USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1914 > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22
Voted. That it is the sense of this meeting that the Surveyor of High- ways be entitled to two weeks' vacation annually with pay.
Voted, Article 10. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee appropriating the sum of $500 to be expended under the direction of the Board of Health for the care of brooks and drains.
Voted. That the Selectmen be instructed to have the Town Engineer prepare plans and specifications for an adequate culvert on Paradise road to care for the surface water in that locality, a report to be made on this matter at the next Annual Meeting.
Voted, Article 10. To adopt the recommendations of the Ways and Means Committee appropriating as follows for the Health Department :
Collection of Refuse and Garbage
$3,075 00
Sanitation
2,900 00
Total
$5,975 00
PARK DEPARTMENT. - [Page 207, Town Report.]
Voted, Article 11. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee appropriating for the Park Department as follows :
Monument Avenue
$700 00
Blaney Beach Reservation .
800 00
Paradise Road Playgrounds .
350 00
Sundries
150 00
Total
$2,000 00
Voted. To adopt the recommendation of the Ways and Means Com- mittee appropriating the sum of $500 for the improvement of the ball field on Jackson park.
Voted. That the recommendation of the Ways and Means Committee in regard to Phillips park be not adopted and that the Town appropriate the sum of $1,000 for the Park Commissioners to improve the ball ground at Phillips park.
LAND PLOTS AT INTERSECTING STREETS. - [Town Report, Page 208.]
Voted. To adopt the recommendations of the Ways and Means Com- mittee indefinitely postponing the matter of caring for land plots at intersecting streets.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT .- [Town Report, Page 132.]
Voted. To adopt the recommendations of the Ways and Means Com- mittee appropriating for the Highway Department as follows :
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
.
42
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[ Dec. 31
Pavement under Specifications approved by the Massachusetts Highway Commission be raised by the issuance of bonds or notes of the Town.
ESSEX STREET PAVING .- [Town Report, Page 213.]
Voted, Article 12. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee indefinitely postponing the matter of paving Essex street.
STETSON AVENUE DRAIN .- [Town Report, Page 213.] Art. 12.
Voted. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Committee appro- priating 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 bonds or notes of the Town.
FIRE DEPARTMENT .- [Town Report, Pages 140-141. ]
Voted, Article 13. To adopt the recommendations of the Ways and Means Committee appropriating for the Fire Department as follows :
Current Expense and Pay Roll
$13,049 00
Hydrant Rent
2,475 00
Five hundred feet Hose
400 00
Repairs ·
125 00
Elements for Storge Battery
125 00
Total
· $16,174 00
Voted. To adopt the recommendation of the Ways and Means Com- mittee postponing for the present the purchase of a tractor for the Fire Department.
Voted. To adopt the recommendation of the Ways and Means Com- mittee appropriating the sum of $650 for the purpose of placing the fire alarm wires into conduits on Humphrey street.
Voted. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Committee post- poning the question of putting wires into conduits in Burrill and New Ocean streets.
POLICE DEPARTMENT .- [Town Report, Pages 137-138.]
Voted, Article 14. To adopt the recommendations of the Ways and Means Committee appropriating the sum of $10,800 for the general expenses of the Police Department.
Voted. To adopt the recommendation of the Ways and Means Com- mittee that the patrolmen of the Town be paid three dollars per day as amended to date from January 1, 1914.
BOARD OF ASSESSORS .- [Town Report, Page 215. ]
Voted, Article 15. To adopt the recommendation of the Ways and Means Committee appropriating the sum of $1,850 for the Board of Assessors.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR .- [Town Report, Page 216.]
Voted, Article 16. To adopt the recommendation of the Ways and Means Committee appropriating the sum of $3,800 for the Poor Depart- ment for the ensuing year.
TREE WARDEN.
Voted, Article 17. To adopt the recommendation of the Ways and Means Committee appropriating the sum of $1,000 for the Tree Warden Department.
CEMETERY DEPARTMENT .- [Town Report, Page 144.]
Voted, Article 18. To adopt the recommendation of the Ways and Means Committee appropriating the sum of $1,800 for the care and maintenance of the Cemetery.
43
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1914]
HUMPHREY STREET SEWER EXTENSION .- [Town Report, Pages 237-238.]
Voted, Article 19. To adopt the recomendations of the Ways and Means Committee appropriating the sum of $16,000 for the extension of the Sewer System in Humphrey street, according to the plan of the Special Sewerage Committee as contained in their report on pages 237 and 238 of the Annual Report, December 31, 1913, and that the amount be raised by the issuance of bonds or notes of the Town.
Voted. To reconsider the vote taken February 17, 1914, whereby it was voted " that the School Committee be not authorized to employ an athletic instuctor."
