USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1944 > Part 10
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In October this Board regretfully accepted the resignation of its Chairman, Mr. Arthur C. Dunk, who had faithfully served as a member of this Board since 1931 and as its chairman since 1936.
We wish to express our appreciation for the cooperation received by this Department from other organizations and individuals in our effort to help the needy in our community.
Respectfully submitted,
GUSTAVE A. ANDERSON, Secretary ERNEST M. HATCH
Report of the Board of Health
To the Citizens of the Town of Saugus :
The Board of Health herewith submits its annual report for the year ending December 31, 1944.
The health conditions of the Town for the past year, have been very good. There has not been any serious epidemics, and while the tuberculosis patients at Essex San- atorium only numbered six at the beginning of the year, that number has gradually increased and there are some waiting to be admitted at the close of this year.
Through the unceasing efforts of the school nurse nearly every pupil in the grade schools was giv- en a patch test for tuberculosis. The parents and contacts of those who showed a positive reaction were X-rayed. The X-ray work was done through the courtesy of the staff at the Essex Sanatorium and
space was provided through the generosity of the American Legion.
Facilities at the Dental Clinic have been improved and needy children have received the benefit of dental care which is so neces- sary for the development of good health.
The clinic held at the Board of Health office was well attended this year and it is gratifying to see our earnest labors rewarded by the elimination of diphtheria. Not one case of diphtheria was reported this year.
Many sewer connections were made where the sewer was avail- able, and many unsanitary condi- tions eliminated but there is still much room for improvement. The Board strenuously recommends the continuance of sewer construction to include areas where unsanitary conditions still exist.
119
SUPERINTENDENT OF BUILDINGS
1944]
Many times the Board has brought to the attention of the citizens of the Town, through its report, the unsanitary and inade- uaqte toilet facilities at the Town Hall. There are no public facilities and those for town employees are in very poor condition. At present the Town Hall is not connected with the common sewer and all sewage from this building drains
directly into the Saugus River. This should be corrected in 1945.
Respectfully submitted,
MR. RICHARD J. SPENCER, Chairman DR. LEROY C. FURBUSH, Secretary DR. JAMES A. CLARK, Health Officer.
Report of the Superintendent of Buildings
December 31, 1944
The Honorable Board of Select- men,
Town Hall,
Boiler Room
1
4,750.00
Green House
1
1,500.00
Lubricating Lift
1
1,000.00
Demolish
13
None
Signs
8
800.00
Excavations
8
None
314 $129,899.00
The following report is a list of the Type, Number and Value of permits issued during the year.
Type ยท
No.
Value
Dwellings
4 $14,500.00
Manufacturing Buildings
2
22,000.00
Additions
99
44,292.00
Repairs
127
30,517.00
Sheds
19
3,045.00
Camps
1 1,500.00
Garages
17
3,565.00
Foundations
8
2,105.00
Chimneys
5
325.00
Saugus, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report as Superintendent of Buildings for the year ending December 31, 1944.
I have turned over to the Town Treasurer the total sum of $511.00 received for permits issued during the year.
I wish to thank all departments for their cooperation in this work.
Respectfully submitted,
MELBOURNE MacLEAD, Superintendent of Buildings
Report of Saugus Cemetery Commission
Over a long period of years the Cemetery Commission has prided itself on the accuracy of its bud- get, asking for no more each year than was actually necessary. In 1943 the Finance Committee in its wisdom made a substantial cut in
the amount applied for, which handicapped the Commission badly during the year. This is the only Department in Town which pays its own way and turns money back into the Treasury, and we hope the Finance Committee will allow the
120
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
amount applied for the present budget, as we feel that every cent is needed.
In 1943 the Town meeting voted $6,000 for a new Veterans' Lot to be located on the so-called mea- dow. The Town Engineer made a survey of the plot, had test holes dug and recommended a drainage proposition. There was also re- commended the matter of building up the plot above the water level and 500 yards of gravel was pur- chased towards laying it out. As your Commissioners are not engi- neers the question of filling or draining arose. We engaged Olm- stead Bros. of Brookline, one of the best known landscape firms in the country, and who have laid out many cemeteries, to prepare and present plans for the completed lot and to advise whether drainage or filling the lot up would be pre- ferable.
