USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1922-1923 > Part 3
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Article 27. To see if the Town will vote to build a con- crete retaining wall on the Stephens Field Playground and make an appropriation therefor not exceeding three thous- and (3,000) dollars.
The Committee recommends that the Town appropriate a sum not exceeding $500.00 for laying a "Rip Rap" retain- er on the easterly side of the Stephens Field Playground.
Article 28. To see if the Town will vote to establish a Public Camping Place, either at Morton Park or at the Indian Land in Manomet, as recommended by the Park Commissioners, and make an appropriation for the purpose not exceeding seven hundred (700) dollars.
The Committee recommends that no action be taken under this article.
Article 31. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of five hundred (500) dollars toward defraying the expenses of a community nurse.
The Committee recommends that no action be taken under this article.
Article 32. To see what action the Town will take in re- gard to the Sever Street Extension as laid out by the County Commissioners, and make an appropriation therefor.
Article 33. To see if the Town will discontinue that part of South Russell Street lying westerly of the proposed ex- tension of Sever Street, between Russell and South Russell Streets.
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| The Committee recommends that the subject matter of Articles 32 and 33 be referred to the Town Planning Board and the Selectmen for their investigations and report at a future meeting.
Article 34. To see what action the Town will take in regard to widening Middle Street, throughout its whole length, on the northerly side thereof, and to raise and ap- propriate any money which the action of the Town may require. By petition.
The Committee recommends that no action be taken under this article.
Article 35. To see if the Town will erect and maintain floats and landings at the State Pier, and make an appro- priation not exceeding seven hundred (700) dollars for the purpose. By petition.
The Committee recommends that the Selectmen be author- ized to take such action as they may deem necessary to pro- vide suitable Landing at the State Pier.
Article 36. To see if the Town will authorize the trans- fer of a sum not exceeding five thousand (5,000) dollars from the Reserve from Overlayings of Taxes to the Reserve Account in the hands of the Advisory and Finance Commit- tee.
The Committee recommends that the Town authorize the transfer of a sum not exceeding $5,000.00 from the Reserve from Overlay of Taxes to the Reserve Account.
Article 37. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate all or any part of the following unused balances now stand- ing on the books to reduce the tax levy of the current year. Pilgrim Wharf, $50 85
Reception to Military and Naval Forces, 577 27
Health Department, Land for Dump, 200 00
Water Street Extension, 13 11
Sandwich Street, Jabez Corner to Jordan Hospital, 6 82 Shore Property, 100 00
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Anchorage Basin, 4 93
Fireproofing School Basements, 10 81
Chiltonville Grammar School, from sale of building and land, 220 00
Jabez Corner School Lot, from sale of portion of lot, 65 00
Total, $1,248 79
The Committee recommends that the Town appropriate the several amounts listed in this article to reduce the tax levy of the current year.
Article 38. To see if the Town will authorize the trans- fer of the unexpended balances to the credit of Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemeteries for Water Pipe, and Cemetery Department for Monuments to those who served in the Revolution, to the appropriation for Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemeteries, as recommended by the Cemetery Commis- sioners.
The Committee recommends favorable action under this article.
Respectfully submitted : ADVISORY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, TOWN OF PLYMOUTH,
Edward L. Burgess, Chairman; Wilfrid O. Broadbent, Sec- retary ; Ellis W. Brewster, Joseph T. Collingwood, Oliver L. Edes, Wm. H. Harriman, Edward C. Holmes, Isaac B. Holmes, Henry W. Royal, Harold J. Weston, Sumner A. Chapman, Alvin M. Watkins, John B. Finney.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, JUNE 1, 1922.
Article Two :
To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding five thousand (5,000) dollars for the Forest Warden's Department.
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The Committee recommends favorable action under this article.
Article Three :
To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of two hun- dred (200) dollars for salary of Supervisor of Shores and Flats, from January 1st to May 1st of the current year.
The Committee recommends favorable action under this article.
Article Four :
To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding two thousand (2,000) dollars for sewers.
The Committee recommends favorable action under this article.
Article Five :
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate for Granolithic sidewalks all reimbursements for granolithic construction during the current year.
The Committee recommends favorable action under this article.
Article Six :
To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding five hundred (500) dollars for the further improvement and maintenance of the Stephens Field Playground.
