USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1912 > Part 3
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The item of General Debt, above given, must have more than passing notice, for here again, though it must be paid in full, it may be of some advantage, if the payment of $25,550 be analyzed. The notes, to be paid this year, were issued for the following purposes :
Permanent Improvements
$16,550 00 .
Highway
2,000 00
Sidewalk
1,000 00
Hadley School
5,000 00
Auto Chemical
1,000 00
$25,550 00
In the item of Permanent Improvement Loan are concealed payments for such charges as fireworks, brass bands and eatables at the celebration of the 50th anniversary in 1902, painting an engine house the same year, pay-rolls and other purely current expenses in 1904 and other charges of a similar temporary nature, which we are now compelled to pay after eight and ten years. In the amount of Permanent Improvement notes there are $12,550 of notes given prior to 1905, most of which should have been included in the tax levy of that time, and not passed on to these later years for payment.
On these three notes of $12,550 of 1902 to 1904 we shall have paid in interest over $4,300; that is, in consequence of borrowing money to pay for current expenses the Town pays 34 per cent more than if it paid cash. But as the notes were issued and must be paid, we shall have to make appropriations .
for them, and we, therefore, recommend the appropriation of the following amounts :
General Debt $25,550 00 Sewer Bonds . 5,600 00
Metropolitan Park Sinking Fund
assessment 1,200 00
$32,350 00
38
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
There are charges for interest this year which must be met in full, and we have, therefore, to recommend that there be appro- priated for interest the following amounts :
Temporary Loans, interest $2,500 00
General Debt, interest .
10,500 00
Sewer Bonds, interest .
·
7,200 00
Metropolitan Park Int., assessment, 3,500 00
$23,700 00
Fixed Items.
There are two more items for which money must be appro- priated and paid out of the taxes for the current year, the State Tax and the County Tax (page 192). The amount of these two items depends upon the valuation. If the valuation is increased to keep the tax rate down, then the amounts to be paid for State and County taxes increase.
We recommend the appropriation of $15,000 for State Tax and of $15,700 for County Tax.
The Metropolitan Park assessment for maintenance (page 191) is another item which must be paid this year out of the tax levy. The situation regarding the Metropolitan Park items has already been commented upon.
We recommend the appropriation of $3,000 for Metropolitan Park Maintenance assessment.
The appropriation for Moth Extermination also is required and the amount fixed. We, therefore, recommend the appro- priation of $5,000 for Moth Extermination (page 189).
The amount appropriated for State Aid for Soldiers is repaid eventually to the Town, but the money must first be raised by taxation, this amount being fixed. When the payment is made by the State, the amount goes into the Treasury as free cash. We recommend the appropriation of $3,500 for State Aid.
The amount for Soldiers' Relief is also an appropriation that has to be made. We recommend the appropriation of $3,300 for Soldiers' Relief.
As the Town Reports have been printed, the money must be appropriated to pay the bill, $609.50.
We recommend that $609.50 be appropriated for printing Town Reports.
We make a further recommendation on this item. While errors do creep into printed matter in spite of all the precautions that are taken, yet when there are as many blunders as are to be
39
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1912]
found in the report of 1911, submitted to the present meeting, it is time that some notice was taken of the situation. There is no need to call attention to these errors, for they are apparent to anyone who reads the book.
We recommend that the Selectmen employ someone possess- ing technical experience in putting matter through the press, who shall supervise the proofreading of the next Town Report.
ART. 6. As to the amount of bonds to be required of the Town Treasurer for the ensuing year we recommend that the amount be fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000).
ART. 7. As to the amount of bonds to be required of the Collector of Taxes for the ensuing year, we recommend that the amount be ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
ART. 8. As to the amount of bonds to be required of the members of the Water and Sewerage Commission, we recom- mend that the amount in each case be three thousand dollars ($3,000).
ART. 10. Concerning the salaries for the officials of the Town for the ensuing year we recommend that the salaries be the same as for the last year, except in the following instances.
THE COLLECTOR OF TAXES. The work of this office has increased greatly, both in extent and in the amount of detail required. The request for an increase in the compensation seems therefore reasonable, and we recommend that the salary of the Collector of Taxes be six hundred dollars ($600) for the ensuing year.
