USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1931 > Part 7
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Public Welfare
Members of the Board of Public Welfare requested an appro- priation of $65,430 for the conduct of their department in 1931. They expended $33, 155.68 in 1930 and have unpaid bills con- fronting the present Town Meeting to the total of $6,000.
The Finance Committee wishes to call to the attention of the Limited Town Meeting the serious condition existing in this department. In the opinion of the committee, the department is seriously in need of the introduction of business-like methods in the conduct of its affairs. The Finance Committee has had called to its attention from unquestioned sources irregularities existing in the department. Although the committee does not question the personal integrity of the members, it is convinced that careless systems of procedure and a lack of business-like methods has cost the town many thousands of dollars.
This situation is serious. The requested expenditure of $65, 430 by the Board of Public Welfare would mean that each taxpayer of the town would be donating to charity $5.25 on every thousand dollars of valuation for which he is assessed. In the case of a man with a house and land valued at $4,000, this means a contribution to maintain the poor of the town of $21.00 annually.
With charity properly distributed among the needy and deserv- ing people of the town, the Finance Committee is in proper sympathy. It believes, however, that the voters of the town
[Dec. 31
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
should realize that even charity can be overdone, and that in many instances the continued distribution of a dole to a family where the father is capable and able to work is not a benefit but rather a positive injury to both the man and his family. There are in Saugus, as in every community, a certain percentage of persons who will not work so long as they gain their living from the public crib It is time that the Board of Public Welfare stopped this easy living and induced some of the more hardy perennials to obtain employment.
There should be a closer contact between the Board of Public Welfare and welfare agencies of the town.
The Finance Committee believe that there is a lack of system in the Board of Public Welfare. There is, in the opinion of the committee, a grave lack of investigation. Because of this the Finance Committee has recommended the employment of a part- time investigator and clerk in 1931.
There should be a strict investigation of all cases. This should not be made only at the time that relief is given but should be made periodically thereafter. Conditions change rapidly in the average family. If the breadwinner subsequently obtains em- ployment, the town should not continue to dole out public funds for an indefinite period of time.
The Finance Committee finds that last year $16,662 was paid out by the Board of Public Welfare in cash and only $7,697.05 was credited to grocery orders. The committee believes that this represents many of the ills existing in the department. Many persons are given cash payments who are not capable of properly expending the money. Cashing town checks for un- necessary things does not lend confidence in the judgment of the Board of Public Welfare. It would be well, the committee be- lieves, for the board to discontinue cash payments whenever possible and give orders.
The committee finds, also, that a great many of these orders are given to chain stores doing business in the town. The com- mittee understands that this is at the request of the recipent of aid. Although it may be argued that the town receives more for the money expended, the Finance Committee believes that the board should discontinue this practice and should give all of
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its orders on such stores doing business in the town other than chain stores, as the recipent may desire.
The Finance Committee desires to state at this time that all of its criticism has been leveled at the system rather than the men who at present comprise the Board of Public Welfare. Honest criticism for the benefit of the taxpayers of the town is, in the opinion of the Finance Committee, beneficial. The committee does not wish to impunge the integrity or motives of any mem- ber of the board, but merely to point out where, in its opinion, savings can be effected for the taxpayers of the town.
Consideration of the budget of the Board of Public Welfare resulted in the following changes by the Finance Committee :
SALARIES-The Finance Committee believes that the present salaries of the Board of Public Welfare are too low. There is a vast amount of work involved in the office and the town can- not reasonably expect the incumbents to give the necessary time to properly handle the job unless they are suitably recompensed. The Finance Committee has recommended a raise in the salary of the chairman of the board from $300 to $400 annually and the salaries of the other two members from $200 to $250 an- nually. The greater raise was given the chairman because the bulk of work falls upon his shoulders.
The Finance Committee believes these raises in compensation to be entirely justifiable and believes that they will result in in- creased efficiency in the office. The raises were entirely unsoli- cited by the Board of Public Welfare.
