USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1911 > Part 8
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Town Boundaries.
For the purpose of preserving and maintaining the monuments on the Town boundary lines, Section 2 of Chapter 25 of the Revised Laws requires that these lines shall be perambulated once in every five. years by the Selectmen so that if any are removed they can, with the cooperation of the adjacent towns, be replaced. Our Town lines were perambulated this year in company with the governing officers of Marblehead, Salem and Lynn respectively. The bounds were found to be in good con- dition, and your Selectmen so report.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
Gypsy and Brown Tail Moths.
The work performed this year has been very satisfactory to the Board and to the State Department with whom we have been in close touch. By their advice we purchased a powerful sprayer, which enables the Department to cover more ground and also more inaccessible places than under the old hand regime, at a much less expense.
Swampscott's boundaries being so largely sea frontage, this treatment along the inland boundaries on the wooded districts, if conscientiously done, would have a tendency to reduce the amount expended each year, and our present Superintendent informs us that this work ought to be accomplished with an average pay roll of about $60 per week, supplies excepted.
For the state fiscal year ending November 30, 1910, we were authorized to expend the sum of $4,050.37, acting under Chapter 38, of the Acts of 1905 and amendments thereto. Amounts expended were as follows :
November 3, 1909 to February 1, 1910 . . $1,037 28
February 1, 1910, to November 30, 1910 4,962 89 ·
Total
.
. $6,000 17
Legal liabilities
·
.
.
·
4,050 37
$1,949 87
Private work .
1,225 76
$724 II
Amount reimbursed by State So per cent . 579 28
For the State fiscal year ending November 30, 1911, we are authorized to expend the sum of $4.475.02. We recommend an appropriation of $4,500 for this Department for the coming year.
Street Watering and Oiling.
The watering this year has been done by six carts, two of which are owned by the Town and operated by the fire depart- ment. The two Town carts cover the routes nearest the engine
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
1911 ]
house, as the horses are relied upon in case of fire. After the streets were oiled, three carts covered the balance of the Town, each averaging 12,000 feet of roadway for which we paid $5.25 per day, or an average of $600 per season. Our experience this year shows that a light oil containing 30 to 40 per cent. asphalt, will cover the roadway at the rate of about $60 per 1000 feet, which is not very much more than water, and the roads being once treated, the amount needed in subsequent years is less, besides keeping the dust down at all times. We recommend that the sum of $5,500 be appropriated to be used by the Select- men in carrying out the above policy for the coming year.
The oil purchased this year was furnished by the Indian Refining Co., being the same company from whom oil was pur- chased for the last two years, they guaranteeing it to be the same as that used upon Atlantic avenue. The price agreed upon was 6 cents per square yard for heavy oil containing 70 per cent. asphalt, and 5 cents per gallon, laid, for a light oil containing 40 per cent. asphalt.
The oil was late in arriving, and when it was finally laid, although at first excellent, it soon softened up in rainy weather. On investigating the cause, we found that petroleum oils vary in their bases, some containing parafine, others asphalt, and that when the parafiine predominates, it is only of value as a dust layer, and that the roads treated with material of this character, although excellent for the time being, will, in rainy weather be- come covered with a slimy, greasy mud, while an asphalt oil, owing to the character of its bases, ranks with tar as a perma- nent binder.
The analysis of the light oil shows 2 per cent asphalt, and we have not yet received the analysis of the heavy oil. For the above reasons, bills of this company remain unpaid, amounting to $941.34, and this accounts for the large unexpended balance in this department.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
School-house Site.
SWAMPSCOTT, MASS., NOV. 2, 1910.
Board of Selectmen :
GENTLEMEN,-At the adjourned Town Meeting this date, it was
Voted, That the report of the Committee on School-houses and School-house sites be accepted and their recommendations be adopted, that the Board of Selectmen be, and hereby are, directed and instructed to proceed as provided by law to make a taking of the land therein described.
Under Article 2 of the Warrant.
Respectfully. MILTON D. PORTER, Town Clerk.
On receipt of the above letter, we caused surveys to be made of each individual parcel, with descriptions drawn sufficient for identification of same and on advice of counsel, incorporated these into the Town Warrant for a Special Meeting called Wednesday evening, December 28, 1910. This being referred to the Ways and Means Committee and the Town granting more time to them, they will report at the March meeting.
The law for taking the land is as follows :
REVISED LAWS, CHAPTER 25, SECTIONS 47, 48 AND 49.
