USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1939 > Part 5
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Art. 5. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for Federal Works Progress Adminis- tration project for material, equipment, and services, said sum to be transferred from any unex- pended balances.
Art. 6. That it be the sense of this meeting that the Town place on the Ballot at the next elecion:
"Shall the Town construct and maintain within its limits a plant for the manufacture and distri- bution of electricity for munici- pal use and for the use of its in- habitants in accordance with the provisions of General Laws, Chapter 164, Section 34, as amended ?"
Or to see what action the Town will take, agreeable to the petition
of William C. Banks and others.
Art. 7. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of $800.00 to prepare and print not. less than 1000 copies of a List of Assessments on all real estate and personal property, not including motor vehicles, said list to be com- pleted and available to the public on or before October 1, 1939. Fi- nance Committee.
Art. 8. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of lay- ing out and constructing, as part of a system of main drains and common sewers, certain common sewers including common sewers in Main Street between Franklin Street and Newburyport Turnpike and for acquiring land or ease- ments as necessary, all in accord- ance with the provisions of Chap- ter 350 of the Acts of 1929 as amended by Chapter 259 of the Acts of 1933, said appropriation to be used in conjunction with any funds which the Federal Govern- ment may make available for the project, or take any action relative thereto, agreeable to the petition of the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee.
Art. 9. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to. acquire by taking by eminent do- main or by purchase and appropri- ate a sum of money for such pur- chase or damages for such taking of land in that part of Saugus called Cliftondale, together with the buildings thereon, bounded and described as follows :-
Northerly by Jackson Street one hundred ten and one-quarter (1101/4 ) feet; Easterly by land now or formerly of Sarah A. Rad- din one hundred thirty-eight (138) feet; Southerly by land now or formerly of Charles H. Bond one hundred twenty-nine and one-half (1291/2) feet, and Westerly bv land now or form- erly of the Heirs of George H. Sweetser one hundred ten and
47
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
1939]
31-100 (110.31) feet. Contain- ing 14,000 square feet, more or less.
Or to see what action the Town will take in the matter agreeable to the petition of the Trustees of the Public Library.
Art. 10. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $212.33 to pay the unpaid pension of Mrs. Mellen R. Joy, agreeable to the petition of the Board of Selectmen.
You are hereby directed to serve this Warrant, by posting attested copies thereof at the usual places seven days, at least, before the time of holding said meeting, and to distribute copies as provided by the By-Laws, at the time and place of meeting.
Given under our hands and Town Seal this 27th day of February, A. D. Nineteen Hundred and Thirty-Nine.
EDWARD GIBBS, JR., GEORGE H. QUARMBY, WILLIAM S. ROCKHILL, Board of Selectmen.
A True Copy.
Attest:
W. CHARLES SELLICK,
Constable.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Essex, ss. March 6, 1939.
Pursuant hereunto I have served the within Warrant as directed by posting attested copies at the sev- eral precincts at least seven days before said meeting according to the By-Laws.
A true copy.
Attest:
W. CHARLES SELLICK, Constable.
A true copy.
Attest: VIOLA G. WILSON, Town Clerk.
March 27, 1939.
In compliance with Chapter 55 of the Acts of 1928 and also with Section 2 of the By-Laws of the Town of Saugus, I hereby certify that today I personally mailed to. all Limited Town Meeting Members a printed copy of the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting of April 3, 1939.
Signed: VIOLA G. WILSON,
Town Clerk.
A true copy.
Attest: VIOLA G. WILSON,
Town Clerk.
