USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1915 > Part 3
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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.
We recommend 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 Article 3, relating to the appropriation of one thousand dollars for water main in Paradise Road, and the appropriation of one thousand dollars for water main in Burrill street.
There shall be four bonds or notes for $500 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 Water Commis- sioners (now Water and Sewerage Board) shall bear interest at a rate not exceeding 42 per cent per annum, payable semi-annually, shall be authen- ticated by some bank or trust company, or by the Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics, shall be subject to registration for cancellation of coupons (if coupon bonds are issued) and appropriate endorsement.
Principal and interest shall be payable at the office of the Town Treasur- er or at such bank or trust company as the Town Treasurer and Select- men 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 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 Select- men, but said bonds or notes shall not be sold for less than par and interest.
HENRY S. BALDWIN, WIEAR L. ROWELL, SIDNEY M. SHATTUCK, DAVID C. LASH, WILLIAM E. CARTER, E. HAROLD NEWHALL.
26
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Voted. To accept and adopt the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee, that the committee which was appointed at the Annual Meeting in February be instructed to proceed with the work according to the plans and specifications presented, appropriating the sum of forty seven thous- and dollars ($47,000) for this work, to be raised by notes or bonds of the Town. (Unanimous.)
Article. 2. Record of the Water and Sewer Board.
Motion made to accept and adopt the report.
Voted. That when we adjourn, it be to Monday evening, March 22, 1915, at 7.45 o'clock.
Voted. To adjourn at 8 P. M.
Attest : GEO. T. TILL, Town Clerk.
Adjourned Annual Meeting, March 16, 1915.
In accordance with the adjournment of February 16, the legal voters of the Town assembled at the Town Hall on Tuesday evening, March 17, 1915, there being a sufficient number of legal voters present to transact business.
The meeting was called to order at eight o'clock by Daniel F. Knowlton, Moderator.
Voted. To dispense with the reading of the records of the last meeting, February 16, 1915.
Report of the Ways and Means Committee.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
Your Committee of Ways and Means herewith submit their report on the Warrant for the annnal Town Meeting of the year 1915.
TOWN DEBT.
As has been previously pointed out by this Committee, the net bonded indebtedness of the Town has constantly increased.
For the year just closed, the increase amounts to $53,500. The interest charges on this constantly increasing debt, coupled with the fact that State and County taxes and current expenses are also larger each year, in our opinion calls for strict economy in appropriations and on the part of the officials of the Town.
For a five year period ending 1914, the notes payable, exclusive of water and sewer bonds, increased 53 per cent, but for a five year period ending 1915, the increase amounts to 88 per cent.
In the face of these facts, your Committee has not felt it advisable to approve many recommendations and articles that have individual merit, which under more favorable conditions would seem desirable.
We recommend the appropriation of the following amounts for the pur- poses specified :
General Debt
$39,200 00
Sewer Bonds
13,150 00
Interest on General Debt
13,294 77
Interest on Sewer Bonds
7,728 25
Interest on Temporary Loans
5,000 00
Total
$78,373 02
The Town's Balance Sheet, December 31, 1914, indicates " Premium Notes and Bonds "-$1, 177.25.
We recommend the transfer of this amount, $1,177.25, to " General Debt " maturing this year.
-
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1915]
For the purpose of reimbursing the Treasurer,
We recommend the transfer of $10,328.58 from the surplus revenue to appropriation overdrafts as shown on the Town Balance Sheet December 31, 1914; we further recommend the transfer of $25,000 from surplus revenue to general debt maturing 1915.
AGENCY.
While no definite information is available, it is probable that the State Tax will increase over last year, while it is hoped that the County Tax will remain about the same.
We recommend that the Town appropriate the following amounts for State and County Taxes :
State Tax
$32,000 00 .
County Tax .
.
21,000 00
Highway Tax and Bureau of Statistics 1,200 00 .
Total
.
$54,200 00
METROPOLITAN PARK ACCOUNTS.
In the nature of general fixed charges, the Town is assessed each year for a proportionate share of the cost and maintenance of the Metropolitan Park System.
