USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1949 > Part 2
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I believe that in conclusion it can be conservatively said that Saugus'citizens may well take pride in the pro- gress their Town has made during 1949. Also, they may well look to the future with confidence.
There remains only one "if," one cloud of doubt, one possible stumbling block in the Town's pathway toward a brilliant future. To be realistic this one possible road block must be recognized as the very real threat it is. That threat, which is ever-present and which casts an
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ever-present shadow upon our Town Hall and our Town's gov- ernment, is the combined result of selfish interests and falsely-inflated egos coupled with the lack of stability on the part of a certain faction and the possible lack of sincerity on the part of another. Unless this threat is held in check and soon eradi-
cated completely by a vigilant citizenry, mismanagement practices of the past, which plunged our Town's government down to a very low standard of costly ineffectiveness, could well be visited upon the Town again and wreck all that has been gained during the past two years.
The process of constructive work is tedious and slow. The process of destruction is rapid. One foolish or self- ish act can easily destroy the labors
of many persons covering a long period of time.
Citizens of Saugus: Be alert - remain alert!
PLANNING BOARD
Joseph T. Hess, Chairman Edward E. Berrett, Clerk Gordon C. Mallar
Henry L. McIntyre
Kaler A. Perkins
During the past year the Planning Board has continued work on, and further study of, many problems of vital im- portance to the proper physical development of Saugus. Our Town now faces the second half of the 20th century. Its prospects are bright its proper development can be guaranteed by sound planning. The Master Plan being worked out with professional assistance
will be our rule and our guide.
To date many phases of the "Plan" have been formula- ted.
A new set of "Regulations Governing the Sub-Division of Land" were adopted by the Board. Since each sub-divi- sion is in itself the development of a portion of the Town, it is easy to see that the proper guidance of such development in harmony with over-all Town objectives would certainly be a most important planning opportunity and safe-guard to all citizens, home-owners and businessmen a- like.
The Zoning By-Laws were studied with the help of pro- fessional assistance and recommendations advanced to
16
O
change such important subjects as "Liveable Area, " "Struc- ture Regulations," "Area Regulations, " "Yard Regulations, " and "General Provisions." The recommendations of the Board were summarily adopted by the Town. The Zoning By-Law and Building Code are being studied for further possible improvements.
A comprehensive plan and program for the development of public school facilities was completed by the Board and a sub-committee working with the Town Planning Engineer over a period of twelve months. This plan determines the appropriate location and size of our future schools, sites, play-yards, etc. , adjusted to the expected growth and needs of the Town for the next 25 years - through 1975 - and also includes the financial plans for the new facili- ties plus a broader scale of maintenance and improvement for the remaining structures during each of the 25 years. By following this plan, Saugus will construct immediately a 13-room elementary school in the vicinity of Hurd Avenue - construct a new high school - construct subsequently six room elementary schools in Oaklandvale, Lynnhurst, and North Saugus - subsequently close the present Center, Em-
erson, Oaklandvale, Lynnhurst. North Saugus and Felton Schools and by 1970 have a fireproof school system with only three schools having wooden interiors. There are sev- eral other notable features to this part of the Master Plan. The entire construction program is expected to be completed without disturbing the stabilized tax rate. Pop- ulation studies, so useful in many other phases of the Master Plan, were completed in the school survey. Adequate school sites were selected to allow for the construction of playgrounds for the various sections of the Town. Rec- ommendations will be made to build the playgrounds as quickly as possible for the benefit of the children.
All petitions to amend the Zoning By-Laws were re- ferred to the Planning Board and hearings held in accord- ance with the law.
The Planning Board took an active interest in cases
before the Board of Appeals and proceeded to have a voice at the hearings when deemed advisable.
The development of the Saugus Iron Works should be of tremendous importance to our Town. This will be a shrine of national importance. After careful study and the nec- essary layouts, the Board made recommendations for the proper road and highway locations near and adjacent to the proposed site.
Another phase of the Master Plan is now being given more concentrated study - that of streets and sewer exten- sions. This will require extensive study to be properly done.
In closing, remember that you have a stake in the fu-
ture of Saugus. Your cooperation is needed. Good plan- ning is a matter that concerns all of us, today and tomor- row.
