USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1953 > Part 8
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$ 9,262.50
General
10,564.51
Garbage
9,000.00
Rubbish
26,966.64
Total
$ 55,793.65
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR W. PRICE
LEROY C. FURBUSH
PETER L. GRADY
Board of Health
CEMETERY DEPARTMENT
To the Town Manager:
For the year 1953, the Cemetery Department operated with a working crew of four men and three temporary employees engaged for seasonal work before and after Memorial Day. In addition to the regular cemetery work, this department also cared for the Town Hall lawn and the Cliftondale and Saugus Center greens, shrubbery and plants.
The sum of $21,591.86 was expended for operating costs. Of this cost, $4,149.37 was transferred from interest received for perpetual care funds during the year 1952 and the balance was appropriated by the Town Meeting.
A total of $15,585.89 was received from the sale of lots, care of lots, interment fees, foundation work and interest on perpetual care funds. Also, the sum of $5,670.00 was received to be added to perpetual care funds.
55
BEST GUIDE TO THE CHARACTER OF A PEOPLE IS THE RESPECT THEY PAY THEIR HONORED DEAD, said a very famous philosopher. By this standard, Saugus, with its well-groomed but congested Riverside Cemetery, stands high in the scale. Meanwhile, mindful of the fact that it is now so filled that avenues have been closed up to provide additional graves, Town Manager Walter E. Lawrence has directed a survey for a new Burial Ground to care for the needs of the people of Saugus for the next 75 years. Here members of the trained crew of the Cemetery Department are shown carrying on the year-round maintenance work which stamps Riverside Cemetery as a superior institution. Left to right, Mario Calcagno, Freeman Newhall, Milton Moore, work under the watchful eye of highly efficient Super- intendent Alfred W. Powers, right.
During the year, there were 134 burials. At the present time there are only a few lots remaining unsold in Riverside Cemetery. The time has arrived when the town must provide additional acreage for cemetery purposes. If this is not pro- vided, we are faced with a very serious problem as there will be no lots remaining for sale. Some of the cemetery avenues have been filled in and sold as lots for burial purposes.
For the year 1954, we recommend that the town appropri- ate the sum of $24,150.80 for the Cemetery Department. This will enable the department to hire one additional full time worker and sufficient seasonal workers. The work of this de- partment having greatly increased over previous years, it is necessary to have additional full time workers as it is not always possible to hire seasonal workers when needed.
Signed: ALFRED W. POWERS, Acting Superintendent.
FORESTRY DEPARTMENT
Walter E. Lawrence
Town Manager Saugus, Mass.
Dear Sir:
The following is a description of the work and the accom- plishments of the Department for the year 1953:
Complement:
1-Working Superintendent
1-Tree Climber Laborer
1-Truck Driver Laborer
A recent survey shows that the town of Saugus has ap- proximately 6500 roadside shade trees, of which 1100 are elms.
TO THE MUSIC OF THE DESTRUCTIVE POWER SAW, another of Saugus' noble elms, which once lined our residential streets, falls as a victim to the Dutch Elm Disease, Tree Warden Joseph Vatcher, center, who loves trees and joins with Joyce Kilmer in the belief that, "Only God can make a tree," stands framed in the trunk of an elm which has stood the storms of some 150 years only to fall victim to a disease which science has been unable to check. Flanking efficient Warden Vatcher are, left, Fred Westerstrand, a clever fellow with the axe; and right, Saugus' new and daring tree climber Donald Gingrass appointed this year by Town Manager Walter E. Lawrence, whose dexterity in topping trees has greatly facilitated the work of this important department.
56
This does not include any trees on town owned acreage. I particularly mention the number of roadside elms for the rea- son that the major portion of our efforts have to do with the control of the dreaded "Dutch Elm Disease".
During the year 1953, this department "Mist Sprayed" all roadside elms a total of three times. One must realize that to eventually control this plague, some legislation must be passed making it mandatory to spray all elms on private property. This department sent 150 samples of elm trees that showed infection to the Shade Tree Laboratories at the University of Massachusetts for analysis of which 29 were returned as posi- tive.
The next procedure was to completely remove these trees. Previous bids for elm tree removal will show that the aver- age cost of removal to be $250 per tree. The limited manpower in my department cannot hope to eradicate this menace. There are 75 infected elms that must be removed in 1954.