We recommend the following amounts for Metropolitan Park Accounts :
Metropolitan Park Maintenance .
$3,600 00
Metropolitan Park Interest .
2,500 00
Metropolitan Park Sinking Fund
475 00
Total
$6,575 00
For other appropriations required by the Commonwealth,
We recommend that the Town appropriate the following amounts :
Moth Extermination
$4,500 00
State Aid
3,000 00
Soldiers' Relief
3,000 00
Total
$10,500 00
GENERAL GOVERMENT.
We recommend the following appropriations for the several departments mentioned :
Legislative .
.
$200 00
Selectmen
.
1,410 00
Auditing
1,200 00
Treasurer
785 00
Collector of Taxes
900 00
Town Clerk
300 00
Law
600 00
Election and Registration.
700 00
Engineering
4,000 00
Town Hall
2,200 00
Assessors
2,950 00
$15,245 00
Sealer of Weights and Measures
$90 00
Dog Officer
150 00
Care of Monument Lot
50 00
Memorial Day
200 00
Heating and Lighting G. A. R. Hall .
75 00
Town Reports
820 58
$1,385 58
Sewer Maintenance
$5,500 00
27
28
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.
General Expense
$19,100 00
Sidewalks and Curbs .
1,500 00
Catch Baisins and Gutters .
.
2,000 00
Street Lighting
12,500 00
Street Watering and Oiling
.
5,000 00
$40,100 00 Maintenance of Public Library . 1,400 00 We recommend the appropriation of $2,000 for the Contingent Fund.
ARTICLE 8 .- We recommend that the amount of bonds to be required by the Town Treasurer be $15,000.
ART. 9 .- We recommend that the amount of bonds to be required of the Collector of Taxes be $10,000.
ART. 10 .- We recommend that the amount of bonds to be required of the Water and Sewerage Commissioners be $3,000 for each member.
ART. II .- Your Committee considers it inadvisable to change the salaries of Town Officials and recommend that they remain the same as last year.
ART. 12 .- The plan of having a permanent Civil Engineer to act as Town Engineer has been tried for the past two years and is undoubtedly of advantage in securing uniformity in work of this nature.
We recommend that the sum of $1,800 be appropriated for the salary of a Civil Engineer to act as Town Engineer.
ART. 13 .- Each year it is necessary to borrow by notes or bonds sufficient sums for expenses of the Town, in anticipation of taxes.
We recommend that the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, be authorized to issue notes or bonds of the Town to the extent of $200,000 from time to time as required.
CONTINUOUS SIDEWALKS.
ART. 14 .- The policy of gradually extending the continuous grano- lithic sidewalks in the Town by a definite appropriation each year, appears to work out to advantage and meets with the approval of the citizens.
We recommend an appropriation of $6,000.00 for sidewalks to be con- structed of brick, stone, concrete, or other material of similar lasting character, to be raised by the issue of notes or bonds of the Town.
MUDGE BROOK CULVERT.
Mudge Brook has long been a source of great inconvenience, also a menace to the health of the Town. From time to time it is cleaned by the Town at a considerable expense-a wasteful operation that gives only temporary relief. At the last Town Meeting it was voted that the Select- men be instructed to have the Town Engineer prepare plans and specifi- cations for an adequate culvert on Paradise Road to take care of the sur- face water in that locality and report at the next annual Town Meeting. Since then the State Highway Commission has decided to reconstruct Paradise Road throughout the section that would be included in the cul- vert proposition. This means that the culvert must be built now if it is to be placed in the roadway where it belongs,-or not built at all for five years at least.
The Report of the Town Engineer in full appears on pp. 108-109 of the Town Report and explains the subject clearly.
Your Committee is of the opinion that now is the time to do this work to the best advantage of the Town, and while the expense is large, it is apparently warranted under the circumstances.
We recommend that the sum of $20,000 be appropriated to construct a culvert for Mudge Brook according to the Report of the Town Engineer, as contained in the Selectmen's Report, and that this amount be raised by notes or bonds of the Town.
29
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1915]
MUDGE BROOK ASSESSMENT.
