USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1940 > Part 17
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On December 31, 1940 there was outstanding on the 1940 Property Tax, the sum of $260,979.42.
Here two things are evident; the ability and willingness of our citizens to pay taxes they consider fair.
(f) We have the very substantial sum of $34,670.49 in our Contribu- tary Retirement System Funds, out of which to retire town em- ployees as they come to the re- tirement age.
All of these factors substantiate the Town Treasurer's repeated re- marks to the effect that Saugus has definitely turned the corner and is well on its way out of its financial doldrums.
(g) When our citizens consider that in 1940 we had bonds and in- terest to pay of $78,222.50; that in 1941 this is reduced to $62,337.50; in 1942, to $56,810; and in 1943, to only $38,007.50, they can see that our tax rate is on its way down, and shortly will be down to a normal $35.00 or less per thou- sand, if only State Taxes over which we have no control are kept in line.
This planning and work between sincere citizens and officials is routine and everyday stuff. It does not make the headlines as does the sensational and misleading shout of the self-seeking office seeker, but it is the work of sober, ex- perienced men who do it for their town because they believe in its
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1940]
SUPERINTENDENT OF BUILDINGS
161
soundness and future. In this con- nection we invite your attention to a significant item, published on January 11, 1941 in the Boston Transcript, in regard to our neigh- boring community of Melrose.
"The human equation behind the figures 9.3 tell the story of a city that waited ten years to make page 1.
"That may be a slight exaggera- tion but in Melrose the feeling is that the best explanation for their winning the honor of being the State's fastest growing city during the last decade IS DUE TO THE UNSENSATIONAL CHARAC- TER OF THE COMMUNITY."
There's one other point-all that has been done this year has been done without reducing a single workman's or clerk's pay where
they received $35 or less; no man has lost his job, and this Board has not dealt in political patronage. Every man who does his quota of work is sure of his job regardless of who he votes for.
The members of your Board of Selectmen are old enough and have served you long enough not to de- sire undue personal commendation. They feel they have served you well, and done their duty, as Sel- ectmen, Sewer Commissioners, Fire Engineers, and other capacities. You pay them a total of $1,200 in salaries. Certainly they are not over paid. It is, however, an old and honorable office, and the oppor- tunity to serve is compensation in itself.
Faithfully yours, EDWARD GIBBS, JR., Chairman.
Report of the Superintendent of Buildings
December 31, 1940 To the Honorable Board of Sel- ectmen
Town Hall
Saugus, Mass.
Gentlemen:
It is my privilege as Superinten- dent of Buildings, to submit my first annual report for the year ending December 31, 1940.
The following report gives the type, number and value of permits issued during the year 1940.
Type
No.
Value
Dwellings
22
$ 66,350
Additions
55
19,025
Repairs
46
12,900
Overnight Cabins
33
14,080
Garages
24
5,850
Alterations
8
7,470
Out Houses
8
1,025
196
$125,700 Value
Type
No.
Club House
1
$ 900.00
Offices
2
500.00
Summer House
1
25.00
Greasing Station
1
500.00
Hen Houses
2
400.00
Demolish
8
000.00
Total
211
$128,025
I wish to bring to your attention the increase in the number of per- mits. This year's total will equal 212 times more than was issued last year, which has increased the amount of time required to fulfill the duties of this office to the ex- tent that I am spending from five to twelve hours a day, including Sundays and holidays to keep pace with demands made on this office.
Therefore I strongly recommend that the Supt. of Buildings be a full time position with a salary of $2,180 per year.
In conclusion I wish to thank all town departments for their co- operation. Mr. John White, former Supt. of Buildings for his willing- ness to answer the many questions I asked of him; Mrs. Stocker of the public works department who answers the phone for the build- ing department, and my daughter who does the typing.
Respectfully submitted,
MELBOURNE MacLEOD, Supt. of Buildings.
162
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Report of the Town Engineer
Saugus, Massachusetts December 31, 1940
Mr. Ernest A. Merrithew
Superintendent, Public Works De- partment
Dear Sir:
I am submitting you a report of Engineering and division of the time on same for the year 1940.
Street Lines 3 days
19-21-23 Palmer Avenue
May
Central Street June
Taylor Street Oct.
