USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1917 > Part 18
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X. Town Hall.
In the annual report of the board for 1916 a general rearrangement of the departmental offices in the Town Hall was recommended. This work was authorized by the town, and has been carried out under the direction of the board with highly satisfactory results.
It can now be said that all of the executive officers of the town are suit- ably provided for in the Town Hall. All of the new offices have been refinished, and in several cases provided with modern furniture.
The location of the offices of the Assessors and of the Tax Collector will greatly facilitate the work of these two departments. It is, also, of great convenience to have the Town Engineer located on the first floor.
In making the change it has been found possible to enlarge and rear- range the quarters of the Board of Health, and at the same time provide a general committee room. It will be of interest to the citizens to note that the latter has been used since early in the war for the work of the Selective Draft Board, and in this way it has been put to immediate prac- tical use.
The board desires to call the attention of the citizens to the necessity
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for a thorough painting of the exterior of the Town Hall in order to pro- tect it from the weather. It is many years since the Town Hall was painted, and the matter should be attended to immediately, as the wood- work in some parts of the building is exposed and will quickly deteriorate.
The board recommends an appropriation of $700, to cover the expense of painting the Town Hall.
XI. Street Lighting.
There has been no material change as regards street illumination of the town during the past year. The following is a list of the lights now in use :
Arc, every night II
Arc, moonlight
85
Incandescent .
3II
The cost of these lights, as supplied by the Lynn Gas & Electric Company, has been $12,500.
For the information of the citizens, the street lighting contract expires July IIth, 1918. The Board has taken this matter up with the Lynn Gas & Electric Co., but, owing to the present unsettled conditions, it is improbable that a new contract will be entered into until after the war.
The board recommends an appropriation of $12,500 for street lighting for 1918.
XII. Underground Wires.
Owing to the abnormal cost of labor and material, the board deemed it wise to postpone the underground wire program for the present.
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XIII. Forest Warden.
Everett P. Mudge was appointed Forest Warden on January 5, 1917, as provided by the Revised Laws. This appointment was approved by the State Forester.
XIV. Gypsy Moth Department.
Everett P. Mudge was reappointed to superintend the gypsy moth work. His report on the work of the past year appears on page 123. The Board recommends an appropriation of $5,000 for the work of the department as suggested by the State Forester.
XV. Law.
The board reappointed James W. Santry, Town Counsel. The work of his department has been performed in a prompt and thorough manner. As chairman of the Federal Selective Draft Board for the 24th Division, he and his associates, Dr. Loring Grimes and the Honorable Arthur S. Adams, of Marblehead, have handled a new and difficult problem in a most creditable manner.
Board of Selectmen, Swampscott, Mass.
GENTLEMEN,-I herewith submit my report as Counsel for the town for the year 1917.
Much of the legal work has consisted in representing the town at hear- ings before the Public Service Commission and before Committees of the
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Legislature. The hearings before the Public Service Commission per- tained to schedules filed by the Bay State Street Railway Company, involving increases in the rates of fare. As originally submitted, these rates affected materially the residents of the town, but as finally adopted, Swampscott was placed upon the same basis as the City of Lynn, enjoy- ing the same rates of fare and the same privileges of transfer as that community. The last hearing was on the establishment of a zone system by this road. As the hearings progressed, Swampscott was eliminated, and there are now no pending schedules before the Public Service Com- mission affecting in any way the residents of the town.
The Bay State Street Railway Company has also sought to increase its revenue by introducing petitions into the Legislature, asking to be relieved from the payment of taxes and also from any obligation to do work upon streets in which its tracks are located. These petitions were referred to a Recess Committee, and hearings were held during the summer. Acting under instructions from your Board, I appeared and opposed these measures. The committee is now preparing its report and will submit it to the Legislature now in session.
Another bill, concerning which there were several hearings, sought to retain, for the use of the Commonwealth, the excess produced by the income tax, so-called, rather than have it distributed among the cities and towns, as provided by Section 23 of Chapter 269 of the Acts of 1916. There was strong opposition, however, to this, resulting in the passage of Chapter 317 of the Acts of 1917, which provides for the distribution of any such excess among cities and towns in the year 1918 on the same basis as it was distributed in the year 1917.
