USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1910 > Part 3
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Gates to Cemetery.
Selectmen's Report p. 90. We recommend an appropriation of $200 for new iron gates for cemetery.
Water Commissioners Report 182.
As this is the first year that our water revenue is based on meter rates, and it is therefore difficult to determine what the amount of revenue will be. We recommend the sum of $3,000 for meter work and new construction as recommended by the Water Commissioners.
ART. 13. We recommend that the amount asked for ($200) . be appropriated toward defraying the expenses of Memorial Day.
ART. 16. Your Committee recommends that the salaries of Town officials for the ensuing year remain as last year, except- ing the following :
Auditors.
We have interviewed the members of this Board and advised with them concerning the duties of their office, and the method of auditing the Town accounts. They have stated to us that they shall examine all books, bills, vouchers, etc., at least once each month.
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1910]
We feel convinced the Town will have efficient and thorough work in this department during the present year, and we recom- mend a salary for the Chairman of $75, and $50 each to the other two members for the year.
Treasurer's Assistant.
After consultation with the Town Treasurer, we recommend that the salary of the Treasurer's Assistant be $100.
Chief of Police.
We find that the salary at the present time is but $2 per week more than is paid to a patrolman. We feel that the business of the department is very efficiently conducted and therefore recom- mend the salary of Chief of Police increased from $18 to $2 1 per week.
Grand Stand at Playground, Article 18.
Your Committee believes that the main object of establishing this playground was to keep the children off the streets, and give them a place for unrestricted enjoyment of their games, and sports. We think it only partially fulfilling the purpose for which it was laid out, and too limited in area for an Athletic field for other than the scholars in our public schools. In our opinion the field is altogether too small to accommodate a grand stand. There is objection by parties living in the vicinity to its erection. We feel the Town is not warranted in expended the money.
Article 19.
Provided for in continuous Sidewalks.
Article 31, Gypsy and Brown Tail Moths.
As the appropriation for the suppression of these pests is re- quired by a state law, we recommend the sum of $5,000 for this purpose.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
Article 39, Town Hall.
This article having been laid on the table at the annual Town Meeting, the voters thereby expressing their disapproval or fur- ther action on the matter at this time, your committee has not deemed it their duty to report on a matter already disposed of by the vote of the Town, but as the Town By-Laws state that any article carrying an appropriation shall be referred to a Committee of Ways and Means. We have considered it neces- sary to incorporate this article in our report. We recommend that nothing be done at this time.
Article 33 and 34, Buena Vista Street.
Your committee has made a thorough investigation of this matter and we recommend that Buena Vista street as formerly laid out, be discontinued, and that same be relocated as laid out by the Selectmen, and accepted as soon as all waivers are signed, and that the sum of $400 be appropriated for this work.
Article 35, Mountain Avenue.
This is a short street 30 feet wide from Beach avenue to the Lynn line. It was built years ago and is not much travelled. We recommend that it be accepted as soon as all waivers are signed and $150 be appropriated for necessary repairs.
Article 36, Walker Road.
The section of this street which the Town is asked to accept is situated on the Mudge Estate extending from Grant road to the Boston and Maine Railroad Bridge, a distance of 791 feet. There is only one house on the last 250 feet of distance nearest the track and there are only seven houses on the street. Much of the land is in an undeveloped state. It is one of several streets in the estate which were laid out forty feet and built only 30 feet. There is five feet on either side of the sidewalk in its natural ungraded state for the greater part of the distance. The street was laid out by a private land company and now the owners ask
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1910]
the Town to accept the street and widen it to its proper original bounds at an estimated expense of $550. We believe the princi- ple involved in this case and all like cases is wrong and unjust to the Town. We therefore recommend that the street be not accepted.
Article 37, Rockland Street.
This is another of the older streets in the Town and only 25 feet in width. It is in very poor condition. We recommend that it be accepted as laid out when all waivers are signed and the sum of $200 be appropriated to put in repair.
Article 38, Stacy Brook.
Money was voted last year for this important improvement. Reasons for the reappearance of this article in this year's war- rant are given on page 193 of the Town Report. We recom- mend that $150 be appropriated and that the Sewer Commis- sioners and Selectmen renew their efforts to have this important improvement accomplished without delay.