Street Acceptances
February and March, 27 days
Palmer Avenue
DeSota Street
Bridge Street
Sweetwater Street
Summit Avenue
Henry Street (Plan Made)
School Street (Plan Made)
Sewers
April 15, 1940 to January 1, 1941 8912 days
Fairview Avenue
Central Street
Taylor Street
Columbus Avenue
Lincoln Avenue
Charlotte Road
Ernest Street Trull Circle Baker Street
Drains 421/2 days
Essex Street Granite Road
Sidewalks 4712 days
All street lines, with supervision
Miscellaneous 712 days
Court-Town Farm case April
Spring Street, Estimate and Plan Culvert Nov.
Franklin St. Survey Berrett's Nov.
Main Street Releases Nov.
Boston M. D. C. Dec.
Water 51/2 days
Locating gates, boxes, estimates, etc.
Office 331/2 days
Index Plans-Estimates, and gene- ral office work to carry on. Total 253 days
Respectfully submitted, JOHN DYER, Engineer.
Report of the Superintendent of Public Works
For the Year Ending December 31, 1940
To the Board of Selectmen
Town Hall
Saugus, Massachusetts Gentlemen:
Following is a report of the Superintendent of Public Works for the twelve months ending De- cember 31, 1940.
First let me express my appreci- ation to the Board of Selectmen, heads of various departments, and most especially to the employees of the Public Works Department,
for their splendid co-operation dur- ing the past year. Their attitude clearly showed that they were aware that a maximum of effort was necessary in order to complete the work of the department within the limited funds allotted for the purpose.
Highways, Fences, and Bridges
Compared with all other com- munities in Essex County, the Town of Saugus has the 3d or 4th largest road mileage, i.e., 108 miles. Of this total mileage we have approximately five miles of
163
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
1940]
first-class road. The remainder consists of secondary, light-sur- faced and gravel-filled roads, with little or no sub-surface grading and drainage. Increasingly heavy traffic is causing more and more breakage, and steps should be taken as soon as possible to rebuild at least the several main thorough- fares.
Naturally the cost of such re- building will be considerable, but as has been suggested in the past, some definite program for such construction should be considered and sums set aside each year for this work.
In 1940 $16,425.00 was expended by the Town of Saugus for the maintenance of highways. Of this total :
$10,248.02 was paid for labor,
2,223.10 for maintaing and rent- ing equipment, small tools and hardware, etc. 732.21 for gasoline and oil 2,214.70 for asphalt, tar patch and gravel
The regular personnel of the Highway Department consists of one foreman; one roller operator, mechanic, etc., who when the oc- casion arises assists the men of the water or other departments; one man in charge of stock, equipment, disbursement of gasoline and oil, who assists other men of the de- partment in their various duties; one mechanic who has charge of the maintenance of all equipment; one assistant engineer and sub- foreman for Chapter 90 work; and two truck-driver-laborers; a total of seven men.
The work of this department during the past year has consisted of snow removal, sanding and salt- ing as required, erecting snow fences, care and cleaning of drains and catch basins, repairing streets and sidewalks, removing waste and obstruction, repairing fences and bridges, cleaning streets, gut- ters and squares, caring for greens, etc.
All members of the department are subject to call twenty-four hours a day, and it is gratifying to see them respond quickly to all emergency calls, whether during the day or night.
Collection of Ashes
For this service, $5199.94 was expended in 1940. Of this total $4602.90 was paid for labor and represents the work of four men for four days each week of the year.
It should be recalled that during the past few years the territory over which regular collections are made has been considerably in- creased. Saugus Center, East Sau- gus, Cliftondale, and West Clifton- dale are included in the regular weekly schedule for collections. North Saugus, Oaklandvale, Lynn- hurst, the Westlands and Baker's Hill are collected either every two weeks or once each month.
It has been recommended in the past that a larger truck be pur- chased for the ash collection work. I again suggest that this matter be considered, inasmuch as a body twice as large as the present one would reduce the daily number of trips to the dump and result in a saving of time.
Four men are regularly em- ployed in this work. Their week's work usually requires four days, but occasionally during the year it is necessary that five or five and one-half days be used. These men, when not engaged in collecting ashes and rubbish, assist the men of the highway department in their work.
Water Department
One foreman, one truck-driver- laborer and one laborer make up the water service crew. Upon these three men, with occasional assis- tance from others in the depart- ment, rests the responsibility for maintaining the water supply to some four thousand homes and public buildings.
During the course of a year these men are called upon several hun- dreds times to relieve poor water supply conditions, many of which are caused by corroded water ser- vice pipes, others by freezing and plugged meters. The men of the department willingly respond to calls for assistance at all hours of the day and night, often working many hours overtime for which they receive no extra compensation.
