Town annual report of Swampscott 1920, Part 3

Author: Swampscott, Massachusetts
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 272


USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1920 > Part 3


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ART. 49. To see if the town will vote to lay a six-inch water main in Columbia street for a distance of about 470 feet, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.


ART. 50. To see if the town will vote to lay a six-inch water main in Bellevue road for a distance of about 270 feet, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.


ART. 51. To see if the town will vote to lay a six-inch water main in Superior street for a distance of about 435 feet, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.


ART. 52. To see if the town will vote to lay a six-inch water main in Huron street for a distance of about 350 feet, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.


ART. 53. To see if the town will vote to lay a six-inch water main in Mapledale place for a distance of about 500 feet, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.


ART. 54. To see if the town will vote to lay a ten-inch water main in Burpee road for a distance of about 1,000 feet, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.


ART. 55. To see if the town will vote to lay a six-inch water main in Aspen road for a distance of about 750 feet, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.


ART. 56. To see if the town will vote to lay a six-inch water main in Magnolia road for a distance of about 300 feet, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.


ART. 57. To see if the town will vote to resurface Atlantic avenue from Humphrey street to the Marblehead line, in accordance with specifi- cations of the Massachusetts Highway Commission, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Surveyor of Highways and Board of Selectmen.


ART. 58. To see if the town will vote to resurface Essex street from the Boston & Maine freight house to the Salem line, in accordance with specifications of the Massachusetts Highway Commission, and appropri- ate money for the same, as recommended by the Surveyor of Highways.


,


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TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Dec. 31


ART. 59. To see if the town will vote to construct a sidewalk from the private way leading to Galloupes Point to the Gale estate, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Surveyor of Highways.


ART. 60. To see if the town will vote to build a flight of steps from Ingalls terrace to the way leading to Rockland street, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Surveyor of Highways.


ART. 61. To see if the town will vote to resurface Burrill street from Monument avenue to Essex street in accordance with the specifications of the Massachusetts Highway Commission, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Surveyor of Highways.


ART. 62. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of forty- five hundred dollars for edgestones and granolithic walks to be placed around the Paradise road playgrounds, as recommended by the Park Commissioners.


ART. 63. To see what action the town will take, if any, relative to having the Highway Department collect the ashes and garbage, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Health Officer.


ART. 64. To see if the town will authorize the Board of Health to can- cel the present contract for the collection of ashes and garbage, and award a new contract, and appropriate money for the same, as recom- mended by the Health Officer.


ART. 65. To see if the town will authorize the Park Commissioners to open Phillips Park for dumping purposes, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Health Officer.


ART. 66. To see if the town will vote to establish a dental clinic in the public schools, under the supervision of the School Committee, and appropriate the sum of eighteeen hundred dollars for the same, as peti- tioned for by Clarence W. Horton, Health Officer.


ART. 67. To see if the town will vote to increase the pay of the employ- ees of the Sewer Department fifty cents per day, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by John E. Peach, et als.


ART. 68. To see if the town will vote to raise the pay of the permanent employees of the Water Department to $30 per week, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by James D. Bentley, et als.


ART. 69. To see if the town shall require that the employees of the Highway, Sewer, Water and Moth Departments be registered voters of the town of Swampscott, provided their age does not prevent, as peti- tioned for by Guy T. White, et als.


ART. 70. To see if the town will vote to instruct the Board of Select- men to appoint an inspector of wires, as provided by Section 18 of Chap- ter 122 of the Revised Laws, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Nowell Ingalls, et als.


ART. 71. To see if the town will vote to pay the counsel fees of officers Brogan and Pedrick incurred in the recent hearing before the Board of Selectmen, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Howard B. Aborn, et als.


ART. 72. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of two hundred dollars to defray the expenses of the Firemen's Memorial Sun- day, as petitioned for by Carl J. Berry, et als.


ART. 73. To see if the town will vote to increase the pay of the call men of the Swampscott Fire Department to two hundred dollars per year, to date from January 1, 1920, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Charles L. Stover, et als.


ART. 74. To see if the town will vote to install a fire alarm box in the vicinity of Aspen, Sargent or Arbutus roads, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Philip E. Bessom, et als.