Articles 26, 27, 28, Street Lights.
The Committee on Street Lights having investigated Articles 26, 27, 28 in Town Warrant, would recommend that they be accepted and adopted and money appropriated for the same.
E. A. FARNHAM, Chairman.
Lights are provided for in the Street Lighting appropriation.
Article 29, G. A. R. Hall.
We recommend an appropriation of $75.00 for heating and lighting G. A. R. Hall.
Article 32, Purchase of Morris Property.
In view of the fact that the option on this property extends to May, 1910, we recommend that action be deferred until the next annual Town Meeting.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
Recapitulation.
The total amount of appropriations recommended in this report is $188,235, which is $18,000 less than recommended in last year's report. The committee recommends that $9,710 be borrowed on permanent improvements as follows :
Park improvement. .
. $1,000 00
Catch basins and gutters
750 00
Curbstones
500 00
Street signs
50 00
Continuous sidewalks
1,000 00
Fire truck
2,200 00 .
Supply wagon .
260 00 .
Doors for engine house
150 00 · ·
Racks, battery room for engine house
50 00
Gates to cemetery
200 00
Meter work and construction Water Dept. 3,000 00
Buena Vista Street
400 00
Stacey Brook
150 00
·
·
·
$9,710 00
This leaves $178,525 to be raised by taxation, which amount is only $4,500 more than recommended by last years Ways and Means Committee. The amount recommended for Permanent Improvements is however $22,000 less this year than last year.
In conference with the Board of Assessors we are assured that the tax rate will be about the same $16 per thousand if the recom- mendations of the Committee are followed.
The average increase in the Town debt for the past five years has been $16,000 a year. If no money is voted at Special Town Meeting the Town debt will be decreased about $6,000 this year (aside from water debt). If such should be the case it should be gratifying to the citizens.
In closing our report we wish to make three suggestions which we think will be of benefit to the Town.
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1910]
One is in regard to the hours of labor in the Highway, Water, Sewer, Health and Moth Departments. Some departments begin their duties at 7 o'clock, others at 7.30. The Moth Department finish at 3.30, the Highway at 4.30. We suggest that uniform hours of labor be established in these departments.
We would suggest that the Town adopt a By-Law which shall state the minimum width which a street must be, to be accepted by the Town. In many towns the minimum width is 40 feet.
The other suggestion is in regard to the work of next year's Committee on Ways and Means. We believe they should be a working committee through the year, meeting the different departments and boards at least once a quarter. In this manner they would keep in closer touch with the affairs of the Town and their work would not be crowded into the last few weeks before town meeting.
J. HENRY WELCH, FRANK W. KIMBALL, GEORGE D. R. DURKEE, ROBERT KINA, ALBERT R. ELLIS, FRED M. COLLINS, EDWARD H. KITFIELD.
Mr. Welch reserves the right to present a minority report on Article 16.
On motion, it was voted, that the report be accepted and placed on file, and taken up and acted upon by sections.
Voted, to adopt the Committees' report to appropriate the amounts as recommended by the Selectmen on Page 89 of their report.
Voted, To adopt the recommendations of the Ways and Means Committee that the Board of Selectmen purchase the coal for all departments, also the hay and grain for the Fire Department, in the manner provided for in Chap. VI. Sec. I of the By-Laws.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
Voted, To adopt the recommendations of the Ways and Means Committee, and appropriate the following sums :
For Police Department, receipts and . $7,000 00 Cemetery Department, receipts and .
· 1,200 00
Water rates
· 2,500 00
Park Department, receipts and
2,000 00 ·
Sewer maintenance . 5,000 00 ·
Highway, receipts and
10,000 00
Crushing stone
1,000 00
Sidewalks
· 450 00
Catch basins and gutters .
· 750 00
Curbstones, new, receipts and .
500 00 .
Resetting curbstones
200 00
Care of brooks
200 00
Street signs
50 00
Care of snow
1,000 00
Continuous sidewalks
1,000 00
·
Phillips School alterations. Voted, to adopt the Committee's recommendations, that no action be taken.
Voted, To adopt the committee's recommendations and appro- priate $3,500 for schools.
