USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1917 > Part 4
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We recommend the following appropriations for the Water and Sewer- age Board :
Sewer Maintenance
$6,400 00
Plans
300 00
Safe
300 00
$7,000 00
Particular Sewers
800 00
32
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Article 29. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations of the Board of Selectmen, as contained in the Annual Report of December 31, 1916, on pages 184, 185, 186, 189 and 190.
We recommend an appropriation of $6,000 for isolated and continuous walks.
We recommend an appropriation of $1,665 for improvements in the Town Hall to be carried out under the direction of the Board of Select- men.
We recommend that the sum of $1,000 received by the town under the will of the late Mary L. Thomson be transferred to the Trustees of the Public Library with authority to expend the same in accordance with the terms of the will.
We recommend that the Board of Selectmen be authorized to prepare and present a bill before the Legislature seeking permission to sell part of Jackson Park to the state for the purpose of erecting an armory and necessary buildings for Battery E, First Regiment Artillery, provided that the portion of the park so sought to be sold shall be confined to the upland at the easterly side, and provided further that any conveyance made to the state in pursuance of such authority shall be conditioned upon the property so conveyed reverting to the town for park purposes in the event that the state ever ceases to use the site for the purposes of an armory.
Article 30. To see what action the town will take in relation to the amounts as recommended by the several departments contained in the Annual Report, December 31, 1916, pages 195, 196, 197, 198, 199 and 200.
We recommend the following appropriations for the purposes of the General Government of the town.
Legislative
$ 600 00
Selectmen
1,500 00
Auditing
1,200 00
Treasury
1,000 00
Certification, Printing and Advertising Notes and Bonds
400 00
Collector of Taxes
1,400 00
Divided as follows : (Salary, bond and expenses,
$1,200; Clerk hire, $200.)
Town Clerk
500 00
Law
800 00
Election and Registration
750 00
Engineering
4,000 00
Town Hall
2,400 00
PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY.
We recommend the following appropriations :
Fire Department .
$15,550 00
Balance Salary, Chief, 1915
260 00
Balance Salary, Assistant Chiefs, 1915
240 00
Hydrant Rental . .
1,000 00
We recommend the appropriation of the sum of $12,700 for street lighting.
We recommend the following further appropriations :
Building Inspector, Salary 1916
$250 00
Building Inspector,
Salary 1917 450 00
Dog Officer, Salary 1917 100 00
CHARITIES.
We recommend the appropriation of the following amounts :
State Aid
$3,000 00
Soldiers' Relief
3,000 00
33
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
19:7]
EDUCATION.
We recommend the appropriation of the sum of $61,700 for the School Department.
LIBRARIES.
In reading the report of the Library Trustees, we were surprised to find that it was their intention to keep even the reading rooms of the new Library closed on Sundays and holidays-the only days which are avail- able to the great majority of our people who work for a living.
Now, the fact is, that an increasing number of towns and cities are opening the reading rooms of their libraries on Sundays and holidays, while not a few add the privilege of taking out books.
We believe it is for the convenience and best interests of the community to open the reading rooms of our Library from 2 to 6 p. m. on Sundays and holidays, from October I to May 1, with the exception of Thanks- giving and Christmas. The expense of this would be slight, as the build- ing has to be heated anyway, and the extra amount of electricity used would be small. The Librarian and her assistant could alternate in taking charge of the rooms as is done in other places.
If the attendance after a year's trial does not warrant a continuance of the plan, it can be dropped.
We have added $50 to the amount asked by the Trustees for the expenses of the Library for 1917, which we think should be more than enough to pay the cost of the increased facilities from October 1, 1917, to January 1, 1918.
We recommend the appropriation of the sum of $3,300 for the Town Library.
RECREATION.
We recommend the appropriation of the following sums :
Monument Lot .
$50 00
Memorial Day
.
200 00
$250 00
UNCLASSIFIED.
We recommend the appropriation of the following sums :
Town Reports
$950 61
Reserve Fund
2,000 00
Grand Army Hall, heating .