RECOUNT OF VOTES-MARCH 11, 1939
Precinct One
Town Meeting Members Two Years
*Ruth E. Sawyer 510
*George F. Shea, Jr. 478
*Lucian D. Stacy 447
*Elizabeth Ostergren Ward 490
Thomas H. Perrett 1
Blanks 1230
Total
3156
Precinct One Town Meeting Members One Year
*Delmont E. Goding 435
*Robert F. Griffinn 456
:* Thomas D. Morse 427
R. Bruce Mills 2
Doris A. Metzger 3
Russell P. Gray 3
Ralph D. Day 3
Samuel A. Parker 1
Gordon L. Marr 1
George A. Parker 1
Doris M. Westendarp 3
Russell E. Chesley 1
Harold E. Glynn 1
Percival L. Perkins 1
Aginess I. Blossom 3
Dexter G. Pratt
1
Ernest L. Shapiro 1
*Walter J. Gautreau
4
Darwin S. Myers
1
Blanks 1808
Total 3156
A true copy.
Attest: VIOLA G. WILSON,
Town Clerk.
48
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
6 St. James Rd. Saugus, Mass. March 13, 1939.
To the Town Clerk. Dear Madam:
I hereby submit to you my resig- nation for the one year term of Town Meeting Member of Precinct Four to accept the three year term. Sincerely,
DONALD J. MacDONALD.
30 Highland Ave. Saugus, Mass. March 13, 1939.
Mrs. Viola G. Wilson Town Clerk
Saugus, Mass.
Dear Madam:
Your card of March 9: I hereby resign as Town Meeting Member for term ending March, 1940 but will retain membership for term ending March, 1941.
Very sincerely,
KATHARINE H. IRBY.
30 Highland Ave., Saugus, Mass. March 13, 1939.
Mrs. Viola G. Wilson Town Clerk
Saugus, Mass.
Dear Madam:
Your card of March 9: I hereby resign as Town Meeting Member for terms ending March 1940, 1941 but will retain membership ending March, 1942.
Sincerely, WILLIAM IRBY.
A true copy. Attest: VIOLA G. WILSON, Town Clerk. March 13, 1939.
Roswell W. Abbott, Precinct 5. Howard C. Heath, Precinct 7. Very truly yours, HERBERT P. MASON, Town Moderator ..
A true copy.
Attest: VIOLA G. WILSON, Town Clerk. March 15, 1939.
I hereby resign as Town Meet- ing Member of Precinct 4 for the term expiring March, 1940.
VIRGINIA E. WOODWARD,
March 15, 1939.
Viola G. Wilson Town Clerk
Saugus, Mass.
Dear Madam:
The Town Meeting Members of Precinct Eight met in the Town Hall at 7:30 P.M. to break the tie for the One-year term between El- ma Smith and Karl E. Dahlen and the tie for one two-year term be- tween Alfred Powers, William Knights, Vita Knights and Ray- mond Wade.
Frank F. Humphries was elected. chairman.
Paul A. Haley was elected secretary.
The following named citizen of Precinct Eight was elected for the one-year term:
Karl E. Dahlen receiving 12 votes.
The following named citizen of Precinct Eight was elected for the two-year term:
Alfred W. Powers receiving 16 votes.
Signed: FRANK F. HUMPHRIES,
Chairman; PAUL A. HALEY, Secretary.
Mrs. Viola G. Wilson Town Clerk Saugus, Mass.
Dear Mrs. Wilson: I hereby appoint as members of the Finance Committee to succeed themselves the following:
Bertrand D. Westendarp, Pre- cinct 1.
I hereby accept the one year term. as Town Meeting Member in Pre- cinct Eight.
Signed: KARL E. DAHLEN.
A true copy.
Attest: VIOLA G. WILSON, Town Clerk ..
49
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
1939]
Annual Town Meeting, March 15, 1939
The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Herbert P. Ma- son, at 8:15 P.M.
The salute to the flag was given. A count of the members was taken. A quorum was found to be present.
The reading of the warrant was waived by unanimous consent.
All town meeting members not previously sworn in were qualified by the Moderator.