TOWN ACCOUNTANT. The work of this official is new, and its extent could not be foretold at the outset. He had to start the system and start it correctly. This he has done, and the results are satisfactory, especially to those who, like the members of this Committee, have had occasion to rely on the accounts. In view of the quality and the quantity of the work required, we recommend that the salary of the Town Accountant for the ensuing year be eight hundred dollars ($Soo).
TOWN AUDITORS. The Selectmen recommend (page 174) that the office of Town Auditor be abolished. There seems to be no reason why they should be continued, as the work of auditing the books can be done under the direction of the Bureau of Statistics. We recommend that the salary of the Chairman be $25 and of the other members $20 each for the ensuing year.
40
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
ART. 22. As to granting a half holiday with pay on Saturday afternoon to the employees of the Highway, Water, Sewer, Health, Cemetery and Moth Departments from May Ist to November Ist, we recommend, as this is an established custom, that this be granted.
ART. 35. The certified check of $2,000 was deposited by Messrs. Pitman & Brown with their estimate on the contract for the Hadley School, it being the general custom to require such a deposit under the terms adopted for bidding by contractors. An error was made by the estimator of the firm so serious in its extent that they wished to withdraw their bid. The Town had been put neither to inconvenience nor expense, and the Building Committee expressed themselves willing that the bid be with- drawn and the check returned. As, however, the check had passed into the possession of the Town Treasurer, it is the opinion of the Town Counsel that a vote of the Town is needed before it can be returned.
We recommend that the Town Treasurer be authorized to return to Pitman & Brown the certified check for $2,000, which they deposited with their bid for the contract for the Hadley School.
ELGAR H. TOWNSEND,
GEORGE D. R. DURKEE, LEON L. DENNIS, EDWARD N. CARPENTER, JOHN ALBREE, Committee on Ways and MIcans.
On motion of James T. Lyons it was
Voted, to accept the report and adopt the recommendations contained therein appropriating as follows :
For General Debt $25,500 00
Sewer Bonds . 5,600 00
Metro. Park Sinking Fund Ass'mt, 1,200 00
Temporary Loans interest ·
2,500 00
General Debt interest . .
10,500 00
Sewer Bonds interest 7,200 00
Metropolitan Park Int. Assessment 3,500 00
State Tax
15,000 00
County Tax . 15,700 00
Metro. Park Maintenance Ass'mt. 3,000 00
Moth Extermination .
5,000 00
4.1
TOWN CLERK'S RECORD.
State Aid
·
$3,500 00
Soldiers' Relief .
·
Printing Town Reports .
·
3,300 00 609 50
ART. 6. Voted, as recommended by Ways and Means Com- mittee that amount of bond to be required of the Town Treasurer be fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000).
ART. 7. Voted, as recommended by Ways and Means Com- mittee that amount of bond to be required of the Collector of Taxes be ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
ART. S. Voted, as recommended by Ways and Means Com- mittee to require of Water and Sewerage Board a bond of three thousand dollars ($3,000).
- ART. 10. Voted, as recommended by Ways and Means Committee that the salary of the Collector of Taxes be six hundred dollars ($600) for the ensuing year, the salary of the Town Accountant eight hundred dollars ($Soo), the salary of the Auditors to be twenty-five dollars ($25) for chairman, other members twenty dollars ($20) for the ensuing year, salaries for all other Town Officials to be the same as for the last year.
ART. 22. Voted, as recommended by the Ways and Means Committee to grant a half holiday with pay on Saturday after- noon to employees of the Highway, Water, Sewer, Health, Cemetery and Moth Departments from May Ist to November Ist.
ART. 35. Voted, as recommended by the Ways and Means Committee to authorize the Town Treasurer to return to Pitman & Brown the certified check for $2,000, which they deposited with their bid for the contract for the Hadley School.
ART. 21. Voted, to refer this Article to Ways and Means Committee. Articles 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37 were referred under the By-Laws to the Ways and Means Committee.
ART. 38. Voted, to accept the provisions of Chapter 191 of the Acts of 1907, entitled an Act to authorize the establishment of Boards of Survey in Towns.