Voted, To appropriate $2,200 and receipts from sale of old truck for purchase of a new Hook and Ladder Truck; same to be purchased by the Selectmen and Board of Fire Engineers.
Voted, as recommended by the committee to appropriate the following sums for the Fire Department :
For expenses of the department, receipts and . $9,000
Supply wagon 260 00
Repairs and painting Phillips Beach House 150 00 Three pairs new doors for main engine house 150 00
Racks for battery room, engine house 50 00
Repairing and painting rear of Engine House 50 00 Street lighting . 11,200 00
1910]
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS .. 49
E. A. Farnham, J. R. Merritt, M. L. Quinn, J. F. Caton and E. G. Hodgkins were appointed Street Light Committee for the current year
For street watering . $4,000 00
New iron gates to cemetery 200 00
Water works and new construction Water Dept., 3,000 00
Memorial day .
200 00
ART. 16. Voted, to postpone this article to be taken up after Articles 20 and 21.
Voted, to take up Articles 20, 21 and 30.
Report of the Committee appointed to consider Articles 20, 21 and 30.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
Your Committee appointed to consider Articles 20, 21, and 30 would submit the following report.
Article 20.
While the Committee does not deem it expedient to consol- idate the Sewer, Water and Highway Departments it does feel that as the greater part of the work which the Sewer Commission was created to accomplish is now finished, and that the duties of this Board in the future will be mainly to oversee and install minor extensions and additions to our present sewerage system, that the Board of Sewer Commissioners could without incon- venience to the Town be abolished and a saving in expense be made thereby. In such a case the duties of the Board would revert by law to the Board of Selectmen. We therefore recom- mend that the Town take steps to abolish the Board of Sewer Commissioners by submitting the question to the voters of the Town, on the ballot at the next Annual Town Meeting as pro- vided by law.
4
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
Article 21.
The Committee is of the opinion that the consolidation of all Town Departments under three heads would involve considerable legislation and mean a radical change in conducting the business of the Town and recommend that this article be indefinitely postponed
Article 30.
We consider the suggestion made in this Article a very important one. During the past ten years the Town has grown very rapidly in population and the valuation increased accord- ingly. Many fine residences have been built and many new streets constructed, making it imperative that we should have accurately defined lines and established grades. At present there are no established lines and grades in Town, and in many instances streets have been laid out without proper consideration being given to problems of drainage, etc. In some cases where streets have been laid out by private parties and afterward accepted by the Town it has been necessary to rebuild to a proper grade before sewers could be constructed. This policy has, and will cost the Town many dollars unless remedied and lines and grades established. Many miles of water mains have been laid in our streets without plans showing either their depth or exact locations. The services of an engineer are constantly in demand by the various departments, and during the past three years nearly $4,700 or an average of about $1,600 yearly has been expended for this purpose. In some cases where engineers have done work for the Town, the notes and memoranda made in connection with the work have been retained by the engineer as his private property, and are not available for the use of the Town unless purchased or rented. Such records should be in possession of the Town, at the Town Hall, where they would be available and fairly safe from fire. A capable engineer giving his entire time to the Town would be to do all the work now required by the various departments, and could in addition establish lines and grades, act as inspector of sewer construction, make plans show-
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1910]
ing location of all new water mains, and do much other additional work which is very necessary and has been prohibitive on account of the expense.
We recommend that the Board of Selectmen be instructed to employ a competent civil engineer for a term of one year (prefer- ably one who has had experience in a first class city office) said engineer to devote his entire time to the service of the Town, and to have no direct or indirect interest with any engineering office doing a private business, and that an appropriation be made for this purpose.
C. IRVING LINDSEY, ELGAR H. TOWNSEND, CLARENCE B. HUMPHREY, JAMES T. LYONS, EDWARD H. KITFIELD.
The Committee is unanimous in these recommendations except in the case of Article 20 where Mr. J. T. Lyons dissents from the recommendations of the Committee.
Filed in the office of the Town Clerk, April 6, 1909.
MILTON D. PORTER, Town Clerk.
Minority Report on Article 20.
I recommend that the Sewer and Water Boards be consoli- dated under one head, and the Selectmen be instructed to take the necessary steps to bring this about.
JAMES T. LYONS.
By a rising vote 95 yeas, 44 nays the Minority Report was accepted and adopted.