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D
RECEIPTS
EXPENDITURES
EDUCATION
REAL ESTATE
INCOME &
TAXI
CORPORATION
·OTHER GENERAL
REVENUE
COMMERCIAL
DEPARTMENTAL
REVENUE
1949
TOWN ACCOUNTANT
Town Accountant Carl E. Chapman
General Financial Condition:
The year 1949, operating under the Town Manager form of government, has proven to be the most successful finan- cial year of the Town's existence. We started the year on January Ist with a balance of $136,704.12 in the Surplus Revenue Account.
During the year this Surplus Revenue was increased by $101,878.35 making a total of $238,582.47 starting the year 1950. An analysis of this account proves that all de- partments cooperated in their expenditures throughout the year for they returned $27, 664.76, balances of unexpended appropriations. The sum of $27,570.81 was added by Tax Re- demptions and Tax Possession Sales since completing the payment of the balance due the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts on our Tax Title Loan on April 22, 1949. The $15, 000.00 temporarily borrowed from the account for Chapter 90 work was also returned. Estimated receipts increased the surplus by $70.777.00 and the balance of the increase came from Miscellaneous revenue.
The receipts from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for Income Taxes and Corporation Taxes was $69,567.97 more than the estimated amount used for the make up of the 1949 Tax Rate. The revenue from Water was $14,346.18 more than the estimated amount.
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CHARITIES
PROTECTIONS
HIGHWAYS
OTHER
Temporary Loans :
Again because of the excellence of our collections and receipts we were able to end the year with no outstanding temporary loans in anticipation of taxes. The Treasurer borrowed $35,000.00 less than in 1948.
Tax Title Loans:
On April 22, 1949 the final payment was made on the loans from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Since that date all income from redemptions of tax titles and sales of tax possessions have been credited to the Surplus Reve- nue.
Town Indebtedness:
Our bonded indebtedness was reduced from $462,000.00 for 1949 to $430, 000.00. Our borrowing capacity is now ap- proximately $1,000,000.00.
Appropriations :
In 1949 the Town Meeting adopted a good procedure in
appropriating funds to operate the various departments of the Town by appropriating an amount for salaries and one for expenses and special expenditures. All appropriations for salaries were used for such and any balances reverted to the Surplus Revenue. The same was true with the ex- pense appropriations. With the exception of one account all transfers from the Reserve Fund were for expenses only.
(For financial details see back of report. )
$30,000,000
$20,000,000
ASSESSED VALUATION
$10,000,000
1930
19/40
1950
1960
1970
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ASSESSORS
Board of Assessors Delmont E. Goding Arthur E. Gustafson F. Dudley Bacon
1949
Basis of Taxation
Town Appropriations
Overlay Accounts Overruns
Tuberculosis Hospital Assessment
State Audit of Municipal Accounts
State Examination of Retirement System
243.73 43.36
Metropolitan Assessments
23,938.45
1948 Underestimates
1,665.59
Overlay County Tax
39, 116. 13.
Gross Amount to be Raised
1,270,424.45
Less:
Town Income overestimates and Transfers from Available Funds
488,789.99
Net Amount raised by Taxation on Polls and Property
781,634.46
On Polls
On Personal Property
On Real Estate
10,052.00 73,654.85 697,916.38
Loss in fractions
11.23
781,634.46
Value of Real & Personal Property
Land, Exclusive of Buildings 3,562,215.00
Buildings, Exclusive of Land 13,720,390.00 Personal Property 1,893,441.00
Tax Rate per One Thousand $38.90
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$ 1,155,617.10 236.54 18,127.60 1,089.64
Smoke Inspection Service
30,346.31
EDUCATION & RECREATION
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
William S. Braid, James W. Currier Harriet A. McAdoo George A. McCarrier John L. Silver
At a meeting of the School Committee on January 23, 1950, it was voted to accept the annual report of the £ Superintendent of Schools as the report of the School Committee required by the statutes.
William S. Braid Chairman, School Committee
To the School Committee and the Citizens of Saugus: It is both the duty and the privilege of the Superintendent of Schools to submit his seventeenth annual report, the same being the fifty-seventh annual report.
