USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1917 > Part 3
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Articles 71 to 75 inclusive referred to Finance Committee.
Voted, Article 76, To accept and adopt the following By-Law :
Chapter 5, Section 3. Every contract exceeding the sum of five hundred dollars ($500) shall be accompanied by security, by bond or otherwise, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the same.
Voted, Article 77, To accept and adopt the following By-Law :
Chapter 12, Section 4. Any person intending to erect a dwelling house or other building of a character not described in Chapter 635 of the Acts of 1912 shall make an application in writing to the Inspector of Buildings for a permit for the erection of the same on a form furnished by such Inspector.
He shall submit to said Inspector all plans and specifications pertaining thereto, and no work shall be done until a permit has been issued therefor.
No person having obtained such a permit shall proceed with any work without first notifying the Inspector as to time such work is to begin.
No permit issued by such inspector, whether for a new building or for alteration, shall be in force for a period longer than one year.
Section 5. Any alteration in or addition to any building already erected, or hereafter to be built, of a character not described in Chapter 635 of the Acts of 1912, except necessary repairs thereon, not affecting the construction of the external or party walls, chimneys or stairways, shall, to the extent of such work, be subject to these by-laws, and a permit therefor shall be obtained in the manner described in Section 4.
The rebuilding or repairing of any buildings which have been damaged by fire or other casualties, shall be subject to the restrictions wbich are imposed on the erection of new buildings by these by-laws.
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1917]
Section II. The external walls of any building, or any projection thereof, except such as described in Chapter 635 of the Acts of 1912, shall not be placed nearer than three feet to the line of dividing the premises upon which such building rests from the adjacent premises.
Article 78 was referred to Finance Committee.
Voted, That when we adjourn it be to Tuesday evening, March 27, at 8 o'clock.
Voted, To accept and adopt the following resolution :
Whereas, the tax rate of Swampscott has steadily increased during the past several years,
And, whereas, this condition is due largely to the ease with which money is appropriated at our town meeting,
Now, therefore, be it resolved that a committee, consisting of five voters, be appointed by the Moderator, for the purpose of studying the situation, with the view particularly of recommending some method of voting by ballot upon questions involving the appropriation or expendi- ture of money,with instructions to report theron at the next Annual Town Meeting.
Voted, To adjourn at 9.30 P. M.
Attest : GEORGE T. TILL, Town Clerk.
Adjourned Annual Meeting, 1916.
Agreeable to the last adjournment of the Annual Town Meeting of 1916. The meeting was called to order at 9.30 o'clock, February 20, 1917.
Voted, to dissolve the Annual Meeting of 1916.
Attest : GEORGE T. TILL, Town Clerk.
SWAMPSCOTT, February 20, 1917.
Petition was received for a recount of votes cast February 19 for Mem- ber of the Water and Sewerage Board for three years, signed by ten voters.
The votes were recounted by the Board of Registrars on Wednesday evening, February 21, which resulted in one additional for Charles E. Hodgdon, the result being same as before declared, Harold G. Enholm being elected ; declaration was made accordingly.
Attest : GEORGE T. TILL,
Town Clerk.
Adjourned Annual Meeting, March 27, 1917.
In accordance with the adjournment of February 20, the voters of the town assembled at the Town Hall on Tuesday evening, March 27, 1917.
The meeting was called to order by Daniel F. Knowlton, Moderator, promptly at eight o'clock, there being the necessary number of voters present to transact business.
Voted, To waive the reading of the records of the last meeting.
Voted, To adopt the following resolutions in support of the Govern- ment, adopted by a unanimous rising vote.
Resolutions by the voters of Swampscott in support of the Govern- ment :-
Whereas, our country has been brought to the verge of war by the unlawful acts of a foreign power ; and
Whereas, the problem of preparation for this event is fraught with the greatest difficulties, requiring the patriotic co-operation of every citizen to bring it to a successful issue ;
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the voters of Swampscott in Town Meeting assembled that we pledge our support to the President and his co-workers in this hour of national peril, and that we will take an active part in all measures proposed for the protection of our country.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Further, be it resolved that this resolution be spread on the records of the town, and that the Board of Selectmen be instructed to send a copy to the President of the United States.