CLERK AND INVESTIGATOR-The board included in thetr budget an item for a part-time clerk at $Soo and a part-time in- vestigator at $Soo additional. The Finance Committee has recommended $Soo for a part-time clerk and investigator. It is believed that this will secure the services of a person capable of carrying on the work of both a clerk and investigator. The amount of work involved is at present problematical. If it is found that more time is required than is indicated at present, it might be well to raise the compensation somewhat next year.
The committee believes that if the Board of Public Welfare makes a wise selection that this clerk and investigator can save the town considerable money.
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
PRINTING AND POSTAGE-The board asks for $200 for this in 1931, although they expended only $58.25 in 1930. Because of the increased work of the department, the Finance Committee recommends $100.00.
TELEPHONES-The board asked for $80 for telephones in 1931. They spent $38.26 in 1930. The Finance Committee recommends $40.
CASH-Last year the Board of Public Welfare made cash dis- bursements of $16,662. This year they wish to expend in cash payments $33,325, or exactly double that of last year. The Finance Committee sees no assurance that 1931 is to be twice as bad as 1930. Indications are to the contrary. The board is now going through its worst months of the year and after April I, conditions from the point of view of municipal assistance of the needy, should improve. The Finance Committee recom- mends $17,000 for 1931 under this item. The committee sug- gests, however, that the bulk of this sum be transferred to the order account and that cash payments, as far as possible, be discontinued.
GROCERIES -- The board spent $7,697.05 for groceries in 1930. They again double their appropriation and ask for $15,395 in 1931. The Finance Committee recommends $8,000.
FUEL -- The board spent $2,255.17 in 1930. They ask for $4,500 in 1931. The Finance Committee recommends $2,400.
CITIES AND TOWNS-Payments to cities and towns aiding Saugus people reached $2,560.69 in 1930. The board asks for $5,200. The Finance Committee recommends $3,000.
FILING CABINETS-The board asks for $500 for a filing sys- tem. The Finance Committee finds that the Police Depart- ment has a system which they will discard in the near future for a more modern book filing system. The committee recommends that the Board of Public Welfare take over this system and have included $25 in the budget for additional cards and letter files.
OLD AGE PENSION-The Board of Public Welfare asked for $25,000 in their budget to care for the Old Age Pension from
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July I to January 1, 1932. This would mean that the cost of this pension to the town, assuming the board's figures to be correct, would be $50,000 a year. This, hower, is ridiculously out of reason.
The board finds that there are some 275 persons in Saugus above 70 years of age, one-half of whom would be eligible for the pension. The Finance Committee disagrees with this pre- diction. There are certain rigid restrictions which would keep the number well under this.
The committee cites the following letter from Richard K. Conant, Commissioner of Public Welfare of Massachusetts, under the terms of which some 2 4 persons in Saugus would be eligible for aid. There are, says the department, only S,000 eligible persons in the entire State. Of this S,000 people, the Board of Public Welfare estimates that some 150 are in Saugus.
The Finance Committee is inclined to take the figures of the State Department contained in the following letter and has recommended $5,500 for the old age pension against the $25,000 recommended by the Board of Public Welfare.
This makes a grand total for the Department of Public Wel- fare of $40,727 against the $90,430 requested by the board.
The letter of Commissioner Conant relative to the Old Age Pension follows. It is self-explanatory :
"May I call your attention to the fact that the Old Age Assist- ance Law, which goes into effect July 1, 1931, will involve addi- tional appropriations for public welfare for 1931, whether or not the Legislature should decide to reimburse cities and towns in full by a luxury tax, as recently recommended by Commis- sioner Henry F. Long.
"As you will see from the enclosed copy of the law, the Board of Public Welfare must grant adequate assistance to deserving citizens in need of relief and support seventy years of age or over. Our department has estimated that S,ooo persons in the entire State may be eligible for this assistance. If the propor- tion of aged persons in every city or town were the same, this would mean that in a city of 50,000 approximately So aged per- sons would be likely to be eligible. This rough estimate may be checked in another way if it is possible to ascertain the number of persons in your city or town who are seventy years of age or
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[Dec. 31
over. We estimate that six per cent of the persons seventy years of age or over are likely to be eligible for the assistance.