The 1949 Budget
At the annual Town Meeting of 1949 the School Department was voted a General Budget amounting to $ 398,136.39. In addition a transfer of $60.00 from the Reserve Fund of the Finance Committee proved necessary . Thus the 1949 total General Budget ap- propriation was $398, 196.39.
Net 1949 Educational Cost
Although the sum of $398, 196.39 was appropri- ated in 1949 for the ordinary expenses of educa- tion, this sum does not represent the actual amount of money expended by the taxpayers of Saugus for education (ordinary School Department expenditures) . The following refunds, as far as can be ascer- tained at the writing of this report, have been re-
21
turned to the Town Treasury during the year 1949: State Reimbursement $83,054.81
(State Aid to Education)
Tuition from City of Boston 226.80 (Boston Wards)
Tuition from Commonwealth
(State Wards)
2,091.82
Miscellaneous Tuition $ 246.21 Out-of-Town Income' 110.99
Unexpended Balance - General Budget 161.67
Total of All 1949 Refunds $85,892.30
This total sum of $85,892.30 in various forms of refunds lessens the cost of education to the taxpayers of Saugus by that amount. To find the net cost we subtract this sum of $85,892.30 from the total amount appropriated. The difference, or $312,304.09, represents the net cost to the taxpayers of Saugus for the ordinary expenses of education for the year 1949.
.n 1948 the net cost was $340,396.82. In other words the net cost to Saugus'taxpayers, exclusive of repairs, in 1949 was $28,092.73 less than in the year 1948.
Recommendations
An importart duty of the Superintendent of Schools is to recommend to the School Committee and to the citizens of the Town such recommendations which will, in his opin- ion, improve our school system.
(1) The erection of a new modern Senior High School Build- ing which is badly needed in order to carry out a modern program of secondary education.
(2) The installation of new lighting equipment in all our school buildings. especially in the classrooms of same.
(3) The initiating of a program towards the improving of the play areas of all schools so that all school play areas may ultimately be resurfaced with modern asphaltic or cork treatment.
(4) Planning for the construction of a new modern six- classroom school building in the Oaklandvale section.
(5) Removal of the present costly heating plant in the Ballard School and its replacement by a central heating plant with oil burning apparatus.
(6) That the School Department be provided with plans and detailed blueprints of all school buildings so that such will be available to the School Department at all times. (7) The eventual establishment of a supermaximum salary to all teachers based on the following requirements: a) Additional degrees
(b) Completion of courses in education
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Travel (national and foreign)
a Research in education
Outstanding actual accomplishment
(8) That as soon possible the size of all classes throughout the school system be reduced to a maximum of not over thirty pupils.
(9) The continuance of the program, already initiated, of replacing as rapidly as possible hundreds of ancient pupil seating units (pupil desks and chairs).
(10) The providing of better quarters for the housing of our Special Class pupils.
SCHOOL ENROLLMENT - DECEMBER 1949 -
Grades
Schools
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 8 9 10 11 12 Sp Tot.
Armitage
38
43
40
26
32
37
216
Ballard
48
58
4
40
52
65
303
Centre
48
41
30
119
Clftdle.
43
42
43
40
168
Emerson
33
39
38
36
146
Felton
59
48
45
29
27
25
233
Leg. Bldg.25
25
Lynnhurst 18
20
19
10
13
16
96
N. Saugus
19
23
19
16
14
19
110
OkIndvle.
27
15
11
20
15
15
103
Roby
67
43
40
33
56
54
293
Sweetser
41
43
83
91
10
268
High
222 212 186 162
782
Cent.J.H.
129 142
271
Totals
377 379 336 280 250 274 212 233 222 212 186 162 10 3133
A New Senior High School
Twice within the past seventeen years your School Committee has urged upon the citizens the necessity of the erection of a new modern Senior High School Building. Twice the voters, or their chosen representatives, have turned it down.