ART. 21. Voted, to indefinitely postpone this Article.
ART. 30. Voted, that this Article be referred to Ways and Means Committee to report at an adjournment of this meeting.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
Voted, that when we adjourn it be to Friday, April 16, 1909, at 7.45 P. M.
By unanimous consent of the meeting the following motion was introduced by the Chairman of the Water Board.
The Town having heretofore voted to issue the bonds of the Town to the amount of ninety thousand dollars ($90,000), for the purposes specified in Chapter 112 of the Acts of the General Court of Massachusetts for the year 1909, for the purpose of enab- ling the Town to become a part of the Metropolitan Water District, it is further voted :
That coupon bonds of the Town to said amount of ninety thousand dollars ($90,000) be forthwith issued dated April I, 1909; that each bond be of the denomination of one thousand dollars ($1,000), payable in gold, numbered respectively from one to ninety ; that the bonds numbered one, two and three be pay- able April 1, 1910, and that three of said bonds shall be payable in their numerical order each subsequent year at Commonwealth Trust Company, Boston, Mass. Said bonds shall have the right of exchange for registered certificates of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or multiples thereof, shall bear interest at the rate of three and one-half per cent. (3} per cent.) per annum, payable semi-annually at Commonwealth Trust Company, Boston, Mass. shall be signed by the Treasurer of the Town and countersigned by the Water Commissioners, and each of said bonds shall bear on the face thereof, the words, Town of Swampscott, Water Loan, 1909. Said bonds shall be sold under the direction of the Town Treasurer and Water Commissioners.
Adopted by a rising vote, 103 yeas ; nays none.
Voted to take up Article 16, Minority Report of Mr. Welch.
Salaries for Water Commissioner.
We find that it is very common in communities the size of Swampscott for the members of this board to serve without pay. Swampscott's water is delivered in bulk at the Town line, and under this condition our commissioners escape the necessity
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1910]
of devoting to the supervision of pumping stations, dams, etc., furthermore, we believe this to be an office of distinction, and that the duties of the second and third members of such Board should be largely of an advisory nature. It is our opinion that there are many capable citizens who will accept this position if the salary consideration is eliminated. We therefore, recommend that the salary of chairman be $200 per year, and that the other two members serve without pay.
Salaries for Sewer Commissioners.
We recommend that the member serving as Chairman and Superintendent, receive a salary of $300 for the ensuing year, and that the other two members serve without pay. Also that the Clerk of this board receive a salary of $75 per year.
Voted, to lay Article 16 upon the table, until the Adjourned Meeting.
Voted, at 10 o'clock, P. M. to adjourn.
Attest : MILTON D. PORTER, Town Clerk.
Adjourned Annual Town Meeting, April 16, 1909.
Meeting called to order at 7.45 o'clock P. M., by the Mod- erator.
Records of last meeting read and declared approved.
Mr. Bates, Chairman of the Water Board, by unanimous consent, introduced the following motion :
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
Voted, that the vote passed at the adjourned annual Town Meeting on April 6, 1909, fixing the particulars of the $90,000 "Town of Swampscott Water Loan 1909" bonds, is hereby amended so that said bonds shall be payable in numerical order, three on April I of each of the years 1910 to 1938 inclusive, and three on February 1, 1939, instead of being payable April I, 1910-1939 inclusive.
In all other respects said vote is ratified and confirmed.
Carried, 60 yeas ; nays, none-Tellers having been appointed by the Moderator.
Article 16 being before the meeting, on motion of Mr. Max- field it was voted, that the minority report on this article be accepted and laid upon the table, and the report of the Ways and Means Committee be adopted, recommending that the salaries of the Town officials remain the same as last year, excepting the following : Auditors' salary, Chairman $75 00, the others $50.00 each for the year ; salary of the Treasurer's Assistant be $100 for the year ; and the salary of the Chief of Police be increased from $18 to $21 per week.
Article 18, a motion by Mr. M. E. Nies to appropriate $200 for the building of a dressing room for athletic purposes at or near the play ground, having been referred to Ways and Means Committee to report in 15 minutes, that Committee reported as still of same opinion as their former adverse report upon this article.
A motion to adopt the Committee's report was lost.
