USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1955 > Part 11
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Respectfully submitted,
ROLAND E. MANSFIELD Chief of Police
119
REPORT OF THE LIBRARY TRUSTEES
Again we pause to evaluate another year of library service to our com- munity. Our schedule has undergone some changes in the past twelve months and it is interesting to note the results in terms of books circulated. When the schools opened in October the branch library at North Saugus was opened one morning a week during school hours - for the use of the children attending that school. The program operates along the lines of the Lynnhurst and Oaklandvale school branches. Two members of the library staff are at the school three hours a week - servicing all the chil- dren in each building - all those whose parents are willing. The teachers and principals are much pleased with the set-up. The table of circulation statistics shows a gain of 5,565 in our total circulation for the whole system for the year: 2,422 in the adult department and 3,143 in the boys' and girls' department.
Story hours conducted in the library and in the schools by Mrs. Gladys H. Warren, assistant librarian, and Mrs. Margaret D. Adams, branch assist- ant, have been very popular with our boys and girls. The interest created by our "story ladies" is a definite factor in building up our juvenile circula- tion. Adult circulation increase may have been stimulated by book talks given by the librarian, Miss Blackmer, and Mrs. Warren at church, school and P.T.A. groups. The librarian spoke at four out-of-town meetings: in Revere, Beverly, Ipswich and Boston.
Instruction in the use of Reference Books was given again this year by the librarian - at Sweetser Junior High School instead of Senior High. Miss Blackmer also supervised work by Girl Scouts endeavoring to earn their Reader Badge. Boy Scout and Camp Fire Girl displays have brought attention to these youth organizations.
In co-operation with the Community Relations Committee the library played its part in the annual celebration of Brotherhood Week, February 20-26. We displayed books and pamphlets suitable for use-especially by High School Juniors - for themes on Brotherhood. A simple quiz for sixth graders was compiled by the librarian and conducted one day of Brother- hood Week in the library.
Our physical welfare has been subject to change this year, too. An oil burner was installed at the Main Library in the late spring. This makes the building much more comfortable in off seasons, and is a welcome unit in a department which has no custodian on duty when the building is open to the public. Through the very efficient co-operation of the Building De- partment the interior walls of the East Saugus Branch library have been painted pastel colors and new book cases and stools for the small children have been made. These improvements make a most pleasing atmosphere at the branch. Our sincere thanks to the Building Department for its help.
We hope that in the near future plans for expansion of the Main Library may be drawn up and presented to the Board of Selectmen and the Town Meeting. We are very crowded at the Main Library. We need more storage space, more work space and certainly more space for our pub- lic to relax and enjoy their library.
120
In June the Board of Trustees accepted with regret the resignation of Maude Moses who had been librarian at the North Saugus Branch Library for sixteen years. We are very grateful to Mrs. Moses for her many years of faithful service and we wish her a happy retirement. Mrs. Nettie Sar- gent left the library department after several years at the East Saugus Branch Library. Many thanks to her, too, for her conscientious work.
Again we wish to extend grateful thanks for all favors received and courtesies extended. Changes in the schedule have shifted some of the labors in the department and we thank the staff members for adapting themselves so willingly to these new routines.
STATISTICS
Circulation - Comparative Figures for Five Years
Adult
Juvenile
Total
1951
48,264
31,554
79,818
1952
48,341
33,282
81,623
1953
48,357
37,161
85,518
1954
48,218
39,668
87,886
1955
50,640
42,811
93,451
American Library Association Form of Statistics
Name of the Library
Saugus Free Public Library
Town
Saugus, Massachusetts
Librarian
Miss Huldah Blackmer
Date of founding
1887
Population served (1955)
18,049
Library appropriation per capita
Total number of agencies
7
Consisting of
Main Library
Lynnhurst Branch
Cliftondale Branch
North Saugus Branch
East Saugus Branch
Oaklandvale Branch
High School
Hours open for lending and reference (per week)
Main Library
21
Cliftondale
9
East Saugus
3
Lynnhurst (juveniles only)
7
North Saugus
3
High School (hours per school year)
828
Book stock:
Volumes at beginning of year
1,891
Volumes added
1,096
Volumes withdrawn
33,773
.