I have no doubt but their decision was honest and based on what they believed to be right. In my opinion, however, the second defeat of this worthy project was the most costly mistake our Town has made in a lifetime. Building costs were at a mini- mum and the United States Government stood ready to pay one-half of the cost of the entire structure. I shall always view the rejection of this particular project as one of the greatest sins ever committed against the youth of our community. It was in- deed a colossal blunder. Had the advice of the School Committee
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been followed our High School youth of the past sixteen years would have had modern facilities and a broad modern program of secondary education. Inaddition it is altogether probable that we would have had no serious housing problem at the present time. To bemoan that which has already happened is like crying over a bottle of milk dropped on a granolithic sidewalk. Crying will replace neither the milk nor the bottle. The important question is: Are the citizens going to make
the same mistake over again? The Legislature of Massachusetts
in 1948 created the School Building Assistance Commission and thereby established the policy that the Commonwealth would until June 1951 aid cities and towns in helping to pay for the con-
struction of new school buildings. The amount of the State grant for each community is based upon the financial ability of the particular city or town to pay. I have the assurance of Mr. John Marshall, Administrator of the Commission, that. in the
case of Saugus, the Commonwealth will pay one-half (approxi-
mately) of the cost of any school building erected. It is nat- sonable modern educational standards.
urally presumed that the building erected will conform to rea- Now this legislation expires in June 1951. It may or may not be extended at that time.
I ask this question, assuming that a new modern Senior High School Building may cost $2, 000, 000: Are we going to pass up
the opportunity of having the State of Massachusetts donate
$1, 000, 000 towards the cost of this structure? This may be our last chance to build a new modern Senior High School without having to pay the entire cost of its construction out of our own Town funds.
The objectors to constructing a new Senior High School say that we do not need it. They point out that our present Senior High School Building will not be crowded for some years to come. True enough it will not be crowded for some years to come. Also
true is the fact that, in the not too distant future, it is going to be overcrowded Then the Town will have to build, and then the Town may well be obliged to foot the whole cost of the new structure.
Why does Saugus need a new modern Senior High School now? The answer is, without such, a full broad program of secondary education for our high school youth is impossible. It is indeed A miracle that we are able to do the work we are doing with the housing facilities at our disposal.
I list below the inadequacies of our present Senior High School Building:
(a) No gymnasium and, as a result, no adequate program of physi- cal education possible.
(b) Totally inadequate and antiquated science laboratories.
Inadequate assembly hall (auditorium) so
important in the development of school spirit and morale.
(d) No suitable facilities for the teaching of Home Economics cooking, sewing, etc.).
Inadequate cafeteria facilities.
(f) No decent washroom facilities and outmoded and ancient toi-
let facitities.
(g) Inadequate space for proper and necessary expansion of fa- cilities for woodworking shop, metal working shop, and for the teaching of Mechanical Drawing.
(h) Aged and ineffective lighting equipment throughout the en- tire building.
(1) Almost total lack of proper school library facilities.
( j) Serious lack of housing space for the proper operation of the Guidance Department.
(k) No proper space for students to hang their clothes with pro-
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tection.
1) No suitable rooms for music, whether vocal or instrumental.
No room facilities for Art Classes.
No adequate conference room.
There is only one real solution to these shortcomings in our present Senior High School Building.
That only solution is the construction of a new modern Senior High School Building. It
should have a minimum capacity for between 1500 and 1800 stu- dents. It should be as centrally located as possible and the
site should be purchased now while the land is still available. As I said in 1947: if something isn't done our present Class "A" standing will eventually be affected. We cannot continue inder'- initely to maintain our present standards under such miserable physical conditions.
Do Saugus' citizens desire to continue to deny to their high school youth the opportunities and advantages offered in neigh- boring communities?
Do Saugus' citizens desire to some day pay the whole cost of a $2,000,000.00 Senior High School Building? Do Saugus' citizens desire that we lose our present Class "A" High School rating?
Knowing Saugus' citizens, I cannot believe that their answer would be "Yes" to any of the above questions.
Modern School Lighting
In my opinion, and in the opinion of school lighting experts
whom I have consulted, Saugus does not have a single properly
lighted school building.
Decent, adequate school lighting, especially in the class- rooms, is not just desireable . If we value our children, it is a necessity. Children's eyes can be seriously damaged by poor and insufficient artificial light.
We have approximately 80 classrooms in dire need of new and modern lighting. In addition we have halls, special rooms, etc., also in need of better lighting equipment. The total rooms of various descriptions in need probably would come close to one hundred.