The following resolution in the form of a motion was presented by Mr. Paul A. Haley and adopted by the meeting:
"That in view of the sudden death of Lewis O. Stocker, a mem- ber of this body since its incep- tion, chairman of the Finance Com- mittee, member of the Board of Zoning Appeals, and a member of many valuable committees of this meeting, that this body do stand adjourned at 10 P.M. until Mon- day evening at 8 P.M. and that a committee of three be appointed to draw suitable resolutions for pre- sentation to a succeeding session relative to the services of the late Mr. Stocker and Timothy J. Ban- non, whose recent decease brought to a close a long and successful service as a member of this meet- ing."
Voted to take Article 3 up out of order.
The two special town meetings were adjourned Sine die.
Article 3.
Voted: That hte Town Treasur- er, with the approval of the Select- men, be and hereby is authorized to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning Janu- ary 1, 1939, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, Gen- eral Laws. 8:32 P.M.
Yeas, 187. Nays, 0.
Article 1. Reports of Commit- tees.
Mr. Peckham asked to present
his report on next Monday. Voted 8:36 P.M.
Mr. Banks of the Power Commit- tee asked to report on April 3rd. Voted 8:36 P.M.
The report of the Finance Com- mittee was read and accepted.
A verbal report of progress was made by the Fire Station Com- mittee.
The Illegal Excavation Commit- tee will report when Article 77 is taken up.
The minority report of Clarence O. Martin was received.
"To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Town Meeting Members and
Citizens of the Town of Saugus:
In accordance with Sec. 16, Chap. 39 of the General Laws, which says in part 'Every town whose valuation for the purpose of apportioning the state tax exceeds one million dollars shall, and any town may, by by-law provide for the appointment and duties of ap- propriation, advisory or finance committees, who shall consider any or all municipal questions for the purpose of making reports or recommendations to the town.'
As a member of your Finance Committee and being fully obligat- ed to the inhabitants of the town for advice and recommendations, the following may be considered as a minority report.
After carefully analyzing the fi- nancial situation confronting our town, is the inescapable fact that we are facing serious financial dif- ficulty. Unless methods are speed- ily adopted to put the financial af- fairs of the town in order, we may well be confronted with the neces- sity of a state-imposed commission form of government similar to that in Fall River to regulate our af- fairs and to put our town depart- ments on an efficient and economic- al basis.
Recommendations
1. A revision of all department heads' salaries.
2. A recheck and investigation of W.P.A.
50
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
3. The consolidation of the Treasury Department with the Col- lectors Department.
4. The consolidation of the Town Clerk's Department with the Ac- counting Department.
5. The installation of a pur- chasing agent for all town depart- ments. See Sec. 103, Chap. 51, G. L.
6. A sensible salary schedule for all town clerks, as now this item is out of proportion and needs immediate correction.
7. Halt careless and extravagant use of public monies.
8. Adopt Sec. 21, Cap. 41, G. L., at our next annual town meeting that portion involving the Board of Assessors and Board of Public Wel- fare.
The impression seems to be cur- rent in many circles including some who are holding executive and ad- ministrative positions in our town, that there is no limit to the amount of money available. We are con- tinuing to live beyond our income. Some of us have no adequate real- ization of the fact that the taxpay- ers have to carry the load imposed by an expensive town government. It is my earnest hope that the cit- izens and taxpayers of the town, will be deeply impressed, as I am, with the urgent necessity of cut- ting Town expenses to the very lowest point compatible with satis- factory functioning of the town government. It must be strictly understood that it is the taxpayers, the burdens of conducting the de- partments fall.
It is the hope of the majority as well as myself that it will be im- possible for us to grant any gen- eral increases of salary this year as requested by some departments.
It is respectfully requested and most insistantly urged that town meeting members attend all ses- sions of our annual town meeting, for here is where your tax rate is made, your Finance Committee, however, can only act in an ad- visory manner.
Respectfully submitted,
CLARENCE O. MARTIN."
The report of the Sewer Com- mittee will be made at the Special Town Meeting by Judge Flynn.
