues in the children's and men's division, basketball courts for summer basketball leagues, block hops, and the beach house and area for residents , their families and groups.
With the changing of the seasons, a touch football program is offered for elementary grades and junior high, as well as a tackle football team for junior
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lst Anniversary Party -- Teen Age Club
SHITW. GODOHU
Riode Sander
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Halloween Window Painting Contest
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high. Indoor dances at the Memorial Building offer social recreation for jun- ior and senior high students, and an instruction class is offered to children in grades 3 through 8 with three hundred children taking part. Adult classes in sewing, woodworking, painting and sketching, cooking, physical condi- tioning for women, are offered at a nominal charge which makes the programs self-supporting. Basketball leagues for the 7th and 8th grades meet Satur - day mornings in the high school gym, while the 9th and 10th grades play week - day evenings, and the men, weekday nights. These programs which are offer - ed to boys and girls have more than two hundred persons participating. In - struction is also offered in gymnastic classes for boys and girls, automotive repair class for boys, and interest clubs in photography, stamps, radio -- these supervised by volunteer personnel.
A well-rounded bowling program is offered to elementary, junior high, and senior high students, as well as a father-son league. These are also open to boys and girls. Supervision and instruction is given by the owner of the lo - cal alleys, and trophies are given by the Recreation Department to high scorers.
Weather permitting, outdoor skating is maintained and supervised at Line - brook Field and Bakers Pond, both having outdoor lights for skating after dark. A full time supervisor is employed at Bakers Pond to give maximum safety at the two-acre area. The Recreation Department is constantly changing its programs to meet the needs of the community through surveys and interest - finding questionnaires. Through the generosity of the veterans groups, the Recreation Department now has extended use of the Memorial Building which will enable it to offer additional programs without increased cost to the tax - payer .
Mrs. Harry Cole who served on the Recreation Committee for twelve years, and four as chairman, resigned, as did Mr. Joseph Rogers, newly ap - pointed high school principal.
Parks Division -- Harry McFarland, Director
The Parks Division has the responsibility of maintaining the greens and grass areas that surround the town. Head groundskeeper Roland Bowen and summer workers Bill Arsenault and Hazen Irvine begin planting and fertiliz - ing early in the spring and as the season progresses, cut, prune, and spray a - gainst diseases that infect the plants and shrubs. Aside from their work on the greens, all play areas are maintained and equipment repaired when need - ed. Baseball, softball, and football fields are marked off for play daily . Others areas which fall under the jurisdiction of the Parks Department are Daniel Boone Memorial Park, Dow Park, all ice-skating areas, and the many small grass plots that are found within the town. With the addition of the new vehicle in 1960, the Parks Division should be able to enlarge areas and add more plants to those established areas which give so much beauty to our town.
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PLANNING BOARD
Chester J. Patch, Jr., Chairman
During the year 1960, the Board held 27 open meetings. The Board re - gretfully received notification of the resignation of Richard R. Mansfield who had served with the Board, both as a member and as its chairman, since 1954 for which we are deeply grateful. Mr. John R. Logan was appointed in March 1960 to fill the vacancy .
During the year 1960, an amendment to the Zoning By-law requiring the obtaining of a building permit was prepared, hearing held by the Board, and was adopted by the Annual Town Meeting on March 7, 1960. Three new streets were also accepted at the meeting. They were Oakhurst Avenue, Sunset Drive and Redwood Drive, all in approved subdivisions off Topsfield Road. The drainage easement required by the Board before recommendation to the Town for acceptance of Oakhurst Avenue was obtained by the developer and turned over to the Town.
The Board reviewed its Rules & Regulations and after many meetings and discussions, held a Public Hearing on September 13, 1960, and adopted a set of revised Rules & Regulations for development of Subdivisions in Ipswich . Many of the changes were made to make the Rules & Regulations conform to changes in the Subdivision Law enacted by the Legislature. Additional re - quirements were inserted, such as paving of the streets in subdivisions with asphaltic concrete, in an effort to put the cost of the developing on the develop - er, where it properly belongs, rather than on the Town after the streets are accepted.