Gypsy Moth
Gypsy Moth in the Town of Saugus is under control, how- ever. During the annual moth inspection with John E. O'Doherty, State Supervisor of Pest and Gypsy Moth control, we found evidence of the Gypsy Moth in the North Saugus area. This condition should be eradicated this year by Aerial Spray.
Tree Planting
No appropriation for tree planting was made avail- able to the Tree Department in 1953. However, the department transplanted 92 small maples from town owned property to roadside shade trees. It is important to remember that for every tree removed, one should be replaced.
We note several new housing developments. These of course must eventually have shade trees.
I would like very much to inaugurate a program of shade tree trimming but again the limited manpower is the answer. General Services
During the year 1953, the Tree Department was called upon to render many services pertaining to the town in general, such as:
1. Erection of Christmas trees and trimming same.
2. Removal of all Christmas trees, brought to dump and burned.
3. Aided Public Works Department during snow removal.
4. Participation in Annual Clean Up Week.
5. Cutting roadside brush.
6. Clearing of lot for V.F.W. Building.
7. Clearing of land in rear of Oaklandvale School for proposed playground.
8. Removal of 13 trees for road building and sidewalk construction.
9. Aided Public Works Department in control of town dump.
10. Cleared various streets of dead limbs caused by storm damage.
11. Removal of bee and hornet nests. New Equipment
We purchased a much needed three horsepower Mccullough power saw.
Requests
A two ton cab and chassis truck with dump platform body and two speed winch.
One small power saw.
In conclusion, at this time I would like to thank all de- partments that assisted us during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH A. VATCHER, Tree and Moth Supt.
PERFECT BALANCE-Grandma tries hard to out-guess the butcher with the heavy finger, but it's anyone's guess what the corpus delicti in the scale really weighs. Amusing, even though it's a stunt that wouldn't be tried by honest Saugus housewives, or storekeepers, either, but it's no harm to have an able, conscientious, and alert Sealer of Weights and Measures such as Alfred H. Woodward as the third man in the ring in a situation such as this.
57
SEALER of WEIGHTS and MEASURES
Town Manager Town Hall Saugus, Mass. Dear Sir:
I submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1953.
Sealed
Scales over 10,000 lbs.
4
Scales 100 to 5,000 lbs.
10
Scales under 100 lbs.
109
Weights
8
Gasoline meters
79
Oil truck meters
30
Wood baskets
4
Total
244
Trial Weighings of Commodities
Total Tested
Correct
Under
Over
Bread
410
373
26
11
Butter
492
445
41
6
Dry commodities
396
363
29
4
Fruit and vegetables
96
88
8
Meats and provisions
156
142
8
6
Potatoes
76
39
28
9
1,626
1,450
132
44
Inspections Made
Pedlers licenses
6
Coal certificates
8
Marking of bread
10
Food packages
180
Pedlers scales
2
Junk scales
2
Coal certificates
8
Total
616
Retests After Sealing
Gasoline pumps
22
Scales all types
32
Total
54
Respectfully submitted, ALFRED H. WOODWARD, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
BOARD OF APPEALS
SAUGUS' BOARD OF ZONING AND BUILDING APPEALS is a unique town board, in that while it is appointed by the Board of Selectmen and its members removable only by them after a public hearing at which they show "cause," it derives most of its power not from the town by-laws but by mandate of the Legislature. Without a Board of Appeals to grant exceptions or variances in specific cases where hardship is a demonstrated fact, there could be no zoning or building laws, because no statute can be written sufficiently elastic to cover all situations. Members of the Board of Appeals serve without compensa- tion and in Saugus longevity in office has been characteristic. Joseph G. Fisher, left, has served for 16 years; Chairman Peter A. Rossetti, center, for six years; and Paul A. Haley, right, for 22 years. In 1953, with 61 cases and over 100 meetings, the Board of Appeals had its greatest volume of business in history.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Town Hall, Saugus, Massachusetts. Gentlemen:
Your Board of Zoning and Building Appeals submits here- with its report of activities during the calendar year of 1953, which because of the complexity of requests for variances on both the zoning and building codes brought a volume of busi- ness almost double that of any previous year.
Last year we reported that the number of cases disposed of had set an all-time record with a total of 34.
During the past year, however, the Board of Appeals has conducted 61 hearings involving individuals or corporations seeking relief from the terms of the zoning or building by- laws. While a great part of this unsurpassed volume of business before the Board of Appeals came about as a result of the deci- sion of your honorable body to enforce the statutes with refer- ence to illegal dog kennel businesses in residential areas, many others involved other general requests for variances and were indicative, in our opinion, of the great need for a re-codification of the zoning by-law which we have suggested for the past
58
three years.