75 00
Municipal Insurance
2,000 00
Insurance
1,000 00
TOWN DEBT.
The net bonded debt of the town on December 31, 1916, was $739,704.37, a net decrease of $2,497.00 for the year.
During 1917, bonds to the amount of $65,950 fall due and must be pro- vided for.
The appropriations which we have recommended in our report call for the issue of bonds to the amount of $45,000. If all of these appropria- tions are granted and no more bonds are issued during the year, the net decrease in bonded indebtedness for 1917 will be $20,950.
We recommend the appropriation of the following amounts for the purposes specified :
DEBT AND INTEREST.
Interest on Temporary Loans $6,000 00
Interest on General Debt
13,840 00
Interest on Sewer Bonds
9,448 00
Metropolitan Park Interest . 5,000 00
General Debt Maturing
45,544 48
Sewer Bonds Maturing
Metropolitan Park Assessment, Sinking Fund and Serial Notes 3
14,650 00
6,500 00
34
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
TAXES AGENCY.
State Tax County Tax
$27,000 00
25,000 00
State Enterprises
1,200 00
The Town Balance Sheet December 31, 1916, shows "Premium Notes and Bonds," $437.61 and " General Debt Maturing," $4,413.73.
We recommend the transfer of this amount to " General Debt Maturing" this year.
The amount realized from the December, 1916, warrant, as reported to us by the Assessors, was $904.18.
We recommend the appropriation of this amount for application to " General Debt Maturing " this year.
Article 31. To see if the town will vote to accept Harrison avenue (portion), so-called, as laid out by the Selectmen, shown on a plan drawn by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated December, 1916, and reported to the town at this meeting, as soon as the waivers are signed, and appropriate money for the same.
We are informed that the only immediate expense arising out of the acceptance of Harrison avenue (portion) will be the construction of the culvert to care for the brook which crosses the street. We are advised by the Town Engineer that the expense of this will be $300, and we recom- mend the appropriation of this amount, the work to be done as soon as waivers in connection with the acceptance of the street have been received.
Article 42. To see if the town will extend the sewer in Essex street from Essex avenue easterly about 350 feet, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by George D. R. Durkee, et als.
As this work should be done before the new surface is put on Essex street, we recommend that the sewer now in Essex street be extended about 350 feet easterly from Essex avenue, and that $1,450 be appropriated to pay for the same, to be raised by bonds or notes of the town.
Article 43. To see if the town will vote to construct a sewer in Banks road for about 500 feet southerly from Walker road, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Charles H. Atkins.
We recommend that a sewer be constructed in Banks road for about 45 feet, northerly, and that $450 be appropriated for the same, to be raised by bonds or notes of the town.
Article 44. To see if the town will vote to have the sewer in Humphrey street extended easterly from its present termination for a distance of about 500 feet towards Phillips square, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by John L. Bradford, et als.
The general scheme of sewerage for the town calls for the extension of the sewer in Humphrey street, as petitioned for in this article, and as there is an immediate need of the same because of the erection of several houses in this locality, we recommend that the sewer in Humphrey street be extended for a distance of 550 feet to Northern avenue, and that $4,250 be appropriated for the same, to be raised by bonds or notes of the town.
Article 45. To see if the town will vote to extend the sewer in Hillcrest circle 200 feet from Essex street, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by George D. R. Durkee, et als.
The soil in the vicinity of the street mentioned in this Article is of such character that the use of cesspools for the new houses being built there would create a nuisance, and the extension of the sewer is necessary.
We recommend the sum of $350 be appropriated to be raised by bonds or notes of the town.
Article 46. To see if the town will vote to put a sewer in Greenwood terrace and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Vernon E. Backus, et als.
The drainage conditions in Greenwood terrace are such that in the interest of the public health, immediate relief should be given, and we
35
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1917]
intended to recommend the appropriation of $2,500 for the work, under- standing that a Special Town Meeting was to be called for March 27, in which would appear an article asking for the extension of the sewer in Greenwood avenue to a point where the proposed sewer in Greenwood terrace could connect with it.