The case of Adelaide L. Jordan against the town was tried during November, 1917. It was a suit against the town and also against the Bay State Street Railway Company. It arose from injuries sustained by the plaintiff by falling over a railway tie in the vicinity of the Monument while Humphrey street was under construction. It has, however, been settled by the Bay State Street Railway Company, so that nothing was paid by the town.
A settlement of the suit brought by the Town of Swampscott against the City of Lynn is now under discussion. This suit seeks the abatement of the nuisance arising from the maintenance of an outlet by the City of Lynn in the vicinity of Herrick's factory, causing sewage to be deposited upon land owned by the town. The matter has been discussed by repre- sentatives of the town, and of the City of Lynn, and a report has already been prepared which will be considered when the department, having con- trol of such matters, is organized under the charter recently adopted by the City of Lynn.
The case of John E. Newhall, of Salem, vs. the Town of Swampscott is pending in the Superior Court at Salem, and arose from injuries to the plaintiff while riding in a car of the Boston & Maine Railroad Company by reason of a piece of wood being blown from the bridge along Essex street into the car and striking the plaintiff, resulting in slight injuries. There has been some talk of a settlement, but, in my opinion, the town is in no way liable.
The petition brought by Messrs. Philbrick & Pope for the assessment of damages caused by the laying out of Cedar Hill terrace has been settled.
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The town has recently brought suit against Michael McDonough, to recover the sum of $1,353.51, paid by the town in May, 1914, in settle- ment of a verdict obtained against the town and against Mr. McDonough by Annie P. Blackmore. It arose from injuries sustained by her while walking along Sheridan road in November, 1911, by reason of the alleged acts of negligence of the men in the employ of Mr. McDonough, who was then constructing a sewer in Sheridan road under a contract with the town. The town was also sued, and a verdict obtained against both defendants. As stated above, the verdict was paid by the town, and it is now seeking reimbursement from Mr. McDonough by reason of a stipulation in the contract under which the sewer was being constructed that he would save the town harmless from the payment of any damages arising from a cause of this nature. There is also a suit, brought by Michael McDonough against the town, that is pending in the District Court of Southern Essex, to recover certain sums which he alleges the town owes him.
Other pending litigation consists of the case of John Benson against the town, arising from injuries sustained from a blast that was let off by Louis Marino while excavating a water trench under contract with the Water and Sewerage Board, and the case of Christopher Beatricia vs. the town for injuries sustained while working in a trench while in the employ of the Water and Sewerage Board.
In addition to the above, there are several petitions in the Land Court, brought by abutters along Blaney Beach, to register their title to certain parts of the same. Shortly after these petitions were filed, the town made an agreement, in writing, with several of the petitioners, by the terms of which they agreed to release to the town all interests in the beach lying between certain points indicated on a plan on file, in consideration of the construction by the town of a retaining wall and of the doing of certain other work by the town upon their premises. There is a stiputation that the wall above described must be built by the town on or before January I, 1920, and a further provision that, unless it is built on or before the above date, the agreement shall be null and void. Because of this agree- ment, there have been no hearings upon these petitions.
I have also attended to all of the legal work concerning the various departments of the town, consisting of the taking of easements in con- nection with the laying out of the intercepting sewer, drawing grants per- taining to the same, advising the departments on many occasions, and attending to matters in the Lower Court when requested to do so.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) JAMES W. SANTRY.
XVI. Streets Accepted.
The following streets were accepted by the town at the adjourned meeting of February 20, 1917, subject to signing of waivers :
Arbutus Road, Aspen Road, Bradlee Avenue (portion), Harrison Avenue (portion), Hillcrest Circle (portion ).
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Manton Road, Prospect Avenue (portion ), Sargent Road (portion), Sheridan Terrace, Stanwood Road, Stimpson Road (portion).
