USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1909 > Part 2
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For Sewer Commissioner for three years-Joseph M. Bassett, 297; Frank A. Gannett, 38; Stephen P. Hurd, 248; James T. Lyons, 391, elected ; blanks, 54.
For Trustee of Public Library for three years-Frank E. Ingalls, 765, elected ; blanks, 263.
For Surveror of Highways-Michael J. Ryan, 741, elected ; blanks, 287.
For Auditors-Nathaniel F. Bartlett, 592, elected ; Harry E. Cahoon, 668, elected ; Stuart P. Ellis, 442, elected ; Alfred F. Frazier, 349; Robert B. Wardwell, Jr., 428; blanks, 605.
For Tree Warden-L. Herbert Cahoon, 550, elected ; George Newhall, 427 ; blanks, 51.
For Constables-Frank H. Bradford, 620, elected ; William H. Carroll, 611, elected; Richard G. Gilley, 687, elected ; George W. Melanson, 17; scattering, 3 ; blanks, 1146.
License Question-No, 710; yes, 204 ; blanks, 114.
At II o'clock P. M., adjourned to tomorrow, Tuesday even- ing, at 7.30 o'clock.
Attest : MILTON D. PORTER,
Town Clerk.
27
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.
1909]
Adjourned Annual Town Meeting, March 17, 1908.
Meeting called to order at 7.30 P. M. by the Moderator. Records of last meeting read and declared approved.
Voted, that all the reports in the 56th annual report of the Town of Swampscott except those containing recommendations be accepted and adopted, excepting that of the Auditing Com- mittee.
Voted, That the remarks of the Auditors on page 295 of the Annual Report be recommitted to them, they to report at the adjourned meeting in accordance with the Statutes.
Mr. Townsend, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, submitted the following partial report of the financial condition of the Town which was accepted :
SWAMPSCOTT, MASS., March 17, 1908.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
The first fact that confronted your Committee was that $250,- 000 is asked for, or is recommended, in the annual Town Report. Last year the the total appropriations at regular and special Town Meetings as well were only $180,000.
Clearly, therefore, it is the duty of the Committee to analyze this enormous sum of a quarter of a million, and to this end, we have already had conferences with most of the Town Boards, in order that we might "make a report with recommendations to the Town Meeting, as required in the By-laws of the Town." Not only must we have further consultation with officials, but we must also make personal investigation with them in order that as complete a report as possible shall be submitted to you.
In every business, there are what are known as fixed charges, and every business man knows that such charges must be paid.
28
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
The business of the Town is no exception to this rule, and among what may be called the fixed charges of the Town are the following :
State Tax (about)
$16,000 00
County Tax (about)
· 12,000 00
Interest on Notes (about) .
· 6,800 00
Interest on Sewer Bonds . · 7,000 00
Payment of Sewer Bonds
· 4,600 00
Gypsy Moth work
. 4,700 00
Street Lights . .
. 10,000 00
Notes due in 1908
·
· 23,200 00
$84,300 00
There are certain other charges to be met, which are also in their nature more or less fixed, but which are liable to some modifications. Such are :
Schools .
. $40,000 00
Highway, general and special
·
22,000 00
Selectmen's Department .
6,000 00
Police Department .
6,500 00
Fire Department
9,000 00
Board of Health
4,500 00
Poor Department
2,400 00
Soldiers' Relief
2,400 00
Assessors' Department
1,500 00
Sewer Maintenance
6,000 00
Sundry Items .
6,000 00
$106,000 00
There are also recommendations and articles in the Warrant, calling for $60,000 more, making a grand total requested of $250,000.
Now, by contrast, it is well to state again, that the total ap- propriations of last year were but $180,000, of which amount, $20,000 was raised by loan. If all the requests and recommen- dations are voted by the Town, it means an increase of at least $70,000 to be raised this year.
29
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.
1909]
There are many of the recommendations for large appropria- tions that have had our consideration, but on which we cannot report now because conferences must be had with the incoming Town officials.
Of the $23,200 of notes to be paid this year, there is one note of $3,000 which should have the consideration of the voters, for it is the first of the $135,000 of notes for permanent improve- ment loan that was issued.
This note, with another of the same amount, due next year, was issued because the following report was made and its recom- mendation was adopted by vote of the Town, April 24th, 1899.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
In regard to that portion of the Selectmen's report, relating to rate of taxation, the Board find that appropriations already made will bring the tax rate up to $12 per thousand.
