USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1914 > Part 3
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FRANK H. BRADFORD, Constable.
Special Town Meeting, March 18, 1914.
In accordance with the Warrant the voters of the Town assembled at the Town Hall on Wednesday evening, March 18, 1914.
The meeting was called to order by Daniel F. Knowlton, Moderator, at 7.30 o'clock, at that time there being more than one hundred voters present. The Warrant calling the meeting and the return thereon was read by the Town Clerk.
The report of the Ways and Means Committee was read.
Report of Committee on Ways and Means.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, March 18, 1914.
ARTICLE I. The Water and Sewer Commissioners have an opportunity to make a favorable lease of some property on New Ocean street, belong- ing to the Town, formerly used by their Department, and desire authority from the Town to execute a lease for five (5) years. It is not probable that the Town will want to use this property for the present and there seems to be no objection to granting the authority desired.
We recommend that the Town authorize the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners to execute a lease for a term of five (5) years on that
26
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
portion of the Town of Swampscott's property lying east of the old Pumping Station on New Ocean street.
ART. 2. The question of constructing a sewer in King street was brought up last year, and as there was no estimate available as to the cost, the Town voted, in accordance with the recommendation of this Commit- tee, that the matter be referred to the Board of Water and Sewer Commis- sioners for an estimate of the probable cost. In their annual report that Board estimates the cost of construction at $1,600, and advises that the conditions are such that a sewer is much needed in this street.
We recommend that the Town vote to construct a sewer in King street and appropriate the sum of $1,600 for that purpose, said sum to be raised by the issuance of notes or bonds of the Town.
We further recommend that the following be fixed as the particulars of the notes or bonds to be issued by the Town for the purpose set forth in the vote under Article 2, relating to the appropriation of $1,600, for the construction of a sewer in King street.
There shall be two bonds or notes for $500 each numbered two and three and one bond or note for $600 numbered one. They shall be dated during the current year. Bond or note numbered one shall be payable one year from the date thereof and one bond or note shall be payable each year thereafter in numerical order. Said bonds or notes shall bear the Town Seal, shall be signed by the Town Treasurer and countersigned by a majority of the Selectmen, shall bear interest at a rate not exceeding four and one-half (42) per centum per annum, shall be authenticated by some bank or trust company, or by the Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics, and shall be subject to registration at the holder's option on presentation to the Town Treasurer for cancellation of coupons (if coupon bonds are issued) and appropriate endorsement. The principal and interest shall be payable at the office of the Town Treasurer or at such bank or trust com- pany as the Town Treasurer and the Board of Selectmen shall designate. Said bonds or notes shall bear upon their face the words " Swampscott Sewerage Loan, Act of 1913." Said bonds or notes shall be sold under the direction of the Town Treasurer and the Board of Selectmen.
All other particulars as to form, issuance and sale of said bonds or notes, shall be determined by the Town Treasurer and the Board of Selectmen, but said bonds or notes shall not be sold for less than par and interest.
GEORGE D R. DURKEE, LEON L. DENNIS, DAVID C. LASH, RICHARD B. HUSSEY, HARRY F. PHILLIPS.
Voted, Article I. That the Town authorize the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners to execute a lease for a term of five years on that portion of the Town of Swampscott's property lying east of the old Pump- ing Station on New Ocean street, thereby accepting and adopting the report of the Ways and Means Committee on this article.
Voted, Article 2. To accept and adopt the report of the Ways and Means Committee appropriating the sum of sixteen hundred ($1,600) dollars to construct a sewer in King street, said sum to be raised by the issuance of notes or bonds of the Town.
Voted. To accept and adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee as follows : That the following be fixed as the particulars of the notes or bonds to be issued by the Town for the purpose set forth in the vote under Article 2, relating to the appropriation of $1600 for the con- struction of a sewer in King street.