The Selectmen recommend that an act of Legislature be obtained whereby the Town will have authority to levy an assessment on the adjoining abutters for their proportional part of the expense of construct- ing the culvert referred to above. Your Committee has carefully con- sidered the matter and is of the opinion that the Brook is a natural stream of water that has always flowed through the Town, and that it should not be considered in the same way as sewers, sidewalks or other improvements which are clearly necessary or desirable for the benefit of abutters. The disposition of brook draining in our opinion is a Town affair and should be paid for by the Town.
For the above reasons, we do not recommend a Special Act of Legis- lature for the proposed work.
BORROWING MONEY FOR PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS.
While your Committee agrees with the underlying principle of "Pay as you go," which no doubt has prompted the Board of Selectmen to make this recommendation, we are of the opinion that the Town should refrain from making a change in practice at this time and defer action until the period of so-called "double payment" has entirely passed. We would point out that it is the evident intent of the law to spread these expenses over a period of years for the purpose of keeping the tax rate more uniform.
We recommend that action on this subject be indefinitely postponed.
ART. 15 .- As the estimate of expenses of the Board of Assessors is con- tained in the report of the Selectmen, no separate recommendation by the Committee on Ways and Means is required.
ART. 16 .- The first recommendation relating to a sewer on Roy street is taken care of by recommendation in Article 37.
MARSHALL BROOK.
As a recommendation for a similar purpose appeared in a previous warrant and was acted upon by the Town, it should be explained that there are two brook outlets at Fisherman's Beach, each of which may be considered as belonging to Marshall Brook. One of these was rebuilt last year and the other is now in urgent need of reconstruction.
We recommend that the sum of $1,000 be appropriated to construct a cement concrete culvert at Marshall's Brook. outlet; also the following sums to be expended under the direction of the Board of Health, to' be raised by notes or bonds of the Town.
We further recommend that the following amounts be appropriated :
Sanitation
$3,150 00
Refuse and garbage
3,175 00
Total
$6,325 00
ART. 17 .- No special recommendations are made by the Overseers of the Poor in their annual report, but in consultation with them, it was pointed out that under existing arrangetnents, citizens of the Town who are unable to pay for hospital treatment must receive help from the Over- seers of the Poor,-thereby pauperizing them or be aided by private sub- scription, and while it may not be strictly within the province of this Committee to make a recommendation along this line, we take the oppor- tunity of calling attention to the fact that citizens of this Town contribute to the support of the Lynn Hospital, and that in consideration of this the Directors of the Hospital may consider it proper to treat such cases with- out charge.
We recommend that the sum of $3,800 be appropriated for the regular budget of the Overseers of the Poor.
ART. 18 .- Your Committee have investigated the several items referred to in the report of the Park Commissioners and believe that under existing conditions it would be advisable to make some curtailment in expendi- tures on parks and playgrounds.
During the past few years the Town has acquired a number of expensive
30
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
pieces of property for park purposes and considerable sums of money have been expended in accordance with the recommendations of the Park Board, with a view of putting them in condition for use. While it is recognized that work of this nature is desirable and beneficial, it is felt that improvements should be made gradually and that the appropriations should not be greatly increased from year to year without some special reason, and the budget asked for seems excessive.
We recommend that the following sums be appropriated by the Town to be expended under the direction of the Park Board :
Monument Avenue
$400 00
Paradise Road
300 00
Jackson Park
300 00
Blaney Beach
.
900 00
Phillips Park
500 00
Sundries
150 00
Total
$2,550 00
ART. 19 .- The School Committee has appeared before us and submitted a report covering their budget for the current year. This shows an increase of $2,750 over the corresponding amount for last year. This is accounted for almost wholly by proposed increases in the salaries of teachers, which we consider necessary in order to retain the services of competent and desirable teachers. Very little new equipment is asked for and your Committee feels that expenditures by the Town for educational purposes should be treated on a liberal basis.
We recommend that the Town appropriate $56,000 for the General Expenses of the School Department.
ART. 20 .- The Surveyor of Highways estimates that the expense of paving and curbing that portion of Essex street between the Lynn line and the Boston & Maine Freight Station would be $15,000.