The majority of the Board meetings were concerned with subdivisions . No final plans were submitted to the Board requiring hearings, which is a good indication of the slowdown in housing construction in Ipswich. Several subdivisions are pending before the Board and many cooperative meetings have been held with developers in an attempt to iron out all differences prior to the submission of the final plans for the hearings. The Board held a public hear - ing on July 19, 1960, and then voted to rescind its approval of the uncompleted portion of a subdivision owned by Randall Associates, Inc. off Linebrook Road due to the inactivity and lack of cooperation by the Developer. Plans submit - ted that did not require a hearing were approved as required.
The Board appeared before the Board of Appeals during the year to observe protest or recommend the granting of variances. This is one of the Planning Board's major functions - to guard and protect the Zoning By-law and initiate amendments to it as they appear needed. The Board appeared before the Department of Public Utilities protesting the overhead power lines requested by the Merrimac-Essex Electric Company as not being in the best interest of the Town.
Subdivisions have a great impact on the Town and generate a demand for more services, such as increased school needs, increased municipal facilities such as water (source and distribution), electric power, police, fire, sanita - tion and all the other things that we take for granted, such as the hospital, library, etc.
The Board is planning to take a greater interest in some of the major prob - lems facing the community and proposes an intensive study and recommenda- tions during the coming year.
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ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Philip L. Pattison, Town Engineer
The Engineering Department serves in an advisory capacity to the admin - istrative officials of the town and lays out and supervises most public works projects.
Specifications for construction projects were prepared, analyzed, and ad - vertised for bids. These included the Shatswell School Sewer Extension, East Street Sidewalk, Mill Road resurfacing with Bituminous Concrete, Chain Link Fence at the Treatment Plant Clarifier, Guard Rail on Topsfield Road, guniting of County Street Bridge.
Demonstrations were arranged and specifications drawn up for the pur- chase of major equipment for public works use.
Studies, plans, and supervision were given on numerous projects during the year. Among these were the Old Right Road resurfacing, Linebrook Road curve improvement, Topsfield Road drainage, Topsfield Road curve improve - ment, Topsfield Road widening (Chapter 90), Broadway Avenue drain, Plover Hill Road grade improvement, all traffic regulatory signs, and all water de- partment state highway street opening permits.
A major part of the Engineer's work was in preparing construction plans, specifications, contract drawings and betterment plans for the proposed new sewer extensions leading to the Shatswell School, Burley School and the Notre Dame Novitiate areas; preparing the final widening lines on the proposed Topsfield Road improvements near the LaSalette Seminary; contacting all the affected property owners on Topsfield Road in regards to land damages, fence and tree removals and drainage easements; investigating and surveying zoning by-law infractions, as directed by the Board of Selectmen, laying out and in - specting sewer house connections; laying out, inspecting and estimating new sidewalk construction; working in conjunction with the Planning Board on sub - divisions; working in conjunction with the water and sewer consultants on the new Water Distribution Plan and the proposed Sewer Extension Plan; running the sewage treatment plant in the operator's absence, investigating numerous complaints for engineering solutions as requested by the Executive Secretary , Board of Selectmen, and the citizens of the town; and working with state and county officials on the Town Wharf wall extension and boat ramp, Farley Brook culvert, the County Road layout, and the preliminary plans for dredging the Ipswich River; and preparing the Water Department, Sewer Department, and Highway Division budgets for 1961.
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Engineer Checking Grade of New Sewer Drain at Shatswell School
A large part of the work load of the Engineer is in connection with the design of the new sewer system, letting and supervising sewer contracts, and preparing sewer assessment plans and charges .
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SEWER DEPARTMENT
Philip P. Pattison, Town Engineer
Chester Wile, Plant Operator
Sewage Treatment Plant: Chester Wile served his first full year as the sew- age treatment plant operator, working with the assistance of the Department of Public Health and the Town Engineer. Mr. Wile carries out a daily main- tenance program checking out all the controls at the pumping station and at the treatment plant, keeping a daily record of the gallons of sewage pumped and the pounds of chlorine used to treat its effluent. Sewage is pumped daily from the clarifier to the digester tank, from where it is periodically drawn into the sludge beds.
After the sludge is dried out, it is used for fertilizer on the treatment plant grounds. Mr. Wile has begun clearing these grounds which will be complete- ly landscaped and fenced in during the next four years.
During 1960, the total number of gallons pumped into the treatment plant was 3, 132, 000 or about 8600 gallons per day, and a total of 675 pounds of chlorine was added to the effluent before being discharged into the ocean.