ART. 75. To see if the town will vote to set aside in the Swampscott Cemetery such plot or ground therein to be used for the burial of deceased soldiers, sailors and marines of the World's War and for the erection of such memorials as may be placed thereon, and appropriate money for the the same, as petitioned for by Harry E. Cahoon, et als.


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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.


1920]


ART. 76. To see if the town will instruct the Board of Fire Engineers for the ensuing year to elect in place of a permanent Chief of the Fire Department as heretofore, a Call Chief of the Fire Department and fix the compensation of said Chief of Fire Department at a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars per year, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Coleman M. Wood, et als.


ART. 77. To see what action the town will take toward purchasing the building owned by Katherine E. Finnegan, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Park Commissioners.


ART. 78. To see if the town will vote to adopt the by-law, relating to the installation of plumbing in the town of Swampscott, in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 of Chapter 103 of the Revised Laws, as recommended by the Board of Health.


ART. 79. To appropriate and raise, by borrowing or otherwise, such sum or sums of money as may be necessary for any or all of the purposes mentioned in the foregoing articles.


The polls will be closed at 4.30 o'clock P. M.


And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies thereof at the Town Hall, Post Offices, and three other public and con- spicuous places in the town, seven days before the day appointed for said meeting.


HEREOF FAIL NOT, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of meeting as aforesaid.


Given under our hands this third day of February, in the year 1920.


HENRY S. BALDWIN, FREDERICK H. TIMSON, GRANT S. HILTON.


A true copy. Attest :


Selectmen of Swampscott.


FRANK H. BRADFORD, Constable.


Return on the Warrant.


Pursuant to the within warrant to me directed, I have notified the legal voters of Swampscott, by posting attested copies of said warrant at the Town Hall, Post Offices, Depots and three other public and conspicuous places in said Swampscott on Saturday, February 7, 1920, the posting of said notices being at least seven days before the time of said meeting.


FRANK H. BRADFORD, Constable.


Annual Town Meeting, February 16, 1920.


In accordance with the foregoing warrant, the voters of the town assembled at the Town Hall on Monday, February 16, 1920, and were called to order at 6 A. M. by Daniel F. Knowlton, Moderator.


The first portion of the warrant to Article 4 and the return thereon was read by the Town Clerk, the reading of the balance of the warrant being deferred by vote of the meeting until 10 o'clock in the forenoon.


The following were qualified as Ballot Clerks by the Town Clerk : John A. Cullen (Dem.), William J. Lynch (Dem.), Ralph C. Merritt (Rep.).


The ballots were then delivered to the Ballot Clerks and the polls immediately declared open for balloting ; time 6.03 A. M.


The following tellers were qualified :- Republican, Herman E. Story, Samuel B. Kehoe, Alfred F. Frazier, Ralph H. Carey, William R. Patten, Stanley Flagg, Harold Spinney, Charles E. Melzard, Harold C. Snow; Democrats, Leo P. Caproni, Harry Hutchinson, James H. Ryan, James J. Finnegan, James D. Carroll, Everett H. Clark, Anthony A. Lyons, Frank G. Melvin.


There were 1,226 general and 19 special ballots cast, the number of checks on both voting lists and register on ballot box being same (1,226.)


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TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Dec. 31


At 8.45 P. M. the following result of balloting was declared :


For Moderator-Daniel F. Knowlton, 695, elected ; Charles S. Goodridge, 451 ; blanks, 80.


For Town Clerk-George T. Till, 1,026, elected ; blanks, 200.


For Selectmen-Henry S. Baldwin, 832, elected; William E. Carter, 733, elected ; John B. Earp, 701, elected ; Alfred B. Jones, 280; Calvin S. Tilden, 396 ; Frederick H. Timson, 463 ; blanks, 268.


For Treasurer-James W. Libby, 1050, elected ; blanks, 176. -


For Assessor for three years-Edward A. Maxfield, 1,035, elected ; blanks, 191.


For Collector of Taxes-Nathan G. Bubier, 1,058, elected ; blanks, 168.


For School Committee, three years-Edward Tillotson, 1,007, elected ; blanks, 338.


For Overseer of the Poor, three years-Harry E. Cahoon, 1,031, elected ; blanks, 195.


For Member Board of Health, three years-Loring Grimes, M. D., 985, elected; blanks, 241.