ARTS. 39, 40, 41, were referred to the Committee on Ways and Means under the By-Laws.
1912]
42
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
_Dec. 31
ART. 12. Voted, that it is the sense of this meeting that the Tree Warden shall save from destruction the elm tree in front of No. II Redington street.
ARTS. 44, 45, were referred to Ways and Means Committee. ART. 46. Voted, to lay this Article upon the table.
Voted, That when we adjourn it be to Tuesday evening, March 12th, at 7.45 o'clock.
Voted, To adjourn at 9.20 P. M.
Attest : GEORGE T. TILL, Town Clerk.
Adjourned Town Meeting, March 12, 1912.
In accordance with the foregoing adjournment the voters of the Town assembled at the Town Hall on Tuesday evening, March 12, 1912.
The meeting was called to order at 7.45 o'clock by Daniel F. Knowlton, Moderator.
The records of the last meeting were read by the Clerk and the Moderator declared them approved.
The Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee stated that more time was needed in order that their report might be printed and distributed, Chapter 207, Acts 1911.
Voted, That when we adjourn it be to Monday evening, March IS, at 7.45 o'clock.
Voted, To adjourn at 7.55 P. M.
Attest : GEORGE T. TILL. Town Clerk.
Adjourned Town Meeting, March 18, 1912.
In accordance with the adjournment of March 12, 1912, the voters assembled at the Town Hall on Monday evening, March IS, 1912.
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1912]
The meeting was called to order at 7.45 o'clock by Daniel F. Knowlton, Moderator.
The records of the last meeting were read and declared approved.
Phillips Swamp Playground, Humphrey Street.
Report of the Committee appointed March, 1911, in regard to obtaining land for Playground, known as the Phillips Swamp, Humphrey street.
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
The Committee composed of the members of the Park Com- mission and special committee which was appointed at a regular Town Meeting to interview the Phillips heirs in regard to the purchase of the property known as the Phillips Swamp on Humphrey street for the purpose of a Playground, would state that they have thoroughly investigated the matter and submit the following report :
Leonard H. Phillips, who owns the property, absolutely refuses to voluntarily sell the land, in an interview to-day. Mr. Phillips still adhered to his former decision, but said that if the Town should make a taking of the property for park purposes he would not make any serious objections or fight the case in any way. Under the existing circumstances your committee does not feel like going further in the matter until it has received further instruction from the Town.
ARTHUR T. TAPPER,
ROBERT LESLIE, Park
ALFRED F. FRAZIER,
Commissioners.
GEORGE D. R. DURKEE, ) ALLEN S. ROWE, Special Committee.
JAMES T. LYONS,
Voted, To accept the report of Committee on Land at Humphrey street for the purpose of playground.
Voted, to waive the reading of the report of the Committee on Ways and Means and to take it up in sections.
Voted, that the action of the Town at the Town Meeting of February 20th, 1912, on Articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 22 and 35, which action was taken before the report of the Ways and Means Committee was printed and distributed, be and is hereby ratified and confirmed.
44
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Report of Committee on Ways and Means .- Part 2.
SWAMPSCOTT, March 12, 1912. To the Citizens of Swampscott :
Your Committee reports that many meetings have been held in order that we might be prepared to make a full statement for your information. It is too evident that the Town expenses are increasing at a faster rate than is the income, and that the departments are asking and receiving more money each year. The amount of money which your Committee recommends be appropriated at this meeting is approximately $250,000. In addition, $20,800 is recommended to be borrowed. The details will appear in the report.
This amount, $250,000. must be raised through the tax levy on the property in the Town with certain receipts in addition. The assessors say that there will be a substantial loss in personal property subject to taxation, and that the increase in real estate will be hardly more than sufficient to make good the loss. and that the total valuation probably will not exceed $12,000,000. Assuming that the sundry receipts will be substantially the same as last year, the tax rate to produce the money appropriated at this meeting will be not less than $17.50 and may go higher.
General Government.
[ Page ISg and Article 11.]
We recommend the appropriation of the following amounts as asked for by the Selectmen : -
Legislative
$375
Treasury Department
900
Collector's Department .
850
Assessors' Department .