As the Special Town Meeting has been postponed until April, there is nothing left for us to do but to recommend the postponement of this article.
Article 47. To see if the town will vote to replace the present water main in Palmer avenue with a 6-inch main, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by W. W. Johnson, et als.
The present water main is entirely inadequate for the number of dwellings that are supplied from it, and does not afford sufficient fire protection for this rapidly growing locality.
We recommend the sum of $1, 150 be appropriated for the purpose of this article to be raised by bonds or notes of the town.
Article 48. To see if the town will vote to extend the water main in Millett road for a distance of 200 feet, and approriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Wiear L. Rowell, et als.
Your Committee favors this article provided interest at the rate of six 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 con- ditions and that $700 be appropriated for the same to be raised by bonds or notes of the town.
Article 49. To see if the town will vote to have water pipes extended in Northern avenue and Phillips circle, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by John L. Bradford, et als.
Your Committee has been informed by the petitioner that there is immediate need for a water main in the street. We favor laying a water main in Phillips circle when the street is constructed, provided interest at the rate of six 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 con- ditions, and that the amount of $1,000 be appropriated for the same to be raised by bonds or notes of the town.
Article 50. To see if the town will vote to replace the present 2-inch water main in Phillips street and Claremont terrace with a 6-inch main and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.
The 2-inch galvanized iron pipe, which is at present supplying the resi- dents of these streets with water, is unfit for further use, and we recom- mend that it be replaced by a 6-inch main, and that the sum of $1,400 be appropriated for the same, to be raised by bonds or notes of the town.
Article 51. To see if the town will vote to replace the present 2-inch water main in Orient court with a 6-inch main and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.
For the purposes of better service and fire protection, it is necessary that the present 2-inch main be replaced by a 6-inch main, and we recom- mend that $1,350 be appropriated for this purpose, to be raised by bonds or notes of the town.
Artice 52. To see if the town will vote to extend the water main in Buena Vista avenue, from Roy street to Bertha street, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by C. Sanford Doughty, et als.
Your Committee favors this article as soon as Buena Vista avenue has been put to grade, and provided interest at the rate of 6 per cent is paid on the investment until the water rates equal the interest.
We recommend that a 6-inch water main be laid under the above con - ditions, and that $1,300 be appropriated for the same, to be raised by bonds or notes of the town.
36
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Article 53. To see if the town will vote to lay a 6-inch water main in Manton road, from Humphrey street to Beach Bluff avenue, to replace the present 2-inch pipe, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Fred L. Hiller.
The present 2-inch main was laid without regard for future growth and fire protection, and is inadequate at present.
We recommend that $1,100 be appropriated for the purposes of this article, to be raised by bonds or notes of the town.
Article 54. To see if the town will vote to extend the water main in Hillcrest circle 150 feet when the abutters have agreed to pay 6 per cent. for cost of construction until the amount derived from water takers shall equal that amount, and appropriate money for same, as petitioned for by George D. R. Durkee, et als.
Your Committee favors this article provided interest at the rate of 6 per cent. is paid on the investment until water rates of the use rsequal the interest.
We recommend that a 6-inch water main be laid under the above con- ditions, and that $500 be appropriated for the same, to be raised by bonds or notes of the town.
Article 55. To see if the town will vote that the members of the Fire Department shall be excused from duty for one day out of every five, without loss of pay. The time and manner of excusing members of the Fire Department from duty in accordance with the provisions of this act shall be determined by the Chief, or other officer or board at the head of the Fire Department, as petitioned for by H. B. Sprague, et als.
We are informed that this article was inserted under a misapprehension. As the firemen already have the privilege asked, we recommend that this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article 56. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of $7,500 for the purpose of making such additions to the Palmer school as may be required to furnish suitable accommodations for a 4th, 5th, and 6th grade, as petitioned for by Charles F. Lovejoy, et als.
With the information at our disposal, we do not feel justified in recom- mending the adoption of this article, and we, therefore, recommend that it be indefinitely postponed.