For Member Water and Sewerage Board, three years-Harold G. Enholm, 649, elected; George H. Lampard, 519; blanks, 58.


For Park Commissioner, three years-Stuart P. Ellis, 976, elected ; blanks, 250.


For Trustee of Public Library, three years-Francis E. Ingalls, 984, elected ; blanks, 242.


For Tree Warden-Everett P. Mudge, 983, elected; blanks, 243.


For Constables-Frank H. Bradford, 924, elected; Charles Walter Burrill, 892, elected ; Clarence W. Horton, 908, elected ; blanks, 954.


For Commissioner of Trust Funds, three years-Philip E. Bessom, 927, elected ; blanks, 299.


Chapter 4, Special Acts 1920, entitled an act to establish the office of the Chief of the Fire Department of the Town of Swampscott and to place the office under civil service laws. Yes, 710; No, 361; blanks, 155.


License Question-Yes, 438; No, 664; blanks, 124.


The new board of Selectmen qualified at 8.50 P. M.


Voted, To adjourn to Tuesday evening, February 17, 1920.


Attest : GEORGE T. TILL,


Town Clerk.


Adjourned Annual Town Meeting, February 17th, 1920.


In accordance with the previous adjournment the voters of the town assembled at the Town Hall on Tuesday evening, February 17, 1920.


The meeting was called to order at 8.05 o'clock by Daniel F. Knowlton, Moderator. There were more than one hundred voters present.


The records of the previous meeting were read and declared approved.


Voted, Article 4. To accept the reports as printed, all recommendations contained in the reports to be referred to the Finance Committee.


Article 10. Report of the Finance Committee read by Harry D. Linscott. -


Report of the Finance Committee.


Article 10. To see if the town will authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money, from time to time in antic- ipation of the revenue of the financial year, beginning January 1, 1920, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, the debt or debts incurred thereby to be paid from the revenue of said financial year.


Upon the foregoing article the Finance Committee reports and recom- mends as follows :


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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.


1920]


That the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year, beginning January 1, 1920, to an amount not exceeding in the aggregate the sum of three hundred thousand dollars, ($300,000) and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the revenue of said financial year.


HARRY D. LINSCOTT, BENJAMIN B. BLANCHARD, LOWELL E. SPRAGUE, HERBERT A. CAHOON, FRANK A. MOWATT. Finance Committee.


Voted, Article 10. To accept and adopt the recommendations of the Finance Committee as follows : That the Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen be and hereby is authorized to borrow from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year, beginning January I, 1920, to an amount not exceeding in the aggregate the sum of $300,000, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the revenue of said financial year. (Unanimous.)


Voted, Article 38. To refer to the adjourned meeting.


Voted, Article 63. To refer to the adjourned meeting.


Voted, Article 69. To indefinitely postpone the matter of requiring employees to be registered voters.


Voted, Article 78. To refer to the adjourned meeting.


All other articles in the warrant were referred to the Finance Committee.


Voted, To have the moderator appoint a committee of seven to inspect the police station and report on the matter at the adjourned meeting.


Voted, That when we adjourn it be to Tuesday evening, April 6, 1920, at eight o'clock.


Voted, To adjourn at 9 P. M.


Attest : GEORGE T. TILL, Town Clerk.


Committee on Police Station-Board of Selectmen, James W. Santry, Charles D. C. Moore, James T. Lyons, C. Irving Lindsey.


Finance Committee-Benjamin B. Blanchard, one' year, Frank A. Mowatt, one year, Lowell B. Sprague, two years, Philip E. Bessom, to fill unexpired term of C. S. Doughty.


SWAMPSCOTT, February 17, 1920.


Harold C. Snow was appointed Assistant Town Clerk and qualified for the office.


Attest : GEORGE T. TILL, Town Clerk.


Special Town Meeting, April 6, 1920. TOWN WARRANT.


ESSEX, SS.


To either of the Constables of the Town of Swampscott in said County, GREETING :


In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are directed to notify the inhabitants of the town of Swampscott, qualified to vote in elections and in town affairs, to assemble in the Town Hall, in said Swampscott, on Tuesday, the sixth day of April, at 7.30 P. M., then and there to act on the following articles, viz. :


ARTICLE I. To see if the town will vote to appoint a committee of four citizens to act with the Board of Selectmen in negotiations with the


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TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Dec. 31


Boston & Maine Railroad for the correction of dangerous conditions at the Swampscott station and to report to the town.