This has held up the laying out of the plot during the past year, but this firm is to make tests in the Spring when the water is run- ing through this plot to see wheth- er drainage or filling up would be preferable.
An article appears in the present Town Warrant for an additional $6,000 which will be applied to the plot to make it a suitable resting
place for Saugus boys who die in the Service.
.
The Commissioners during re- cent years have advocated the in- vestment of its Perpetual Care Funds in 21/2 % U. S. Government G Bonds. An article was inserted in the 1943 Warrant to instruct the Treasurer to invest in these bonds.
The Commissioners are pleased to note that the Town Treasurer has invested some $70,000 of these funds in these bonds during the past year.
HENRY A. B. PECKHAM, Chairman BENJAMIN A. FULLERTON, PUAL J. HAYES, Commissioners.
The term of office of our Chair- man expires this year, and having served as Chairman for nearly fif- teen years he does not feel that he should continue.
We regret to lose his advice- accumulated over so long a service in the administration of the affairs of the cemetery.
BENJAMIN A. FULLERTON, PAUL J. HAYES,
Commissioners.
Report of the Planning Board
The Planning Board is pleased to submit its annual report for the year ending December 31, 1944. Membership and organization for the year has been as follows: Chairman H. Warren Butler Sec- retary Jack A. Meeker, William H. Robinson, Walter L. Roy and Frank A. Green.
The board has held its regular meetings every Monday and has held the necessary hearings on all articles found in the annual Town Meeting Warrant.
During the past year the board called a series of meetings with other Town officials and interested citizens, regarding the advisability of the Town of Saugus accepting the Betterment Act. Through in- vestigation we find that we are one of the few towns in this section of the State that does not have the Betterment Act, therefore after careful study and consideration the board has voted to insert an article in the annual town warrant for the acceptance of this act.
121
BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS
1944]
We would also like to request that the town meeting delay in the acceptance of any of the streets in . the two new developments until the dispute between the Planning Board and the developers and all parties concerned, are in agree- ment, that all parts of the working agreement have been fulfilled.
In closing we wish to take this opportunity to express our sin- cere appreciation to the Town Counsel, Building Inspector and
the other Town departments and committees who have assisted us during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
H. WARREN BUTLER,
Chairman.
JACK A. MEEKER,
Secretary WILLIAM H. ROBINSON, WALTER L. ROY FRANK A. GREEN
Report of the Board of Fire Engineers
January 1, 1945
To the Honorable Board of Sel- ectmen and the Citizens of the Town of Saugus :
We hereby submit the annual report on the personnel, conditions and activities of the Fire Depart- ment for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1944.
ROSTER
Chief George B. Drew
Captain Joseph L. Maguire
Lieutenants Ralph E. Berrett Albert F. Jervis
Permanent Firement
Harold Atkinson
Alfred Bird
Warren Newhall
George Parrot
Leo Cahill Lesile Hitchings (M.S.) Guy Collins
Frank Beckford
Robert Jacobs Robert Champoux
*Charles Ryder
* John La Viska Fred Chesley (M.S.)
Call Firemen
Randolph Popp Lewis Gray
Lewis Richardson Arthur Gustafson John Cahill Peter Walzer
Theodore Frieswyk Harold Ridings Edwin Holmes Arthur Price
* Walter Wetmore
*Robert Griffin Paul Corson Hubert Connolly Donald Walker Joseph Rossetti Gordon Jameson
Frank Bothroyd William Banks Nathaniel Diamond
James Dow William Smith
*George M. Barrett Board of Fire Engineers Harold Rice, Chairman C. Carroll Cunningham George Quarmby
(M.S.) Denotes Military Substitute (*) Denotes in the Armed Forces of the U. S.