SECTION 47. The city council of a city except Boston, the Board of Street Commissioners of the city of Boston with the approval of the Mayor, or the inhabitants of the Town, may vote to take in fee any land within the limits of the city or town not appropriated to public uses, for the purpose of erecting thereon a building to be used for a public school, a library or an
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
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engine house, or for the enlargement of a lot of land taken or used for such purpose, but no land shall be so taken if the lot will thereby exceed two acres in area. Such vote shall contain a description sufficient for identification of the land to be taken.
SECT. 48. The mayor of the city or the selectmen of the town, within sixty days after the passage of such vote, shall sign and cause to be recorded in the registry of deeds for the country or district in which the land lies a statement that the city or town takes the land, giving the description aforesaid and the purpose for which the land is taken and upon such recording the land so described shall be taken in fee by the city or town.
SECT. 49. The city council of such city except Boston, the board of Street Commissioners of the city of Boston with the approval of the Mayor, or the selectmen of such town, may agree with a person sustaining damages to his property by such taking and the city or town shall pay the same ; but, if they are unable to agree, the damages shall on petition of either party, filed in the superior court, within two years after the date of the recording of the statement, be determined by a jury in the manner provided for determining damages sustained by the taking of land in laying out highways.
Certification of Town Notes.
On January Ist, 1911, the new law, Chapter 16 of the Acts of 1910, relative to the form of notes to be issued by towns took effect, so that in the future when a town votes to raise money otherwise than by issue of bonds the notes are to be made out on forms furnished by the State signed by the Town Trea- surer, countersigned by the Selectmen and certified to by the Town Clerk ; after which the notes, together with other data, which includes the vote of the Town, are sent to the Director of the Bureau of Statistics. The above town officers are then each notified of the receipt of these notes, and are sent identification certificates to sign, after which the notes receive the certification of the Director of the Bureau of Statistics, who returns the same by registered mail to the Town Treasurer. As a matter of
9
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
publicity, these records are on file at the State House where they may be inspected.
The payment of notes, whether issued before or after January Ist, 1911, is also checked, as the Director of the Bureau of Sta- tistics must be notified when notes shall have become due and shall have been paid, stating also the source from which the money to pay the same was obtained.
The certification fee is $3 for each note, where we have been this year paying about one-eighth of one per cent on the amount issued. This law does not apply to town bonds.
Metropolitan Park Payments.
The new apportionment of the Metropolitan Park payments begins the next fiscal year, the Commissioners appointed to de- termine the apportionment for 1910-1915 having already made their report. While the percentages that Swampscott will have to pay are lower than those for the past five years, the additional burden of the Charles River Dam and Basin maintenance sink- ing fund and interest will probably make the aggregate the same, if not more than heretofore. For comparative purposes, we submit the following tables :
Percentages Paid 1906-1910.
Parks
.00531
Boulevards
.
.00398
Nantasket Beach
.00529
Wellington Bridge .
Percentages Paid 1911-1915.
Parks
.00481
Boulevards
.00363
Nantasket Beach
.00482
Wellington Bridge
Charles River Dam and Basin.
Care and maintenance
.00484
Sinking fund and interest . . .
· .00432
.
·
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- SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
1911]
Amounts Paid Yearly Including State and County Tax.
1906
1907
1908
State .
·
$10,675 00
$9,920 00
$13,640 00
County
·
11,649 03
10,209 90
11,973 09
Park .
·
.
5,341 34
4,941 66
5,413 06
1909
1910
State .
$11,160 00
$14,905 00
County
13,633 14
15,647 33
Park .
5,543 63
5,843 89
Cemetery.
The cemetery this year has been under the superintendency of Edward A Smith whose work has been most favorably reported upon.
The new portion known as Section B and containing about 20,000 square feet of land available for burial purposes being now under perpetual care, new deeds with restriction, Per- petual Care Contract, and small plan to accompany same have been prepared and sent to all owners, and a new loose leaf system, with cross index, has been installed in our office for keeping records of the same. After investigating the cost of development and maintenance, we have established a flat rate of fifty cents per square foot for these lots.
We find that the records of interments have never been kept except by memory or in small note books and never handed to successors in office. These records are important and to remedy this lack of method, the following forms, in a loose leaf book are being used by the superintendent, with instructions to keep all records in the new, as well as the old part, and to compile past records where possible.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
SWAMPSCOTT CEMETERY
OWNER
SECTION
LOT
No.
-
Interments
| Date
| Yrs.
Age | Mos.
Days
Lot Showing Graves
I
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
IO
II
12
SOLD
SQUARE FEET
PRICE
From the report of the Treasurer, cash on hand from the sale of lots in Section B and accumulated interest amounts to $929.91.
Corner of Humphrey Street and Eastern Avenue.