ART. 2. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Water and Sew- erage Board to abate the nuisance arising from the overflow of Hawthorne brook, and to appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by William J. Haywood and others.


ART. 3. To appropriate and raise, by borrowing or otherwise, such sum or sums of money as may be necessary for any or all of the purposes mentioned in the foregoing articles.


And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies thereof at the Town Hall, Post Offices and three other public and con- spicuous places in the town, seven days before the day appointed for said meeting. -


HEREOF FAIL NOT, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk at the time and place of meeting as aforesaid.


Given under our hands this twenty-ninth day of March in the year 1920.


HENRY S. BALDWIN, WILLIAM E. CARTER, JOHN B. EARP. Selectmen of Swampscott.


A true copy. Attest :


FRANK H. BRADFORD, Constable.


Return on the Warrant.


Pursuant to the within warrant to me directed, I have notified the legal voters of Swampscott, by posting attested copies of said warrant at the Town Hall, Post Offices, depots and three other conspicuous places, in Swampscott, on Monday, March 29th, 1920, the posting of said notices being at least seven days before the time of said meeting.


FRANK H. BRADFORD, Constable.


Special Town Meeting, Tuesday, April 6, 1920.


In accordance with the warrant, the voters of the town assembled at the Town Hall on Tuesday evening, April 6, 1920.


The moderator called the meeting to order at 7.35 o'clock, there being a quorum present.


The warrant calling the meeting and the return thereon was read by the Town Clerk.


Henry S. Baldwin, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, read a report on the subject matter of Article 1, regarding the dangerous conditions at the Boston and Maine station.


Voted, Article I. That a committee of four citizens be appointed by the moderator to act with the Board of Selectmen in negotiating with the Boston & Maine Railroad for the purpose of correcting the dangerous conditions at the Boston & Maine station and report to the town.


The report of the Finance Committee on Article 2 was read by Harry D. Linscott, Chairman.


Report of Finance Committee.


Article 2. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Water and Sewerage Board to abate the nuisance arising from the overflow of Hawthorne brook, and to appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by William Haywood and others.


The nuisance complained of by the petitioners consists of an overflow in the vicinity of Harrison avenue, causing water to gather in the cellars of four or five residents The overflow appears to be due to the fact that


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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.


1920]


for a distance of about three hundred feet beyond Harrison avenue the brook has become blocked up and is somewhat higher than the culvert on Harrison avenue. The nuisance alleged is a private one, upon private property and liability for the same, if anywhere, is upon the owners of the land at the point where the brook is congested and not upon the town. Hawthorne brook extends over a considerable distance, and there are various other points where, particularly during the present spring, it has caused trouble. As a rule, the town remedies conditions caused by brooks only when they have become a menace to public health. In this case we feel that if during the summer when the brook becomes dry the owners of land from about three hundred feet east from Harrison avenue will cause the brook to be dug out, this particular nuisance will be abated.


We recommend that a committee be appointed to investigate the ques- tion of nuisances caused by Hawthorne brook and report at the next annual town meeting.


HENRY D. LINSCOTT, Chairman, HERBERT A. CAHOON, Secretary, PHILIP E. BESSOM, LOWELL E. SPRAGUE, BENJAMIN B. BLANCHARD, FRANK A. MOWATT.


Voted, Article 2. To accept the report and adopt the recommendations of the Finance Committee, as follows : That a committee be appointed to investigate the question of nuisances caused by Hawthorne brook and report at the next Annual Town Meeting.


Voted, Article 3. To indefinitely postpone the matter of raising money, no appropriations being made.


Voted, To dissolve at 8.03 o'clock.


Attest : GEORGE T. TILL, Town Clerk. September 5, 1920.


The moderator appointed on Article 2, Hawthorne brook, to report at next Annual Town Meeting, the Board of Selectmen and the Water and Sewerage Board.


GEORGE T. TILL, Town Clerk.


Report of the Committee to Investigate a New Police Station, Filed April 6, 1920.