·· We dislike to speak of averages because each case will de- pend upon the individual need. We have estimated that the assistance might average $8.00 per week per person. This, however, will depend upon city or town action, subject to the supervision of the Department.
"These figures will give you an opportunity to estimate approximately the amount of assistance for which you will need to make some provisions in your appropriations. Other expenses will be necessary for an adequate number of visitors to carry out the provisions of the law. The law will be a com- plete failure unless the appropriations for adminstration are increased to correspond to the increases in money payments. The enclosed set of questions and answers may be of assistance to you and to your Board of Public Welfare in preparing to put this law into effect.
"Very Sincerely yours, "RICHARD K. CONANT, "Commissioner."
Saugus Infirmary
Members of the Board of Public Welfare asked for $10, 146 for the Saugus Infirmary for 1931. The Finance Committee unanimously recommends $8,691.
The several changes in the budget follow :
HAY, GRAIN AND STRAW-The board asked for $2,500 for the purchase of hay, grain and straw this year. They expended $2,992.08 in 1930. The Finance Committee finds, however, that instead of the nearly 30 cows in the herd at the farm last year, that there are now less than 12 cows. The Finance Com- mittee, after investigation, is convinced that $1,500 is sufficient for feed in 1931 and has so recommended. By no stretch of the imagination can the Finance Committee conceive of a possible maximum of 15 cows eating as much as 30.
EQUIPMENT-The board asks for $150 for equipment in 1931. They expended $220.33 in 1930. The Finance Committee, however finds no mention of the equipment needed, and appar- ently this is just placed in the budget as a drawing account for other purposes. The Finance Committee has deleted this item from the budget.
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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING.
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SEED - The board asks for $200 for seed. They spent $175.73 last year. The Finance Committee recommends $150.
PAINTING-The board asks for $50 for painting. They expended $28 last year. As the house was painted only recently the Finance Committee has deleted this item from the budget.
AUTO REPAIRS-The Board of Public Welfare asked for $125 for automobile repairs. The only auto owned on the farm is an old truck. It cost last year, according to the board, $103. 12 to keep this machine in operation. The Finance Committee has taken $50 from this item. If the cost of keeping the truck in repair extends to $125 a year, it would be well, the committee believes, to dispose of the truck.
PAINTING BARN-The Board of Public Welfare asked for $350 to paint the barn. The Finance Committee, after investi- gation, learns that the barn is in need of a coat of paint. The sum of $300 has been included in the budget for this purpose, and should, in the opinion of the committee, be sufficient.
The other changes in the budget are small. The Finance Committee has approved the board's request for $500 for stock. This will permit the purchase of only four cows, bringing the herd to about half its former strength .· The committee believes that it should be continued at this level. Last year the board spent $$45 for stock.
The Finance Committee, therefore, recommends the appro- priation of $8,691 for the Town Infirmary.
State Aid
The town expended for State Aid last year $1,227.00. All of the money expended in this department is returned to the town by the Commonwealth.
Director O'Connor requests an appropriation of $1,300 for 1931. The Finance Committee believes that this sum will adequately care for the situation.
The Finance Committee, therefore, recommends an appro- priation of $1,300 for State Aid.
[Dec. 31
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
Soldiers' Relief
Last your the town spent $15,328.71 in Soldiers' Relief. Director Charles M. O'Connor believes, however, that the simmation will be improved considerably this year. He recom- mends only $12,000 for the maintenance of the department.
The Finance Committee, therefore, recommends the appro- priation of $12,000 for the Department of Soldiers' Relief.
General Highway Budget
The general highway budget of the Public Works Depart- ment has been, in a measure, sub-divided by the superintendent of the department so that the members of the Limited Town Meeting may have a keener appreciation of the manner in which the funds are expended. The Finance Committee has followed the same general plan and is presenting the various divisions to the Annual Town Meeting for individual action. This will also result in the sums designated being set aside as specific appropriations and the funds will be used for no other purpose than that designated.