Your Committee is of the opinion that it would not be advisable to undertake this work during the present year. There are several reasons for this, including the large amount of equally important work that must necessarily be taken up-also the fact that one of the main thoroughfares through to Salem will be closed to traffic for several months owing to its reconstruction by the State Highway Commission. It would be clearly inadvisable to close two of the principal highways through the Town at the same time. There is no reason, however, why the Surveyor of High- ways cannot make any necessary repairs in order to place the roadway in serviceable condition.
We recommend that this article be indefinitely postponed.
ART. 21 .- It is recognized that one of the greatest assets of a Town is its shade trees. The Town is growing from year to year and additional streets are being opened which require trees.
We recommend that the sum of $750 be appropriated for Tree Warden. '
ART. 22 .- Your Committee has carefully considered the question of increase in the salary of the Fire Chief and the two Assistant Engineers, and is of the opinion that the present condition of distress and lack of work when many men are entirely unemployed renders it inadvisable to make any change in salaries this year.
The Chief of the Fire Department refers in his report to the necessity of underground cables for the Fire System, where conduits have already been provided, and submits estimates covering such cable from Central Fire Station via New Ocean street to a point opposite Rock avenue, connecting with the underground wires of the City of Lynn. Also, from the Central Fire Station to the second pole on Pine Street, connecting with the aerial wire at that point. The cost of this work is estimated at $335. In addition to these cables, he further recommends installing a cable from the Central Fire Station to the corner of New Ocean street and Burrill street and from this terminal via Paradise Road and Berkshire street to the conduit terminals on pole at Hampden street. This is a part of the plan of placing all wires in the Town underground, as was voted at a recent annual Town Meeting.
31
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1915]
We recommend that the following amounts be appropriated :
Current Expense and Pay Roll
.
$13,200 00
Hydrant Rent
2,580 00
500 feet Hose .
400 00
One Fire Alarm Box
60 00
Underground Cables
525 00
Total
$16,765 00
ART. 23 .- Your Committee has carefully considered this article and believes, in connection with increase of salary, that the same policy should apply throughout the several departments.
We recommend that the sum of $11,500 be appropriated for the main- tenance and expense of the Police Department.
ART. 24 .- We recommend that the sum of $1,600 be appropriated for the care and maintenance of the Cemetery.
ART. 25 .- The appropriation called for in this article is provided for in our recommendation on the Selectmen's Report.
We recommend that no separate appropriation be made under this article.
ART. 26 .- We recommend that the sum of $500 be appropriated for Forest Warden.
ART. 27 .- The recommendation in the report of the Library Trustees is covered by Article 54.
We recommend that no separate appropriation be made under this article.
ART. 29 .- The section of sewer referred to in this article would accom- modate only a few residents at the present time, and it is felt that the expense would not be warranted by any conditions now existing.
We recommend that the article be indefinitely postponed.
ART. 30 .- Your Committee has investigated the proposition referred to in this article and find that there is no urgent necessity for a large outlay at present.
We recommend that this article be indefinitely postponed.
ART. 31 .- Your Committee favors this article, provided interest at the rate of 6 per cent is paid on the investment until the water rates of the users equal the interest.
We recommend that a 6-inch water main be laid under the above condi- tions and that the amount of $250 be raised by notes or bonds of the Town.
ART. 32 .-- Your Committee favors this article, provided interest at the rate of 6 per cent is paid on the investment until the water rates of the users equal the interest.
We recommend that a 6-inch water main be laid under the above condi- tions and that the amount of $1,250 be raised by notes or bonds of the Town.
ART. 33. It is recognized that the opening of new property is of value to the Town in many ways and should be encouraged. The initial expense of doing all the work called for by the article would be large. But your Committee has learned from the Water and Sewerage Board and the owners that the most urgent requirements would be met by the appropriation of $2,500 for extension of water mains.
We recommend that the sum of $2,500 be appropriated for the purpose of extending water mains as follows :
440 feet in Sargent Road, 640 feet in Aspen Road,
the amount to be raised by notes or bonds of the Town.