XVII. Selectmen.
At the annual meeting of 1914 the town voted that when the terms of the Board of Selectmen expired, members should be elected each year. Under this vote three members of the board will be voted for at the next annual election.
MISCELLANEOUS.
'I. Salaries.
The Board desires to call attention to the general principle that salaries of officials or workers in the town should be determined prior to the Annual Town Meeting, and passed upon by the voters.
Owing to the extreme cost of living during 1917, several departments have increased the pay of employees, and the board has passed these. However, the practice should be discouraged, and department heads are requested to anticipate any wage increase, so far as possible, and provide for them in their annual budget.
II. Insurance.
The Insurance Sinking Fund now amounts to $3,902, and if it is to be of material value to the town, it should be increased each year.
When the Act creating the fund was accepted in 1916 the town omitted to appoint Sinking Fund Commissioners, as called for by law. The Board, however, assumed the responsibility of investing $3,500 of this fund in the Liberty Loan, and placed the remainder in the local savings bank at interest.
The board recommends that $2,000 be appropriated for the Insurance Sinking Fund.
Referring to the regular fire insurance carried on property in the town, it is the policy of the board to divide this equitably among our citizens.
III. New Streets.
Petitions for the following new streets have been received :
Crosman Avenue, Linden Avenue.
Plans for these have been prepared by the Town Engineer, and waivers signed.
These petitions will be submitted to the town for action in the usual manner.
IV. Brooks.
The situation at Thomas road has been greatly improved by the con- struction of a drain, authorized at the last annual town meeting, and this
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has also overcome flooding and some of the drainage troubles along Paradise road, which sometimes occur during an extremely heavy rainfall.
During the year the board has made a careful study of Stacey Brook, which, owing to its present condition, overflows occasionally during heavy thunder storms. This is a question which has long been before the town. and the Board requested a conference with the Municipal Council of Lynn. This was held on September 5th, and a Committee, consisting of the City Solicitor and City Engineer of Lynn, and the Town Counsel and Town Engineer of Swampscott, was named to report on the subject.
The matter of remedying this trouble is of mutual interest to both Lynn and Swampscott, and now for the first time a spirit of cooperation has been established between the two municipalities.
The Stacey Brook situation is an important one, especially as a large number of dwellings have been erected in the vicinity and others are contemplated.
Owing to a clause in the Lynn Charter, this proposition cannot be brought up in time to permit a definite recommendation on the part of the board at the Annual Meeting. It is expected, however, that the matter can be satisfactorily arranged, and a plan put through at a subse- quent Town Meeting.
V. By-Laws.
The By-Laws Committee has completed its work, and the Board has printed the Revised By-Laws for use of the citizens of the Town. It has been seven years since the last By-Laws were issued, and this new edition should be of great help to all interested. This will be particularly true as regards the building laws, which were recently accepted by the town.
VI. Public Library.
The board takes this opportunity to refer to the Public Library building which was completed in 1917, under the direction of the Committee on Increased Accommodations for Library.
This is not only an ornament to the town, but an edifice which will long serve as an educational force in the community. The erection and arrangement of the library has involved a large amount of work on the part of the building committee, On behalf of the citizens of Swampscott the board desires to express its appreciation of their public spirited service.
The Committee on Increased Accommodations for Library :
Elisha W. Cobb, Elizabeth J. Hadley, Francis E. Ingalls,
F. Keeler Rice, Henry B. Sprague, Frank F. Stanley,
Elihu Thomson.
VII. Essex Street Pavement.
Owing to the financial paralysis of the Bay State Street Railway Com- pany it was impossible to construct the concrete pavement on Essex street as authorized by the citizens at the annual town meeting.
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As provided in the report of the Finance Committee, this work was made conditional, upon work to be done by several public service corpo- rations. The Bay State, however, not only refused to double-track the section between Burrill street and the Lynn line, but, also, would not repair the existing single track, and put it in such condition as to warrant the expenditure of a large sum of money by the town on permanent con- crete construction.