There shall be two bonds or notes for $500 each, numbered two and three, and one bond or note for $600 numbered one. They shall be dated during the current year. Bond or note numbered one shall be payable one year from the date thereof, and one bond or note shall be payable each year there- after in numerical order. Said bonds or notes shall bear the Town Seal, shall be signed by the Town Treasurer and countersigned by a majority of
27
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1914]
the Selectmen, shall bear interest at a rate not exceeding four and one-half (45) per centum per annum, shall be authenticated by some Bank or Trust Company, or by the Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics, and shall be subject to registration at the holder's option on presentation to the Town Treasurer for cancellation of coupons (if coupon bonds are issued) and appropriate endorsement. The principal and interest shall be payable at the office of the Town Treasurer or at such Bank or Trust Company as the Town Treasurer and the Board of Selectmen shall designate. Said bonds or notes shall bear upon their face the words "Swampscott Sewer- age Loan, Act of 1913." Said bonds or notes shall be sold under the direction of the Town Treasurer and the Board of Selectmen. (Unani- mous.)
All other particulars as to form, issuance and sale of said bonds or notes shall be determined by the Town Treasurer and the Board of Selectmen, but said bonds or notes shall not be sold for less than par and interest.
Voted. To dissolve at 7.40 o'clock.
Attest : GEORGE T. TILL,
Town Clerk.
Adjourned Annual Meeting, March 18, 1914.
In accordance with the adjournment of February 17, the voters having assembled for the Special Town Meeting were called to order for this adjourned Annual Meeting at 7.45 o'clock by Moderator Daniel F. Knowlton.
The records of the meeting of February 17 were read and approved, there being a large number present.
The report of the Committee appointed as recommended by the Select- men to consider the advisability of utilizing the Morris Property for Library purposes was read. The committee deemed it not advisable to make such use of the Morris property.
Voted. To accept and adopt the report and place on file.
The report was made by the committee appointed by the Moderator, F. F. Stanley, H. B. Sprague and F. E. Ingalls.
Report of the Ways and Means Committee.
Voted. To accept the report of the Ways and Means Committee for action.
MARCH 14, 1914.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
Your Committee of Ways and Means submits herewith its report on the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting of the year 1914 :
Taking a general view of the affairs of the Town, a few facts stand out distinctly.
The Town is increasing rapidly in population and increasing, although not so rapidly, in valuation, and the expenses of the Town are increasing much more rapidly than the valuation. The inevitable result of this is seen in the rising tax rate. Each citizen knows regarding his own affairs that he cannot have conveniences and luxuries without paying for them. It is much the same with the Town as a whole. We cannot have parks, playgrounds, sewers and the like without paying for them. It is for you, the citizens, to vote at the Town Meeting, what improvements, what luxuries and what conveniences you want, and what you are willing to pay for.
Your Committee on Ways and Means wishes to make as clear as possible just where the Town now stands in relation to its finances and with that end in view has compiled a few figures showing the present condition.
This Year
Last Year
Total Valuation
$13,500,000 (Est. ) $13,203,000
Net Indebtedness
667,380
656,492
Bonds Due
46,3.50 38.000
Interest on Bonds
.
23,798
21,S46
State and County Tax
49,000 (Est.) 32,700
.
.
28
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
This shows an increase in the fixed items of debt, interest and State and county taxes of $11,782.
Looking at the matter from another point of view, out of every dollar raised by taxation, we must pay 43 cents for the fixed items of principal and interest of our debt, State and county taxes and the Metro- politan Park Accounts, leaving only 57 cents for our running expenses.
The Town debt per capita is large, but so is the valuation, so that neither is a true measure of the Town's condition. The comparison of net debt to valuation as compiled by the Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics shows 5.I per cent for Swampscott. There are 228 towns in the Commonwealth and in 206 towns the proportion of net debt to valuation is less than in Swampscott and in only 21 is it higher.
Taking as a basis the preliminary estimate of valuation submitted to this Committee by the Board of Assessors, we find that if the amounts recommended are voted by the Town and are not exceeded, the tax rate will this year probably be approximately $17.50 per thousand, and it should be remembered that for every $13,500 appropriated from the tax levy in excess of the recommendations in this report there will be made necessary an increase of $1.00 in the tax rate.
In taking up the various departmental appropriations, your Committee has attempted to find where economies could be made without sacrificing what we believe to be the best interests of the Town. In nearly every case there seems to be good reason for asking for the increased appropriations, and it is our opinion that the amounts desired will be spent wisely. We believe, however, that the Town should go slowly on new enterprises and that you should not spend money for new work unless absolutely necessary. This is our earnest conviction and we hope you will all join with us in the endeavor to keep the expense of the Town as low as possible, consistent with the proper and desirable development of the community.