Total (December 31, 1955)
32,978
Oaklandvale (juveniles only)
3712
$1.07
121
Active Borrowers
New or re-registered Borrowers
Registration :
Adult
Juvenile
Adult
Juvenile
Main Library
1871
1174
509
356
Cliftondale
645
1014
154
29'
East Saugus
184
361
42
85
North Saugus
71
124
18
71
Lynnhurst
146
30
Oaklandvale
154
38
Total
2771
2973
723
877
Grand totals
5744
1600
Library staff :
Miss Huldah Blackmer, librarian
Mrs. Gladys H. Warren, assistant librarian
Mrs. Frances Sperry, branch librarian-Cliftondale and Lynnhurst
Mrs. Maude Moses, branch librarian-North Saugus
Mrs. Margaret D. Adams, Mrs. Nettie Sargent, assistants-East Saugus Mrs. Elizabeth Platt, assistant-Oaklandvale
Hourly workers: Carol Bothroyd, Phyllis Brown, Patricia Hayes, Henry Klockson, Dorothy Kyle, Robert Metzler, Donald Ruthman. Respectfully submitted,
ERNEST L. SHAPIRO, Chairman
HAROLD J. ADLINGTON
KALER A. PERKINS
LILLIAN D. GEORGE
CATHERINE REYNOLDS
KATHERINE C. SILVER
Board of Library Trustees
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
To the Town Manager:
I hereby tender to you the annual report of the Public Works Depart- ment for the year ending December 31, 1955.
The complement of the Public Works Department for 1952, 1953, 1954 and requested for 1955 is listed below:
1952
1953
1954
1955
Superintendent
1
1
1
1
Assistant Superintendent
0
0
0
1
Clerks
2
2
2
3
General Foreman
1
1
1
0
Foremen
2
2
2
2
Mechanics
1
1
2
2
Highway and Sewer
9
10
10
13
Water and Meter Division
6
9
11
10
Engineering
2
3
0
0
Ashes and Rubbish
3
0
0
0
Totals
27
29
29
32
122
My request for the year 1956 is that ten (10) additional men be added to the Department so that the Department can give to the citizens of Saugus the services requested which they justly deserve. Even if these ten (10) men were added to our working forces, it still would not meet the re- quired number of personnel essential to operate the Public Works Depart- ment on an efficient and economical basis.
Expenditure for salaries-1952
$ 95,612.84
Expenditures for salaries-1953
103,242.34
Expenditures for salaries-1954
101,166.77
Expenditures for salaries-1955
107,651.44
SEWER MAINTENANCE
The total revenue from this department for the year 1955 was $17,028.75; broken down as follows and showing the years 1952, 1953, 1954 and 1955:
Sewer Rentals
$ 7,775.46
$ 8,276.91
$ 9,605.71 $ 10,188.20
Assessments
0.00
423.63
15,170.31
6,392.41
Entrance Fees
0.00
225.00
75.00
225.00
Connections
164.34
186.03
45.49
223.14
Totals*
$ 7,939.80 $ 9,111.57
$ 24,896.51
$ 17,028.75
In my 1954 Annual Report I recommended that the excess sewer charge voted March 21, 1949 be rescinded. If my recommendation is adopted, I would like to show the loss in revenue from this department, broken down as follows for the years 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955:
Total from
Sewer Rental and Rental
Year
Excess Charges
Totals
Excess Totals
1950
$ 7,333.96
$ 6,071.00
$ 1,262.96
1951
7,461.35
6,340.00
1,121.35
1952
7,775.46
6,509.00
1,266.46
1953
8,276.91
6,904.50
1,372.41
1954
9,605.71
7,736.00
1,869.71
1955
10,188.20
8,520.50
1,667.70
We now have 641 active sewer connections which is an increase of 69 new services over the year 1954.