Article 57. To see if the town will vote to increase the number of regular patrolmen by two, for the purpose of providing more complete and effective police protection for the easterly end of the town, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by John H. Blodgett, et als.
The subject of this article has been dealt with in our report on article 24. We recommend that this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article 58. To see what action the town will take in relation to increas- ing the salary of the regular police officers to $1,200 per year, and appro- priate $756 for the same, as petitioned for by James D. Bentley, et als.
Considered with reference to permanency of employment we believe that the present salaries of the members of the Police Department compare favorably with wages received by men in private employment.
The average maximum pay of patrolmen in nineteen cities and towns in eastern Massachusetts according to a list submitted by the petitioners was $1,193.37. Many of these have a graduated scale according to length of service, so that the actual average is less than that. Beverly, Lowell, Gloucester, Wakefield, Wellesley and Peabody pay the same salary that Swampscott does, namely $1,092 per year or $21 per week.
We recommend that this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article 59. To see if the town will vote to increase the pay of the special police officers of the town from 372 cents per hour to 41 cents per hour.
We are advised that a favorable report was desired on this article only in event of our approving the request made in behalf of the regular police officers under Article 58.
37
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS,
1917]
As we did not do so we recommend that this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article 60. To see if the town will vote to increase the pay of the five (5) private permanent men of the Swampscott Fire Department to twelve hundred dollars per year, and appropriate money for same, as petitioned for by Elias G. Hodgkins, et als.
The fireman affected by the request made in this article are, like the police officers, receiving $21 per week or $1,092 a year, and being under the civil service enjoy permanent employment without fear of discharge save for cause. We have given their case the most careful consideration from every point of view and we recommend that this article be indefinitely pastponed.
Article 61. To see if the town will vote to increase the pay of the call men of the Swampscott Fire Department from $75 to $125 per year, and appropriate money for the same as petitioned for by Elias G. Hodgkins, et als.
An examination of the rates of pay of call firemen in 20 cities and towns in eastern Massachusetts shows that Swampscott is below the average. An increase of $25 a year will place our call men on a basis fairly comparable with those employed by the towns and cities from which we received data, and we accordingly recommend that the pay of call fire- men be made $100 a year. The amount necessary for this increase has been included in the recommendations for the general expenses of the Fire Department.
Article 63. To see if the town will vote to construct a landing stage at Blaney Beach, and make an appropriation therefor, as petitioned for by Herbert T. Jacobs, et als.
We have examined the plans for the landing stage at Blaney's Beach, the cost of which is estimated at $3,800. While the carrying out of this plan would undoubtedly be a convenience for about four months in the year, it is not a necessity, and its cost would have to come out of the tax levy, making an addition of about thirty cents on $1,000 to the tax rate. We, therefore, recommend that this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article 64. To see if the town will construct a concrete pavement with curbing, on Essex street, from the Lynn line, easterly, to the present con- crete roadway, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Oscar G. Poor, et als.
The condition of that portion of Essex street referred to in this article is such that it would be a waste of money to lay any kind of surface there, other than a permanent one.
To extend to the Lynn line the concrete pavement laid last year on this street between the Boston & Maine railroad freight yard and the easterly side of Burrill street would, we are informed, cost, including curbing, about $11,500. This is about $4,300 more than it would have cost had not a law been passed, by last year's Legislature, exempting street railway companies from paying for the paving of their track locations.
We have had an independent examination made of this work, without expense to the town. The report estimates the cost at practically the same figure as given us by the Town Engineer and Surveyor of Highways, subject to the fluctuations of the market, and advises that the Bay State Street Railway Company should proceed with their part of the work as early in the season as possible, on account of the uncertainty of labor conditions this year, and the possible delay in getting materials later on, when much construction is under way.