The committee appointed by the moderator in pursuance of the vote passed by the voters at the Annual Town Meeting, with the exception of C. Irving Lindsey, who declined to serve, met on the tenth day of March and organized with Henry S. Baldwin, Chairman of the Board of Select- men, as Chairman of the committee, and Charles D. C. Moore as Secre- tary. Conferences were held with the Chief of Police, and plans and cost data submitted by Charles V. Burgess, architect, were investigated by the committee. Later a conference was held with the Finance Committee, and the whole matter informally discussed.


The investigation showed the police station to be in a very unsatisfac- tory condition. The furnace has been in use over ten years, and will have to be replaced within a short time. The sills and underpinning are fast becoming unsafe; the outside of the building should be painted, and the inside is in need of a general renovation. Notwithstanding these conditions, the committee feels that it would be unwise to proceed with the erection of a police station until a study is made of a general plan for a civic centre to include a new police station.


The committee therefore recommends :- I. That no action be taken at this time as to the erection of a police station.


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TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Dec. 31


2. That a committee be appointed and authorized to procure plans, and make a study with reference to the question of the construction of a group of municipal buildings, or civic centre, to include police station, central fire house, and Town Hall containing offices for all town officials, said committee to report at the next Annual Town Meeting.


Respectfully submitted,


HENRY S. BALDWIN, WILLIAM E. CARTER, JOHN B. EARP, JAMES W. SANTRY, CHARLES D. C. MOORE, JAMES T. LYONS, HARRY E. HARDY.


Adjourned Annual Town Meeting, Tuesday, April 6, 1920.


In accordance with the adjournment of February 17, 1920, the voters of the town gathered at the Town Hall on Tuesday evening, April 6, 1920.


The meeting was called to order at 8.05 o'clock by Daniel F. Knowlton, moderator, there being a quorum present.


The records of the Town Clerk were read and declared approved.


The report of the Finance Committee was read by Harry D. Linscott, Chairman.


Report of the Finance Committee.


To the citizens of Swampscott :


The Finance Committee submits, herewith, its report on matters in the warrant referred to it for the adjourned Annual Town Meeting of 1920.


By providing its citizens with schools, protection of life and property, street and sewer maintenance, health supervision and other advantages of government the town becomes a large buyer of materials, labor and services. Consequently it has been affected by the rising costs prevailing during the past three years. Its income, derived principally from the tax- ation of real estate and from a distribution of the State Income Tax, has run far behind increasing costs. The amount of new building in town during and since the war has been limited and the method of distribution of the Income Tax has been modified by the legislature in such way as to diminish instead of increase the town apportionment.


In view of the foregoing, an increase in the rate of taxation this year seems inevitable. Economy in expenditure is necessary to keep this increase from becoming excessive.


In endeavoring to guide action of the town upon the sixty-eight articles calling for expenditure of money, the committee finds its task to be no simple one. In the nature of its work, the committee is urged on to recommend by the knowledge that, in spite of high prices, departments must be administered, necessary improvements and repairs cannot con- tinually be postponed, employment must be fairly paid, and costs must be met. At the same time it is held in check by the realization that a high tax is burdensome, particularly to the small home owner, is usually distributed among the public in the form of increased rents and other living costs, tends to restrict development and, generally, brings with it disadvantages which largely offset the benefits of the additional revenue.


Last year there was appropriated from current income and taxation the sum of approximately $401,000. This year the warrant asks for an expenditure, from the same source, of over $513,000. In fairness to the town as a whole, all of the requests asked for in a warrant of this size, can not be met in any one year. As it is, recommendations made by the Committee to be raised from revenue amount to $468,598. In the street department alone, $19,000 has been spent for the removal of snow and ice as against $1,200 appropriated in 1919.


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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.


1920]


One of the most difficult questions the budget presents is a request for increases, amounting to $32,425 in salaries and wages. Included in this is a request for an increase of fifty per cent in the salaries of town officials. While it is probably true that the salaries of town officials are low, the Committee feels that the town government is conducted upon the theory that those elected officials who give but a portion of their time to the town shall serve without expectation of being completely or adequately paid therefor, that they are not dependent upon the compensation received from the town to meet the high cost of living and that the question of increasing or revising the official salary list is one that may well be post- poned without hardship or unfairness to any of those affected.




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