1,700
Town Clerk's Department
275
Law Department . 500
Election and Registration Department 675
Town Hall Department
2,200
The Selectmen's Department account was charged last year with the postage and stationery used in the Accounting Depart- ment, some fifty dollars. In order that a proper showing may be made, the appropriation of the Selectmen's Department is decreased and the Auditing Department increased by this amount, and we, therefore, recommend that there be appropriated for the Selectmen's Department $1,450 and for the Auditing De- partment $925.
45
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1912]
Auditing Department.
[ Page 174.]
The act establishing the office of Town Accountant provides that the Town may abolish the office of Town Auditor. The Acts of 1910, Chapter 598, provide under certain conditions for an audit by the State.
We therefore recommend the adoption of the Selectmen's recommendation for the abolishment of the Board of Town Auditors and that the Board of Selectmen be authorized to petition for an audit by the State as provided in Chapter 598 of the Acts of 1910.
Engineering Department. [ Page 189.]
In the schedule of appropriations which the Selectmen submit on page 189, is one of $1,500 for the Engineering Department. Within a few days the Selectmen have been advised by Town Counsel that the action of the Town in creating the Engineering Department in 1909 was limited only to that one year. The Selectmen accordingly take the view that the Engineering Department, as such, has gone out of existence, and that what engineering work they require done, they shall have to make arrangements for as the need arises. They suggest that, instead of an appropriation for the Engineering Department, there be one for engineering work, and as certain expenses have already been incurred, properly chargable to engineering, these expenses may be paid out of the appropriation.
We recommend, therefore, at their request, that the sum of $1,000 be appropriated for engineering work.
We are not content to dismiss the subject with this recom- mendation ; as prior to the request of the Selectmen, we had investigated the department and had found conditions which were not satisfactory because of the methods adopted by the Town Accountant in caring for overdrafts of the several depart- ments. Among the charges of the Assessors' Department we found one for expenses incurred for it by the Engineering Department. We asked for particulars about this charge and obtained the bill from the Town Accountant. The bill read "to balance for services rendered " the Assessors' Department. Further inquiry developed that the officials of the department had made no particular investigation as to the items composing this bill against them, and that they had approved it for pay- ment because it had been presented. We later learned that the
46
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Engineering Department had asked these officials when the subject of the bill was under consideration what was the balance to the credit of the Assessors' Department still unexpended : and the bill was made out and presented accordingly. As a result of that method the department was able to show a balance unexpended of $1.02. The books of the Engineering Depart- ment still show a charge not presented against the Assessors' Department for $7.50 more than that for which the first bill was rendered.
Another bill of $118.72 against the Committee on School- houses was charged by the Accountant against that department at but $43.50, because that department had spent within $43.50 of its entire appropriation. While we have cited two examples of overdrafts charged to the Engineering Department, there are, in fact, four other instances of similar overdrafts ; these depart- ments being the Highway, $18.05, with no charge shown in the Highway report: Sidewalk and Curb, $29.72, no charge being shown; Sewer Construction, $1,290.11, while the Sewer Con- struction Department shows $1, 123.85 ; Continuous Sidewalks, $439.03, while the department is charged with $326.38. The amount of appropriation for the Engineering Department was $1,500; the actual expense of the department as such was $1,082.78, and the total charge against the department amounted to $3,547.30 ; the difference representing work done for and paid out of the appropriations of other departments. The difficulty is largely one of bookkeeping, and is, perhaps, inci- dental to the introduction of a method of accounting, of which, however, in general we have several times expressed our approval.
Morris Land.
[Page ISS.]
This land is the estate between the Town Hall and Police Station. The Town holds an option expiring in May, 1913, under which it may buy at $3,000. There is no special use to which this estate could now be put, if it were bought at this time. If the Town should vote to buy it the money would have to be borrowed and interest paid, and meanwhile the Town would lose the taxes. The only income would be rent from a tenant, and as no tenure of any definite length could be given, the rent would have to be low.
As there is no advantage to the Town in exercising the right to purchase at this time, we recommend the matter of the pur- chase of the Morris Lot be referred to the next annual meeting.
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1912]
Humphrey Street Widening.
[Page IS7.]