During the year 1944 the Fire Department responded to 520 Alarms and calls for fires and oth- er duties. There were 62 box alarms; 458 telephone calls, of which 19 were followed by box alarms. 22 of these box alarms were false or needless.
The apparatus traveled a total of 2,447 miles in responding to
122
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
calls, Engine No. 1, traveled 11 miles; Engine No. 2, traveled 202 miles; Engine No. 3, traveled 598 .miles; Engine No. 4, traveled 1216 miles, Ladder No. 1, traveled 420 miles. The Chief's car traveled 10,477 miles in responding to
alarms and in the performance of other duties.
The assessed valuation of build- ings, autos, trucks, the insurance on buildings, automobiles and their contents, etc., were, as nearly as possible ascertained as follows:
Assessed valuation of buildings, autos, trucks, etc. $ 95,075.00
Insurance on buildings, etc. 139,600.00
Loss on buildings, motor vehicles, etc. 8,654.00
Insurance paid for losses on buildings, etc. 5,450.00
Estimated value of contents 132,225.00
Insurance on contents
49,000.00
Loss on contents
5,952.00
Insurance paid for loss on contents
2,252.00
During the year 13,550 feet of 21/2 inch hose, 14,350 feet of 11/2 inch hose, and 88,700 feet of 3/4 inch hose was used to extinguish fires, a total of 116,600 feet of hose. Of the above used hose, 81,- 10 feet was used at brush, dump and woods fires. There was 746 feet of ladders used and 7 tanks of oxygen and other first aid ap- pliances used. One person was conveyed to Lynn Hospital and died, probably from smoke inhala- tion.
The Fire Apparatus, Engine No. 1, the Seagraves was overhauled and is in reserve as a spare engine, Engine No. 2, the 600 gallon Mack pumper is fair condition, Engine No. 3, the 1000 galloon Mack pumper is in good condition, En- gine No. 4, the G.M.C. tender is in fair condition and Ladder truck is in fair condition.
The Fire Department has done excellent work in keeping the fire losses down to such a minimum, approximately $14,606.00 when is noted that the department must
cover a large territory, nearly 111/2 square miles and do so with a small number of men to man the apparatus and extinguish fires.
We recommend that the pro- gram calling for the installation of new hydrants every year be con- tinued as there are several parts of the town where hydrants are to few and far between.
In conclusion we wish to thank the Honorable Board of Select- men, Superintendent of the Pub- lic Works Department, Carl Chap- man, Chief John T. Stuart of the Police Department, all the Town Officials and the Citizens of Sau- gus, who, by their co-operation have aided this department to maintain a high degree of effici- ency.
Signed by the Board of Fire Engineers
HAROLD P. RICE, Chairman; GEORGE B. DREW, Chief; C. CARROLL CUNNINGHAM, GEORGE H. QUARMBY.
123
TREE WARDEN'S REPORT
1944]
Tree Warden's Report 1944
To the Honorable Board of Select- men :
March 10th to December 31st inclusive.
Tree work in the early part of. the year consisted mainly of prun- ing and removing shade trees in all parts of the town, some of which were in very dangerous con- dition creating a menace to traf- fic and pedestrians. Trees removed were at Parker Street (1), Bristow (2), Evans (2), Victoria, Water, Lincoln Avenue, Winter Street, Auburn Court (3), Cross Street (2), Jasper Street, Springdale Avenue, Dudley Street, Richard, Appleton, Clinton Avenue, Jack- son Street, Columbus Avenue, Oak Street, Cleveland Avenue and oth- ers. Trees pruned and dead wood removed were in practically all parts of town, hardly a street that didn't need and get some atten- tion. Cavities were treated and cement work done at Wickford, School and other streets. Shade trees, Elm and Maple were planted at Warren, Evens, Auburn, Vic- toria and other Streets. Not enough of this work was done however, and plans are made for 1945 to plant one hundred Maple trees, all requested by citizens who have lost trees in the hurricanes of 1938 and 1944.