The Committee recommends favorable action under this article.
Article Seven :
To see if the Town will vote to rescind the vote passed under Article Seven, at a Special Town Meeting on the 11th day of October, 1919, providing for the erection of a Town Hall as a Memorial Building, and making an appro- priation of three hundred thousand dollars therefor.
The Committee recommends that the vote be not rescinded.
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It is proposed by this article, now that the appropriations of State and Nation have been expended and the work and preservations and adornment of the historic locality com- pleted, that the Town of Plymouth shall immediately repeal all action looking towards a Memorial Hall which they promised and relying upon which the State and Nation made their contributions, abandon the work to which they were pledged and say in substance to the State and Nation and to the numerous societies who have contributed to the memorial of the greatest event in the history of the Town, the Town will break its promises and its pledges and con- tribute nothing from its treasury to any permanent memo- rial. Moneys appropriated by State and Nation upon prom- ises of the Town to appropriate and erect a memorial, places the Town under an obligation to erect such a memo- rial. The Committee has therefore recommended that the vote be not rescinded.
Article Eight :
To see if the Town will vote to issue bonds or notes of the Town in the sum of one hundred and twenty-five thousand (125,000) dollars for the purpose of providing funds to erect a Municipal Auditorium in accordance with the vote of the Town passed at the Annual Town Meeting on March 25, 1922.
In view of the recommendation under Article Seven, the Committee recommends no action be taken under this article.
Respectfully submitted,
Oliver L. Edes, William H. Harriman, Alfred P. Richards, Henry W. Royal, Alfred S. Burns, Frederick R. Snow, Isaac B. Holmes, Edward C. Holmes, Willard H. Parsons, James S. Swanton, Charles R. Wood, John A. Harris.
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FOR SPECIAL TOWN MEETING TO BE HELD JULY 27, 1922.
Article Two :
To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding fifteen hundred (1500) dollars for Roads and Bridges.
The Committee recommends favorable action be taken under this article.
Article Three :
To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding- one thousand (1,000) dollars for Oak Grove and Vine Hills. Cemeteries.
The Committee recommends no action be taken under this. article. (Harris and I. B. Holmes of the Committee, dissent.)
Article Four :
To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding. two hundred (200) dollars for the Miscellaneous Account.
The Committee recommends favorable action be taken under this article.
Article Six :
To see if the Town will vote to amend the votes passed at the Special Town Meeting held October 11, 1919, under Article Seven (7) of the Warrant of said meeting, by strik- ing out "With Town Offices" wherever same may appear in said votes so that said votes shall read as follows :
"Voted: That the Town erect a suitable Town Hall as a Memorial Building."
"Voted: That the sum of three hundred thousand dol- lars be hereby appropriated for the construction of a Town Hall, and that to provide money for said purpose, the Selectmen be and are hereby authorized to issue bonds or notes of the Town to the amount of three hundred thousand dollars, principal payable fifteen thousand dollars, at the expiration of each year from date of issue for twenty years.
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bearing interest at a rate not exceeding five per centum per annum payable semi-annually, such bonds or notes to be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by a majority of the Selectmen. The Selectmen are hereby authorized to sell said bonds or notes at public or private sale, upon such terms and conditions as they think proper provided that such bonds or notes shall not be sold for less than par value."
The Committee recommends favorable action be taken under this article.
Article Eight :
To see if the Town will vote to rescind the vote passed under Article Twelve (12) at the Town Meeting held March 25, 1922, appropriating sixty thousand dollars for the con- struction of a Memorial Building.
The Committee recommends favorable action be taken under this article.
Article Nine :
To see if the Town will vote to rescind the vote passed under Article Fourteen at the Town Meeting held March 25, 1922, appropriating one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars for a Municipal Auditorium.
The Committee recommends favorable action be taken under this article.
Article Ten :
To see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to sell the old engine house and lot on Franklin Street. By peti- tion.
The Committee recommends favorable action be taken under this article.
Respectfully submitted,
A. Perry Richards, Alfred S. Burns, Frederick R. Snow, Isaac B. Holmes, Edward C. Holmes, Henry W. Royal, James S. Swanton, Charles R. Wood, John A. Harris, Earl W. Gooding, John B. Finney.