HENRY S. BALDWIN, WILLIAM E. CARTER, CLARENCE B. HUMPHREY. Board of Selectmen, Swampscott, Mass.
Dated March 27, 1917.
Voted, To accept the report of the Finance Committee as read by Weston K. Lewis, Chairman.
Report of the Finance Committee.
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
Your Finance Committee submits herewith its report on the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting for 1917.
Aside from the intrinsic merit or necessity of the appropriations asked by the regular departments and by the special articles, your Com- mittee has, as last year, had constantly before it the effect of appropria- tions upon the tax rate. Last year your Committee found itself obliged in compliance with what it believed were the reasonable demands of the citizens for maintenance and improvements to make recommendations necessarily resulting in a substantial increase in the tax rate. Believing now as we did then that apart from the direct increase in the burden on the tax payers, a high tax rate is extremely detrimental both from an economic and from the advertising point of view, we have made every effort this year consistent with meeting real necessities to confine our recommendations within such limits as will not increase the rate. While we are not aware that any particular limit has been fixed for the propor- tion which taxation should bear to valuation, numerous examples of the deadening effect of a high rate upon the proper growth and development of towns are not far to seek. With this in mind, we believe that the present rate must not be exceeded unless we are prepared to inflict per- manent injury upon our town. In this connection, we submit the follow- ing table showing the relative increases in valuation and appropriations of the town :
The Valuation Increased
Appropriations Increased
From 1912 to 1913
·
.065
.196
From 1913 to 1914 .063 ·
.077
From 1914 to 1915 . .128
From 1915 to 1916 ·
.039
.143
Average 1912-1916
.073
.126
It is plain that this disproportion cannot continue indefinitely without economic disaster. The time to stop it is now.
There is another consideration which leads your Committee to recommend restraint in the matter of appropriations. The Income Tax Law has gone into effect and no local taxes are assessed upon incomes or intangibles. The law guarantees the town as its share of the Income Tax not less than the amount raised by taxation from intangible personal property and incomes by the town in 1915. This is very well as far as it goes, but in the first place there is no assurance that the proceeds of the Income Tax will be sufficient to satisfy the guarantee, and it is entirely conceivable that the State Tax apportioned to the town will consequently be substantially increased to meet the deficit. Furthermore, the appor- tionment of the Income Tax after this year is wholly in the hands of the Legislature and it is uncertain as to how towns like ours will fare in the distribution which may be determined upon. The latter consideration applies particularly to the obligations incurred this year to be paid out of the tax levy in future years.
It is a matter of common report that the extent of the appropriations by this year's Legislature is a source of concern and that the State Tax will
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1917]
be larger. We have no reason to believe that our County and Metropolitan Park contributions will be diminished.
The town departments ask appropriations from current revenue totalling $394,227.00. Special articles in the Warrant call for $12,396.00 more, making the total asked for $406,623.00. To meet this, there is $43,350.00 estimated receipts from sources other than taxation, $80,000.00 estimated apportionment of Income Tax, leaving a balance of $283,273.00 to be raised by local taxation. The Assessors estimate the real estate valuation at $12,000,000 and tangible personal property at $600,000. Assuming a $20.00 tax rate, the amount available from these sources would be $252,000, or $31,273 less than the amount necessary, if appropri- ations are to be made in accordance with the recommendations and special articles. As every $12,600 appropriated in excess of the above amount of $252,000 to be raised by taxation, will add one dollar to the tax rate, the problem confronting the town is obvious.
In addition to the amounts proposed to be expended from current income, the town departments ask for note issues totalling $47,000 and special articles ask for $95,500 which could be obtained by issuing notes, a total of $152,000. Of this, $128,650 would have to be borrowed within the debt limit. In 1915, according to the latest Bulletin of the Bureau of Statistics, Swampscott was eleventh among eighty-one towns in Massa- chusetts graded from high to low on the basis of percentage of fixed debt to valuation. To authorize the note issues asked would increase the general debt (excluding sewer and water notes) almost 50 per cent. General Debt outstanding is $330,800.00. The debt limit allowed by law is $460,000.00.
