USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1953 > Part 7
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Interest in locating in Saugus is at an all time high, as dem- onstrated by the numerous inquiries and investigations of indi- viduals and industries looking for areas in which to settle within our town. Your Board of Assessors share the optimism of Manager Lawrence regarding the future of Saugus. However, the wholehearted and unselfish support of every citizen of our town is required if we are to attain the desired success in securing such potential additional revenue.
For many years the Assessors' Department has been greatly handicapped through difficulty in obtaining proper maps and in- formation regarding properties within our town, due to the insuffi- cient staff of the Engineering Department. Without adequate property locations, furnished by the Engineering Department on a prompt, legal and factual basis, many thousands of dollars of assessments are jeopardized each year.
Land is continually changing title and shape due to sales, sub-divisions and other conveyances. Obviously this information must be promptly and properly recorded on the town plans in order to be properly assessed. Of equal importance is the plotting of buildings on the plans, which has not been done com- pletely for many years.
Considering that the responsibility for providing the basis for nearly all the town's revenue is vested in the Assessors De- partment, it becomes immediately apparent that adquate facili- ties should be provided for this important function.
The Board of Assessors is appreciative of the interest and co-operation of Manager Lawrence during the past year. It is our hope that the citizens may continue to benefit by his guid- ance and ability in providing some solutions to the town's prob- lems by rendering their wholehearted support to the necessary measures.
TABLE OF AGGREGATES
Personal Property Only
281
Real Estate Only 9324
On Both Personal and Real Estate
182
Number of Persons Assessed 9787
Number of Polls Assessed 5677
Value of Assessed Personal Estate
Stock in Trade 95,985.00
Machinery 22,170.00
Live Stock 21,488.00
All other Tangible Personal Property 1,601,358.00
Total Valuation of Assessed Personal Property 1,744,001.00
Value of Assessed Real Estate
Land exclusive of Buildings 4,243,650.00
Buildings exclusive of Land 17,080,525.00
Total Value of Assessed Real Estate 21,324,175.00
Total Valuation of Assessed Estate 23,065,176.00
Taxes For State, County and City or Town Purposes Including Overlay
On Personal Estate 93,840.18
On Real Estate 1,149,383.74
11,354.00
Total Taxes Assessed
1,254,577.92
Number of Live Stock Assessed
Horses
24
Cows
32
Bulls
7
Swine
430
Sheep
2
Fowl
2791
All Other
522
Number of Acres of Land Assessed
4966
Number of Dwelling Houses Assessed
4489
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
Number of Vehicles
7106
Value of Vehicles
$2,966,500.00
Excise Tax 122,196.55
Town Appropriation
$1,779,918.40
Appropriations taken from Available Funds 59,453.39
Overlay Deficits
2,017.60
State Audit of Municipal Accounts
560.23
State Examination of Retirement System
56.11
Smoke Inspection Service
301.56
Metropolitan Charges
35,729.02
County Tax
51,511.73
Tuberculosis Hospital Assessment
20,230.93
Overlay
5,134.32
Metropolitan Water Connection
11,800.00
State Charges
749.71
Gross amount to be raised
$1,967,463.00
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On Polls
Estimated Receipts and Available Funds
Income Tax 150,611.11
Corporation Taxes
62,511.15
Old Age Tax (Meals)
4,302.83
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
98,161.55
Licenses
25,489.63
Fines
4,692.15
Special Assessments
974.31
General Government
10,273.45
Protection of Persons and Property
1,975.37
Health and Sanitation
9,632.98
Charities (other than Federal grants for aid to dependent children)
13,731.18
Old Age Assistance (other than Federal grants)
128,343.64
Veterans' Benefits
4,935.14
Schools
31,097.04
Libraries
722.58
Public Service Enterprises (such as Water Department)
84,413.39
Cemeteries (other than trust funds and sale of lots)
11,644.46
Interest: On Taxes and Assessment
3,541.80
Lynn Watershed Tax