Our sewer pumping station located at Franklin Square serves in a dual capacity for a branch library and a sanitary pump station. The sewer pumping station, electrically and mechanically, is kept in excellent condi- tion under the able supervision of Byron Day.
During the year 1955, major repairs have been made on the switchboard and all the pumps were completely overhauled.
All the above repairs, improvements and maintenance was done very economically, with large savings to the department and taxpayers through Mr. Day's ability not only to make repairs and improvements, but having the ability and knowledge to machine and make the parts needed instead of waiting six months for parts. Also, instead of hiring three or four elec- trical engineers to do this work and paying large fees for their services, Mr. Day uses direct labor from the Public Works Department when needed and the work is done under his direct supervision. By this method, labor costs are cut to the minimum.
123
During the year 1955 we installed 1,788 lineal feet of sanitary sewer line on Lincoln Avenue under our sanitary sewer program. This work was done under a contract awarded to Continental Construction Company and super- vised by Fay, Spofford and Thorndike, consulting firm of engineers. The 1,788 lineal feet is broken down as follows:
8" Transite pipe 10" Transite pipe
1,175 613
Total
1,788 lineal feet
We now have 9.40 miles of pipe lines in the Town including two and two-fifths miles of outfall sewer line from our pumping station to the Lynn outfall sewer located at the junction of Commercial and Broad Streets, Lynn, Mass.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Our sanitary sewer problem becomes more acute from day to day due to the ever increasing new developments, the construction of many new homes and business structures which are causing a sanitary problem preva- lent all over town. This affects the well-being and health condition of all our citizens.
Fully realizing the many financial demands, plus the ever increasing government costs, I recommend a definite planned yearly sewer expansion program be carried out bearing in mind that this program does not exceed the amount that our citizens can afford to pay. I further recommend that this program be carried out and supervised by our own Engineering De- partment thereby saving large sums of money which would have to be paid to consulting enginereing firms.
For the year 1956, I recommend the installation of sewer lines at the following locations: Lincoln Avenue and Webb Place.
HIGHWAY
During the year 1955, the Highway Division received $13,476.23 from the sale of materials, equipment hire, insurance settlements, curbing and side- walk settlements, and gasoline tax refunds. Listed below is the income for the years 1952, 1953, 1954, and 1955:
Gasoline tax refund, equipment hire,
sale of materials and insurance
settlements for damages to town property $ 258.32 $ 426.34
$ 1,076.66 $ 216.66
*Curbing and sidewalk
assessments
0.00
0.00
0.00
13,057.91
Totals
$ 258.32
$ 426.34
$ 1,076.66
$ 13,274.57
*This work on curbing and sidewalk construction was done in the year 1953 and assessed in 1955.
Expenditures for the year 1952
$ 50,845.56
Expenditures for the year 1953
46,706.41
Expenditures for the year 1954
42,630.10
Expenditures for the year 1955
37,431.61
124
Our highway program for the year 1955 consisted of road construction, repairs to highways, curbings, cement sidewalks, drainage, plus the usual department maintenance, such as cleaning culverts, brooks, catch basins, rodding drainage lines, sweeping squares, highways, snow removal, plowing and sanding highways, supplying gravel under Chapter 386 on private ways, bridge repairs, erection of wire fences, painting street lines, erecting signs, removing tree stumps for the tree department, removing and resetting bleachers at various playgrounds, excavating, hauling gravel and grading Stocker Street and Bristow Street playgrounds for playground commission and started construction for playground purposes on Fairchild property located at Elm Street and Walnut Street for the Town Manager, pushing back and grading dump with bulldozer and graded and laid a bituminous concrete surface for the Armitage School playground.
Work Accomplished During 1955 by Department ROAD CONSTRUCTION
Old County Road with bituminous concrete surface.
Woodbury Avenue from Saville Street to Hesper Street with bituminous concrete surface.