With the foregoing considerations in mind, your Committee has given thoughtful attention to the recommendations of the departments and the proposals for special expenditures. Substantially without exception the former reflected sincere interest in the public welfare and the latter were natural and not unreasonable requests. The Committee has regretted its inability to approve all the recommendations and proposals as made. It believes that pursuant to its recommendations, economies can be effected without serious impairment of the efficiency of the departments and with reference to the special articles without depriving citizens of their reason- able and rightful share in the benefits of our common government.
We would call the attention of the citizens to the large number of telephones which the town is paying for, as listed in the telephone direc- tory under the heading "Town of Swampscott." The total cost to the town for the rental of these telephones, including toll charges, was $1,568.78. From this should be deducted $175.15 for reimbursement, making the net cost to the town $1,393.63.
Of the thirty-nine telephones in the names of individuals, the six in the names of privates in the Police and Fire Departments are paid for in full by the men themselves, less the customary 333 per cent. discount. The others are paid for by the town.
We are convinced that a reduction could be made in this item of expense without any detriment to the public service ; and we recommend that this question be taken up at once by the various departments.
Article 8. To see what amount of bonds will be required of the Town Treasurer for the ensuing year. .
We recommend the amount of bonds to be required of the Town Treas- urer be $15,000.
Article 9. To see what amount of bonds will be required of the Collector of Taxes for the ensuing year.
We recommend the amount of bonds to be required of the Collector of Taxes be $10,000.
Article 10. To see what amount of bonds will be required of the Water and Sewerage Board for the ensuing year.
We recommend the amount of bonds to be required of the Water and Sewerage Board be $3,000 for each member.
2S
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Article 11. To see what amount of bonds will be required of the Town Clerk for the ensuing year.
We recommend the amount of bonds to be required of the Town Clerk be $1,000.
Article 12. To see what action the town will take in relation to salaries for town officials for the ensuing year.
We recommend that the salaries of the town officials remain the same as last year for the ensuing year with the following exceptions :
Since the appointment of the Health Officer, a great many of the duties formerly performed by members of the Board of Health are now performed by him, and we find that it is a fact that the Health Officer now does the bulk of the active work of the department. For this reason, we believe that without injustice, the salaries paid to the members of the Board of Health may be reduced, and we recommend that the salaries of these officers hereafter be as follows :
Chairman
Associates .
$100 00 75 00 each
The salary of the Tree Warden is dealt with under Article 16.
Article 14. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations in the report of the Superintendent of Cemetery as con- tained in the Annual Report, December 31, 1916, on page 116.
Your Committe has considered the report of the Superintendent of Cemetery. The continuance of the wall near Wright street, for which $800 is asked, is not an urgent matter and can well be postponed until a more opportune time.
We recommend the appropriation of $100 for an addition to the tool house, and $1,400 for the care and maintenance of the cemetery.
Articles 15 and 67. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations in the report of the Fire Engineers, as contained in the Annual Report, December 31, 1916, on page 120.
SALARIES OF ASSISTANT CHIEF AND CAPTAINS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
As these officers are at present receiving the same salary-$21 per week- as the men under them, who have less responsibility, we feel they are fairly entitled to the increase advised by the Board of Engineers ; and we, therefore, recommend that the salaries of the assistant chief and captains be made $23 and $22 per week, respectively.
CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FIRE ALARM SYSTEM.
We are advised that the greater portion of the sum desired ($400) is for extending the underground wire conduit in Burrill street, from Thomas road to the Town Hall, and laying cables therein from the Central Engine House on New Ocean street. This would allow the fire alarm whistle to be operated from Fire Headquarters, even if the rest of the system was disabled for any cause. Believing that this is a necessary expenditure for the better protection of life and property, we recommend the appropria- tion of $400 for this purpose.
MOTOR LADDER TRUCK.