We recommend that all further appropriations that are made shall be raised by loan, and that the Treasurer, under the direc- tion of the Selectmen, be authorized to negotiate such loan, pay- able not sooner than the year 1907."
Signed By the Selectmen.
The appropriations covered by this note were various items such as grading streets, street crossings, catch basins, fire alarm whistles, etc., which might be considered permanent improve- ments.
But in addition there are these items :
Repairing Hook and Ladder Truck . $125 00
Repairing Engine House .
1,000 00
Repairing Fire Engine ·
400 00
Painting House in Cemetery · 25 00
We are, therefore, paying interest on repairs (which are cer- tainly current expenses) made in 1899, and we must now pay out of this year's tax levy for such expenses, which should have been paid then.
30
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
It is evident, from the wording of the recommendation of the Selectmen in 1899, that the primary object to be obtained was to keep the tax rate down. It is well at this time and in this con- nection, to report to what extent money has been borrowed for current expenses.
Investigation shows that we are now paying interest upon notes, the proceeds of which have been used to pay for band concerts, printing Assessors' Valuation Reports, painting Town buildings, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Town, rebuild- ing culverts, maintenance of ambulance, resurfacing streets, clearing brooks, gypsy moth work, Memorial Day observances, and other matters of like character.
It appears, furthermore, that in certain years, money was borrowed in addition to what was called permanent improve- ments, and was applied to the payment of the expenses of the departments. In one year, this reached the sum of $8,650; in another, $6, 100 ; in still another, $2,100, and in still another, $11,000, all of these being since 1899. The result is that out of the $116,000 permanent improvement loans now outstanding, nearly one half, or 51,000, was borrowed for purely current expenses, and hence this year, we have to provide from our tax levy for payment of money borrowed in 1899, to paint a house and to repair a wagon.
So much for the origin and composition of the permanent improvement loan. Now, what has it done? We are assured that the increase in valuation under this policy is 75 per cent. But in the same time, the increase in the debt has been 148 per cent.
Now the laws of the Commonwealth forbid a Town incurring debt beyond an amount equal to 3 per cent of its valuation. Ten years ago, we had borrowed within $88,000 of this debt limit, and now we are within about 114,000. This looks like a gain in borrowing capacity of $26,000, but in 1897 we had borrowed only 45 per cent of what the Town could legally incur, while now our indebtedness has increased to 63 per cent of our pos- sible debt limit.
This policy of permanent improvement loans, which was in-
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RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.
1909]
stituted with the object of keeping the tax rate to a fixed figure, has been since continued, and has resulted in loading us with a debt for expenses which were purely current. It is a policy of which we thoroughly disapprove, and which we firmly believe should be discontinued. Current expenses must be paid from current receipts.
The task of an intelligent consideration of the problem before us is too great to be hastily decided, and we therefore ask that the committee be given until Tuesday evening, March 31, at which time we will present our full report, with recommen- dations.
ELGAR H. TOWNSEND, F. H. GAGE, ROBERT B. WARDWELL,
GEORGE A. HEATH, JAMES E. PHILLIPS, WILLIS E. DOUGHTY, JOHN'ALBREE.
Voted, that when we adjourn it be to Tuesday, March 31, 1908, at 7.45 o'clock P. M.
The following were accepted as a list of jurors :
Andrews, Isaac H.
Carpenter
Bailey, Sidney E. .
Teacher
Barker, George
Superintendent . Bartol, Samuel S. .
Salesman
Bemis, William W.
Retired
Blanchard, Charles A.
Sole cutter
Blanchard, Horace W.
Superintendent
Butterworth, Charles W.
Cahoon, L. Frank .
· Superintendent Salesman
Curtis, Thomas B. P.
Merchant Retired
Daniels, Frank W.
Dean, Leander N. .
Counter worker
Ellis, Stuart P.
Photographer
Eno, Fred L.
Clerk
32
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
Foster, Arthur F. .
Attorney
Gilbert, George E. .
Insurance
Hardy, Elmer E.
Salesman
Haskell, Charles S.
. Salesman
Hurd, Stephen P.
Grocer
Ball, Paige B.
Clough, A. Wesley
Hegarty, Robert B.
Iverson, William E.
Machinist
Jennings, Harry
Hay and grain
Jeffers, Charles P.
Druggist
Kehoe, Samuel M.
Merchant
Lampard, George H.
Painter
Martin, Walter T.