Voted. To take up for action together Articles 20 and 22.
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT .- [Town Report, Pages 151-153. ]
Voted, Articles 20 and 22. To accept and adopt the recommendations of the Ways and Means Committee as amended, appropriating as follows :
General Expenses of School Department ·
$51,000 00 .
Original Equipment
1,500 00
Athletic Instruction
750 00 .
Total
·
$53,250 00
the sum of $1,500 for original school equipment to be raised by issuance of bonds or notes of the Town.
Voted. That when we adjourn it be to Friday evening, March 20, at 7.45 o'clock.
Voted. To adjourn at 10 P. M.
Attest : GEORGE T. TILL, Town Clerk.
Adjourned Meeting, March 20, 1914.
In accordance with the adjournment of March 18, 1914, more than 100 legal voters of the Town assembled at the Town Hall on Friday evening, March 20, 1914.
The meeting was called to order at 8 o'clock by the Moderator, Daniel F. Knowlton.
The Town Clerk read the records of the last meeting and they were approved.
Report of the Committee appointed under Article 21.
To the citizens of the Town of Swampscott :
Your Committee appointed to investigate the needs of the High School held a meeting Friday evening, March 6, and organized with J. Henry Welch as Chairman and Arthur F. Stubbs as Secretary. In view of the fact that the Ways and Means Committee had not yet reported on the article and no funds being available with which to secure tentative sketches of modifications of the present building it was deemed wise to forego further action until after the adjourned Town Meeting. As the members of the Board of Selectmen on the Committee find their time well taken up with the duties of their office it is their wish that they be relieved of serving on this special committee, which would recommend to the Town the appointment of a new committee consisting of the members of the School Committee and four citizens not holding public office, to be named by the Moderator.
Very respectfully, A. W. STUBBS, Secretary.
Voted. To accept and adopt the report of the Special Committee on High School enlargement and remodelling.
Voted, Article 21. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee appropriating the sum of $100 for the use of the Special Committee to secure plans for the enlargement and remodeling of the High School.
44
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Voted, Article 23. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee indefinitely postponing the matter of erecting a pedestal for the cannon on the High School grounds.
Voted, Article 23. That the cannon on the High School grounds be turned over to General James L. Bates, Post 118, G. A. R.
Voted, Article 24. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee appropriating the sum of $500 for the Teachers' Pension Fund.
Voted, Article 25. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee indefinitely postponing the matter of an appropriation for the High School Alumni Scholarship Fund.
Voted, Article 26. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee indefinitely postponing the extension of the sewer in Bay View avenue.
Voted, Article 27. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee appropriating the sum of $600 for the extension of the sewer in Greenwood avenue and that the sum be raised by the issuance of bonds or notes of the Town.
Voted, Article 28. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee granting a Saturday half holiday to the employees of the Highway, Water, Sewer and Moth Departments during the entire year.
Voted, Article 29. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee as amended appropriating the sum of $800 for the purpose of cele- brating the Fourth of July and that a new Committee of four citizens be appointed by the Moderator to act with the Park Commissioners in this matter.
Voted, Article 30. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee indefinitely postponing the matter of an appropriation for Band Concerts during the season of 1914.
Voted. That it is the sense of this meeting that the Board of Selectmen and the Park Commissioners be instructed to petition the Metropolitan Park Commission to grant Band Concerts in this locality the coming season.
Voted, Article 31. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee appropriating the sum of $312 for the extension of the water main through Clark avenue, and that this amount be transferred from an unex- pended balance left from the water appropriation for Galloupe's Point.
Voted, Article 32. That the recommendation of the Ways and Means Committee be not adopted and that the Board of Selectmen be author- ized to straighten the line on Redington street as petitioned for and that the sum of $600 be appropriated for the same.
Voted, Article 33. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee appropriating the sum of $400 for the construction of the Marshall Brook outlet, the work to be done under the supervision of the Highway Surveyor, said sum to be raised by the issuance of notes or bonds of the Town.
Voted, Article 35. To appropriate the sum of $6,000 for continuous sidewalks as recommended by the Ways and Means Committee, that the amount be raised by the issuance of notes or bonds of the Town.
Voted, Article 36. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee appropriating the sum of $4,500 for laying the dust in the streets, and that the oil be purchased by the Highway Surveyor and the work done under his supervision.
Voted, Article 38. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Committee indefinitely postponing action on this matter, which pertains to the collection of ashes and garbage under supervision of the Board of Health.
Voted, Article 40. To accept the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee indefinitely postponing the subject matter of this article, the same having been acted upon at a previous meeting.