Our zoning law was adopted in 1928. There have been many new conceptions in zoning in the intervening years, and particularly since World War II.
We again recommend to your honorable body that steps be taken immediately to re-zone the Town of Saugus so that many of the inequities of the existing code, which call for frequent remedial action by the Board of Appeals in individual cases, will no longer be required.
At the present time all of the land in the Town of Saugus not zoned for business, industrial use, or for general residence, is zoned under the single broad category of 'single family res- idence."
This includes thousands of acres of undeveloped land on our outskirts, where development has not occurred since it was zoned in 1928 and may not for another 25 or more years.
The same restrictions, however, which are operative in highly developed residential areas in the heart of our commun- ity, are also effective in these woodlands and meadows.
In our opinion, the Town of Saugus should be re-zoned so that there would be several distinct categories of "Residen- tial" use. The existing highly developed areas might be classi- fied "Residential A." Others less widely developed, but still entitled to a maximum of protection, might well be set up under a "Residential B" classification, with somewhat more uses permitted, and a third category, involving woodlands and farms, could well come under an even less strict, "Residential C."
We also suggest that in such a re-zoning that there be a greatly broadened conception of the value of multiple hous- ing. There are very few areas in the Town of Saugus, in our opinion, where two family houses should not be a permitted use, but under the existing code they are allowed in only a few areas.
The Board of Appeals would also respectfully suggest to your honorable body that the town of Saugus create a new zon- ing classification to cover apartment houses.
At the present time, apartment houses are a permitted use only in a business area.
We would suggest that many of the streets serving as lat- erals to our main arteries in Monument Square, Cliftondale Square, and Franklin Square be zoned for "Garden-Type Apartments," with a mandatory requirement that builders of such developments provide off-street parking for the residents of such modern multiple-housing units. Obviously, due to the crowded residential conditions in the proximity of our squares, the encouragement of construction of such well designed and attractive "garden-type apartment" multiple housing would provide a far greater tax return per square foot than can be received by continuing its present single family or general resi- dence zoning.
During the past year, there have been 61 cases heard by the Board of Appeals, requiring some 100 meetings of this un- salaried group of citizens, due to the fact that members invari- ably view the locus prior to acting upon any petition.
The cases have been disposed of as follows:
Granted 28
Denied 15
Granted with restrictions or conditions 12
Leave to withdraw
1
5
Pending
Total 61
During the past year, the Board of Appeals lost its first case in 25 years in the Superior Court, when Mr. Justice Charles A. Rome reversed a unanimous verdict of the panel refusing a variance for permanent occupancy of a Greyhound dog kennel business in a single family residence area on the basis of alleged financial hardship of the appellant.
Upon the recommendation of Town Counsel Albion L. Hogan, the Board of Appeals has unanimously authorized tak- ing this decision of the Superior Court to the Supreme Judi- cial Court on appeal. It has done so because it concurs in the judgment of the Town Counsel that Judge Rome's decision, if not reversed by the Supreme Bench, perils the integrity of the zoning by-law and the rights of residents of single family resi- dential areas, not only in Saugus but throughout the Com- monwealth.
In closing, the Board of Appeals would like to express its appreciation for their complete co-operation of the past year to Judge Hogan, Town Manager Walter E. Lawrence, Thomas H. Wagner, Jr., superintendent of buildings, and his staff; the clerical staff of the Board of Assessors for their many generous acts in providing names of abutting property owners; members of the Planning Board, who have been uniformly helpful; and finally, members of your honorable board, who while appoint- ing the Board of Appeals, have never in any manner attempted to sway their judgment on any pending issues.
In our judgment, this is as it should be, in the interests of every citizen and property owner of the Town of Saugus. This should be a government of laws, and not of men, and any citizen who demonstrates his need for relief from the strict interpretation of either the zoning of building by-laws should be entitled to equal justice before the Board of Appeals.
It has been the constant aim of this board to grant such relief when it has been legally and equitably possible, and "when the same can be accomplished without substantial dero- gation from the intent and purpose of the by-law."