The official lines of these streets make a square corner at this place, while the car tracks, travelway and sidewalks were built following easy lines and encroaching upon private property. The abutters wishing to build a permanent sidewalk along this side of the street, we, on investigating, recommend under Article 26 of the Town Warrant for special meeting of June 15, 1910,
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
1911]
that the Town appropriate $124 to purchase a triangular piece of land from the Brock estate to widen Humphrey street at this point. This land has been purchased, deeds filed at the Essex South District Registry of Deeds, and the sidewalk built. Con- tinuous sidewalks having also been built on the Lynn side. The marked improvement at this corner is very noticeable.
Streets.
At the annual town meeting and subsequent special meetings, the following streets were accepted, subject to signing of waivers : Fuller avenue, Banks road No. 1, Banks road No. 2, Suffolk avenue and Orient court. At the present time waivers for Banks road No. 2 have not been signed.
Petitions are on file for laying out Tidd street, Bertha street and Yawata streets. The engineer is making plans and profiles of these streets but they will not be ready to be viewed by the Selectmen before the March meeting. We refer them to the incoming board.
The manner of laying out and accepting streets where the Town is asked to appropriate money to grade the same at time of acceptance should be adjusted. No future street or way over private land should be laid out or accepted unless the same has been built according to certain specifications, fixing the width of roadway, sidewalks, grades and method of construction. Futher- more, the plan should be approved by the proper board before building commences, as in this way only can the Town be assured that the streets can be properly drained and sewered at the proper time. We call your attention to Chapter 191 of the Acts of 1907 as a means to accomplish this object.
Monument Square.
The blocking of our main streets by street cars and auto- mobiles, especially at Monument avenue square, is a serious ques- tion from which we have received numerous complaints. We have taken this matter up with the Boston & Northern Street Railway Company and Massachusetts Highway Commission
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
with the idea of reducing the chances of accident at the Monu- ment, and lessen the using of the turnout as a terminal, a purpose for which it never was intended.
Our results thus far have been to have the street west of the Monument made a one-way road, which will materially help matters, and we suggest that efforts be made to have the road double tracked to Phillip's street, the turnout removed, and the seven and one-half minute cars use Robert's turnout as a ter- minal, thus affording better service for the residents of lower Swampscott.
Town Accounting.
Under Article 20 of the Town Warrant for meeting of March 21, 1910, we were instructed to employ an expert accountant to examine the books and accounts of the different departments and suggest what changes, if any, should be made in the system now in use.
The report of this accountant, Mr. Charles Barron, was made at the special meeting held June 15, 1910, which report appears on a previous page in the Town Clerk records and was accepted. His suggestions regarding changes in the systems then in use were not acted upon because the fiscal year had advanced too far and we anticipated action by the legislature relative to Town finances and municipal accounts.
All of the foregoing matters are taken care of under Chapters 598 and 624 of the Acts of 1910, which have been adopted by the Town, and the new system of book-keeping was installed February 1, 1911, the beginning of the 1911 fiscal year. This system necessitates a radical change in the method of making appropriations, and also a change in certain sections of our town by-laws. As a matter of general information showing classifi- cations for future appropriations, we have prepared the follow- ing schedule :
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
1911]
DEPARTMENTAL.
I. GENERAL GOVERNMENT.
Legislative. (Salary of Moderator and ex- penses of Special Committees appointed at Town Meetings.)
Selectmen's Department. Salaries of Select- men, Constable, Clerk and office expenses). Auditing Department. (Salaries or Auditors Accountant and office expenses. )
Treasurer's Department. (Salaries of Treas- urer and Clerk and office expenses, includ- ing Treasurer's bond. ) Collector's Department. (Salary of Collector and office expenses, including Collector's bond. )
Assessor's Department. (Salaries of Assess- ors, Clerks and office expenses. )
Town Clerks Department. (Salary of Town Clerk and office expenses. )
Law Department. (Services of Attorney and expenses of suits by and against the Town.) Election and Registration. (Salaries of Regis- trars, election officers and expenses, meals. printing, etc.)
Engineering Department. (Salaries of Town Engineer and Asssistant and office expenses for General egineering, services for specific departments should be charged to depart- ment for which work was done.)
Town Hall. (Salary of janitor, fuel and light, repairs, and all expenses of maintenance of Town Hall.)
Now paid from Appro- priation for Selectmen's Department.
Now paid from Appro- priation for Selectmen's Ddpartment.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
II. PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY.
Police Department. (Salaries of officers and all expenses of the department, including expense of maintenance of police ambu- lance.)
Part of these ex- penses are now paid from appro- priation for Water rates.