Voted, Article 41. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee appropriating the sum of $4,200 for the purpose of refunding to
45
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1914]
the Treasury the amount expended in laying water pipes in Crosman avenue and replacing the water pipes at Galloupe's Point, and that this sum be raised by the issuance of notes or bonds of the Town.
Voted, Article 42. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee appropriating the sum of $1,920 for the purpose of refunding to the treasury the amount expended in the construction of sewers in Roy and Rockland streets and for procuring plans for an extension of the sewerage system and that the sum of $1,900 be raised by the issuance of notes or bonds of the Town and that the sum of $20 be transferred from the Sewer Department receipts.
Voted, Article 46. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee that the Town issue notes or bonds to an amount not exceeding $50,000 for the purposes set forth in and under the authority given by Chapter 778 of the Acts of 1913 entitled "An Act relative to the Laying Out and Construction of Humphrey street in the Town of Swampscott."
Voted. To instruct the Board of Health to insert in the contract for collecting ashes that the same shall be dumped on Phillips park when practicable.
Voted, Article 47. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee as follows : That the following be fixed as the particulars of the bonds or notes to be issued by the Town for the purposes set forth in the vote under Article 46 of the Warrant which relates to the appropriation of the sum of $50,000 by virtue of the authority given by Chapter 778 of the Acts of 1913, said sum being the estimated cost to the Town of the recon- struction of that part of Humphrey street described in said Act. Bonds or notes may be issued from time to time, for such amount not exceed- ing in the aggregate the sum of $50,000 as shall be determined by a majority of the Board of Selectmen to be necessary for said purposes.
Such bonds or notes shall be of the denomination of either five hundred dollars each or one thousand dollars each, shall be dated during the current year ; shall bear interest at a rate not exceeding four per centum (4%) per annum, payable semi-annually, 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 on their face the words, "Swamp-
scott Humphrey Street Loan Act of 1913." Such bonds or notes shall be payable by annual payments beginning not more than one year from the date thereof, as will extinguish each loan within twenty years from its date, and the amount of such annual payment of any loan in any year shall not be less than the amount of the principal of said loan payable in any subsequent year. They shall be authenticated by some bank, trust company, or by the Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics, and shall be sub- ject to registration at the holder's option on presentation to the Town Treasurer for cancellation of the coupons (if coupon bonds be 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 Selectmen may designate.
All other particulars as to form, issuance and sale of said bonds shall be determined by the Town Treasurer and Selectmen, but said bonds shall not be sold for less than par and interest. (Unanimous.)
Voted, Article 47. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee as follows : That the following be fixed as the particulars of the bonds or notes to be issued by the Town for the purposes set forth in Articles 12, 19, 27, and 42 of the Warrant, which relate to the appropria- tion of $3,500 for sewers in Stetson avenue, $16,000 for sewers in Humphrey street, $600 for sewers in Greenwood avenue and $1,900 for sewers in Roy and Rockland streets, said appropriations aggregating the sum of $22,000.
There shall be twenty-two bonds or notes for one thousand dollars each, numbered one to twenty-two inclusive. 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 their 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-
46
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
half per centum (42%) per annum, payable semi-annually, shall be authen- ticated by some Bank or Trust Company, or by the Massachusetts Board 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 Select- men 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 Select- men, but said bonds or notes shall not be sold for less than par and inter- est. (Unanimous.)
Voted, Article 47. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee as amended as follows : That the following be fixed as the partic- ulars of the bonds or notes to be issued by the Town for the purposes set forth in Article 41 of the Warrant, which relates to the appropriation of $4,200 for water mains in Crosman avenue and at Galloupe's Point ; $200 shall be taken from the receipts of the Water Department and there shall be four bonds or notes for one thousand dollars each, numbered one to four, inclusive. 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 and a majority of the Water Commissioners (now Water and Sewerage Board) shall bear interest at a rate not exceeding four and one-half per centum (42 per cent) per annum, payable semi-annually, shall be authenticated by some bank or trust company, or by the Massachusetts Bureau of Sta- tistics, shall be subject to registration at the holder's option on presenta- tion 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 Selectmen shall designate. Said bonds or notes shall bear on their face the words, "Swampscott Additional Water Loan, Act of 1912." 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. (Unanimous.)
Voted, Article 47. To adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee as follows : That the following be fixed as the particulars of the bonds or notes to be issued by the Town for the purposes set forth in Articles 4, 20, 33 and 35, relating to the following appropriations : $1,600 for original street construction, $6,000 for macadam pavement, $1,000 for original equipment of Hadley School, $400 for Marshall Brook outlet, and $6,000 for sidewalks, said appropriations aggregating, $15,000.