Junction of Woodbury and Old Hesper Street with bituminous concrete surface.
Junction of Hurd and Ernest Avenue with bituminous concrete surface.
Under Chapter 386, work was done on the following private ways: Hampstead Street, Oakwood Avenue, Beacham Avenue, Richard Street and Social Street.
DRAINAGE Under Contract By Continental Construction
Hurd Avenue and Pelham Street drain.
Anna Parker Playground drain.
Guild Road drain.
Hesper Street culvert.
Adams Avenue culvert.
Oaklandvale Avenue.
Skahan right of way.
Sweetwater Street culvert at the first pond.
By the Highway Department
Central Street, Springdale Avenue and Bristow Street drain extension on Bristow Street, pipe supplied by abutters; School Street through private property to Fiske Brook; replaced stone culvert across Forrest Street with reinforced concrete pipe and cleaned out in conjunction with mosquito con- trol work, Fiske, Fairmount Avenue, Elm Street, Glenn Park, and Floyd Street brooks.
By contract to Continental Construction Company under the supervi- sion of consulting firm of engineers, Fay, Spofford and Thorndike-Hurd Avenue and Pelham Street, Anna Parker playground, Guild Road drain systems and culvert at Hesper Street, Adams Avenue, Oaklandvale Avenue, Sweetwater Street at first pond, and Skahan's right of way.
125
By contract to McCabe Company, the realignment and grading of Crys- tal Brook to the junction of Main Street and the Lynn Fells Parkway; and the realignment of the drain system at the junction of Winter and Central Streets, which was not completed because of insufficient funds.
Chapter 91
The culvert across Central Street and the Boston & Maine Railroad track spanning Shute Brook was completed in 1955 under a contract awarded by the Massachusetts Public Works Department. The Town's con- tribution for this project was $40,000.00. I consider this as one of the out- standing major improvements made in the Town of Saugus in a good many years.
Chapter 90 Construction
The construction of Main Street started in 1954 was completed in 1955. The town contributed nothing for this construction with the exception of paying for land damages as this project was constructed under Federal Aid. Also, the construction of Essex Street was started in 1955 from Cliftondale Square to School Street and will be completed in 1956.
School Yards and Playgrounds
The department graded and paved, with Bituminous Concrete Type I, the Armitage School playground area and straightened and erected a new chain link fence on two sides; graded the Bristow Street and Stocker Street playgrounds so that the Tree and Park Department could do the seeding; started to rough out the Fairchild property on Walnut Street and Elm Street so that a playground area for Lynnhurst section could be con- structed in 1956; loaded and hauled surplus fill that was dumped on Anna Parker playground from Chapter 90 Construction to Grandview Park for the development of a playground in the Springdale Avenue area.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Now that we have an established Engineering Department, I recom- mend that we adopt the six year planned construction program for curb- ing, sidewalks, sanitary sewers, storm drains, water mains and road con- struction as recommended by Municipal Planners. This plan, if put into operation, guarantees to the citizens and officials a sound and economical construction program. It also informs our taxpayers of the location of the construction improvement and when it is going to take place.
I recommend a definite highway rebuilding and resurfacing program be started immediately, and continued over a period of years until completed. No resurfacing on asphalt treatment has been done on our highways since 1951
I further recommend new street layouts and the construction of Vine Street, School Street, Forest Street, Fairmount and Baker Streets from Lincoln Avenue to Clifton Avenue, and to include proper and adequate drainage facilities.