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FOR SPECIAL TOWN MEETING TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 25, 1922.
Article Two :
To see if the Town will appropriate from money in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated, a sum not exceeding twenty-five hundred (2500) dollars for the Police Depart- ment.
The Committee recommends that favorable action be taken under this article.
Article Three :
To see if the Town will appropriate from money in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated, a sum not exceeding fifteen hundred (1500) dollars for the Fire Department.
The Committee recommends that favorable action be taken under this article.
Article Four :
To see if the Town will appropriate from money in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated, a sum not exceeding six hundred (600) dollars for the Forest Warden's Depart- ment.
The Committee recommends that favorable action be taken under this article.
Article Five :
To see if the Town will appropriate from money in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated, a sum not exceeding twenty-four hundred (2400) dollars for the Health Depart- ment.
The Committee recommends that favorable action be taken under this article.
Article Six :
To see if the Town will appropriate from money in the
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treasury, not otherwise appropriated, a sum not exceeding four hundred (400) dollars for Sewers.
The Committee recommends that favorable action be taken under this article.
Article Seven :
To see if the Town will appropriate from money in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated, a sum not exceeding eight hundred (800). dollars for the Water Department.
The Committee recommends that favorable action be taken under this article.
Article Eight :
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To see if the Town will appropriate from money in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated, a sum not exceeding four hundred (400) dollars for Granolithic Sidewalks.
The Committee recommends no action be taken under this article.
Article Nine :
To see if the Town will appropriate from money in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated, a sum not exceeding two hundred (200) dollars for use of the Park Commission- ers in preparing plans and estimates for acquiring land on both sides of Town Brook for Park Purposes.
The Committee recommends that favorable action be taken under this article.
Article Ten :
To see if the Town will authorize the sale of a lot of land situated on the south side of Wenham street in East Carver, containing one-half acre more or less, acquired by the Town through the Overseers of the Poor as reimbursement for aid rendered.
The Committee recommends that favorable action be taken under this article.
Article Eleven :
To see if the Town will vote to amend the votes passed at
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the Special Town Meeting, held October 11, 1919, under Article Seven of the Warrant of said meeting, so that votes shall read as follows :
"Voted: That the Town erect a suitable Town Hall as a Memorial Building.
Voted: That the sum of three hundred thousand dol- lars be and hereby is appropriated for the construction of a Town Hall, and to provide necessary funds for said pur- pose, the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to issue bonds or notes of the Town to the amount of three hundred thousand dollars, principal payable fifteen thousand dollars at the expiration of each year from date of issue, for twenty years, bear- ing interest at a rate not exceeding five per centum per annum, payable semi-annually. Any action taken by the Town relating to the borrowing for Town Hall purposes inconsistent herewith is hereby rescinded."
The Committee recommends that favorable action be taken under this article.
Article Twelve :
To see if the Town will authorize the Town Hall Commit- tee to erect a Town Hall as a Memorial Building substantial- ly in accordance with the plans submitted to the Town.
The Committee recommends that favorable action be tak- en under this article.
Article Thirteen :
To see if the Town will vote to rescind the vote passed under Article Twelve at the Town Meeting held March 25, 1922, appropriating sixty thousand dollars for the construc- tion of a Memorial Building.
The Committee recommends that favorable action be taken under this article.
Article Fourteen :
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To see if the Town will vote to rescind the vote passed under Article Fourteen at the Town Meeting held March 25, 1922, appropriating one hundred and twenty-five thous- and dollars for a municipal auditorium.
The Committee recommends that favorable action be tak- en under this article.
Respectfully submitted,
Alfred P. Richards, Alfred S. Burns, Edward C. Holmes, Henry W. Royal, James S. Swanton, John A. Harris, Charles R. Wood, Willard H. Parsons, John B. Finney, Isaac B. Holmes, Earl W. Gooding, Frederic R. Snow.