Salesman
Melzard, George T.
Superintendent
Merritt, John R.
Manufacturer.
Millett, Orlando R.
Carpenter
McDermott, John T.
Machinist
Newcomb, Harry B.
Plumber
Norcross, W. Percy
Clerk
Olsen, Andrew
Shoe cutter
Otis, William H.
Clerk
Russ, Harry O.
Clerk
Shattuck, Sidney M.
Merchant
Stone, Martin V. B.
Master mariner
Tatro, Lewis W.
Salesman
Thing, Ernest B.
Fisherman
Tuttle, Edgar M.
Paper hanger
Waters, William J.
Carpenter
Whipple, Albert C. Willey, James A. .
Bookkeeper
Agent.
ART. S taken up. It was unanimously voted, that for the purpose of procuring a temporary loan to, and for the use of the Town, in anticipation of the taxes of the present year, the Town Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to borrow from time to time with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, a sum or
33
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.
1909]
sums in the aggregate not to exceed $100,000, and to execute and deliver the note or notes of the Town therefor, payable within one year from the time the loan is made and any debt or debts incurred by a loan or loans to the Town, under this vote shall be paid from the taxes of the present year.
ARTS. 9 and 10. Voted, That the Tax Collector's bond be $10,000 and that a discount of 2 per cent. be allowed on all taxes paid on or before October Ist of the present year.
ART. 13. Voted, That the bonds of the Water Commis- sioners be same as last year.
ART. 14. Voted, That the salaries of Town officials remain same as last year, except that of the Auditors, and that no com- mittee be appointed.
ART. 19. Voted, To accept Devens Road as far as waivers have been signed.
ARTS. 21 and 22. Voted, To refer these Articles to the Sewer Commissioners in conjunction with the Finance Committee to report at the adjourned meeting.
ART. 23. Voted to refer this Article to the Sewer Commis- sioners, they to report at the adjourned meeting.
ART. 26. Voted, That a Saturday half holiday be granted with pay, from April I to Oct. I, to employees of the Highway, Water, Sewer and Moth Departments for 1908, to those who work three days in each week including Saturday forenoon.
ART. 27. Voted to indefinitely postpone this Article.
ART. 28. Voted to refer this Article to the Water Commis- sioners to report at the adjourned meeting.
ART. 30. Voted, That the Ways and Means Committee be appointed by the Moderator.
34
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
On motion of James T. Lyons it was, Resolved, that it is the sense of this meeting that the School Committee shall have proper fire escapes constructed and attached to the rear and to each side of the Phillips school building.
Voted at 9.30 P. M. to adjourn.
Attest : MILTON D. PORTER, Town Clerk.
March 21, 1908, Recount of Votes for Three Selectmen and Two Park Commissioners.
Petitions having been presented to the Town Clerk for a recount of the ballots cast for three of the candidates for Selectmen, and two Park Commissioners at the Annual Town . Election held on the 16th inst. the Board of Registrars of Voters met at the Town Hall this day at 2 o'clock P. M., and canvassed and recounted the said ballots with the following result. Select- men James F. Caton, 524, elected ; Fred C. Marsh, 529, Elected ; Martin L. Quinn, 522.
Park Commissioners for Three Years.
Richard P. Horton, 351 ; Robert Leslie, 357, elected.
Attest : MILTON D. PORTER, Town Clerk.
Adjourned Annual Town Meeting, March 31, 1908.
Meeting called to order at 7.45 P. M., by the Moderator.
Records of the last meeting except the previous report of the Ways and Means Committee, read and declared approved.
Mr. Townsend, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee read and submitted the following report upon the several recom- mendations contained in the Annual Report, and the several articles in the warrant calling for the expenditure of money.
35
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.
1909]
Report of the Committee of Ways and Means.
At the meeting March 17, your committee presented a report outlining at some length the financial condition of the town and at the same time giving some analysis of the appropriations proposed for this year. It was then shown that $84,300 should be appropriated without any deduction, as in this amount are included those items which can best be called fixed charges.
The remaining items of the $250,000 petitioned for are subject to modification, and to the consideration of these items your committee has given much time and thought in order that its report with recommendations may be clear. It must be again stated that this committee's duties are purely advisory and that it has no power beyond that which belongs to any group of townsmen. It is assumed that the town meeting will expect from this committee recommendations which are based on actual investigation and on the knowledge of affairs that such investiga- tion shows. At least such has been the theory on which the committee has acted. It should be possible to obtain in quiet conference with the different boards and town officials a clearer knowledge of the basis for an estimated outlay of the town's money than it is possible to obtain in the crowded town meeting.