Under drainage, I recommend that we eliminate drainage nuisances at the junction of Vincent, Wendall and Newhall Streets; Central Street from Fiske Brook to Adams Avenue; Lincoln Avenue between Lawndale Avenue and Dudley Street on the northerly side. Replace and relay to grade an adequate sized pipe from the top of Glen Park through private property
126
into the Lincoln Avenue drain, to prevent the continual washouts on Lin- coln Avenue during and after every rain storm. Also, to continue the re- alignment and grading of Crystal Brook from the junction of Main Street and the Lynn Fells Parkway along the Fellsway, up and across Howard Street so as to provide proper drainage facilities from the overflow water from the three ponds in Golden Hills. This would prevent the flooding of the entire area. It would provide dry cellars to our home owners in that area. This work should be done by the M.D.C. or State, because the water comes from Wakefield and Melrose and empties into the Saugus area. If this cannot be done by the State or M.D.C. from a direct appropriation from their budget, then it would be done under Chapter 91 where the cost is ap- portioned 50% by the State and 50% by the Town.
I recommend that we finish the unfinished 1953 sidewalk program where granite curbing was installed.
Under Chapter 90 highway construction, I recommend the continua- tion of Essex Street construction and to start the construction of Walnut Street starting at the Lynnfield line.
I also recommend that action be taken by he Town Manager, Board of Selectmen, our Representatives to the General Court and the State Senator from our district, to have the State Department of Public Works take over Water Street and Walnut Street, otherwise known as Route 129, as a state highway; and that part of Walnut Street from North Saugus Square through Lynnfield to Route 128 entrance on Walnut Street, Lynnfield, as a numbered route.
The Public Works Department does not have proper housing facilities for equipment and materials with our present garage, so that many of our units are out in the open weather fifty-two weeks of the year. I recom- mend that a new municipal garage be constructed to house all Public Works' vehicles, units, materials and vehicles of other departments. Fully realizing that this would incur a large expenditure in one year, I recom- mend that this garage be constructed under the unit section plan, whereby one section could be completed in one year. This should be carried on an- nually until the whole unit is completed. I do not recommend anything elaborate, but a sound building, practical and constructed economically.
I recommend the erection of a six foot chain link fence enclosing the entire Public Works yard for the protection of our vehicles, units, materials and property.
New Equipment or Road Machinery Account
Expenditures for the year 1952 $ 1,300.00
Expenditures for the year 1953 4,295.00
Expenditures for the year 1954 0.00
Expenditures for the year 1955 0.00
For equipment, I recommend the purchase of one new jeep for snow plowing purposes in the outlaying sections; a new mechanical sweeper to replace our old one; a new bulldozer, rubber tired, self-propelled front end loader. This type of unit could be dispatched to any project in operation on its own power in a very short time and could go to several locations on its own in any one given day. This unit would also be ideal for snow re- moval within our business areas, churches, hospital and public buildings.
127
I recommend to replace our present three Ford trucks and purchase a good used three to three and one-half (3-31/2) ton chassis; also to rebuild within our own department a Derrick truck which is now mounted on a Broackway assembled chassis - the only place we can get parts (if we can locate them) is at an automobile junk yard.
WATER
The total amount committed to the Tax Collector for collection from the sale of water, installation of new and renewal water services, repairs to services plus amounts received by the department under the water extension policy, and amounts collected from insurance companies for damages to our water structures, which in turn were deposited with the Town Treasurer for the year 1955 amounted to $157,430.85. The breakdown is as follows show- ing the years 1952, 1953, 1954 and 1955:
1952
1953
Metered water services-
$ 61,358.49
$ 66,027.58
1954 $105,156.28
1955 $133,564.89
Repairs, renewals, new services and new meters-
14,366.36
17,525.75
16,422.56
23,170.86
Broken hydrants and meter tests-
709.02
2,866.75
552.31
383.20
1949 water extension policy article-
8,403.21
0.00
2,688.95
311.90
Totals-
$ 84,837.08
$ 87,003.73
$124,820.10
$157,430.85
Less abatements due to clerical
error or wrong meter
readings-
102.20
186.71
333.44
320.81
Town departments abated be-
cause of lack of funds and not complying with the
encumbrance system-
185.67
52.65
227.24
10.00
Net Totals
$ 84,549.21
$ 86,764.37
$124,259.42
$157,100.04
I would also like to offer a copy at this time of the estimated receipts for 1955 from the report of Fay, Spofford & Thorndike, dated September 23, 1955, which was received on October 26, 1955 for comparison purposes with actual receipts as shown above.