164
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Not only the water service crew but the water mains foreman and the meter man put in a great many extra hours over the period of a year for which they receive no extra compensation. All men of the water department have willing- ly turned to in all emergencies, and through their co-operation our water department has completed the past year within the appro- priation allotted.
Early in February 1940 exces- sively low temperatures caused hundreds of water services to freeze. Over a period of less than three weeks our men worked in shifts, some of which extended over twenty-four hours at a time, and many of the men accumulated over one hundred hours of overtime.
The equipment of the water de- partment is in fair condition. The water service truck is a 1939 Chev- rolet and is in good shape. The water meter (emergency) truck is a 1937 Chevrolet, and that of the water mains section is a 1936 Chevrolet. Several pumps which have been purchased during the last few years are in good working order for use in any em- ergency. Other equipment is in good workable condition.
Another auxiliary pump was purchased during 1940 for use in the pumping station. It was deemed advisable to make such a purchase in order that one pump could be in working condition at all times. The second pump is a duplicate of the one installed in 1939, and with little work and expense it can be set into the line as soon as the other is removed for repairs or other reason.
A more or less complete story on local water rates was included in the report of this department for 1939, but it still seems advis- able that the question of water rates as a source of increased reve- nue be considered.
Snow and Ice
The removal of snow and ice is a service for which the cost can only be estimated. Appropriations can be based only upon the exper- ience of the previous year or years.
In 1940, $13,502.00 was spent for this purpose, $5,797.97 being for labor, $1590 for rental of die- sel plow, $2271.88 for repairs and maintenance of trucks and plows, and the balance for gasoline and oil, salt, sand, and other miscel- laneous expenses which arise in this work.
Of the above, $563.70 was ex- pended for the hire of horseplows which are used for plowing side- walks and some districts which cannot be cleared with the trucks. It should be understood that side- walks are cleared only after the heaviest storms and that the cost for such service is approximately $40.00 per hour. This means that if all horse plows are called out, and if they work for an average of ten hours each, the town must pay in the vicinity of $400.00 for that service.
Our plow equipment now con- sists of five Public Works Depart- ment trucks aged 17, 14, 16, 6, and 4 years respectively; three sewer trucks, each 3 years old; the Holt tractor which is 15 years old; and the small Cletrac sidewalk plow, which was purchased in 1938.
Chapter 90 Maintenance
By taking advantage of the Chapter 90 Act under which the Town receives funds from the State or County, or both, to be used in conjunction with certain sums which are appropriated by the Town, we receive a value equal to approximately four times the amount appropriated.
For the past several years this department, with the co-operation of the Boards of Selectmen, has received several thousands of dol- lars from both the State and Coun- ty which have been used together with rather small amounts ap- propriated by the Town, for road repair and construction.
Not only has the Town of Sau- gus benefited by having its roads improved, but during the years of extreme unemployment, many men have been employed who might otherwise have been on the welfare rolls.
In 1940, $7160.00 was expended under the Chapter 90 Account.
165
TRUSTEES AND STAFF OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
1940]
But, of this total, only $2220.00 was appropriated by the Town of Saugus. To make up the above total, the Commonwealth allotted a sum of $2220.00 and the County of Essex $2720.00.
To make up the Town's share of $2220.00, $1120.00 was trans- ferred from the Highway Account, $600.00 was transferred from the Resurfacing Account, and the Fi- nance Committee transferred the amount of $500 to make the total.
Of the total, $7160, $2432.00 was paid for labor; $2920.42 was ex- pended for asphalt; $211.84 for tar patch; and $890.35 for sand with which to cover the asphalt as it was applied. The balance was used for gasoline and oil, lum- ber for fences, gravel, stone, and rental of equipment.
Recommendations For 1941, I recommend:
1. That the Town consider the purchase of two two-ton trucks for use by the Highway Department to replace two of the present trucks
which are now over fifteen years old.
2. That the Town consider the purchase of a larger truck for use by the Ash Department to replace the present small truck now in use.
3. That the Town consider the purchase of a 160-foot compressor for use by the Water Department, and others, to replace the 1926 Ingersoll-Rand compressor now being used.
4. That the Town consider the purchase of a new tractor for use on snow removal and other work as required to replace the sixteen- year-old Holt tractor which is now on hand.
5. That the Town appropriate sufficient amounts to be used in conjunction with sums, if any, allotted by the State or County or both for Chapter 90 Maintenance and Construction.