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REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF TOWN OF PLYMOUTH ON MEMORIAL BUILDING
At the last Town Meeting, held on June 1st, the voters of the Town indicated rather clearly their desire to have a Memorial Hall erected on the Lothrop lot, rather than use this site for a Veterans' Memorial Building and a Municipal Auditorium. The Town Hall Building Committee gave serious consideration to a reasonable solution of the mixed situation in which the Town was placed and came to the conclusion that the best thing for the Town would be to combine the Veterans' Memorial Building and the Memo- rial Town Hall, substituting accommodations for the veter- ans in place of the Town Offices, as originally proposed. Sketches embodying this combination were prepared by the architects, submitted to and fully discussed with representatives of the veterans' organizations, and were fully endorsed by them.
Sketch plans and a perspective of the proposed building are presented at this meeting and although complete plans and specifications have not been worked out, because it hardly seemed in order to go as far as that before such a building had been authorized, still, careful estimates have been made and there is every reason to believe that the building can be erected for a sum not to exceed the appro- priation.
This building would seem to adequately meet the needs of the veterans and the Town for many years to come and the Committee now awaits further action by and instruction from the Town.
Frank Eastwood, C. D. Howland, George L. Gooding, F. C. Holmes, John H. Damon, L. B. R. Barker, Andrew J. Carr, John J. O'Brien, Committee.
John J. O'Brien, Committee.
July 27, 1922.
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RELOCATION COMMITTEE REPORT, MARCH 25, 1922.
The Plymouth Relocation Committee, appointed at a Special Town Meeting held January 29, 1921, to represent the Town in all matters pertaining to the relocation of wharf facilities, submits the following report :
At various meetings we have had representatives of the coal and fish industry tell us of their needs and have col- lected in this way much data which may be used to work out plans for wharf facilities.
Representatives of this Committee have conferred with Governor Cox, with John N. Cole, Commissioner of Public Works for Massachusetts; with Lieutenant-Colonel Willing, United States District Engineer; with Congressman Walsh and with representatives of the War Department, to obtain their advice and counsel as to the best way to get assistance from the State and Federal Governments.
During our first conference with Commissioner Cole, it developed that the Plymouth Cordage Company was inter- ested in the study of developing their wharf facilities so that larger vessels could be brought direct to their docks and Mr. Cole wondered if the two projects might not be combined. At his suggestion this Committee held further meetings at which the plans of the Cordage Company were presented.
Lieutenant-Colonel Willing had made a report to the War Department recommending a channel 15 feet deep and 150 feet wide, from the present State Pier to a dock to be built at the foot of Park Avenue. His recommendation was that the Nation and the State share equally in the cost of the
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channel estimated to cost $102,000, and that the Town of Plymouth build the wharf.
At the suggestion of Commissioner Cole, your Committee has written to him asking that a further and more detailed study be made by his department of the conditions in Plym- outh Harbor with special reference to a proper kind of channel improvement and water front construction to meet the commercial needs of Plymouth.
Lieutenant-Colonel Willing has been instructed by the War Department to make a further study of conditions in Plymouth Harbor and it is our understanding that Commis- sioner Cole and Lieutenant-Colonel Willing will co-operate in their study. A public hearing is to be held by Lieuten- ant-Colonel Willing in Plymouth, on Saturday, April 8th at 1 p. m., in the High School Building. All interested parties will have an opportunity to present their views at this time.
On account of the additional study which the Federal and State Governments desire to make of our water front situation, your committee finds that it will not be able to present any definite plans to this meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Frank Eastwood, Chairman, Arthur E. Blackmer, E. W. Brewster, Harry B. Davis, C. F. Gardner, Charles W. Gif- ford, Charles Otten, Jr.
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REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN
After the strenuous year of 1921 it might have been rea- sonably expected that the following year would be by con- trast a very dull one. To the contrary it has proved to be almost as busy a period as the one preceeding. There have been no such individual crowded days but on the whole there has been a steady flow of traffic into and through the Town and the dealers in seasonable goods have enjoyed a good year.
The traffic conditions have been orderly and there has been little disturbance of the orderly flow of automobiles and trucks that have passed through. It has been necessary to keep officers constantly at several points on the highways and this will probably be the practice in the future. Auto travel has become so heavy that constant supervision has become imperative.
The parking situation has also been acute. We unfortu- nately have no such vacant places in the heart of the busi- ness section as some Towns enjoy. It has been absolutely necessary to limit the time that a car may stand on the Main street to twenty minutes and to prohibit parking in other places. Until this problem is worked out there will be some unsettled conditions. This is a matter that is employing the best minds in all Towns and Cities. And a continued in- crease in the number of machines will probably result in an absolute prohibition of all cars within certain limits. This while working a hardship on car owners is becoming neces- sary from the standpoint of safety to the general public, both as regards fire and accident.