All trees were sprayed with ar- senate of lead at least one and the Elms two and three times each. Elm Beetle was confined mostly to the Cliftondale section of town, Saugus Center showing no signs whatever and East Saugus just a trace of this insect. There were several small infestation of Spring Elm, Caterpillars, mostly at Oak- landvale with one or two in East Saugus. These were quickly clean- ed up by spraying. This year was unusually bad in regard to wind and rain storms, records show it to be unequaled in number for over twenty years. Storms re-
quiring night and over time work occurred the nights of June 16, June 24, July 11, July 30, August 5, August 17, hurricane September 14 followed by near hurricane a week later and finally storm on November 30th and December 8th, each of these storms did much damage to trees and caused an unexpected drain on budget, re- quiring much work to be carried over to next year as fully fifty per cent of trees need care of some sort. Trees at Cliftondale square, Town Hall lawn and other places were fed nitrate and otherwise treated to induce healthier growth, results were good, foliage all over town was excellent this year. It is impossible to estimate the number of requests and call for service re- ceived as many come to Public Works, Town Hall offices etc. but all reasonable and lawful requests were taken care of. In closing I wish to thank Public Works, Town Accountant and all other town de- partments for their cooperation.
Report of Hurricane September 14, 1944.
Over one hundred trees were blown down or had to be taken down due to dangerous condition. Sixty-six of these were either across side walks or roads blocking traffic. Aproximately fifteen hun- dred loads of broken branches and brush was cleaned up and burned, this work took about a month due to the lack of heavy equipment needed to remove roots and stubs some of which weighed several tons.
Damage done by this storm and succeeding storms, such as removal of dangerous limbs, pruning of broken limbs, painting of sears etc. will take some time possibly several years as nearly all shade trees were affected.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE L. PEARCE
124
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
1944 Report of the Board of Assessors
Number of Polls Assessed 4,997
7,776
SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY ASSESSED
Number of Dwelling Houses Assessed
4,142
Number of Acres of Land Assessed
5,048
Number of Acres of Land Exempted
1,124
Number of Acres of Land Special Assessment
413
Number of Horses Assessed
57
Number of Cows Assessed
206
Number of Bulls Assessed, Yearlings, Heifers
7
Number of Swine
797
Number of Fowl
16,748
All Others
584
Number of Dogs to Be Registered:
Males 833, Spayed 239, Females 210
1,282
VALUE OF REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY
Land, Exclusive of Buildings
$ 3,773,910
Buildings, Exclusive of Land
10,992,590
Personal Property
1,290,081
Total Valuation of Assessed Estate
$16,056,581
PUBLIC PROPERTY EXEMPT FROM TAXATION
Final Taking of Unredeemed Real Estate
$ 134,222
Town Property
2,843,150
Religious Societies
436,125
Civic, Charitable, Historic and Literary Societies
24,750
City of Lynn, Park Division
350
City of Melrose
50
Commonwealth of Massachusetts "Breakheart Reservation"
124,418
United States of America "Post Office"
54,275
SPECIAL VALUATION
City of Lynn "Water Shed"
$18,450
Tax Committed to Town Accountant, June 12, 1944
$782.28
Tax Rate Per One Thousand $42.40
BASIS OF TAXATION
Town Appropriations
$849,826.47
Revenue Deficit 1943
20,802.49
State Tax
30,008.00
Charles River Basin
1,209.89
Metropolitan Parks Reservation
3,410.11
Nantasket Beach Main
290.99
Boulevards
439.91
Underestimates
398.45
Number of Persons Paying on Property
1944]
BOARD OF ASSESSORS
125
State Audit of Municipal Accounts
3,235.64
State Examination of Retirement System
71.50
Hospital or Home Care for Civil War Veterans
60.00
Hospital or Home Care for Civil War Veterans, Underestimate