Respectfully submitted,
ERNEST A. MERRITHEW, Supt. Public Works Department.
Report of the Trustees and Staff of the Saugus Public Library
Trustees John B. Lang, Chairman Leverett B. Mears, Secretary Walter D. Blossom Albert R. Magee Kaler A. Perkins Chauncy V. Whittredge
June Agersea Lois Chase Alberta Purdy Marjorie Walkey Janitor-Main Library * Walter Gay Ernest Castle
Staff
Margaret L. Cameron, Librarian Vivian B. Copp, Assistant Libra- rian
Alice Lang, Branch Librarian, Cliftondale Branch Library
Aginess I. Blossom, Branch Li- brarian, East Saugus Branch Library Maude Moses, Branch Librarian, North Saugus Branch Library Anna Swanson, Branch Librarian, Lynnhurst Branch Library
Hour Workers
Jeanne Anderson
*deceased tappointed
To the Board of Library Trus- tees of the Saugus Public Library. Report for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1940.
In the year 1940, the library took several steps forward. The W.P.A. cataloging project which was started in November, 1939, was completed in October, 1940, under the supervision of Miss E. Louise Jones, Library Advisor of the Di- vision of Public Libraries of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The W. P. A. employees handled
106
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
approximately 22,000 books, typing three to six cards for each volume and marking the number on the back of 10,000 with an electric sty- lus. This means that now all books on a given subject are together on the shelves. The card catalog is an index to all the books in the library and the number is the key to the location on the shelves, thus making the books more easily ac- cessible to the public. The library is most grateful to Miss Jones for her interest in making this pro- ject a success.
During Book Week, November, 1940, the long hoped for Children's Room was opened in part of the Historical Room on the lower floor of the library. This arrangement gives the children double the space they had previously. Now they have a place to sit and read, or to be guided in their reading tastes. All this is not only advantageous to the children, but also leaves the upstairs free for the adults, and facilitates study
and reference work. The children's response to the room is seen in the increase in the juvenile circulation and in the fact that the attendance at the weekly story hours has doubled. In connection with the work with children, the library has estab- lished a new contact with the Oak- landvale School by sending de- posits of books there for distribu- tion. This was done at the request of Mrs. Helen Pragnell, Principal, and is an attempt to bring books to children who are without any library service.
One of the problems confronting libraries today is the place of li- braries in this world crisis. The place of the library is made clear, however, by the people themselves. Today, more than ever, the cry is for more and more technical ma- terial to enable men and women to keep up to date in the midst of an ever-changing business world. To give these people the technical edu- cation which is their right, to keep them alert, is the responsibility of the town and this responsibility is shown only by the financial sup- port the town gives the local li- brary. For several years, the bud- get allotment for books has been
entirely inadequate to enable your library to keep abreast of the times.
In closing, may I thank the Board of Library Trustees and the staff for their co-operation in mak- ing 1940 a year of progress for the library.
Respectfully submitted. MARGARET L. CAMERON, Librarian.
American Library Association Form of Statistics
Annual report for the year end- ing December 31, 1940.
Name of Library-Saugus Free Public Library
Town-Saugus, Massachusetts
Librarian-Margaret L. Cameron
Date of Founding-1887
Population Served-16,387
Assessed Valuation of Town - $16,295,013
Library Appropriation per Capita -$.50
Terms of Use-Free for Lending and Reference
Total Number of Agencies-7 Consisting of :
Main Library, Saugus Center
Cliftondale Branch
East Saugus Branch
Lynnhurst Branch
North Saugus Branch
-
High School
Oaklandvale (Book Deposit)
Hours Open Each Week for
Lending and Reference Main Library 341/2
Cliftondale Branch 21
East Saugus Branch 101/2
North Saugus Branch 4
Lynnhurst Branch 3
High School 828
(total number for school year) Book Stock
Volumes at beginning of year 22167
Volumes added 1072
Volumes withdrawn 614
Total 22625
Circulation Record
Main Library 37827
Cliftondale Branch 36530
East Saugus Branch 11775
North Saugus Branch 4082
Lynnhurst Branch 2389
167
REPORT OF SEWER COMMISSIONERS
1940]
High School 4348
Total 96951
We, the Board of Library Trus-
tees of the Saugus Public Library, accept the report of the librarian
and submit it as our report.