Mr. W. A. Stubbs moved to indefinitely postpone; lost by rising vote 48 yeas, 55 nays. Mr. Nies' original motion was then adopted, and $200 appropriated.
ART. 29. Voted, To appropriate $75.00 for heating and lighting G. A. R. Hall.
ART. 32. Voted, To refer to next Annual Town Meeting.
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1910]
ART. 31. Voted, To appropriate $5,000 for Moth work as required by State Law.
ART. 30. Taken up; report on Article 30.
To the Citizens of the Town of Swampscott :
In connection with the Article in the Town Warrant asking for the appointment of a Town Engineer, which, under the by- laws is referred to this Committee, we respectfully submit the following :
We want first to say that we consider this article the most important one that the Town has been called upon to consider this year. Your Committee in their investigations in this con- nection have been able to secure the advice of parties who have had problems of a similar nature to pass upon, and have also investigated the methods adopted by other Towns, in which the general conditions in many ways were identical with the require- ments of the Town of Swampscott, and after having carefully looked into this matter we are unanimously in favor of action being taken to establish an Engineering Department in this Town. We have acquainted ourselves with the methods in vogue in this Town and in other Towns not already having their own Engineer, concerning engineering work, and we have also compared these methods with the conditions found in Towns which have established an Engineering Department. The result has been that our Committee have been pleased and enlightened by the information we have obtained from other Towns, and fully believe that a properly organized department in our Town will not only work for the interests of the Town, but also in the long run a saving of expense should be accomplished. As has been suggested by your special Committee appointed to investi- gate this matter, all engineering data, plans, etc., should be the property of, the Town, and should be filed where they would always be accessible, and that a system of indexing and filing should be established which would give the different departments information concerning anything which pertains to that depart- ment and quick access to the same, and such plans and infor-
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
mation should clearly show the location and cost of the work undertaken and carried out by each department. We do not consider it necessary at this time to enter into a lengthy description of the various advantages which we believe could be accomplished, but will say that we are unanimous in approving the report of your special Committee, and we do hereby embody the same as rendered by this Committee in our report and make it a part of our recommendations.
We further recommend that two citizens at large not holding any Town Office, be selected to serve as a Joint Committee with the Selectmen, in the choice of an Engineer, the same to be ap- pointed by the Moderator. We also believe that the best inter- ests of the Town will be served, if the Joint Committee fully investigate the fitness of several possible candidates for the office before making their selection, and recommend this be done, and in making such selection, that in the appointment, the fitness and experience of the man in the various duties he will be called upon to carry out, determined by his record as found by the Committee, shall be paramount to any other consideration, and that sufficient time shall be taken by the Joint Committee to thoroughly examine the qualifications of each of the candidates, before making a selection.
In establishing this new department an appropriation of money will be necessary, and we recommend an appropriation of $1,500 and the receipts from the different departments received from services rendered each department by the Engineering department be used in the purchase of the necessary office instruments, the payment of help and other such necessary expenses as will be required in maintaining the department, and we further recommend that the salary of the Town Engineer for one year of twelve months shall not exceed $1,500, and the sal- ary of his assistant, for a like period, shall not exceed $500, to be taken from this appropriation. We recommend also that the Engineer shall be answerable to the Selectmen in the perform- ance of his duties, and that his duties shall be defined by them, and that the Town furnish him with a suitable room to be used as his office, in which shall be kept all instruments and records
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1910]
of the Town pertaining to his department. We recommend that the Engineer be allowed to secure such other help from time to time as he desires, necessary to carry on the work of his department, but in no case shall he contract bills to an amount over that specified by the by-laws of the Town governing other departments.
J. HENRY WELCH, ALBERT R. ELLIS, EDWARD H. KITFIELD, FRED M. COLLINS, GEORGE D. R. DURKEE.
The report having been amended, leaving the matter in the hands of the Selectmen only, was accepted and adopted.
ART. 14 taken up, on motion of Mr Welch it was voted that the Town Treasurer is hereby authorized with the approval of the Board of Selectmen to issue two notes of the Town for $2,500 each, one payable in 1910 and one in 1911. The pro- ceeds of the same to be used in paying the notes coming due this year for permanent improvements issued in 1901, payable in 1909.
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