1952
1953
1954
1955
Sale of water, water services
and meter installations,
meter repair, etc .-
$ 73,284.83
$ 81,000.67
$103,909.70
$119,000.00
Water liens-
2,725.35
2,441.64
2,692.81
5,200.00
Main extensions-
8,403.21
2,866.75
2,688.95
2,700.00
Hydrant rental-
2,600.00
2,600.00
2,600.00
2,600.00
Totals-
$ 87,013.39
$ 88,909.06
$111,891.46
$129,500.00
The $2,600.00 shown in the above report for hydrant rental is included in my report under the item of "Sale of metered water services, etc." In my net total for the year 1955, I have not used any amount for Water Liens.
128
Expenditures for the year 1952
$ 58,859.33
Expenditures for the year 1953 46,514.43
Expenditures for the year 1954
40,828.64
Expenditures for the year 1955
41,350.23
Estimated receipts by the Superintendent for 1956,
providing the same water rate and charges remain in effect $156,000.00 In 1955 the Water Division accomplished the following:
New service installations
163
Renewal of old services
87
Service repairs
80
New meters set for new water services
150
New meters set replacing old obsolete meters
165
Meters repaired, tested and set
319
New hydrants installed
12
Replacement of old and broken hydrants with new ones 2
Relocating and resetting hydrants
2
Hydrants repaired 9
Hydrants anti-freezed
79
Main water breaks
27
Water main cut-overs 1
Plus daily routine turn-ons and turn-offs, service measurements, main gate and curb repairs and resetting to grade, meter leaks, main gate repairs, blow-out, summer water services and flushing of hydrants.
Referring back to the water income table for 1956 and the tabulation of accomplishments, it readily shows that the water division had a banner year showing a large increase in income under the item of "Repairs, re- newals, new services, and new meters" over previous years. It also shows an increase in new services, renewal services, service repairs, new meters set and old meters repaired, tested and reset over any previous year.
Water Extensions
A total of 9,034.25 lineal feet of cast iron cement lined water pipe was installed and added to our water distributing system. The installations were made as follows by the Water Department forces-2,248.45 lineal feet consisting of 1,348 lineal feet of 12" and 878.45 lineal feet of 6"." By con- tract paid by the Town-3,672 lineal feet consisting of 1,698 lineal feet of 10"; 7,264 lineal feet of 8"; and 710 lineal feet of 6". By subdivision ap- proved by the Planning Board and installed entirely at the developer's ex- pense with the exception of hydrants which are supplied by the Town - 3,113.80 lineal feet of 6" cast iron cement lined water pipe.
Dighton St. 6" C.I. C.L. water pipe Class 150
172.75 lineal feet
Forest St. 6" C.I. C.L. water pipe Class 150 695.70 lineal feet
Waban St. 6" C.I. C.L. water pipe Class 150 32 lineal feet
Rear of Saugus H.S.
12" C.I. C.L. water pipe Class 150 515 lineal feet
833 lineal feet
Davis Ct.
12" C.I. C.L. water pipe Class 150 8" C.I. C.L. water pipe Class 150
605 lineal feet
* Hurd Ave.
* F. P. Bennett Hwy.
8" C.I. C.L. water pipe Class 150
439 lineal feet
* Gertrude St.
8" C.I. C.L. water pipe Class 150 6" C.I. C.L. water pipe Class 150 154 lineal feet
* Gertrude St.
* Bryer St.
10" C.I. C.L. water pipe Class 150 1,698 lineal feet
Treher St.
220 lineal feet
6" C.I. C.L. water pipe Class 150 162 lineal feet
129
* Robins Rd.
6" C.I. C.L. water pipe Class 150 352 lineal feet
* Eagle Rd.
6" C.I. C.L. water pipe Class 150 42 lineal feet
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