Article 2.
The following motion was of- fered by Mr. Merrill. "Voted that it is the sense of the Town Meet- ing that the Moderator appoint a committee of three to investigate ways and means of increasing town income."
Voted 9:15 P. M.
Mr. Sawyer offered the follow- ing motion: "Moved: That a com- mittee consisting of Edward Hayes and William Robinson of the Plan- ning Board, Harold Dodge, Town Treasurer, Clarence Martin of the Finance Committee and George Mason, Assessor be charged with obtaining a blackboard, having it ready with a base rate and chang- ing the rate after each appropria- tion so that the members of this meeting may know the tax rate. Voted 9:25 P. M.
Voted: That the consideration of Articles for the appropriation of money, except articles 62 to 74 inc. under the General Budget be and is hereby postponed to the next adjourned meeting. 9:26 P. M.
Items 1 to 61. Voted to lay on the table until next Monday. 9:26 P. M.
The tellers were sworn in.
Item 62. Voted: That the sum of $10,000. be and the same is hereby appropriated for Interest on Temporary Loans. 9:35 P. M. Item 63. Voted: That the sum of $2,150 be and the same is here- by appropriated for interest on School Loans. 9:35 P. M.
Item 64. Voted: That the sum of $787.50 be and the same is hereby appropriated for Interest on Water Loans. 9:35 P. M.
Item 65. Voted: That the sum of $17,500. be and the same is hereby appropriated for School House Loan Bonds maturing in 1939. 9:35 P. M.
Item 66. Voted: That the sum of $9,000. be and the same is here- by appropriated for Water Bonds maturing in 1939. 9:35 P. M.
Item 67. Voted: That the sum of $14,000. be and the same is
51
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
1939]
hereby appropriated for Welfare Notes Loans & Bonds maturing in 1939. 9:35 P. M.
Item 68. Voted: That the sum of $502.50 be and the same is hereby appropriated for Interest on Welfare Notes, Loans and Bonds. 9:35 P. M.
Item 69. Voted: That the sum of $5,000. be and the same is here- by appropriated for Fire and Po- lice Station Bonds, of which $167.71 is to be raised in the tax levy, and $4,832.29 shall be trans- ferred from available funds, (Fed- eral P. W. A. Grant.)
Item 70. Voted: That the sum of $1,950. be and the same is here- by appropriated for Interest on Fire and Police Station Bonds. 9:35 P. M.
Item 71. Voted: That the sum of $9,087.38 be and the same is hereby appropriated for Interest on Sewer Bonds. 9:35 P. M.
Item 72. Voted: That the sum of $18,000. be and the same is hereby appropriated for Sewer bonds maturing in 1939, of which amount $10,389.71 is to be raised in the tax levy and $7,610.29 shall be transferred from available funds, (Premium Account). 9:35 P. M.
Item 73. Voted: That the sum of $587.50 be and the same is hereby appropriated for Interest on Municipal Relief Bonds. 9:35 P. M.
Item 74. Voted: That the sum of $7,000. be and the same is hereby appropriated for Municipal Relief Bonds maturing in 1939. 9:35 P. M.
Article 4. Voted: That the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is, authorized to borrow for ordinary Maintenance expenses of the Town, and for payment of Reven- ue Loans, the sum of One Hun- dred Thousand Dollars ($100,000 .- 00); but in no event a sum in ex- cess of the amount of tax titles taken or held by the Town, and to issue a note or notes of the Town therefor, all in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 49 of
the Acts of 1933, as most recent- ly amended by Chapter 57 of the Acts of 1938. Yeas 213 Nays 0. 9:39 P. M.
Article 5-13. Voted to lay on the table. 9:40 P. M.
Article 14. Voted to lay on the table. 9:41 P. M.
Article 15. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 9:42 P. M.
Article 16. Voted to lay on table. 9:421/2 P. M.