1,042.43
Unclassified
909.54
County Tax
4,326.16
Adjustment 1951 Water Charge
1.02
Metropolitan Water
61.32
Smoke Inspection Service
37.46
Amounts to be taken from Available Funds
59,453.39
Total Estimated Receipts and Available Funds
712,885.08
Net Amount to be Raised by Taxation on Polls and Property
1,254,577.92
Number of Polls-5677
11,354.00
Valuation: Personal Property
1,741,001.00
Tax on Personal Property
93,839.95
Valuation: Real Estate
21,324.175.00
Tax on Real Estate
1,149,373.03
Fraction
10.94
Tax Rate-$53.90
Total Taxes Levied on Polls and Property
1,254,577.92
BOARD OF ASSESSORS ARTHUR E. GUSTAFSON, Chairman DELMONT E. GODING F. DUDLEY BACON
TREASURER
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS PASS UNDER THEIR CAREFUL EYES without detectable errors under the most meticulous of State auditors. One of Saugus' most responsible officials, Miss Phyllis Dodge, town treasurer, right, is shown examining the town's accounts with her assistant, Miss Madelyn Means, left. Trained in the intricacies of municipal finance by her father, the town's beloved Town Treasurer Harold E. Dodge, who recently retired after several decades of outstanding service, Miss Dodge handles one of the most important positions in the town's governmental system with dignity, dispatch, and commendable service to the public.
Mr. Walter E. Lawrence
Town Manager,
Saugus, Massachusetts. Dear Sir:
Herewith is submitted the report of the Treasury Depart- ment of the town of Saugus for the year ending December 31, 1953.
Total Expenditures
1951-Budget $7,081.44
1952-Budget
6,866.11
Tax Title Fore.
1,999.22
1953-Budget
6,831.40
Tax Title Fore.
4,083.25
Cash in Treasury, January 1, 1953 $ 301,952.24 Receipts to December 31, 1953 5,161,771.73
$5,463,723.97
Expenditures to December 31, 1953 2,978,023.61
Cash in Treasury, December 31, 1953
$2,485,700.36
Bank Statements show cash balances as of December 31, 1953, as follows:
Saugus Trust Company $ 109,989.30
Merchants National Bank of Boston 10,053.03
National Shawmut Bank of Boston 166,499.15
Petty Cash 50.00
National Shawmut Bank of Boston, Spec. Acct. 2,293,023.51
$2,579,614.99
Add deposits in January 1954, applicable to 1953
376.37
$2,579,991.36
Deduct Checks Outstanding
94,291.00
Cash in Treasury, December 31, 1953 $2,485,700.36
The following Trust Funds are in the custody of the Treasurer:
Surplus War Bonus Fund
756.16
Postwar Rehabilitation Fund
1,348.42
Benjamin N. Johnson Library Fund
132.00
Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds:
Cash
55,849.69
Securities
120,000.00
Contributory Retirement Fund:
Cash
10,681.05
Securities
160,297.40
$349,014.72
With the Special Article appropriation of $4,800, tax titles were brought up to date and redemptions and foreclosures brought an income of $11,369.18.
Respectfully, PHYLLIS E. DODGE,
FINANCE COMMITTEE
EYES AND EARS OF THE TOWN MEETING AND WATCH-DOGS OF THE TREASURY are members of the Finance Committee. The most important committee in our government, they are appointed by the Town Moderator and responsible to the Town Meeting and citizens solely. The Town Manager charter is so aware of the importance of their duties, that no town official, other than a member of the Town Meeting, can sit on this vital committee. The last Annual Town Meeting thought so highly of their work that their recommendations were followed almost 100 per cent and a Resolution of Thanks, on behalf of the people of Saugus, was unanimously adopted at the dissolution of the session. Unpaid, largely unthanked, devoting hundreds of hours to the town's interest, their service is proof of high standards of citizenship. When this picture was taken, Attorney Myron D. Donoghue, was absent because of serious illness in his family. The remainder of the committee follows: Front row, left to right, Ranson G. Smith, Chairman Wayne H. Bookmiller, Mrs. Muriel E. Furbush, the hard-working secretary; Walter F. Devitt. Rear row, left to right, Francis J. Farrenkopf, James T. Mccarthy, Daniel J. Driscoll, and Richard Merrill. Members Driscoll and Merrill, new to the committee this year, were elected by their colleagues, as provided by law, to fill vacancies caused by resignations.