JOHN B. LANG
KALER A. PERKINS
ALBERT R. MAGEE
CHAUNCY V. WHITTREDGE
Report of the Sewer Commissioners
In March 1940 the town elected a board of three Sewer Commis- sioners in accordance with General Laws, Chapter 350, Section 3, one being elected to serve one year, one for two years, and one for three years.
Believing that the supervision of the sewer construction, which was started July 6, 1938, and the opera- tion of this department could now be taken over by the Commission, it was voted at a meeting on March 25, 1940 that the service of the superintendent, assistant sup- erintendent, and attorney be dis- penced with as of April 6, 1940, the persons holding these positions being so notified.
The plan of co-ordination of all departments called for a transfer of all materials to the Public Works Department and this was done. The supervision of the con- struction was placed under the Superintendent of Public Works. On April 29 the services of the consulting engineers were also ter- minated and this work was taken over by the Town Engineering De- partment. This represented a sav- ing to the Town on the sewer con- struction cost of approximately $8,300 in salaries per year and
1938
1939 7567
5356
16,554
24
35
24
83
Service connections (feet)
1335
1041
2742
5,118
Construction was on the follow- ing streets: Linwood, Mt. Vernon, Fairview Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, Central, Taylor, Columbus Ave- nue, Ernest, Charlotte Road, and Trull Circle.
Under the Sewer Commission, the construction amounted to 5885 feet of main sewer line and service
eliminates all additional engineer- ing costs.
During the year the construction of sewer mains and service con- nections has been continued with labor supplied by the Works Pro- gress Administration. Construction was completed on Central Street, passing the Town Hall to Taylor Street; Taylor Street and Colum- bus Avenue, in the Saugus Center section. In Cliftondale, the Lin- coln Avenue line was built to Myr- tle Street; also, Fairview Avenue was completed to the end of the street. Sewer construction con- tinued and was completed for Ernest Street,
Charlotte Road, Trull Circle, and started on Baker Street. There were two sections working until November, when the drop in W. P. A. employment made it necessary to continue work on one section only in Cliftondale.
The number of men employed under the Works Progress Ad- ministration in January 1940 was ninety-two, and had dropped to forty in December. This of course decreases the amount of construc- tion. Following is a summary of the W.P.A. sewer construction for 1940, with work being done on ten streets :
1940
Totals
Main sewer line built (feet) Manholes built
3631
connection, costing the Town, in cash, approximately $2.60 per lin- ear foot. Work under the W. P. A. is now constructed by men having over two years experience, and is efficiently supervised by a man ap- pointed by the W. P. A. office.
The Sewer Department funds as of December 31, 1940 were as fol-
168
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
lows:
P.W.A. Appropriation
Balance on December 31, 1939
P. W. A. Grants for 1940
$25,698.39 43,150.52
Expenditures-1940
Transferred to W.P.A.
$50,593.82 14,022.16
64,615.98
Balance as of December 31, 1940
$ 4,232.93
W.P.A. Appropriation
Balance on December 31, 1939
Transferred from P.W.A.
$16,614.93 14,022.16
$30,637.09
Expenditures for 1940
28,726.45
Balance as of December 31, 1940
$ 1,910.64
In 1940 the Town Meeting trans- ferred the balance of the Sewer Committee funds, in the amount of $1,447.98 to the Sewer Maintenance Account and $1,452.02 was appro- priated, making a total of $2,900.00 to maintain and operate the sewer pumping station and care and in- spection of the sewer lines. On December 31, 1940 the funds for this department were as follows:
Appropriation and
transfer-1940 $2,900.00
Expended as of
December 31, 1940 2,756.58
Balance to Surplus Fund $ 143.42
This department had been in operation before this appropriation was made and the expenses were charged against the Sewer Con- struction Funds in the amount of $2,744.54 making the actual cost for the maintenance of this department $5,501.12 for the twelve month period.
The Town Meeting having adop- ted the sewer assessment rates on June 24, 1940, work was started on the assessments, and bills were mailed on July 12, 1940, to three hundred and ninety-five owners of property in the amount of $48,265. 78, and on December 23, 1940 there were billed to forty-nine owners assessments amounting to $7,477- .71, making the total for 1940, $55,743.49 on four hundred and forty-four properties. On Decem-
ber 31, 1940 there had been paid to the Tax Collector $9,667.87 in full or apportionment payments on approximately ninety accounts.
The W. P. A. project for which an appropriation, started in 1938, was expended, and a new project with a Federal Government ap- propriation of $100,246.00 was started in January 1941.
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