Art. 17. Voted to lay on table. 9:43 P. M.
Art. 18. Voted to lay on table. 9:43 P. M.
Article 19. Voted that the Town transfer from the Overlay Reserve Account the following amounts: $3,154.66 to the Storm Damage Emergency Account and $1,200.00 to the 787 Broadway Water Em- ergency Account, in accordance with the provisions of Section 25 of Chapter 59 of the General Laws. 9:47 P. M.
Article 20. Voted that the Town transfer the unexpended balance of $16.92 in the School Investiga- tion Committee appropriation to Excess and Deficiency. 9:47 P. M.
Art. 21. Voted that the Town, in accordance with the provisions of Section 20, Chapter 44 of the General Laws transfer the follow- ing non-revenue account unexpend- ed balances to the non-revenue ac- count known as Sewers (W.P.A. Project No. 16218) :
Macadam Paving $106.40 Relay Water Mains 37.62
School Construction 386.17
Fire and Police Station, P. W. A. No. 7631 97.42
High School Addition 96.72
Article 36, Water Bond Issue 634.82
$1,359.15
9:50 P. M.
Article 22, 23 and 24. Voted to lay on the table. 9:51 P. M.
52
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Article 25. Voted to lay on the table. 9:52 P. M.
Article 26. Voted to lay on the table. 9:52 P. M.
Article 27. Voted to lay on the table. 9:53 P. M.
Article 28. Voted to lay on the table. 9:53 P. M.
Voted to take up Article 86 out
of order.
Article 86. Voted to indefinite- ly postpone. 9:55 P. M.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 P. M. until Monday, March 20, 1939, at 8 P. M.
A true copy.
Attest: VIOLA G. WILSON,
Town Clerk.
53
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
1939]
Report of the Finance Committee To the Representative Town Meeting and Citizens of the Town of Saugus
The Finance Committee here- with submits its report on the 1939 Budget.
The Committee wishes first of all to call to the attention of vari- ous department heads that we are faced this year with a need for ex- treme economy. The high tax rate of 1938 is a matter of concern for all who are interested in the fu- ture of the Town. We feel that all departments should co-operate to prevent a repetition of another high rate this year.
The Committee wishes to advise the members of the Limited Town Meeting that their action relative to amounts voted upon at the Town Meeting is no longer subject to ap- proval of the State Emergency Finance Board and that any action taken by the Meeting is final and will be directly reflected in the tax rate of 1939.
We should bear in mind that in January of this year at the Special Town Meeting we have voted a to- tal of $25,000 for W. P. A. and $698.85 for the Board of Assessors which will apply to the current tax levy.
Before taking action on any of the items in the Annual Town Meeting Warrant, this Committee has considered the fact that the increase in the State Tax this year may add from $3. to $5. to our own rate, due to no fault of our own.
We are forced to increase our bond and interest payments on permanent improvements to the extent of nearly $16,000 over 1938; also, the School, Police and Fire- men's Salaries budgets are slight- ly higher due to the 1938 increases in wage levels. These facts all sum up to the conclusion that the only possible way to avoid a re- petition of last year's rate is to practice rigid economy in each and every department during the en- tire year.
There are but few improvements in the Special Articles of the Town
Meeting Warrant which have re- ceived the approval of this Com- mittee for the above reasons, and only those improvements which definitely indicate that an expen- diture now would offset a consid- erable higher one in the near fu- ture.
For similar reasons the Finance Committee requests that all Town Departments curtail expenditures and keep definitely within their appropriations. The recommend- ed amounts to most departments (with the exceptions previously mentioned) call for approximately a five per cent cut over the pre- vious year's appropriations.
There are individual problems confronting each department and the administration of these depart- ments with limited funds is ad- mittedly not an easy task, but it is increasingly evident that the taxpayer must be given primary consideration and relief this year.