The Finance Committee acted upon the various requests, which totaled $34,800, as follows :
STREET CLEANING-Superintendent Maggi asked for $5,000 for street cleaning, He believes that this sum will be necessary to care for the town's streets twice a year. Considerable favor- able comment was heard relative to the cleaning program initiated last year.
The Finance Committee, however, does not believe that the town can afford any such expensive program at present. The contoittee recommends that the four squares of the town be Blamed cach Saturday morning in preparation for the week-end and that such other cleaning work be done on the main streets as is necessary to present a proper appearance. For this work the Finance Committee believes that $1,000 is an ample appro- priation and has so recommended. The work consists almost entirely of labor and at the prevailing rate paid by the town about 1,400 man hours can be expended in cleaning streets. This should be ample for the needs of the town.
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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING.
1931]
CLEANING CATCH BASINS-Superintendent Maggi has re quested an appropriation of $2,500 for cleaning catch basins and surface drains. Here, again, the Finance Committee agrees with the program but does not concur in the appropriation necessary. The committee feels that $500 is sufficient to give the catch-basins their semi-annual cleaning. This is, again, the committee points out, clearly an expenditure for labor. It should not require more than 700 man hours to clean the basins.
SURFACE ROAD TREATMENT-This item inserted by the sup- erintendent calls for an appropriation of $6,500 for the surface treatment of roads in the spring. The Finance Committee be- lieves that the item is excessive. The sum of $4,000 is recom- mended for this purpose.
TAR SIDEWALK REPAIRS-Superintendent Maggi has called to the attention of the Finance Committee the serious condition existing on many of the town's tar sidewalks. At least one suit from a faulty sidewalk has been settled in recent years at an ap- proximate cost of $1,000. The Finance Committee finds that there are many long stretches of these old walks which are in a deplorable and dangerous condition. No repairs have been made for a lengthy period. The Finance Committee believes that the town would be wise this year to expend a suitable sum for repairing these walks. One damage suit would doubtless cost the town as much as the entire program. Superintendent Maggi requested an appropriation of $1,000 for this purpose. The Finance Committee recommends the expenditure of $750.
STREET SIGNS-For many years it has been felt that there was a great and growing need in Saugus for suitable street signs. At the present time the town is practically without signs of this character. Those in use are ancient and of inferior construction and lettering. The expenditure of a small sum annually for this purpose would doubtless care for the entire town in a span of years. Superintendent Maggi requested an appropriation of $1,000 for the purchase of signs. The Fi- nance Committee, while favoring the purchase of signs, was not prepared to enter into such an extensive program this year. The committee favors the appropriation of $300 this year for street signs.
FENCES-The Finance Committee has learned, by a personal
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
visit, that there are many places in town badly in need of fenc- ing. Vine street, Ballard street, and Central street, are excell- et examples. The potential danger is great at many of these places and it would appear wise for the town to launch into a fencing program at once to avoid possible damage suits in the future. Those fences now in use are also in a woeful condition in several portions of the town.
Superintendent Maggi recommended to the Finance Com- mittee the appropriation of $1,000 for fencing. The Finance Committee recommends $500 and believes that this should be an annual appropriation until these situations are gradually eradicated.
CARE OF PARKS-Superintendent Maggi asked for an appro- priation of $300 to care for the greens in Saugus Centre and Cliftondale. The care consists essentially of merely cutting the grass several times during the summer. The Finance Commit- tee believes that this can well be cared for from the general highway budget and has deleted this special item from the budget.
VACATION HOLIDAYS, ETC .- The superintendent asked for an appropriation of $1,000 to pay the wages of men under the item "Vacations, Saturday half-holiday, holiday, and pensions." The Finance Committee sees no need of a specific appropriation for this purpose. It is an understood fact that the men of the department have Saturday afternoon off and that several enjoy vacations. There is no necessity, in the belief of the Finance Committee, of granting an additional appropriation to cover this cost. This item has been deleted from the budget.