Selectment's Recommendation, pp. 93, 94.
The several items of the list of appropriations recommended by the Selectmen have been carefully investigated, and we recommend that the following be appropriated :
Assessors
$1,400
Cemetery (and reccipts)
1,000
Fire Department (and receipts
9,000
Board of Health
4,000
Library (dog tax and receipts)
800
Memorial Day .
200
Monument lot care
35
Park (and receipts)
2,000
Police Department (and receipts)
6,500
Poor Department (and receipts)
2,400
36
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
Selectmen (and receipts)
$6,000
Sewer maintenance .
6,000
Soldiers' Relief (and receipts)
2,400
Street lights
10,000
Town Hall (and receipts)
1,400
Tree Warden
250
Water rates
1,300
County Tax
10,500
State Tax
15,000
Interest on Notes
6,800
Interest on Sewer Bonds
7,000
Payment of Sewer Bonds .
4,600
Schools, p. 95.
The committee recognized in its work that the schools need much money, as two new school houses and $7,000 were requested in addition to the regular appropriation for mainten- ance. Not only have conferences with the School Committee been held, but thorough inspection of each of the buildings was made in company with the School Committe, the Superin- tendent, and the Principal of the High School. We found the physical condition of the schools much below what it should be.
The Essex Street School needs painting inside and out. The new plumbing installed last year is a decided improvement.
Clarke School. Much trouble is caused by water soaking into the cellar from land adjacent. This can be remedied by the building of a drain to connect the foundation with the street gutter.
Phillips School. The chemical laboratory built some years ago is unfit in every way for its purpose, either as to size, heat- ing, interior arrangements, or accessibility. The defects are too fundamental to be overcome by any alterations. The need for proper room and equipment can be met by alterations on the second floor of the school building. Out of two class-rooms on the north side there can be constructed a physical laboratory, a chemical laboratory, and a lecture room between them. The cost of the alterations and equipment complete is placed by the architect at $3,000.
37
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.
1909]
Redington Street School. This building is not fitted for the demands made upon it. The rooms are crowded, the light is poor, the toilet facilities are inadequate, and it is imperative that the building must soon be definitely abandoned and a new one built. At present all that can be done is to paint it within and without.
Beach School. The conditions here also are so bad that within a short time this building must be abandoned. The School Committee find that $200 will cover present pressing needs.
Farm School. This is a plain school house of the old type, with one room and no cellar, heated by a stove, and with no conveniences. It is so small that school facilities adequate for that section of the town cannot be provided in it. The School Committee have obtained plans of a two-room building suitable for the needs. It is estimated that such a building can be built on the present site within the estimate of $7,000. We therefore recommend that the sum of $7,000 be appropriated for this pur- pose, the amount to be raised by a loan to be known as School Building Loan, and that the work of building be done under the direction of the School Committee.
We further recommend that the sum of $3,000 be appropri- ated for the new laboratories already outlined, this amount to be raised by School Building Loan.
We recommend that $33,000 be appropriated for maintenance of schools, and that $1,450 in addition be appropriated for re- pairs. These sums to be paid out of the tax levy for the current year.
Ambulance, p. 91.
There are few towns as small as Swampscott that are fortu- nate enough to possess an ambulance. In manufacturing towns or cities with a congested population an ambulance is a necessity, but in a small town almost entirely residential in its character, the liability of accident is reduced to a minimum. It is easy to imagine all sorts of things happening, but a little consideration will convince one that the need of an ambulance for emergency
4
38
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
cases is small. In Lynn and Boston, with their thousands en- . gaged in dangerous occupations and with the added dangers of congested streets, the galloping horse and the clanging bell are frequent objects of sight and sound, but the chance of such being called for in Swampscott is actually too small to warrant the town appropriating $1,000 or more to maintain such service.
The proposition for building a shed at the police station, the furnishing of a horse and harness, calls for $1,500 this year, and soon it will be found that a man will be needed to care for the outfit. It does not appear, in view of what has been learned, that the town is warranted in incurring such expense for the very limited emergency use in prospect.