5.00
Smoke Inspection Service
167.80
County Tax
25,590.75
County Tax, Underestimate
1,475.08
Tuberculosis Hospital
8,985.15
Overlay
23,572.01
Gross Amount to Be Raised
$969,549.24
Less Town Income, Overestimates, and Transfers of Available Funds
278,756.21
Net Amount to Be Raised by Taxation on Polls and Property
$690,793.03
Net Amount Raised by Taxation on Polls and Property :
On Polls
$ 9,994.00
On Personal Property
54,699.43
On Real Sstate
626,099.60
Total Taxes Levied on Polls and Property
$690,793.03
On Betterments:
Sewers
4,219.66
Committed Interest
1,219.39
On Water Liens
3,317.77
Total
$699,549.85
TAXES OF STATE, COUNTY AND TOWN COMMITTED TO THE TAX COLLECTOR
January 27, 1944
On Sewers
$ 101.50
Interest
1.35
February 24, 1944
Sewers
154.43
March 15, 1944
On Polls
9,994.00
April 1, 1944
On Sewers
211.59
Interest
4.23
April 4, 1944
Sewers
124.01
April 8, 1944
Sewers
93.94
Interest
1.98
April 18, 1944
Sewers
77.70
Interest
1.72
June 8, 1944
On Real Estate
626,099.60
Personal
54,699.43
Water Liens
3,317.77
Sewers
4,219.66
Interest
1,219.39
June 28, 1944
On Estate of Deceased Person
59.97
June 29, 1944
On Sewers
70.59
Sewers
59.94
July 7, 1944
Sewers
52.24
September 19, 1944
Sewers
91.20
Sewers
57.06
September 29, 1944
Sewers
55.41
September 30, 1944
Sewers
99.61
October 26, 1944
Sewers
53.52
Sewers
66.12
Sewers
301.74
November 8, 1944
Omitted Polls
78.00
Interest
2.57
126
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
ABATEMENTS
Levy of 1934
On Real Estate
$ 2.98
Levy of 1935
On Real Estate
16.35
Levy of 1936
On Real Estate
16.48
Levy of 1937
On Real Estate
19.01
Levy of 1938
On Real Estate
23.69
Levy of 1939
On Real Estate
25.70
Levy of 1940
On Real Estate
21.78
Levy of 1941
On Real Estate
21.12
Levy of 1942
On Real Estate
4.24
Levy of 1943
On Real Estate
1,670.96
On Personal Estate
444.31
On Polls
32.00
On Water Liens
6.00
On Gypsy Moth
4.05
Levy of 1944
On Real Estate
17,132.84
On Personal Estate
76.32
On Polls, U. S. Service
1,850.00
On Polls
650.00
On Water Liens
33.00
MOTOR VEHICLES ASSESSED
Levy of 1943
12
Levy of 1944
3,683
ASSESSED VALUATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES
Levy of 1943
1,500 $
Levy of 1944
447,680
MOTOR EXCISE COMMITTED TO TAX COLLECTOR
January 5, 1944
$ 24.00
February 17, 1944
2,260.39
March 31, 1944
3,907.07
August 12, 1944
6,657.33
August 12, 1944
500.32
September 14, 1944
1,396.50
December 20, 1944
292.17
ABATEMENTS ON MOTOR EXCISE
Levy of 1943 Levy of 1944
$439.99 242.51
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE H. MASON, ALBION R. RICE, FRANK EVANS, JR., Board of Assessors of the Town of Saugus.
127
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
1944]
Report of the Superintendent of Public Works
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen Town Hall Saugus, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
The Public Works Department and allied divisions operated within its appropriations in 1944 and returned small balances to the Surplus Account.
PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISTRATION
The regular work of this department has been carefully carried through and all commitments for water and sewer division properly made. In 1944 we started and are continuing a cost system covering all special jobs of the various allied divisions.
ASH DIVISION
The work of this division has so greatly increased that it has bene necessary to put on extra trucks and crews, many times using labor from the highway and sewer divisions. The elimination of the Essex Street and Winter Street dumps has increased the hauling of all loads in as much as since closing these two dumps we have been hauling to Lynnhurst and to Ballard Street. The use of Ballard Street is in prep- aration for widening the road to the 80 feet as originally laid out. Al- though the collections have increased through new developments and locations voted by Selectmen, on request of citizens, there are yet many locations in town where no collections are made.