To the Citizens of Saugus:
The Finance Committee represents all of the citizens of the town in financial and other affairs of the town, with the obliga- tion to see that they get the most for their tax dollar. This obligation applies to future residents of the town, as well as to those who are residing here now.
The Finance Committee consists of nine members who serve without compensation for the many hours spent on town busi- ness. Its proposed budget for 1954 is $140, which compares favorably with the $1000 requested in 1947, the last pre-manager year. We have no regular paid employees, but do hire clerical work done as needed.
In preparation of the 1953 budget, the Finance Committee met many times with the manager and with some of the depart- ment heads. The Finance Committee worked out with the man- ager a program of building repair, sewer construction, and sur- face drainage construction; and after carefully considering the
49
financial condition of the town, we voted to recommend the pro- gram to the Annual Town Meeting. Most of this program has been completed as this report is being written.
The response of the Town Meeting members in following the recommendations of the Finance Committee in major issues has been most gratifying. In several instances the Town Meeting yielded to pressure groups which had chosen to by-pass the Finance Committee in their appeal for approval. It is the duty of any such groups to furnish the committee with complete in- formation on their requests.
In the fall it became apparent that many of the town depart- ments were short of funds. There were several factors that brought this about:
1. A budget that was so "tight" that increases in such costs as fuel, light, telephone, and necessary repairs could not be absorbed in the regular appropriation.
2. Failure of the Town Manager to instruct the Town Accountant to set up the encumbrance system in the man- ner promised to the Finance Committee.
3. Failure of some department heads to properly plan their work and expenditures.
4. Unforeseen conditions, such as the very large num- ber of cases before the Board of Appeals, and the failure of a boiler in the Felton School.
Transfers from the Reserve Fund and other available funds were made, but in some cases services to the citizens had to be curtailed. It is expected that the above defects will be corrected so far as is humanly possible.
The following recommendations have been made before, and are repeated below:
1. That the Planning Board draw up a plan for the orderly acceptance of unaccepted streets.
2. That the Board of Selectmen insert in the Town Warrant a street construction article to go with every street acceptance article. The article should contain sufficient funds to properly construct the street.
3. That the Board of Selectmen make all street ac- ceptances under terms of the Betterment Act.
The Finance Committee has worked diligently this year to perform its duties in the best interests of the town, and is looking forward to 1954 with the hope that it will be able to continue to do so. All decisions and recommendations of the committee have been and will continue to be what it deems best for the town as a whole.
Respectfully submitted,
WAYNE H. BOOKMILLER, Chairman
(MRS.) MURIEL E. FURBUSH, Secretary WALTER F. DEVITT
MYRON D. DONOGHUE
DANIEL J. DRISCOLL FRANCIS J. FARRENKOPF JAMES T. MCCARTHY RICHARD E. MERRILL RANSOM G. SMITH
WELFARE DEPARTMENT
VOICES OF PUBLIC COMPASSION, distributing your charity to the temporarily destitute, the chronically ill, the flotsam and jetsam on the sea of life who have, most often through no fault of their own, become unable to maneuver their craft unassisted and require the helping hand of the friends who are the Saugus Board of Public Welfare. Here, too, the aged senior citizens of our community find men who while ever conscious of the fact that they are spending the taxpayers' money, are primarily motivated by the urgency of reliev- ing human distress and human suffering. Flanking veteran Ernest M. Hatch, whose faithful service of a generation well merits his position in the center as chairman of the Board, are, left, George A. Anderson, and. right, Walter T. Brander, secretary of the board.
To the Citizens of the Town of Saugus:
The Board of Public Welfare submits its annual report for the year ending December 31, 1953.
We have attempted to comply with the instructions of Town Manager Walter E. Lawrence to graphically present the opera- tions of this department in each of the four categories of public assistance during the past four years.