We would recommend that $11,500 be appropriated to lay a concrete pavement on, and curb both sides of, that portion of Essex street from the easterly side of Burrill street to the Lynn line, the work to be done in accordance with the specifications of the Massachusetts Highway Com- mission, by the Surveyor of Highways, or if he deems it best, under con- tract ; the money to be raised by bonds or notes of the town, provided, however, that the bonds or notes shall not be issued or the work started,
38
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
until the Board of Selectmen shall have secured in writing an agreement from the Bay State Street Railway Company to continue the present double track in Essex street to the Lynn line, using a type of rail and construction satisfactory to the Board ; all other public service corpora- tions having rights on or under Essex street to be notified to install all contemplated, and repair all existing underground construction before the work is started, or failing to do this, to be debarred from disturbing the pavement for at least ten years.
Article 65. To see if the town will vote to resurface Cedar Hill terrace, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Surveyor of Highways.
We find Cedar Hill terrace to be in a very dangerous condition to life and property, due in part to surface water emptying into it from Green- wood avenue and Bay View avenue, both of which are accepted streets of the town.
Under present conditions, buildings on the street are practically with- out fire protection, and property remains undeveloped because of the existing conditions there.
We recommend the appropriation of $4,500 for the construction of this street to be raised by bonds or notes of the town, the work to be done by the Surveyor of Highways in accordance with the specifications of the Massachusetts Highway Commission.
Article 66 To see if the town will appropriate the sum of $675, to be placed in the hands of the Town Treasurer, under the provisions of Sec- tions 1 and 2 of Chapter 498 of the Acts of 1908, entitled, "An Act to authorize cities and towns to establish a penston fund for teachers in the public schools."
The town having adopted the act, this appropriation is made necessary. We recommend that the sum of $675 be appropriated for this purpose.
Article 67. We have already considered this article, and reported on the same under Article 15.
Article 68. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $800 for the observance of the Fourth of July, the money to be spent under the direction of the Park Commissioners and four other citizens, to be appointed from the floor, as petitioned for by Nathan G. Bubier, et als.
Taking everything into consideration, we believe it inadvisable to grant the increase of $300 over last year. We, therefore, recommend that $500 be appropriated for the Fourth of July celebration, to be spent under the direction of the Park Commissioners and four citizens to be appointed from the floor.
Article 69. To see if the town will vote to construct a granolithic sidewalk and put in edgestones on Paradise road, from the corner of Ellis road to the junction of Paradise road and Norfolk avenue, along what is known as "The Paradise Road Playgrounds," and to construct a concrete sidewalk and put in edgestones from the corner of Ellis road along Middlesex and Norfolk avenues to the junction of Norfolk avenue and Paradise road, along what is known as "The Paradise Road Play- grounds," and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Alfred F. Frazier, et als.
Your Committee feels that regardless of any merit there may be in the proposition to lay granolithic walks and edgestones around this play- ground, there are other well settled portions of the town where such walks and curbing should be laid before taking care of property of this character, and we, therefore, recommend that this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article 71. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money for the employment of district or other nurses, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 72 of the Acts of 1911, as petitioned for by H. M. Lowd, et als.
Three hundred dollars was appropriated last year for this purpose. Through a misapprehension, only $225 was drawn. We, therefore, recommend the correction of this error by the appropriation of the sum of $375 this year, for the employment of district or other nurses.
39
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1917]
Article 72 .- To see if the town will borrow the sum of ten thousand ($10,000) dollars, to be used for grading, fencing and erecting stands at Phillips park, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 312 of the Acts of 1916, as petitioned for by C. Irving Lindsey.
The petitioner for this article has very fully and ably presented to us the attractive plans for this improvement. In its present condition Phillips park is an eyesore. and some comprehensive plan should be carried out for its improvement, when the town's finances permit, or it should be dis- posed of. Taking into consideration the fact that Jackson park and Para- dise road playgrounds meet the demands of our citizens fairly well at present, and in view of the pressing demands this year for a new school- house, Essex street paving, rebuilding and equipment of the Sewer Pump- ing Station, motor ladder truck, many sewer extensions, etc., we do not feel justified in advising this loan at present, and, therefore, recommend the indefinite postponement of this article.
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