With these brief comments, we proceed to the consideration of the detailed appropriations.
TOWN DEBT .- [Page 134.]
This year the items of principal and interest on the Town Debt are somewhat larger than last year and as there are heavy payments of bonds due the next two or three years, there seems to be no relief for the present in this direction.
In endeavoring to give effect to a purpose to economize and reduce the expenses of the Town wherever possible this Committee has given attention to the estimated interest charges amounting to $5,6oc on the temporary loans in anticipation of revenue.
We have learned that the Treasurer, with the authorization of the Board of Selectmen, on or about January 15, 1914, contracted loans for $125,000. Of this amount, $100,000 was placed with the Security Trust Company of Lynn at four per cent, and $25,000 with the banking house of Estabrook Company at 3.90 per cent. No bids were asked for and we are informed that no other parties made an offer for this loan or any part thereof.
There was, at the time of writing this report, about $100,000 of the Town's money in the following banks :
Security Trust Company $53,000 paying 22 per cent interest Manufacturers' National Bank 10,000 paying 3 per cent interest Central National Bank 30,000 paying 3 per cent interest
First National Bank, Boston 5,000 paying 2 per cent interest
Then it will be seen that nearly two months after negotiating the loans there was on hand, drawing but a nominal rate of interest, about $100,000 of the Town's funds, for which 4 per cent was being paid.
We find that it is the custom of many cities and towns to borrow by temporary loan such sums as are found necessary for current expenses from time to time.
From these facts your Committee has arrived at the following definite conclusions :
First, that it would be wise to ask for bids from houses dealing in municipal issues.
29
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1914]
Second, that it would be better judgment to borrow the money with more regard to the time it may be needed, than to negotiate such a large loan at one time.
We recommend that the Treasurer of the Town be instructed to place all funds of the Town now in his custody where they will draw the best rates of interest.
We recommend the appropriation of the following amounts for the purposes specified :
General Debt
$32,587 43
Sewer Bonds
11,950 00
Interest on General Debt ·
10,998 02
Interest on Sewer Bonds .
7,200 50
Interest on Temporary Loans
5,600 00
Total
$68,335 95
There appears on the Town's Balance Sheet an open account of $1,812.57, reported as "Premium Notes and Bonds," which we are in- formed may be used only in connection with the issuance of bonds or for the payment of general debt maturing.
We recommend the transfer of this amount of $1,812.57 towards the payment of general debt maturing this year.
AGENCY. - [Page 134.]
The State and County Taxes are considerably increased this year over the appropriation for last year, the amounts estimated for the current year being $16,500 more than was appropriated last year.
We recommend that the Town appropriate the following amounts for State and County Taxes :
State Tax
$28,000 00
County Tax
21,000 00
Total
$49,000 00
METROPOLITAN PARK ACCOUNTS. - [Pages 133-134.]
While the total area of the Metropolitan Park Reservation coming within the limits of this Town is but 3.3 acres, there is a considerable sum of money required each year for our share of the costs and mainte- nance, from which there is no immediate relief.
We recommend the following amounts for the Metropolitan Park Accounts :
Metropolitan Park Sinking Fund $675 00
Metropolitan Park Maintenance Assessment 3,000 00
Metropolitan Park Interest Assessment .
2,500 00
Total
$6,175 00
The Commonwealth requires the appropriation of certain other fixed amounts for particular purposes.
We recommend that the Town appropriate the following amounts :
Moth Extermination $5,000 00
State Aid .
3,000 00
Soldiers' Relief
3,000 00
Total
·
$11,000 00
GENERAL GOVERNMENT. - [Pages 132-133 . ]
The regular departmental expenses next claim attention. Many of these are necessarily routine in their nature and approximately the same amount of money is required each year.
Without taking up each of these in particular, it might be well to mention those where the amounts asked for are larger than usual.
Owing to the extra amount of legal affairs made necessary last year by the Humphrey Street widening proposition, the controversy with the
30
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
State Inspector regarding the conditions at the Hadley School, the litiga- tion over the assessment of the Lodge Estate, and other matters, the amount required for the Legal Department is considerably in excess of last year; in fact, since the issue of the Town Report the Board of Selectmen have informed your Committee that the $2,000 asked for will, in their opinion, not be enough to meet the bills which have just been presented and at the same time provide for the current year. The Select- men, therefore, request that the amount be increased to $2,500.