Administrative duties and responsibilities are ever increas- ing as new State and Federal directives arrive monthly.
In April of 1953, for the first time in the history of this de- partment, a full-time professionally trained social worker was ap- pointed from the Civil Service list. She is Miss Rita M. Buckley of Medford.
50
George A. Anderson of Saugus has been appointed as a new member of the Welfare Board, by the Town Manager, for a three year term expiring December 31, 1956. He fills the vacancy caused by the resignation of Dr. Priscilla Flockton.
The following letter is from the State Department of Public Welfare from Manager Charles F. Clancy, whose Greater Bos- ton office supervises the local welfare office:
"December 15, 1953
MR. WALTER E. LAWRENCE Town Manager
Saugus, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Lawrence:
Answering your request for a summarization of accomplish- ment in the Saugus Public Welfare Department since the advent of a full-time agent may we say that in our opinion considerable improvement has been effected.
You are undoubtedly aware that for quite some time prior to November of 1952 investigations of assistance cases were not as adequately made because full and complete coverage could not be had on a part-time basis. It is through complete investiga- tion coverage that the clients' needs are more adequately serviced;
that resources are discovered and brought to bear; that in the long run the taxpayer gets a dollar's worth of service for every dollar he spends.
Then too, you are aware that the best justification for the expenditure of public monies is the social data gathered and com- pletely recorded by the agent and social worker.
We find the records in Saugus improved and more full and complete than heretofore. Through this better investigation and recording there could be a reflection in reduced appropriation as in your Old Age Assistance.
We believe however that 287 cases is too much of a load for one social worker. Your agency really requires two if you con- sider that a controllable work load should not exceed 120 cases as the minimum of the range and 160 cases as the maximum.
On the whole we can say that there has been definite and constructive improvement in Saugus. There is room for more of the same and with mutual cooperation between us and you much more can be accomplished.
Very truly yours, CHARLES F. CLANCY, Manager Greater Boston District
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954 Department's Request
1954 Manager's Request
AID:
Expended
$202.504.59
$214,020.65
$248,751.49
$236,948.17
$233,440.00
$233,440.00
Received
178,559.95
196,135.82
212,922.01
205,113.61
Net Cost to Town
23,544.64
17,884.83
35,829.48
31,834.56
ADMINISTRATION:
Expended
7,230.01
6,414.18
6,750.57
8,493.94
11,434.25
11,434.25
Received
4,387.48
2,709.86
3,365.27
5,350.03
Net Cost to Town
2,842.53
3,704.32
3,385.30
3,143.91
CASE LOAD AS OF
DECEMBER
290
283
274
233
Est. 255
AVERAGE COST PER
CASE PER MONTH
$58.79
$58.27
$72.27
$75.65
APPLICATIONS
99
59
71
43
DEATHS
28
34
36
29
*STAFF PERSONNEL
3
3
3
4
4
4
*These figures apply to all four categories in that each staff member works on all four categories.
51
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954 Department's Request
1954 Manager's Request
AID:
Expended
$29,613.79
$29,573.05
$28,728.95
$28,943.73
$33,700.00
$32,000.00
Received
20,817.15
22,910.00
22,909.74
23,142.48
Net Cost to Town
8,796.64
6,663.05
5,819.21
5,801.25
ADMINISTRATION:
Expended
$767.69
$714.50
$807.55
$3,205.44
$1,548.50
$1,548.50
Received
791.95
480.25
521.25
1,003.80
Net Cost to Town
000.00
234.25
286.30
2,201.64
surplus - 24.26
CASE LOAD AS OF
DECEMBER
26
25
23
27
Est. 30
AVERAGE COST PER
CASE PER MONTH
$94.91
$97.46
$118.13
$102.00
APPLICATIONS
15
18
9
15
DISABILITY ASSISTANCE
1952
1953
1954 Department's Request
1954 Manager's Request
AID:
Expended
$6,429.22
$14,199.25
$27,000.00
$20,000.00
Received
2,896.66
10,849.20
Net Cost to Town
3,532.56
3,350.05
ADMINISTRATION:
Expended
1,324.67
2,241.08
1,523.50
1,523.50
Received
293.01
621.55
Net Cost to Town
1,031.66
1,619.53
CASE LOAD AS OF
DECEMBER
11
17
Est. 22
PER MONTH
89.29
82.65
APPLICATIONS
15
15
NOTE:
AVERAGE COST PER CASE
Disability Assistance is a new category of public welfare that became effective in November 1951. No persons in Saugus were aided in this category until 1952. On a Statewide basis the average monthly case load for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1952 was 4,184. By June 30, 1953 it increased to an average case load of 7,882. The amount expended for this same period increased from $2,809,693 to $8,626,759.