The ambulance was called out last year less than once a week, forty-three times in all. Most of the instances of its use were not of emergency cases where promptness and celerity were needed, but were rather engagements made hours in advance for conveying sick people to the hospitals. There has been no complaint that the ambulance was not on hand when desired. The fear has been expressed that in event of its being needed after midnight difficulty would be found in arousing those who provided the horse. No such occasion, however, has arisen, and it seems an easy matter to arrange that the stable where the ambulance is kept shall have telephone connection night and day to meet any emergency that may arise.
We recommend that such arrangments be made by the Select- men and the Chief of Police, and that $200 be appropriated for the care of the ambulance.
Highway Department, pp. 93, 152.
This has proved to be one of the most difficult questions that your committee has had entrusted to it. The work of the department is varied, the amounts requested are large, about $25,000 and the demands are urgent and from every part of town. A certain proportion of the prospective work must be uncertain in amount, as the wearing of the roads is dependent on the weather. Still another feature is the exercise of judgment as to the need for expenditures.
39
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.
1909]
The care of snow is a matter that must rest in part with the wishes of the citizens. If the path as made by the snow-plough is not deemed wide enough, shall the town then bear the expense of the additional shovelling? The snow-ploughs of the street railway cause a piling up of the snow, thus adding materially to the expense. It was in part to cover this expense that the excise tax was provided by law. In addition to repaying some of the cost of the care of the snow, it was designed also to lighten the burden of repairing streets in which, by reason of tracks, ruts are worn, as is the case near the Postoffice. The amount of this tax last year was $823.50. This should go the credit of the Highway Department, and not into the general fund.
The town records which ought to show the cost of past high- way are far from complete and cannot be used as a basis for estimating appropriations. The co-operation of citizens in the oversight of highway work would bring about a more satisfactory condition of affairs and lead to better results for the money spent.
There is one item, the care of brooks, that seems to belong to either of two departments, the Sewer or the Highway. This care consists in clearing the beds of the brooks of accumulated rubbish. This has nothing to do with the question of the town's drainage, but it is merely the mechanical work of digging out mud and street washings. It seems that this can best be done by the Highway Department, and a recommendation for an appropriation is therefore included in the list.
The item of street watering is a large one. Your committee could not investigate sufficiently the subject to treating road sur- faces with preparations to lay the dust. The amount to be saved is large enough to warrant special investigation, with a view to an appropriation.
We recommend the appropriation of the following amounts .:
Highway (general, and receipts)
$10,000
Brooks
100
Catch basins and gutters
600
Crushing stone
1,200
Curb stones (new, and receipts)
500
40
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
Curb stones (resetting)
$200
Sidewalks · · .
.
.
400
Snow (care of) .
1,000
Street watering (and receipts)
3,000
Continuous Sidewalks, pp. 90, 156.
We believe the policy of building continuous sidewalks on one side at least of the main thoroughfares has commended itself to the citizens and that it should therefore be continued. We sug- gest that this year sidewalks be laid as follows :
Burrill street. Easterly side from railroad bridge to Essex street.
Essex street. From Burrill street to Essex avenue.
Burrill street. From estate of B. G. Ingalls to Monument avenue, thence to Humphrey street.
Humphrey street. From Monument avenue to the Lynn line. Thomas road. Southerly side from Burrill street to Elmwood road.
Grant Road. From estate of C. W. Tucker to Walker Road. Redington Street. On northwest side from Burrill street.
We recommend that $1,000 be appropriated for continuous sidewalk and that the money be raised by a loan to be known as Highway Loan.
Atlantic Avenue, p. 87.
The proposition is that Atlantic avenue be reconstructed and repaired. The town expects from this committee the results of careful investigation into the subject, for $8,000 is a large amount to be spent, and Atlantic avenue is an important thor- oughfare. The town reasonably asks on what the estimate is based? How much is to be spent? How much can be built for the money, and what will be its character when built? Diligent and persistent inquiry from the officials has not revealed replies which are definite and satisfactory. The only point on which information is forthcoming is that the point of beginning is to be at the Marblehead line and that the work is to proceed southerly.
41
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.
1909]
Knowledge as to the point of termination is not to be obtained. It may be at Palmer avenue, or it may be at Humphrey square. The suggestion is offered that if there is only enough money to complete the construction to Palmer avenue, the balance to Humphrey square can rest until next year, and yet it is admitted that to make two jobs would be more expensive than to complete it at one.
In view of this indefiniteness, we have been compelled our- selves to seek expert advice. We are advised that a macadam road of state road quality ought to be built from the Marblehead line to Humphrey square for $8,000.
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