ART. 34-35 .- The Town Engineer advises your Committee that a 24- inch drain pipe, as requested in the article, will be insufficient to take care of the surface water at the point in question, and that a 36-inch pipe will be required. It is estimated that the expense of this project will be $2,100.
32
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
We recommend that the sum of $2, 100 be appropriated for the purposes of Articles 34 and 35, and that this amount be raised by notes or bonds of the Town.
ART. 36 .- Conditions regarding a sewer in Bay View avenue have not changed from last year, when a similar article appeared in the Warrant. The Town Engineer advises that a sewer in this street, when constructed, should extend in the direction of Cedar Hill terrace, and a sewer will undoubtedly be required in that street before many years.
We recommend that this article be indefinitely postponed.
ART. 37 .- Your Committee has viewed the conditions referred to on Roy street with the Town Engineer and finds that the sewerage problem is one of considerable difficulty and would involve a large amount of expense to accommodate a comparatively small number of dwellings. In our opinion, conditions can be best taken care of by a small private sewer connecting with the Roy street sewer.
We recommend that this article be indefinitely postponed.
ART. 38 .- At a previous Town Meeting, it was agreed to accept the Act of 1908, covering the establisment of a Pension Fund for teachers in the Public Schools.
This requires action from year to year.
We recommend that the sum of $659 be appropriated.
ART. 40 .- Your Committee recommends that the sum of $500 be appro- priated to improve the condition of schoolyards, to be expended under the direction of the School Committee and the Town Engineer. -
ART. 41 .- Your Committee is of the opinion that the Town could sell these pieces of property to good advantage, thereby realizing on the value and also benefiting by an increase in taxable property. It is improbable that this land will be required for Town use.
We recommend that this property be sold in the usual manner under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
ART. 42 .- Your Committee considers that this is a matter of local interest, and due to the necessity of retrenchment in other important directions, do not feel justified in recommending that a raft be constructed from Town funds, but that it is a matter for private subscription.
We recommend that this article be indefinitely postponed.
ART. 43 .- Appropriation has already been made in the budget of Tree Warden.
We recommend that no separate action be taken under this article.
ART. 44 .- We recommend that the sum of $500 be appropriated to be expended under the direction of a special committee of six to be appointed by the Moderator.
ART. 45 .- The by-laws require the Board of Assessors to publish a list of the valuation of estates once every five years. This period having expired, a report will be necessary during the current year.
We recommend that the sum of $600 be appropriated for this purpose, to be expended under the direction of the Board of Assessors.
ART. 46 .- Your Committee is advised by Counsel that the Town can- not appropriate money for the purpose specified in this article.
We recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
ART. 48 .- The subject matter of this article is a detail required by law. The taxes on the property in question having been paid in full, the object is to release any right or interest of the Town in order to clear the title to the property.
We recommend that this article be adopted.
ART. 53 .- Your Committee are of the opinion that an extra man is not required at Phillips Beach Engine House at present.
We rcommend that this article be indefinitely postponed.
ART. 54 .- It is recognized that the Town should have better library facilities than now exist. If the Town would appropriate $25,000 it has been intimated to us that a number of prominent citizens stand ready to contribute funds and otherwise promote the building of a Library.
33
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1915]
It is estimated that a suitable building could be erected at an expenditure of $40,000.
We recognize the desirability and necessity of a Library, but in view of the fact that the Town is facing an increased tax rate, we do not feel at liberty to recommend appropriation under this article.
We regret to recommend that this article be indefinitely postponed.
ART. 55 .- Article 60 appearing in the present Warrant asking for an appropriation for reconstructing a portion of Humphrey Street makes it particularly desirable to provide drainage at this time before a large sum of money is expended on the street.
We recommend that the sum of $900 be appropriated to build a 3 × 2} foot concrete drain as recommended by the Town Engineer, to be raised by notes or bonds of the Town.
ART. 57 .- The opinion of your Committee concerning the increase of salaries or wages has already been stated.
We recommend that this article be indefinitely postponed.
ART. 58 .- This matter was brought before the Town at a special meeting, but it was recommended that action be deferred until the next annual meeting.
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