After further investigation of the cost of maintenance of a motor ladder truck as contrasted with a horse drawn truck, and after further experience and observation of the actual working of the horse drawn truck on long runs, the committee is of the opinion that the ladder truck should be motorized.
We have considered so much of Article 15 as relates to the purchase of a motor ladder truck in connection with Article 67, calling for the appro- priation of $12,000 for the installation of new equipment in the Sewerage Pumping Station, and after careful consideration, we recommend that the sum of $6,200 be appropriated for the purpose of motorizing the ladder
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1917]
truck and the addition of a chemical tank or for the purchase of a com- bination motor ladder truck to take the place of the present apparatus, the same to be raised in the manner hereinafter described.
We recommend that the above amount be disbursed under the direction of a committee consisting of the Board of Selectmen and Board of Fire Engineers and the Chief of the Fire Department, and this committee be further authorized to dispose of the horses and the present ladder truck, or so much thereof as may be desirable for the purpose of accomplishing the above recommendation.
Concerning Article 67, We recommend the appropriation of $12,000 as advised necessary by the committee having the matter in charge for the purposes specified in their report, the amount to be raised in the manner hereinafter described ; the work to be done under the direction of a joint committee, consisting of the Water and Sewerage Board, the Board of Selectmen, and one other citizen to be appointed by the Moderator, and we further recommend that this committee be given authority to dispose of such equipment and material as may no longer be required.
The total of the above appropriations aggregates $18,200.00, of which in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act, under which a loan for this purpose can be authorized, $4,200.00 must be taken out of the tax levy for the current year ; we, therefore, recommend that said sum of $4,200.00 be appropriated from the tax levy for the current year, and that the balance, namely, $14,000.00, be borrowed by bonds or notes of the town.
Article 16. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations in the report of the Superintendent of Moth Work, as contained in the Annual Report, December 31, 1916, on page 122.
We believe that the head of a department giving his whole time to the town should be employed at a salary and not by the day.
We recommend that so long as the offices of Superintendent of Moth Work, Tree Warden and Forest Warden are held by one man he receive one salary for the three offices in the sum of $21.00 per week.
We recommend the appropriation of $5,000 for the work of the Moth Department.
Article 17. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations in the report of the Tree Warden, as contained in the Annual Report, December 31, 1916, on page 123.
We recommend the appropriation of $1,125 for the expenses of the Tree Warden, $250 of this to be used for trimming, repairing and removing trees at the cemetery.
Article 18. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations in the report of the Forest Warden, as contained in the Annual Report, December 31, 1916, on page 124.
As the expenses of the Forest Warden are almost entirely dependent on the occasion for his services, and in the last two years have been only $122 and $44 respectively, we recommend that the sum of $75 be appropriated for this department.
Article 19. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendation of the report of the Board of Health, as contained in the Annual Report, December 31, 1916, on page 127.
SEWER EXTENSION IN MOUNTAIN PARK.
After a careful examination of conditions, we believe that the sewer should not be extended in Mountain Park until a comprehensive plan has been prepared for sewering the whole section, without which, we believe, the town is likely to run into serious difficulties. We, there- fore, recommend that the Town Engineer prepare such a plan and sub- mit it to the Water and Sewerage Board for approval.
BROOKS AND DRAINS.
We have gone over this matter carefully and believe the care of the brooks and drains properly belongs to the Sewer Department. We,
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
therefore, recommend that the care of the brooks and drains be placed under the supervision of the Sewer Department, and that $300 be appropriated for same.
We recommend the appropriation of $3,064 for Health and Sanitation ; $936 for the salary of the Health Officer; and $4,200 for Refuse and Garbage.
Article 20. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations of the Health Officer, as contained in the Annual Report, on pages 131 and 132.
The recommendations of the Health Officer are taken care of in the Report of the Board of Health and Article 73, and no special recommen- dations are necessary in this connection.
Article 21. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations of the Overseers of the Poor, as contained in the Annual Report on page 136.