.
GENERAL RELIEF
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954 Department's Request
1954 Manager's Request
AID:
Expended
22,111.98
22,021.97
23,521.58
19,690.56
31,950.00
24,250.00
Received
2,921.15
2,830.68
2,156.16
3,868.71
Net Cost to Town
19,190.83
19,191.29
21,365.42
15,821.85
ADMINISTRATION:
Expended
No Report
No Report
No Report
1,079.10
1,177.75
1,177.75
Received
0,000.00
Net Cost to Town
1,079.10
CASE LOAD AS OF
DECEMBER
22
13
14
8
Est. 15
AVERAGE COST PER
CASE PER MONTH
16.75
26.22
43.56
51.50
APPLICATIONS
47
23
23
10
8
1952-RECAPITULATION
1953-RECAPITULATION
Category
Receipts
Expenditures
Receipts
Expenditures
G.R .- Aid
$ 2,156.16
$ 23,521.58
$ 3,868.71
$ 19,690.56
G.R .- Adm.
0,000.00
0,000.00
0,000.00
1,079.10
A.D.C .- Aid
22,909.74
28,728.95
23,142.48
28,943.73
ADC-Admin.
521.25
807.55
1,003.80
3,205.44
O.A.A .- Aid
212,922.01
248,751.49
205,113.61
236,948.17
OAA-Admin.
3,365.27
6,750.57
5,350.03
8,493.94
D.A .- Aid
2,896.66
6,429.22
10,849.20
14,199.25
D.A .- Adm.
293.01
1,324.67
621.55
2,241.08
$245,064.10
$316,314.03
$249,949.38
$314,801.27
245.064.10
$249,949.38
Net cost to town for 1952
$ 71,249.93
Net cost - 1953
$ 64,851.89
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, ERNEST M. HATCH, Chairman WALTER T. BRANDER, Secretary GEORGE A. ANDERSON
53
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
A GOOD TOWN IS A HEALTHY TOWN, and good health is only preserved in any com- munity when a group of dedicated public servants, such as the Saugus Board of Health, pictured above, are constantly on the job, eilminating sources of contagion, vigilantly enforcing health regulations and conducting clinics to determine early inception of disease. Chairman Arthur W. Price center, well known plumbing and heating contractor, examining a health report is aided in this work by Dr. Leroy C. Furbush, right, beloved Cliftondale physician, and Peter L. Grady, left, outstanding civic minded business man.
Quietly, without fanfare, the Board of Health is serving the people 365 days in the year, and the gneral level of good health and absence of epidemics is the reward of their unsung services.
Mr. Walter E. Lawrence,
Town Manager
Town Hall
Saugus, Mass.
Dear Mr. Lawrence:
The following is the report of the Board of Health for the year ending December 31, 1953.
The Health Department consists of three board members and three employees, agent, nurse and clerk. The agent is also Plumbing Inspector, Sanitary Inspector, Animal Inspector, Slaughtering Inspector and Burial Agent. We have shared our clerk with the Building Department for the past one and one-half years. This arrangement is not satisfactory for either depart-
ment. Both departments should have a full time clerk.
In the early part of the year the Board of Health took over the collection of ashes and rubbish. After advertising for bids, the contract was awarded to the lowest bidder at a considerable saving to the town. This work had been done for several years by the Public Works Department, with only part of the town collected. Both the garbage and rubbish contracts were awarded this year for a period of three years.