There shall be 15 bonds or notes for $1,000 each, numbered one to 15, inclusive. They shall be dated during the current year. Bonds or notes numbered one, two and three, shall be payable one year from their date, and three bonds or notes shall be payable each year thereafter in numeri- cal order. Such 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 per ceutum (42%) per annum, payable semi-annually, shall be authenticated by some Bank or Trust Company, or by the Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics, shall be subject to registration at the holder's option upon presentation to the Town Treasurer for cancellation of the 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 Selectmen shall designate. Said
47
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1914]
bonds or notes shall bear on their face the words, " Swampscott Miscella- neous Loan, 1914." Said bonds or notes shall be sold under the direction of the Town Treasurer and 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 Board of Selectmen, but said bonds or notes shall not be sold for less than par and interest. (Unanimous.)
Report of the Board of Selectmen upon Article 2 of Town Warrant dated January 9, 1914, and Article 43 of Warrant for Annual Meeting, 1914, was read.
Report of Selectmen on Blaney's Beach.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :-
At the special meeting held January 9, 1914, the following article appeared in the Warrant :
"Article 2. To see if the Town will authorize and direct the Board of Selectmen to take whatever appropriate action may be necessary for the registration of the title in the Town of Swampscott, to that part of Blaney's Beach, so called, bounded easterly by land taken by the Town of Swampscott for Park purposes ; southerly by the sea; westerly by land taken by the Town of Swampscott for Park purposes, and northerly by existing walls and lines between the same, as petitioned for by Whitfield A Stubbs and others.
The vote of the meeting upon this article was as follows: "To adopt this article and refer it to the Board of Selectmen."
This article appeared in the Warrant upon petition of about thirty-five citizens who live in the vicinity of this beach, some of whom have a per- sonal knowledge of conditions existing there for at least four generations, and they all are remonstrants against certain parties walling in more beach than they have heretofore occupied, and against other parties claiming title through the Land Court of property which they claim belongs to the inhabitants of the Town of Swampscott.
The title to this beach and upland may be problematical. We find upon examination of the title deeds of the land on Orient street that some of them bound by the wall; others by the beach; others by the ocean, and still others by a certain distance from the street. The Town claims title to this property between the existing walls and the ocean by open, notori- ous, continuous and adverse use from time immemorial.
We have had the Town Engineer prepare a plan of these properties which shows the walls and high water line of September 25, 1913. These walls as at present constructed form an irregular line without any regard for the adjoining walls or to the contour of the ocean, and we have had drawn upon this plan in red a line which is about 70 feet from and par- allel to the average summer high tide and beyond which no structure should be allowed to exist. This line begins at the corner of the present wall recently constructed by Lydia A. Farnham and ends at a point on the highway laid out by the Town in 1874, which is 26 feet south of the Effie I. Lake wall. The minimum distance between this line and existing walls or buildings is four feet, which occurs at land of the Real Estate Associates ; the maximum distance 44 feet, which occurs at land of John Haley.
It would seem to your Selectmen that the purpose of an owner living on the property would be to get an unobstructed view of the sea at all times, and to be assured that their neighbors would not build in such a manner as to obstruct their view and vice versa, also that free passage on the beach could be obtained above high water line except in cases of severe storms. An agreement using this line as a base would meet these requirements.
It was suggested that the Town build a concrete wall upon this line, fill behind same with sand and then have the Town and each adjoining owner sign an agreement or indenture releasing all their rights, title and interest on each side of the line. Acting thereon we gave a hearing to the owners
48
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
on January 30, 1914, at which hearing 14 of the 18 owners appeared and a majority signified their intention of signing such agreements. The cost of this work is estimated to be about $7,000 and if all the owners would sign it would avoid all Court proceedings and probably settle the question without delay.
At the present time there are two cases pending in the courts claiming title to low water line, namely : Mary E. Redfern and George E. Noyes, against which the Selectmen have filed objections.
In regard to the proposition to build the wall and appropriate the sum of $7,000 it does not seem to us advisable at the present time, inasmuch as the abutters are not a unit in this proposition and we think the Town should be careful in its appropriations for the next three years.
In regard to protecting the Town's interest during registration proceed- ings we ask authority to execute papers in accordance with above report based upon the line shown in red upon the plan filed in the Land Court and suggest the following vote be passed :- To authorize and direct the Selectmen, or a majority thereof, on behalf of the inhabitants of the Town of Swampscott to sign, seal, acknowledge and deliver to the adjoining owners, or such person or persons as they may in writing appoint, a quitclaim deed of all the right, title and interest of said Inhabitants to that parcel of land lying north of the red shown upon the plan of these prem- ises and drawn by W. A. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated February 10, 1914, provided, however, that the adjoining owners in return deliver to the Selectmen, in the name of the inhabitants of the Town of Swampscott, a quitclaim deed of all the right, title and interest which they may have to any portion of that parcel of land lying south of the above described red line.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.