The Board held several conferences with the officials of the Bay State Street Railway Company, and was unable to obtain any satisfactory action.
Undoubtedly, Essex street should be reconstructed, but under the existing conditions this does not seem possible at present.
The board recommends that this matter be left open until such time as the Bay State Street Railway Company can do necessary work on its tracks. In the meantime, temporary repairs will be made under the direction of the Surveyor of Highways.
VIII. Humphrey Street Car Barn, Bay State Street Railway Company.
In our last annual report mention was made of the possible removal of the Humphrey street barn of the Bay State Street Railway Company. This matter is still under consideration, and it is probable that the car barns will be eliminated before long.
IX. Jitney Bus Act.
Owing to the unsettled condition of the affairs of the Bay State Street Railway Company, especially as regards service and high cost of fares, the board granted the following jitney licenses :-
George A. Elliott, Walter L. Libbey,
Arthur F. Mayhew, Charles D. Sidell,
C. Lester Weston.
On general principles we believe that public service corporations should be protected by various municipalities in which they operate. Under the conditions existing with the Bay State Street Railway Company, how- ever, it is our opinion that the town must protect itself and the convenience of the citizens.
At present the town receives no appreciable income from such jitneys, and is only indirectly protected by the bonds required by the City of Lynn.
An opportunity for the citizens to pass on this Act will be afforded, and it is hoped that it will be accepted.
X. Soldiers' Special Town Meeting.
Under Chapter 264 of the Acts of 1917 Towns of the Commonwealth are authorized to appropriate money for the purpose of furnishing equip- ment and necessary articles for our soldiers. The board, accordingly, called a Special Town Meeting, which was held on August 28th, at which the sum of $2,000 was appropritaed, to be spent under the direction of the board.
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After careful investigation, it was decided to supply each man from Swampscott in any branch of the United States' service, either Army, Navy or Marine Corps, with a special safety razor shaving outfit which could readily be carried in the pack or pocket. The board caused these to be stamped in gold with the seal of the town and the words :
"Presented to (Soldier's name) By the Town of Swampscott, Mass."
This gave individuality and a personal touch to the gift, which has been greatly appreciated by the men, who have responded in a large number of cases. The total costs of shaving kits, together with tobacco and cards, was $805.26.
As Swampscott has over thirty-five men in the 10Ist United States Field Artillery, it was decided to contribute $300 to the fund of the Regimental Association.
The sum of $173.61 has been expended for musical instruments and comfort kits for the men at Ayer, and $224.94 for worsted which the ladies of the town, working in the Red Cross and Equal Suffrage Club, also school teachers and pupils, have made up into articles for our soldiers.
The board has made plans to keep informed regarding Swampscott men wherever stationed, and has assisted relatives and dependents to obtain such help, as they are entitled to under the laws of the State and Federal Government.
It is the wish and intention of the board to make all Swampscott men in the service feel that they are not forgotten, and not only care for the men themselves, but look after their interests at home and abroad so far as possible.
This will involve some expenditure of money, and the board recom= mends that $2,000 be appropriated for the purpose of supplying equip- ment for the soldiers in 1918, to be spent under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
XI. Fire Department.
For sometime the affairs of the Fire Department have not been in a satisfactory condition, and, without placing definite responsibility for this, the board felt that the Chief of the Fire Department should be given proper recognition, and a place on the Board of Fire Engineers. Without this he could not be expected to maintain discipline and efficiency in the department. For some time he had been a chief in name only, and the board felt that either he should be given the powers which usually go with the position of Chief, or be relieved altogether.
In order to correct the situation and to effect other desirable changes in personnel, it was decided to create an entirely new board, which organized as follows :
HORACE R. PARKER, Chairman, WIEAR L. ROWELL, Secretary, GEORGE H. CAHOON, Chief.
The morale of the Fire Department is much improved. With th receipt of the LaFrance ladder truck in December, the Department is now wholly motorized, and in personnel and equipment compares favor- ably with any department in the Commonwealth.