Fire Department. (Salaries of fireman, care of horses, repairs of apparatus, including fire alarm system, repairs on building and all expenes of department, including fire alarm system, repairs on building and all expenses of department including hydrant rental. )
Now paid from appro- priation for Selectmen's Department.
Sealing of Weights and Measurers. (Salary of Sealer and all expenses of office. )
Gypsy and Brown Tail Moth Extermination. Other Insect Pest Extermination. Care of Trees. (All expenses of TreeWarden.) Other Protection.
Now paid from Appro- priation for Selectmen's Department.
Dog Officer.
III. HEALTH AND SANITATION.
Expenses of Animals and Vital Statistics now paid from appro- priation for Selectmen.
Health Department. (Salaries of members of the Board of Health, Clerk and office ex- penses, care of contagious diseases, Tuber- culosis, Vital Statistics, Health Inspectors, Inspecton of Animals, Inspection of Meat and provisions, Inspection of Milk.)
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
1911]
Sanitation.
Sewer Maintenance.
Sewer Construction. (Any appropriation for a specific sewer should be kept separate and not consolidated with General Sewer Department accounts. )
Refuse and Garbage disposal. (Collecting of Now paid ashes and offal, cleaning beaches, burying carrion, care of night soil.)
from Appro priation for Health Department.
Other Health and Sanitation. Care of Brooks.
IV. HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.
Highway Department Maintenance. (This appropriation should include all expenses of care and Maintenance of Highways such as repairs, crushing stone, fences, street signs, snow removal, and State Highway Tax.)
Detail will be shown on classification sheets.
Street Construction. (Specific appropriation to be kept separately, includes catch basins, gutters, continuous sidewalks, and new street construction. )
Sidewalks and Curbing Maintenance. (Reset- ting curbing, resurfacing and patching con- crete and gravel sidewalks.)
Continuous Sidewalks. (Includes new walks and curbing.)
Street Watering and Oiling. (This should also include cost of water used which is now charged to appropriation for water rates. )
Street Lighting.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
LJan. 31
V. CHARITIES.
Poor Department.
VI. SOLDIER'S BENEFITS.
State Aid. (Appropriations should be made and reimbursements from State, treated as a revenue receipt. )
Soldier's Relief.
VII. EDUCATION.
School Maintenance.
VIII. LIBRARIES.
Library Maintenance.
IX. RECREATION.
Parks and Gardens. (Maintenance of parks, care of monument grounds, Metropolitan Park Maintenance Assessment.)
Park Improvement. (Specific appropriations to be kept separately. )
Memorial Day.
X. UNCLASSIFIED.
Damages to Persons and Personal Property.
Heating and Lighting Grand Army Hall.
Printing Town Reports, including distribut- ing. (Now paid from appropriation for Selectmen's Department. )
1911]
SELECTMEN'S REPORT. 139
Contingent Fund. (To be drawn upon to transfer from, in case of necessity.)
PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISES.
I. WATER DEPATMENT.
Maintenance.
Construction. (Specific appropriations should be kept separately and not consolidated with General Water Department accounts. )
II. CEMETERIES.
Cemetery Maintenance.
INTEREST.
On Temporary Loans.
On General Debt.
On Sewer Bonds.
On Metropolitan Park Interest Assessment.
MUNICIPAL INDEBTEDNESS.
General Debt.
Sewer Bonds.
Metropolitan Park Sinking Fund Assessment.
AGENCY.
State Tax. (Not to include Metropolitan or Sate Highway assessment. )
County Tax.
ofı
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
This year loans were issued for purposes which were purely running expenses, such as repairs for fire alarm, fire hose and resurfacing sidewalks. These were covered in the general loan, which also included appropriations for permanent improvements and water extensions.
When it is necessary to issue loans for running expenses, it should be done as a separate loan and kept separate from loans for legitimate permanent improvements. Loans for the water department account should also be kept separate.
It is recommended that a flat appropriation be made for each department and that all receipts be paid into the town treasury. The work done by different departments will be taken care of by transfers.
We call attention to the financial statement showing condition of the Town's finances as prepared by the agent of the Bureau of Statistics, Commonwealth of Massachusetts which follows the report of the Town Treasurer.
Miscellaneous.
I. The Accountant reports the borrowing capacity of the Town February 1, 1911, as $140,987.20.
2. The Assessors' report show the total valuation as of April 1, 1910, to be $11, 187,540.00.
3. The Treasurer's report shows that on February 1. 1911, the Town debt was $194,639.00 : Water debt was $189,508. 17 : Sewer debt was $186,200.00.