In our Milk Laboratory at the Sweetser School, the following tests were made:
Chemical Analysis of Milk and Cream
(found below standard 5) 236
Bacteriological examination of milk and cream
(found below standard 21)
246
Phosphatase test
226
Coliform test (found below standard 60)
246
Bacteriological examination of Mix and Ice Cream
22
Chemical Analysis of Mix and Ice Cream
15
Bacteriological examination of water
(drinking and bathing purposes)
8
Chemical examination of water (bathing purposes only) (samples found contaminated)
4
Bacteriological examination of eating utensils (found above 100 plate count) 137
467
We will endeavor in 1954 to have our laboratory approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for testing drinking water.
Our program for the control of tuberculosis continues as in previous years. All known cases must be closely followed and a search made for any new ones that may be developing. One hundred visits were made to families and seven patients were admitted to a sanitorium. Forty-three persons were transported to Essex Sanatorium for X-ray and examination.
Pupils patch tested for tuberculosis were:
High School 537
Grade School 267
Of all pupils patch tested, nine reacted positive. These were given X-ray examinations and will be followed closely all through school.
Three hundred fifty-three children were transported and treated in our Dental Clinic. School physicians report a marked improvement in children's teeth in the last few years. This general improvement may be in part due to our health education program and the work done in our own Dental Clinic.
Our Well Child Conference, started late in 1952, shows a gradual increase in attendance. Children attend this conference from birth to pre-school age and are followed in feeding, vaccina- tion, immunization, and by regular physical examination.
This year 88 first grade and kindergarten children received either complete immunization or booster doses for whooping
2
54
cough, diphtheria, and tetanus at our Immunization Clinic held each fall at the Board of Health office.
Another part of this program is the mailing of cards to all mothers of new babies, advising them to have their infants immunized against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough. No diphtheria has been reported in several years and whooping cough was reduced from 38 cases reported in 1952 to five in 1953. There were 399 cases of acute contagious and infectious diseases reported in 1952, and only 165 reported in 1953.
Complaints received at the office are numerous and varied. They include: Garbage 577, rubbish 180, cesspools 17, dumping illegally 10, and miscellaneous 24, making a total of 808.
Sixty letters were sent to home owners requesting that they connect their houses to the common sewer, and as sewer exten- sion continues, all home owners will be required to connect to the sewer when it becomes available.
The board is pleased with the progress made this year in the extension of the common sewer. Many of the health menac- ing areas will be elminated, especially with the connection of the High School and the Ballard School. The installation of these main lines open the way for future extension to large areas where the sewer is urgently needed.
There is an area on Lincoln Avenue in East Saugus, from the Emerson School to Washington Square, where the sewer is urgently needed to eliminate a bad health situation, and the board very strongly urges the cxtension of the sewer in this area in 1954. The area on Central Street from East Denver Street to Adams Avenue should also be included in this program for 1954.
Since the board voted to increase the rates for plumbing permits, the revenue from this source has more than doubled. Following is the amount received from permits, licenses and subsidies:
Plumbing permits $ 1,253.50
Subsidies (Commonwealth of Mass. )
990.71
Animal permits
73.50
Alcohol permits
40.00
Bottling permits
10.00
Milk Dealers permits
14.50 43.50
Milk Store permits
Ice Cream Dealers permits
7.00
Ice Cream Store permits
81.00
Oleomargarine permits
24.50
Tourist Camps, Trailers and Motels
204.50
Dental Clinic
82.50
Transportation Night Soil, License
10.00
Transportation Manure, License
8.00
Transportation Garbage, License
52.00
Transportation Waste, License
12.00
Drain Layers License
38.00
To Maintain Dumps
4.00
Manufacture Frozen Desserts
10.00
Kindergartens
4.00
Funeral Directors
15.00
Pasturization
10.00
Total $ 2,990.21
EXPENDITURES - 1953
Salaries and Wages
$ 8,724.98
General
8,389.88
Garbage
5,787.48
Rubbish
13,483.32
Total $ 36,385.66
Requests for 1954
$ 55,793.65
Manager recommends for 1954
Salaries and Wages
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