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The board desires to point out that all motor fire apparatus of the town is now of the same make, and was supplied by a company whose entire business is the manufacture of fire-fighting machines. This is of import- ance from the standpoint of maintenance and operation, and is in marked contrast with the practice of many other towns and cities which have purchased motor equipment not especially designed for fire work, and of various makes, some of which are now obsolete.
A report on the subject of the ladder will appear elsewhere.
XII. Pensions.
The board recommends that $300 be appropriated to cover a pension for Nettie Smith, the widow of Everett Smith, who lost his life in service of the town.
The board recommends that $352 be appropriated to cover a pension for Peter Coan, who, after faithful service of thirty years, requested to be retired.
The Board recommends that $377 be appropriated to cover a pension for Michael Haley, who has served the town faithfully in the Highway Department since 1895, and who was in the United States Navy and Army for five years during the Civil War period. His health has broken down under his arduous duties.
These pensions were granted in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 503, of the Acts of 1912.
XIII. Blaney Beach.
Referring to the Blaney Beach wall proposition, it will be recalled that this must be completed before 1920, and there are two questions open : Either to appropriate the sum of $2,000 for the purpose of starting the wall during the coming summer, or obtain an extension of five years from the interested parties.
In order to bring this up for discussion, the board recommends that $2,000 be appropriated to carry out the agreement and start the wall on Blaney Beach.
XIV. Proposed Comfort Station at King's Beach.
The subject of a comfort station for the convenience of bathers at King's Beach has been under consideration for some time.
Several years ago, a bill was enacted by the Legislature providing for the expenditure of $5,000 for this purpose.
The Metropolitan Park Commission chose a site in Lynn which, in its opinion, was best suited for the purpose and proceeded with the work. This resulted in a protest by residents in the vicinity. The matter was then dropped for the time being.
Recently a bill was introduced in the present Legislature, providing for the erection of a large comfort station at great expense, $30,000 or $40,000, in the town of Swampscott, on a triangular piece of land at the end of the Boulevard walk, near the Monument.
Your board has carefully considered the matter from all points of view, and is unanimously opposed to this location, on the ground that should the building be erected, it would not serve the purpose for which it is
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intended, as it is too far distant from that part of the beach which is used by bathers. It would be, therefore, only a makeshift, and would place a large building in our principal square, and, at the same time, would reduce the value of taxable property in Swampscott at least $12,000, with a proportional increase in the Metropolitan Park tax.
Several of our citizens who pay heavy taxes objected to this, and, in addition, we found a strong public sentiment against the plan. The board, accordingly, took steps to oppose this location at a hearing before the Committee on Metropolitan Park affairs, held January 30th.
Undoubtedly, a small comfort station should be provided at a place where it would serve the purpose of the people of Lynn or others who use King's Beach.
It might be added that owing to natural conditions of the beach at the Swampscott end, it is frequently not a suitable place for bathing, and Swampscott citizens either go to the Lynn end of the beach or to Blaney beach.
XV. Swampscott Committee on Public Safety.
On Page 189 appear the names of the Swampscott Committee on Public Safety.
On March 21, 1917, the board held a conference with the Massachusetts Committee on Public Safety at the State House, Boston, and made plans to form such committees as would be useful for the Town of Swampscott. A mass meeting of the committee of fifty was held in the Town Hall on April 4th, and organized, after which the several sub-committees were named. Swampscott was one of the first towns in the Commonwealth to organize, and the results have been most gratifying.
The Executive Committee, through the Executive Manager, Walter A. Hall, has kept in touch with the general committee on Public Safety in Boston, and all of the committees have faithfully carried out the various instructions issued to them from time to time during the year. While no extreme emergency has arisen, the Commitees are thoroughly organized and stand ready to do whatever may be necessary to help in affairs inci- dent to the war.
As the war conditions and effects are realized more fully by the people of our country, it will be found more and more that the committees in the towns of the Commonwealth and throughout the country will be be needed to effectively carry out the wishes and will of the Government.
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