4. The tax rate of 1910 at the rate of $15 per $1,000 was made up of the following items :
State Tax
$1 31
County Tax
I 37
Metropolitan Park Tax
51
State Highway
OI
Notes, Bonds and Investments
3 06
Town Grant
8 74
$15 00
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
1911]
5. Every appropriation of $11,399.67 meant $1 on the tax rate.
6. The Treasurer reports cash on hand February 1,1911, in general account as $26,541.32. Last year it was $24,809.81.
APPROPRIATIONS.
We recommend the following appropriations for the several departments for the current year :
DEPARTMENTAL.
I. GENERAL GOVERNMENT.
Legislative
$150 00
Selectmen
1,500 00
Auditing Department
1,190 00
Treasury Department
800 00
Collector's Department
650 00
Assessors' Department
1,500 00
Town Clerk's Department,
150 00
Law Department
·
500 00
Election and Registration .
450 00
Engineering Department 1,500 00
Town Hall .
2,000 00
$10,390 00
II. PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY.
Police Department
$9,800 00
Fire Department
15,530 00
Sealer of Weights and
Measures
70 00
Forestry Department :
Brown Tail and Gypsy
Moth extermination
4,500 00
Tree Warden
750 00
Other Protection :
Dog Officer .
75 00
30,725 00
Amount carried forward,
$41,115 00
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TOWN DOCUMENTS. [Jan. 31
Amount brought forward,
$41.115 00 .
III. HEALTH AND SANITATION :
Health Department . ·
$3, 112 00
Sanitation :
Sewer Maintenance 5,500 00
Refuse and Garbage dis- posal
1,608 00
Other Health and Sanita- tion :
Care of Brooks
200 00
10,420 00
IV. HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.
Highway Department $17.700 00
Sidewalk and Curb main- tenance
1,100 00
Street Construction . 850 00
Continuous Sidewalks
2,000 00
Street Watering and Oiling,
6,000 00
Street Lighting
11.500 00
39,150 00
V. CHARITIES.
Poor Department
3,500 00
VI. SOLDIERS' BENEFITS.
State Aid
$3,500 00
Soldiers' Relief
3,000 00
6.500 00
VII. EDUCATION.
School Maintenance $39,350 00
39,350 00
VIII. LIBRARIES.
Library maintenance 1,300 00
Amount carried forward,
$141,335 00
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
1911]
Amount brought forward,
$141,335 00
IX. RECREATION.
Parks and Gardens . $1,850 00
Metropolitian Park Main- tenance Assessment (as assessed) estimate . 3,000 00
Memorial Day .
·
200 00
5,050 00
X. UNCLASSIFIED.
Heating and Lighting
Grand Army Hall $75 00
Printing Town Reports 500 00
Contingent Fund
2,500 00
3,075 00
PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISES.
I. WATER DEPARTMENT.
Construction
$3,000 00
II. CEMETRIES.
Cemetery Maintenance 1,500 00
4,500 00
INTEREST.
Temporary Loans (estimate), $2,000 00
General Debt
·
6,999 76
Sewer Bonds ·
6,692 00
Metropolitan Park Interest
Assessment (as assessed)
estimate
2,100 00
17,791 76
MUNICIPAL INDEBTEDNESS.
General Debt
$21,789 00
Sewer Bonds 5,600 00
Metropolitan Park
Sinking
Fund Assessment (as as-
sessed) estimate
750 00
28,139 00
Amount carried forward,
$199,890 76
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
Amount brought forward,
$199,890 76
AGENCY.
State Tax (as assessed) esti- mate ·
$15,000 00 County Tax (as assessed) estimate · 15,700 00
30,700 00
$230,590 76
Respectfully submitted, CLARENCE B. HUMPHREY, ELIAS G. HODGKINS, JAMES F. CATON,
Selectmen of Swampscott.
JANUARY 31, 1911.
1911]
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT. 145
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
S. PERRY CONGDON, Chairman 1908-1911
41 Thomas road.
ARTHUR W. STUBBS, Secretary
74 Paradise road.
1909-1912
J. HENRY WELCH
1910-1913 38 Sheridan road.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
THOMAS B FORD, 46 Holyoke street, Cambridge. Mass. OFFICE, REDINGTON SCHOOL, SWAMPSCOTT. OFFICE HOURS : 3.45-4.45 P. M. on Tuesday and Thursday.
10
146
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
School Calendar.
Winter Term of 1911 began January 2, 1911 . Spring Term, 1911 begins March 5, 1911. Summer Term, 1911 begins May 8, 1911. Fall Term, 1911 begins September 11, 1911.
Holidays.
Washington's Birthday, February 22.
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