The general condition of the streets and roads is good. A section of Court and Main streets was rebuilt with a mixed
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surface. This has proved to be a very satisfactory piece of work and it is hoped to continue until the whole surface of Court Street is made good. It is unreasonable to expect that all of the streets can be paved with the latest type of surface, but by building the main streets well and then mak- ing the side streets fairly good by oiling it is thought that a general condition of fairly good streets can be maintained at a reasonable expense and not put too much of a burden on the tax payers.
The Town must in the near future face a condition on Ald- en and Court Streets where the surface drainage is insuffi- cient to carry off the water that accumulates in a hard rain. Alden street, which takes all the water from as far as Oak Ridge and also carries a lot from Standish Avenue, is all carried under Court Street at the corner of Allerton and Court in a pipe. This is entirely inadequate and in a rain the water overflows the sidewalk and runs into the adjacent yards. It is hoped that a plan can be worked out to take some of this water off before it gets to the corner and thus relieve the situation. On Court Street near the North Plym- outh Garage the grade of the street is so flat (about four inch- es in 100 feet) that the flow is very slow and the water ponds there and fills the street covering the sidewalk at times. This can only be cured by a large pipe laid for a distance of sev- eral hundred feet until the slope at Cherry Street is reached. These projects are expensive but there seems to be no other solution and it is hoped to do one or both of them this year.
It will also be desirable to rebuild the bridge on Water Street. This has been replanked a number of times but the travel is so large and the type of vehicles using that route so heavy that a plank surface soon wears out. The abut- ments are good and all that is necessary is to rebuild the span with a cement slab on iron beams, and that will be taken care of indefinitely.
The Eel River Bridge has been rebuilt this year in co-
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laboration with the State and County and is now in fine con- dition. The roadbed has been widened and a sidewalk made and it is a creditable piece of work. The State, which former- ly stopped its State Road fifty feet on either side of the bridge, has taken over the bridge and the Town is now re- lieved of further care.
The present condition of the so-called Town Hall proposi- tion, is one well calculated to exercise the brain power of all the citizens. The Town Counsel advises this board that the matter has been so much complicated by amendments and changes that it is extremely improbable that any action of the Town could be made legal. It appears to the Selectmen that the only logical course is to rescind all of the votes that now encumber the records of the Town. Then if the Town wishes to build a Town Hall or Town Halls it will be free to adopt any plan that appears feasible and suitable, and will not be embarrassed by previous plans that can never be adapted to fill any other purpose than the one they were de- signed for. There has been a great deal of time spent on these three plans that are now before us and the concensus of opin- ion is that no legal plan can be worked out that will accom- plish what the people desire. It would seem that the original plan for a Town Hall with offices is entirely impractical from the standpoint of expense, and the action of the Town at its previous Special Meetings has so complicated matters that the other projects are so mixed up that the best solution would be as suggested above to clean them all off the slate and start anew with such plan or plans as may be found desirable. The Selectmen have no substitute plan to offer, but make the above statement in order to present to the voters what in their opinion is the best solution of the difficulty. It is to be hoped that the Town will dispose of this matter now and relieve the various committees of the responsibility that they are now under.
There is one phase of the financial situation of the Town
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that it would be advisable for every voter to give his careful consideration too. While the position of the Town is now a very creditable one, there is a constantly increasing expendi- ture facing us. It is very probable that a new schoolhouse will have to be built in the near future. It is very possible that it may be found advantageous to build a wharf. Either of these or both will add materially to the Town's annual charges for debt and interest and by just so much reduce our available cash for other purposes. There is a well grounded feeling of uneasiness all over the country at the constantly increasing tax rate. Public extravagance is almost a by-word and it would seem to be the best procedure to go slow and not jump into expenditures that while seemingly of benefit to the Town are still more than we can afford. Taxes will soon at the present rate reach a point where they will be a very heavy burden on the wage earner and the smaller paid professional men. It would seem to be very unwise to create a debt for things which while desirable enough in themselves still can be done without at nothing more than a slight in- convenience.
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