The Treasurer's Department expended a little less than $900 last year, and there appears to be no reason why there should be any greater expense this year in this Department.
For the Engineering Department, an appropriation of $3.000 is asked for, but as the total salaries of this department are only about this amount and there are a number of transfers from other departments where engineering work is done, $2,000 should, in our opinion, be sufficient.
We recommend the following appropriations for General Government :
Legislative
$300 00
Selectmen
1,500 00
Auditing
1,000 00
Treasurer
.
900 00
Collector of Taxes
1,000 00
Town Clerk .
300 00
Law
2,500 00
Election and Registration
725 00
Engineering
2,000 00
Town Hall
2,200 00
Total
$12,425 00
Sealer of Weights and Measures
$125 00
Dog Officer .
170 00
Care of Monument Lot
50 00
Memorial Day
200 00
Heat and Light, G. A. R. Hall
75 00
Printing Town Reports
677 70
Total
$1,297 70
Sewer Maintenance
$5,200 00
Sewer Connections
800 00
Street Lighting .
11,000 00
Total
$17,000 00
PUBLIC LIBRARY. - [Page 133. ]
We recommend the appropriation of $1,400 for the maintenance of the Library.
CONTINGENT FUND. - [Page 133.]
We recommend that the usual appropriation of $1,000 be made for the Contingent Fund.
ARTICLE 5.
We recommend that the amount of bonds to be required of the Town Treasurer be $15,000.
ARTICLE 6.
We recommend that the amount of bonds to be required of the Collector of Taxes be $10,000.
ARTICLE 7.
We recommend that the amount of bonds to be required of the Water and Sewerage Board be $3,000 for each member.
ARTICLE S.
We recommend that the salaries of the Town officials be the same as last year.
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1914]
ARTICLE 10.
Your Committee feels that the policy outlined in the report of the Board of Health in regard to brooks, is probably the best that can be done at the present time without considerable outlay. This plan, briefly, is to use a small amount of money each year and thoroughly clean out a short section of brook.
We recommend that the sum of $500 be appropriated for the care of brooks and drains, to be expended under the direction of the Board of Health.
We further recommend the appropriation of the following amounts to be expended under the direction of the Board of Health.
Collection of Refuse and Garbage
$3,075 00
Sanitation
2,900 00
Total
$5,975 00
ARTICLE II. PARK DEPARTMENT. - [Page 207.]
We recommend for the regular expenses of the Park Department the following appropriations :
Monument Avenue
$700 0Q
Blaney Beach Reservation
.
800 00
Paradise Road Playgrounds
350 00
Sundries
150 00
Total
$2,000 00
JACKSON PARK.
The amount appropriated last year for grading and otherwise improving Jackson Park proved insufficient for completing the ball field, and the Park Commissioners now estimate that $500 more will be needed to put the field in good condition for use.
We recommend that the Town appropriate the sum of $500 for the improvement of the ball field on Jackson Park.
PHILLIPS PARK.
The problem of changing Phillips Swamp into Phillips Park started to drain the Town Treasury in the summer of 1912, at the time of the adoption of an article of taking at an estimate cost of $3,600. The esti- mate rose more than 100 per cent to $7,500, in order that the Town might escape litigation. Then the Park Commissioners recommended the expenditure of $2,000 more and told your Committee that it was for a baseball field. We discovered, however, that the idea of a baseball field was more in the minds of some citizens than of the Park Commissioners. Accordingly, in an attempt to eliminate too much waste, we recommended a sum of money, amounting to $600, in order that definite plans and estimates might be obtained for the improvement of the property as a whole. Now the plans are before us with the baseball field in the fore- ground, but we notice that although the estimate for last year's baseball field was $2,000, with the field to rest upon five or eight feet of gravel, this year's field at 50 per cent higher cost, is to be launched on only six or 10 inches of material.
The Ways and Means Committee feel constrained to warn the Town, as it did at the time of the original purchase and as it did a year ago, that if the voters appropriate sums of money to defray even the partial expense of this park, large expenditures will necessarily have to be made, and as the Town now has a first-class ball field almost completed at Jackson Park, your Committee deems it unwise that any money be expended at this time for another ball field.
We recommend that all expenditures of money in Phillips Park be indefinitely postponed.
.
.