The Committee does not approve of increases in salaries for em- ployees during the current year and in some departments it is ap- parent that a readjustment in clerical salaries should be made to conform to the lower level of the majority. This is a problem which should be taken care of by depart- ment heads.
The Finance Committee admits that there are few if any requests under special articles which are not projects of a desirable and worthy nature. It is obvious, how- ever, that the elimination of the greater majority is necessary in order to keep the total budget within reasonable bounds. In our recommendations under these ar- ticles we have endeavored to fa- vor those projects which would serve the greatest number of people and at the same time eli- minate a greater future ependi- ture.
We have outlined on the follow- ing pages reasons for actions taken in our recommendations.
54
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Reasons for Increases in General Budget
(Over the Appropriations of 1938)
Item 5. The Accountant's ap- propriation is increased $750 over the 1938 appropriation due to the fact that the Town Accountant, as of March 1, 1938, became a full time position and also that an as- sistant formerly paid largely from the W. P. A. appropriation was of necessity placed entirely upon the Town payroll.
Item 13. The Election and Re- gistration Account, which would ordinarily be reduced considerably this year due to having but one election, shows an increase. This is due to new State requirements causing this department to com- pile and record the names of all men and women over twenty years of age in the Town as well as publishing a book similar to the poll book. The Committee has not recommended the increase request- ed by the department for the rea- son that after investigation of methods used by other towns, that the full services of two persons for the entire year (in addition to the deputies who took the regis- tration census) does not appear necessary.
Item 19. Police Department. The police budget is increased only due to maintaining the small wage increases given last year (now be- coming effective in the budget for a full year). Also one car which is proving to be too expensive in the matter of repairs is to be trad- ed in on a new one.
Item 20. Pensions. This item is increased due to the acceptance of the Veterans' Pension Act by the Board of Selectmen in 1938, placing one Veteran on pension, as well as action of the Board in granting a pension to the widow of a police officer.
Item 22. Firemen's Salaries. Increase due to the full force of raise granted in 1938.
Item 30. Tree Warden. A slight increase is recommended over the
1938 appropriation due to unusual conditions caused by hurricane damage.
Item 32. Schools. The increase is due entirely to the raising of maximum salary levels of school teachers last year, still acting on. automatic increase basis.
Item 35. Welfare. Increase due to heavy expenditures during the early part of this year, causing the Welfare Department to anticipate a high amount needed. The re- quest has been reduced by over $6000 due to large W. P. A. quota recently obtained. The Old Age Assistance request has also been reduced in our recommendations.
Item 40. The increase in the. Highway Budget recommendation over that of 1938 (as well as over the request of 1939) is due to one item only. This is to allot $1500 for the improvement of Elm Street in its entirety and eliminates a special article calling for a higher amount to be spent on a portion. of this street.
Item 46. Increase due to un- usual condition caused by breaks. in mains.
Item 47. Cemetery Department. Total increase due to the larger area to maintain. The amount to be taken from the tax levy, how- ever, is less than last year. The Committee recommends $2000 ad- ditional from available funds (In- come from Perpetual Care Depo- sits).
Item 52. Inspector of Plumbing and Sanitation. During the year of 1938, the Board of Health ap- pointed an Inspector of Sanitation (who is also the Plumbing In- spector). The Committee feels that these two posts should be combined in one as indicated and that the total salary paid should be $1800, this being a fulltime po- sition.
Item 58. Insurance. The in- crease is due to expiring policies which were at one time on a five- year schedule basis; also to new Stadium coverage. The savings of
55
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
1939]
former years due to cancelling long-term policies and replacing with shorter term coverage is now being reflected. The Committee recommends a gradual return to "the old five-year basis and also placing some of the insurance with old reliable mutual companies.
Item 71. Interest on Sewer Loan. The interest on the two new series of sewer bonds for 1939 is $13,530. However, about one- third of this year's charges are provided for in the Sewer Appro- priation, leaving amount to be raised of $9,087.38.
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