During the year the truck body was placed on another chassis, as the old one had been used beyond its usefulness. The present one in use will be eight years old in 1945. I have recommended the purchase of a new body and chassis for 1945. An automatic rear loader, 81/2 cu. yd., would not only increase the capacity by 21/2 cu. yds. over the old body, but would eliminate one man, who could be used by the Highway Division. The increased capacity would also decrease the number of loads trucked to the dump daily.
It has been necessary to hire bulldozers to level the dumps in the past. If the town will appropriate money for the purchase of a large tractor this can be used on dumps during the week and on all highway work and plowing. We need a large tractor for hill and back road plow- ing, this allowing the small Cletrac to be used on sidewalk plowing, on main streets, for which it was built and purchased.
HIGHWAY DIVISION
This division, though hampered by insufficient number of employees, has done considerable work in 1944. Regular maintenance of roads by patching has been carried out. Many of our roads are of secondary con- struction, having no drainage, therefore it is necessary to patch holes caused by frost and water conditions. During the last few years it has been impossible to properly maintain the drainage system in town be- cause of the number of men needed. We have corrected some bad condi-
128
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
tions such as at Central Street near Hurd Avenue, thereby eliminating flooding conditions. We have started a new drain for the Guild Road sec- tion from Lincoln Avenue through Guild Road and Walcott Street to Dudley Street. When the snow and ice conditions have diminished we will continue this work. It will be necessary to clean and relay the drain on Lincoln Avenue from Bristow Street to Lawndale Avenue. There are several other locations where flooding conditions prevail that must be eliminated. In the past extra men have been available for this work but for the duration of war these men can not be hired.
We have continued the erection of street signs on unaccepted streets and replacing some on accepted streets. In accordance with law the un- accepted street signs read "Private Way, Dangerous Passing." We erected 92 in 1944.
RESURFACING
All money appropriated for this work is spent for materials only, the labor being by regular and temporary employees paid from the Sal- ary and Wages Account. Asphalt materials were released by the Govern- ment in 1944, therefore all streets were resurfaced with asphalt and pea-stone. This work was completed on twenty accepted streets covering approximately 42,000 sq. yds. This does not include yardage for many intersections of adjoining streets. Most of the gutters were built up and resurfaced with the traveled way thereby increasing the width of travel surface.
GRADE, OIL AND SAND STREETS
In 1944 the town appropriated $3,000.00 to be used for building sur- faces on newly accepte dstreets. We were able to build a surface on seven streets and part of one other. The same surface application of asphalt and pea-stone as used on resurfacing was applied to this work. We have not been able to build the road as laid out but have provided a surface acceptable for travel. In the past the town appropriated, by special article, all money necessary for such work on specified newly accepted streets. From these amounts was purchased all material, rental of equipment and hire of extra labor. For the past four years no articles were inserted in the warrant for this purpose.
SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL
Saugus has obtained an excellent reputation on the manner in which the snow is removed and ice conditions protected. The department has been complimented by many out of town trucking concerns on the ex- cellence of its work. During 1944 the department spent $3,999.75 for labor, repair, maintenance of equipment and supplies necessary for the work. We will continue the method of starting with a storm and plowing.
I recommend the purchase of a Deisel, all hydraulic tractor with angle-dozer blade and snow flare plate in 1945. This will enable us to do a better job on roads in the hill section where truck plows cannot oper- ate thereby releasing the small Clertac for sidewalk work. Sidewalks on principal streets such as Winter, Main, Central, Essex and Ballard should be plowed for protection of school children. At present they must walk in the roads and are in constant danger of being struck by cars, especially when the roads are slippery. This small tractor could not plow all the sidewalks in town but if used on these main roads would not only protect the children but aid the School Department also.
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