PATCHING STREETS-This is an item, which, in the opinion of the Finance Committee, should be included in general main- tenance. Superintendent Maggi asked for $1,500 for this pur- pose but the committee does not recommend the appropriation and has deleted it from the budget.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE-Superintendent Maggi recom- mends $15,000 for general maintenance and repairs. This figure is recommended by the Finance Committee.
Last year the Highway Department expended $20,057.27. The total recommendations of the Finance Committee, under
·
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all of the items stated above, is $22,050. This approximates a 10 per cent raise for the care of the town's streets but takes into consideration the institution of considerable scheduled work neglected in the past because of a lack of funds.
The Finance Committee has received information from the General Electric Company showing that street signs of one- eighth inch steel japanned and treated so that they cannot rust can be procured for approximately 50 cents apiece. The com- mittee has viewed a specimen of these signs and believes that they are adequate for the town's needs. The committee does not believe that the town should purchase any ornamental and expensive signs. The committee believes that with the $300 recommended in the budget at least 500 of these signs can be made, stenciled and erected.
Surface Drainage and Street Construction
Included in the budget of the Department of Public Works are two items calling for surface drainage work and street work construction. For each of these two items Superintendent Alfred L. Maggi of the department and the Board of Selectmen have requested appropriations of $20,000.
The Finance Committee is fully cognizant of the fact that there are many bad drainage situations existing in the town. The committee, however, is unable to favor the appropriation of such a blanket sum to be used in the abolition of these situa- ations. The committee feels that specific recommendations should be made for each project. The Finance Committee is unable to reconcile such a blanket appropriation for the elimi- nation of surface drainage problems with the financial condition of the town.
The same conditions hold true with reference to the request for $20,000 for new street construction. There is no suggestion in the budget as to where the money will be expended. The Finance Committee expresses the fear that even if such an appropriation was created that its expenditure would provide the Board of Selectmen with a fruitful field for political distribution.
The opinion of the committee is, however, that no projects
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of such magnitude should be undertaken at this time. The Finance Committee has deleted both items from the budget.
New Equipment
Superintendent Maggi has recommended to the Finance Com- mitiee the purchase of some new equipment for the Highway Department this year.
CONCRETE MIXER-The superintendent recommends the pur- chase of a concrete mixer to enable the department to construct its own sidewalks this summer. The Finance Committee unanimously favors this proposal. Besides accomplishing the job with more economy, the plan should enable local men to obtain employment during the period that the job is in progress. The Superintendent of Public Works declares that he can save the price of the mixer during the progress of the work.
The Finance Committee has unanimously recommended the expenditure of $1,200 for the purchase of a concrete mixer for the department.
GASOLINE ROLLER-Declaring that the present roller is nearly worn out and that another must be provided shortly, Superintendent Maggi has recommended the expenditure of $4,000 for the purchase of a gasoline roller. The superintend- ent admitted to the Finance Committee, however, that the present roller could probably be made to last through another season.
The Finance Committee, therefore, has deleted this $4,000 from the budget.
TIRES FOR TRUCKS-The superintendent informs the Finance Committee that the two White trucks of the department must be fitted with new tires. They now have solid tires. There is a law now in effect, however, requiring the use of pneumatic tires. It would seem to be wise to install these tires on the trucks at this time. The cost is estimated at $1,500.
The Finance Committee, therefore, recommends the sum of $1,500 for fitting pneumatic tires to the two trucks of the department.
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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING.
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Bridges, Culverts, Etc.
Superintendent Maggi of the Public Works Department has submitted to the Finance Committee the fact that there are several bridges and culverts in town which should be replaced at once. He cites the Central street bridge, the Ballard street bridge, the Highland avenue bridge, and culverts crossing Fel- ton street, Pleasant avenue, Essex street, Vine street, Elm street, Main street, Central street, Howard street, and Spring street, as being in deplorable condition. The Finance Committee has inspected several of these structures and finds that they are in bad condition.
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