Sewerage System: During 1960, ten sewer house connections were made by the Water Department crew, under the direction of Foreman Dana Parsons. The Town Engineer laid out and inspected each individual connection.
Permits were taken out for each connection at the town hall, and after each house connection was completed, the customers were billed for the sewerage usage charge. Also during the year, 110 sewer betterment bills were com - puted by the Town Engineer, which were in turn processed by the Assessing Department and later mailed out to the people benefited by the sewer.
Sewer Extensions -- The Town of Ipswich voted about $82, 000 for proposed sewer extensions at the Annual and Special Town Meeting in 1960. The Town Engineer must prepare plans, specifications, contract drawings and finally the sewer assessment plans. An appropriation of this size ($82, 000) requires about 3000 engineering man hours just to place these extensions out for bid. The extension leading to the Shatswell School placed out on bid in the late fall because of the anticipated acute sewage disposal problem at the school during the winter. The extension into the Burley School and the Notre Dame sections will be completed during 1961.
WATER DEPARTMENT
Dana Parsons, Foreman
In 1960, 3, 067 feet of new pipe was laid on Topsfield Road, principally with 12-inch pipe. Five new hydrants were installed and seven removed.
Six new service connections were made in addition to 42 made by a develo - per. Seventeen were renewed and nine discontinued.
Twenty four leaks were repaired and nineteen curb and gate boxes were repaired. Over 200 services were turned off and on.
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Forty four new meters were installed, 67 changed, and 60 removed. Seven new gate valves were installed.
Booster pumps were installed at Oakhurst Avenue and Cedar View Avenue.
Eight connections into the sanitary sewer were made for the Sewer Depart - ment and considerable aid was rendered the highway division in snow remov- al.
Other work included patching pavements cuts, meter reading and repair, and setting up a new stockyard at the town garage.
Civilian Defense Generator ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT
Generation
Earl Dodge, Power Plant Superintendent
Two additional generating motors obtained through the Civil Defense sur - plus property program were placed in operation September 20, 1960. This increased the total plant capacity to 7835 KW.
During 1960 the power plant generated 24, 392, 400 kilowatts, which rep- resents an increase of approximately 7 per cent over 1959. The peak demand was 5675 KW and occurred on Tuesday, December 27 at 5:35 P.M.
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Considerable overhaul of generating equipment was accomplished, the greater part of which was carried out by station personnel.
Sales and Distribution
Alfred Tobiasz, Manager
Total K. W.H. sales for 1960 was 22, 523, 288, which represents an in - crease of 9. 6 per cent over last year. The maximum demand increased ap - proximately 3 per cent which is less than the previous years; however, past records indicate that we can expect an average rise of 10 per cent per year. This annual increase, together with the request for power by Notre Dame Novitiate and Cable Memorial Hospital clearly dictates the need for the instal - lation of another 13, 200 volt line and substation in 1962. This should be done in order to have back-up capacity in the event the present substation became inoperative. The cost will be approximately $130, 000.
Maintenance: The pole line. on Bay View Road was relocated and larger wires installed. Twenty, two-wire services were changed to three-wire. Thirty series streetlight fixtures were replaced with twenty- eight multiple units. Eighty three poles and 35, 866 feet of wire were replaced.
New Construction: A new spacer-type feeder cable originating at Vermette Court Substation was connected to supply power to Sylvania Electric Products, Inc. on Union Street. Distribution lines were extended on the following streets : Appomattox, Casino, Valley Drive and Sunset Drive. Thirty one multipl e streetlight fixtures, seventeen poles, 886 KVA transformer capacity, forty - seven services, and 20, 217 feet of wire were added to the system.
Future Expansion: The Rowley 4160 volt feeder which extends from the Power Station to the Town Line will be replaced with larger wire. Regulators will be installed on #2 circuit and larger primary feeder wires will be extended from Spring Street to the Town Wharf.
The number of service connections increased from 2947 in 1959 to 2994 in 1960. Total meters in service is 3636.
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THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
Arthur W. Marsh, Chairman
The Board of Appeals had their most active year to date in 1960. A total of twenty- six hearings were held. This compares with nine in 1958 and eleven in 1959.
During the year the Board adopted new regulations governing the applica - tion for a hearing. These regulations are simple and yet serve to expedite the work of the Board in the setting of a hearing date. Copies of these rules are available from the Town Clerk or any member of the Board.
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