I know that all cannot be done at once. I am interested, however, in the initiation of a program which can be continued year after year until we have adequate lighting in all rooms of all buildings. Through the cooperation of the Building Commit- tee and the School Committee the Central Junior High School Building has reasonably decent lighting in its classrooms. Even these , excellent, sixteen years ago, are not up to present stan- dards.
The School Committee and the Superintendent are grateful to the Town Manager for his installation of modern lighting in one room at the Ballard School. If, however, we replace at the rate of one room each two years the total program would be completed in approximately 200 years.
I believe that this matter is of vital importance and that it should no longer be postponed.
I recommend that the Town, each year, commencing in 1950, appropriate by special article the sum of at least $3,000.00 for the installation of modern lighting units in the school build- ings of our community. First installations should be in the classrooms.
This is more important than any question of tax rates or the Town's financial condition. It affects the lives, health, and happiness of boys and girls.
Decent School Play Areas
Our school play areas are certainly not what they should be. Many are rocky, others soggy and all, at times, extremely muddy. Virtually all have no proper system of drainage.
The only real solution is proper drainage and the resurfac-
25
ing of the present areas with asphaltic or cork treatment. The play areas would then be attractive and safe.
This is another problem which can not be completely solved in one year. A start should be made, however, even if only one school play area per year could be completed.
Funds must be made available if any improvement in school play areas is to be accomplished. The play areas will remain the same if words are the only medium.
New Oaklandvale School
The members of the School Committee and the Superintendent of Schools are of the unanimous opinion that a new modern six classroom elementary school building should be erected in the Oaklandvale section of the Town at the earliest possible date.
To this end the School Committee inserted an article in the warrant of the annual Town Meeting of February 1948. The arti- cle sought an appropriation of $750.00 with which to engage the services of a competent firm of architects. The members of the firm thus engaged would have prepared preliminary plans and es- timated cost, etc., of such a structure. The firm would also have surveyed the Oaklandvale section and would have recommended the two or three best available sites for the location of the new school.
The Town Meeting adjourned with this and fifteen or more other articles not even being give the courtesy of a hearing.
The need of a new elementary school building in this section of the Town is imperative. The present Oaklandvale School is approximately one hundred years old, insofar as I am able to as- certain. It is constructed upon a ledge of rock on about as It unsuited a piece of land as there is in this entire section. is costly to heat, costly to maintain in repair and certainly
totally
inadequate to serve the elementary
school
children of
this section with any more appreciable growth in home building.
Any attempt
to enlarge or renovate the present building
would be little short of criminal. The cost would be tremen- dous and the result a monstrosity.
The Oaklandvale section of the Town is already productive of one of our best home building developments. It is the opinion of our School Committee that this section of the Town will out- strip all others in new home construction within the next de- cade.
The construction of a new modern six classroom elementary school building in this section should be given serious consid- eration by all citizens. It is virtually a must in any long range school building program.
The only other real solution of the elementary school build- ing problem in the Oaklandvale section would lie in the building of a huge consolidated elementary school building located such as to serve the entire elementary school population of the Oak- landvale, North Saugus and Lynnhurst sections.
Ballard School Heating Plant
For ten years the School Committee has been attempting to convince various Town officials that the present costly heating plant in the Ballard School should be replaced by a central heating plant burning oil. Each year we are told that the Town cannot afford to spend the money. So this criminal waste of money goes on when substantial savings in fuel could be made were the recommendations of the School Committee carried out. The Ballard School is an eight classroom building. Believe it or not, it is heated by five separate and distinct heating units. Four of them are hot air furnaces burning anthracite coal at approximately $21.00 per ton. The fifth unit is a boil- er burning bituminovs coal at $14.00 per ton. All this to heat an eight room building!
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Now I ask the citizens this question! How long would any
sensible private business allow such a condition to continue? Any private business would recognize that the replacement of this ridiculous heating system is strictly a business invest- ment. Its replacement would pay for itself in short order and thereafter substantial savings would be realized each year.
But the monstrosity continues because the Town will not ex- pend the money to correct the situation.
Plans of Buildings
The School Department would like to be provided with plans and blueprints of its existing buildings. There are many times when such would be of inestimable value to the Department.
Supermaximum Salaries
If we are to retain our best teachers in a highly competi- tive teacher market, we must devise some inducement for them to eventually receive higher salaries in Saugus.
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