32
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
LAND PLOTS AT INTERSECTING STREETS. - [Page 208.]
The Board of Park Commissioners having considered the matter of care of the land plots at intersecting streets in various parts of the Town, recommend the appropriation of $300 for the care of same by their Board. Your Committee has considered this matter and, largely in the interests of economy, believe that nothing should be done by the Town in this connection at present.
We recommend that the matter of care of land plots at intersecting streets be indefinitely postponed.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT .- [Page 132.]
The sum of $24,000 is requested this year for the general expenses of the Highway Department. This is in excess of $800 over last year's appropriation, but the Surveyor informs us that the recent snowstormns have made an extra amount of expense to the Town and also that there has been an accident at the stone crusher and that these two items together will require the additional amount asked for.
We recommend the appropriation of the following amounts for the Highway Department :
General Expenses
$18,000 00
Sidewalk and Curbing Maintenance 1,500 00
Street Construction
1,600 00
Macadam Pavement
6,000 00
Total ·
. $27,100 00
of which $1,600 for original Street Construction and $6,000 for Macadam Pavement under specification approved by the Massachusetts Highway Commission, be raised by the issuance of bonds or notes of the Town.
ARTICLE 12. ESSEX STREET PAVING - [Page 213.]
In his report the Surveyor of Highways refers to a portion of Essex street, extending from the Lynn line to the freight yard, which is in poor condition and is subject to much heavy traffic. Unquestionably a new pavement would benefit conditions. The cost of the proposed construc- tion, however, would be very heavy, it being estimated that $14,000 would be required. In view of the necessity for the strictest economy, your Committee deems it inadvisable for the Town to undertake this construc- tion at the present time.
We recommend that the matter of paving Essex street be indefinitely postponed.
STETSON AVENUE DRAIN .- [Page 213.]
The surface drain in Stetson avenue is not large enough to properly carry off the surface water from this street and a new drain is badly needed. The Surveyor of Highways estimates that it will cost about $3,500 to remove the present drain and substitute a larger one.
We recommend that the Town appropriate the sum of $3,500 for the · purpose of laying a larger drain for surface drainage purposes in Stetson Avenue, said sum to be raised by the issuance of notes or bonds of the Town.
ARTICLE 13. FIRE DEPARTMENT .- [Pages 140 and 141.]
We recommend the appropriation of the following amounts for the general expenses of the Fire Department :
Current Expense and Pay roll
·
$13,049 00
Hydrant Rent
.
2,475 00
500 feet Hose
.
400 00
Repairs
.
.
125 00
Elements for Storage Battery
.
125 00
Total
. . .
.
$16,174 00
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1914]
In addition to the regular appropriations for the Fire Department, the Board of Fire Engineers ask for a new tractor for the hook and ladder truck and for an appropriation for putting overhead fire department wires into conduits in Burrill and New Ocean streets and also into the conduits along Humphrey street when these shall have been laid.
Your Committee is convinced that motor-driven apparatus for the Fire Department is desirable and of benefit. In view, however, of the present financial condition of the Town, we believe it would be better to defer the purchase of a tractor at least for another year.
We recommend that the Town postpone for the present the purchase of a tractor for the Fire Department.
When the proposed reconstruction of Humphrey street is completed, all overhead wires will have to come down. Conduits will be laid for these and it will only be necessary to pull in the wires and provide the necessary outlets.
We recommend that the Town appropriate the sum of $650 for the pur- pose of placing the fire alarm wires into conduits on Humphrey street.
In Burrill and New Ocean streets it is not necessary that the work be done at once. The conduits are laid and the wires can be put in at any time.
We recommend that the question of putting wires into conduits in Burrill and New Ocean streets be postponed.
ARTICLE 14. POLICE DEPARTMENT .- [Pages 137 and 138. ]
We recommend that the sum of $10,800 be appropriated for the general expenses of the Police Department.
We further recommend that the Patrolmen of the Town be paid three dollars per day to date from April 1, 1914.
ARTICLE 15. BOARD OF ASSESSORS .- [Page 215.]
The Board of Assessors ask for the sum of $1,700 for the regular expenses of their Department. They also ask for a special appropriation for a new map of the Town. The present map made in 1898 is so old and obsolete that it is now useless for their work.
We recommend that the Town appropriate the sum of $1,850 for the Board of Assessors.
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