After the printing of the Town Report, the Overseers of the Poor advised us that they believed that they could carry on the work of their department for $3,300 and we, therefore, recommend the appropriation of this amount.
Article 22. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations of the report of the Surveyor of Highways as contained in the Annual Report, December 31, 1916, on pages 140 and 141.
We recommend the appropriation of $300 for the purpose of repairing the sidewalk, retaining wall and fence at the foot of Millett road and making the same safe for travel.
The paving of Essex street is discussed under Article 64.
We have inspected Burrill street from Railroad avenue to New Ocean street under various weather conditions, and in our opinion the expendi- ture of $11,000, the amount estimated by the Surveyor of Highways to do the proposed work, is not necessary at present. We recommend that action on this recommendation be indefinitely postponed.
For reasons similar to the foregoing, we have not included in the gen- eral appropriations for the department any appropriation for tar penetra- tion work on Burrill street.
We recommend the following appropriations for the Highway Depart- ment :
General Expenses
$17,500 00
Seal Coating
2,000 00
Snow and Ice Removal
3,500 00
Sidewalks and Curbing
1,800 00
Street Watering and Oiling
5,000 00
Street Construction
2,000 00
$31,800 00
We note that there still remains an unexpended balance of $893.87 from the amount raised in 1915 for a concrete pavement on Humphrey street.
We recommend that the Surveyor of Highways proceed to finish the work for which this money was appropriated.
Article 23. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations of the report of the Board of AssessoIs, as contained in the Annual Report, December 31, 1916, on page 145.
In the budget of the Assessors' Department (page 195) is included an item of $250 for engineering. As this does not represent an actual dis- bursement, and is not received in any way by the Engineering Depart- ment, we see no reason why it should be included in the appropriation. We, therefore, recommend the appropriation of $1,750 for the Assessors' Department.
Article 24. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations of the report of the Chief of Police, as contained in the Annual Report, December 31, 1916, on page 147.
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1917]
After conference with the Chief of Police and with the citizens who ask under Article 57 for additional police protection, the conclusion was reached that by increasing the appropriation by $500, adequate additional service could be obtained both for the work contemplated by Article 57 and other work.
We recommend the appropriation of $12,000 for the Police Department. We further recommend a special appropriation of $135 for the purpose of paying the Chief of Police the balance of his salary for 1915 for the rea- sons set forth in the letter of Town Counsel on page 188 of the Town Report.
Article 25. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations of the report of the Sealer of Weights and Measures, as contained in the Annual Report, December 31, 1916, on page 149.
In our report to the town at the last Annual Town Meeting, we recom- mended that the salary of the Sealer of Weights and Measures be increased to $100 because of the increased duties imposed by the state. We do not believe the duties of this officer will require much, if any, more time this year than last.
We recommend that $100 for salary and $70 for general expenses be appropriated under this article.
Article 26. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations of the report of the Park Commissioners, as contained in the Annual Report, December 31, 1916, on pages 153, 154, 155, 156, 157 and 158.
After careful consideration of the report of the Park Commissioners, we recommend the following appropriations :
Blaney's Beach Reservation
$1,200 00
Jackson Park
500 00
Phillips Park (upkeep)
200 00
Monument Avenue
700 00
Paradise Road
400 00
Sundries
300 00
Water Rates
125 00
Lawn Mower
75 00
$3,500 00
Article 27. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations of the report of the Water Board, as contained in the Annual Report, December 31, 1916, on pages 159, 160.
We recommend that the unexpended balances from the following special appropriations :
Sargeant and Aspen Roads
1915
$101 18
Linden Avenue
1915
52 91
Bertha and Jessie Streets
1915
5 04
Ocean Avenue
1916
176 21
Gale Avenue
1916
1,126 75
Bradlee Avenue
1916
148 43
$1,610 52
be transferred to an emergency fund to be drawn on by a recorded vote of the Water and Sewerage Board upon proper petition for the extension of water mains as recommended in their report.
Article 28. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations of the report of the Sewerage Board, as contained in the Annual Report, December 31, 1916, on page 167.
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