GEORGE W. PITMAN WALTER E. HOGAN PETER A. SMITH
Associate Members
PETER A. ROSSETTI, Chairman JOSEPH G. FISHER
PAUL A. HALEY
Board of Appeals
59
LIBRARY
NO WONDER THEY SMILE, with circulation of the Saugus Library holding up remarkably well despite the attractions of the TV screen. Working with a limited budget and under cramped conditions, the staff at the Carnegie Library in Saugus Center and the various branches do a magnificent job in instilling a love of good literature in young and old alike. Shown in this group picture are, front row, left to right, Mrs. Gladys H. Warren, Miss Huldah Blackmer, chief librarian; and Mrs. Frances Sperry. Rear row, left to right, Nettie Sargent, Margaret D. Adams, Mrs. Maude Moses, and Elizabeth Platt. If you need the answer to a "quiz" question to win a fast radio jackpot, they're the ladies with the solutions.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
On the threshold of 1954, we pause. Looking back over 1953, we note and try to evaluate our accomplishments. Our work with the young people of our community has made gradual, but steady progress. The table of circulation statistics readily bears testimony to this growth. At the Main Library and in all branches, except Lynnhurst, there has been an increase. We have more than doubled our juvenile circulation at the East Saugus Branch.
CIRCULATION STATISTICS - COMPARING 1952 AND 1953 1952 1953
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Main Library
26,400
12,158
38,558
25,459
12,780*
38,239
Cliftondale
11,677
11,684
23,361
11,612
11,890*
23,502*
East Saugus
2,352
2,869
5,221
3,500*
5,904*
9,404*
North Saugus
2.160
1,329
3,489
2,017
1,332*
3,349
Lynnhurst
789
1,986
2,775
690
1,910
2,600
High School
4,963
4,963
5,079*
5,079*
Oaklandvale
3,256
3,256
3.345*
3,345*
Grand Total
48,341
33,282
81,623
48,357*
37,161*
85,518*
Starred figures indicate increases in 1953
The increases in juvenile circulation are in direct ratio to the stimulus afforded by more active contact with the schools. Miss Huldah Blackmer, the librarian, has had groups from the Roby School for story hours. Mrs. Gladys H. Warren, assistant librarian, and Mrs. Margaret D. Adams, assistant at East Saugus and Oaklandvale, have done outstanding work with the young- sters through story hours in the schools.
The whole staff has worked with Mrs. Warren, the director of the "Junior Librarians"-a library club of 15 members for Fifth and Sixth Graders. There is a great demand these days for supplementary readers for the First and Second Grade pupils. This collection in our book stock has to be built up steadily to meet the increased requests.
Our adult circulation shows gains only at the East Saugus Branch and at the High School. There are two contributing factors involved in the apparent decline in adult circulation: TV is still a deterrent to extensive reading for recreation and there has been a dearth of good readable fiction. Many excellent non-fiction titles are available and these circulate well. Book prices have risen along with other prices and we try to invest our book budget in books which will not offend good taste.
Our library has increased its service in reference work this past year. There is no yardstick by which to measure this service, but we furnish information about tropical fish, parakeets, oil burners, water-proofing cellars, art, State and local govern- ment-to mention but a few of the questions. In fact, a library has most of the answers although some problems require more research than others.
The librarian and her assistant have brought books to the attention of our adult citizens through the media of book talks to church and civic groups and book lists published in our local papers. Interesting exhibits have been displayed at the Main Library in a beautiful mahogany glass-doored bookcase pre- sented to the library by Mrs. Dorothy Gillam. Our thanks to Mrs Gillam and to the people who have loaned us their treasures.
60
Our building has been the meeting place again for a Great Books Discussion Group. We feel gratified that this type of group has continued through several seasons to keep alive this cultural interest in our midst. The Community Relations Com- mittee has held meetings in our Main Library - working on problems and programs relative to their very earnest interest in this timely and important subject.
Through the kindly co-operation of the Building Depart- ment, two of our physical needs have been taken of. We have new serviceable front doors and two new oak cases for the adult reading room in the Main Library. Ralph DeFronzo has done a fine job in duplicating the oak bookcases already in use in the building. The auxiliary steam radiators installed in the Clifton- dale Branch Library in the winter of 1952-53 are still working well, thus eliminating the long-standing problem of inadequate heating at that branch.
William Irby resigned as chairman and a member of the Board of Trustees in September, as he has moved out of town. Ernest L. Shapiro was unanimously elected chairman in Mr. Irby's place, with Harold D. Adlington elected as secretary of the board. We are grateful for the loyalty of the members of our staff, and we appreciate the hearty co-operation between the staff and the board.