The Selectmen in their report state that they "await further instructions." At the meeting of February 20th, the matter was referred to this Committee for a report. One of the bills before the Legislature, the one which the Selectmen incorporate in their report (page 184), has been withdrawn " without prejudice," and it can be again introduced next year. The other bill, now before the Legislature, entitled " An extension of the Metropolitan Park System in Swampscott," seeks to widen Humphrey street, and at the same time have the State take the entire territory between Humphrey street and the sea and between the Monument and Blaney's Beach, for park purposes. The County Commissioners, who held a hearing in Swampscott in December, have as yet made no report.
Your Committee have to submit their conclusions as to a method of meeting the difficulty that exists on Humphrey street, a solution of which must be regulated by the financial condition and prospects of the Town. A detailed plan cannot be sub- mitted, as the time is too limited for its preparation. An outline, however, will serve.
A fundamental question is, whether provision shall be made for a second street car track. In view of the greatly added expenses and the financial condition of the Town, as elsewhere commended upon in this report, your Committee believe that the cost of the widening required for a second track would be so large as to be prohibitive. The plan which this Committee con- siders should have your favorable consideration, provided aid is rendered by the County, is substantially as follows : Take as a standard for the new width the present width at Blaney street, where there is sufficient room for the traffic and where, notwith- standing the stores, there is no particular obstruction to, or con- gestion of, street traffic. Begin near the Monument and widen by taking land on the southwesterly side (the water side) of the street as far as the Bunting and Millett estates. The crown of the hill can be lowered to advantage ; the amount to depend on the land damages claimed. From this point to the Hay Scales there is one place needing attention, this being the angle extend- ing into Humphrey street opposite the Swampscott Club House, which could be cut off to decided advantage. The Town land only would be taken here, and a short stretch of sea wall would have to be built.
We recommend that Humphrey street be widened, beginning
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
at Monument square to a width substantially as it now is at Blaney street, by taking land at the south side as far as the Bunting and Millett estates; that the angle opposite Ingalls terrace be cut off and the street widened at that point ; that this plan be submitted by the Selectmen to the County Commissioners to see what aid the County will render in this matter, which is of far more than local benefit.
Police Department.
[Pages ISO, 256.]
The Police Department asks for $10,000, a large sum for police protection in such a community as Swampscott, purely residential in character and without the disturbing elements and the floating population characteristic of manufacturing and commercial towns.
The value of a police force in such a town as this, therefore, is measured by the degree of confidence the townspeople repose in the effectiveness of the department rather than by the number of arrests made or complaints investigated. Are the inhabitants of the Town satisfied that the police are so alert and vigilant on their own initative, that matters receive attention without com- plaints being made or action suggested by the townspeople ? There are of necessity conditions that can only come to the attention of the police on complaints. Are such followed to a conclusion with vigor ?
These questions are especially pertinent in connection with the Police Department, for the effectiveness is determined, not by the relative degree of safety and protection, but by its absolute and entirely satisfactory quality.
Because there is in the minds of the citizens of the Town a state bordering on trepidation, the police are looked to for an especial protection, and now is the time to consider it, when the amount of the appropriation is before you for discussion. Do you wish the members of your families to continue to fear for their safety on the streets of the Town, because of some reckless autoists ? It is your money you are appropriating, and it is for you to state what standard of safety you shall demand, and to what extent you wish your children to share responsibility with the driver of a speeding auto. How far will you relieve such a one from blame, if your child is hit? Your instructions at this time, when you appropriate money for the Police Department, will carry weight even beyond the limits of the Town.
It is said that neither the courts nor the State Highway Com- mission will not always sustain the complaints of the police in
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1912]
auto cases, and that, therefore, there is not the incentive for the police to proceed against those who are violating, not only the the law of the State, but the rule of common sense and the requirements of humanity. Of the twenty-six cases taken into court from Swampscott last year, all but one were found guilty, though twelve cases were filed. How far do you wish your police to go in enforcing the law? Shall they proceed against each case of violation they see, or shall they restrict their activities to those cases where they have some degree of confidence that the complaint will be sustained ?
It is, therefore, for the Town meeting to say what standard it wants, and whether it shall instruct the police to enforce, as far as they can, the laws for the protection of the community.
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