From our threshold of 1954, looking ahead we hope to build our service to our young people stronger and make it cover the community more extensively. This goal will move forward pro- gressively with the years. Our expansion will necessitate in- creased floor and wall space in our Main Library; better work- room facilities, a staff-room; a larger staff for the whole system and the modernization of our library stock by the addition of audiovisual material, an increasingly popular feature in the circulation of the present-day library.
American Library Association Form of Statistics Annual Report for the year ending December 31, 1953
Name of the Library
Town
Saugus Free Public Library Saugus, Massachusetts Huldah Blackmer
Date of founding
1887
Population served (1950 census)
17,329
Library appropriation per capita
$.945
Total number of agencies
7
Consisting of :
Main Library Cliftondale Branch
East Saugus Branch
Lynnhurst Branch North Saugus Branch Oaklandvale Branch
High School
Hours open for lending and reference (per week) :
Main Library
371%
Cliftondale
21
East Saugus
131%
Lynnhurst 3
North Saugus
4
Oaklandvale (for juveniles only)
2
High School (hours per school year)
828
Book stock:
Volumes at beginning of year
30,863
Volumes added
2,100
Volumes withdrawn 747
Total (December 31, 1953) 32,216
Active Borrowers
New or Re-registered Borrowers
Main Library
2,669
790
Cliftondale
1,486
437
East Saugus
574
193
Lynnhurst
127
38
North Saugus
156
53
Oakdale
195
42
Total 5,207
1,553
Staff:
Huldah Blackmer, librarian Gladys H. Warren, assistant librarian
Frances Sperry, branch librarian-Cliftondale and Lynnhurst Maude Moses, branch librarian-North Saugus
Margaret D. Adams, Nettie Sargent, assistants-East Saugus
Elizabeth Platt, assistant-Oaklandvale
Hourly workers: Nancy Buckwell, Anita Mitton, Robert Forward, Robert Quirk
Librarian
Board of Library Trustees:
ERNEST L. SHAPIRO, Chairman HAROLD J. ADLINGTON KALER A. PERKINS LILLIAN D. GEORGE CATHERINE REYNOLDS
161
VETERANS BENEFITS
NEWELL V. BARTLETT
Genial, friendly, Newell V. Bartlett-the only time he gets angry is when the rights of a veteran of the nation's wars are impaired-is the town's Veterans' Service Officer and administers Veterans' Benefits with complete fairness to the needy veteran or his family and the taxpayers alike. With an ideal personality for dealing with those in temporary or permanent need, Newell administers a difficult job in a manner which has won high praise from both the veterans whom he serves and the town whose servant he always strives to be.
Mr. Walter E. Lawrence
Town Manager,
Saugus, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir:
The Department of Veterans' Benefits herewith submits its annual report for the year ending in December of 1953.
Throughout the year, this department received 54 appli- cations for help which the veterans and his family would be entitled to under the General Laws, Chapter 115, as amended. After due consideration, 14 of these cases were rejected as not applicable to the above laws. The remaining 40 applications, numbering 116 persons, were duly aided after proper approval by the Commissioner of Veterans' Services of the Commonwealth. The cases are divided as follows: World War One, 18 cases; World War Two, 20 cases; Korean War, two cases.
The department received as an appropriation the sum of $12,806 of which the entire amount was expended. The receipts from the Commonwealth totaled $6,362.27, leaving a net cost to the town of $6,443.73.
The various duties under the department of Veterans' Services such as filing applications for the bonus; applications for disability pensions; aid in making loans under the G. I. authority; and visiting hospitals and making home checks have been duly accomplished.
This department wishes to extend its thanks and appreci- ation to the many other departments and agencies in aiding veterans to receive the proper consideration.
Respectfully submitted, NEWELL V. BARTLETT, Veterans' Agent.
HARBORMASTER
Mr. Walter E. Lawrence,
Town Manager,
Town Hall,
Saugus, Mass.
Dear Sir:
In response to your request for a report of the activities of my office during the past year, I should like to state that as this is the first time such a report has been requested, that I am citing various incidents in my "log book" detailing unusual incidents connected with my office of policing and superintend- ing movement of boats and vessels in the Saugus River which I think would be of interest to you and the citizens of Saugus.
When warnings of impending severe storms are posted by the Coast Guard, and I have reason to fear that there are small craft outside our inner river basin, it is my duty to give them aid. I cruise about in the outside and storm-tossed har- bor in search of such distressed craft, and in this work utilize my personal boat.
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