USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1922 > Part 2
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20
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
five hundred dollars ($5,500) to regrade and surface Bellevue road, from Humphrey street to the Boston & Maine R. R. tracks, as petitioned for by John H. Sutherland, et als.
ART. 35. To see if the town will vote to lay a six-inch (6") water main in lower Elmwood road replacing the old two-inch (2") pipe for a distance of about three hundred and eighty feet (380') and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.
ART. 36. To see if the town will vote to lay a six-inch (6") water main in Morton road for a distance of about ten hundred and eighty-five feet (1085') and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.
ART. 37. To see if the town will vote to lay a six-inch (6") water main in Bradlee avenue for a distance of about two hundred feet (200') and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.
ART. 38. To see if the town will vote to lay a six-inch (6") water main in Lawrence road for a distance of about one hundred and sixty feet (160') and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.
ART. 39. To see if the town will vote to lay a six-inch (6") water main in Francis road for a distance of about one hundred twenty feet (120') and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.
ART. 40. To see if the town will vote to extend the sewer in Hillcrest circle for a distance of about sixty feet (60') and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.
ART. 41. To see if the town will authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into a contract with the city of Lynn for the purpose of constructing a concrete culvert connecting the present culverts underneath Humphrey and New Ocean streets, and to appropriate money for the same.
ART. 42. To see if the town will vote to construct a sewer in Cherry street for a distance of about six hundred feet (600') from Hillside avenue, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Joseph M. Bassett, et als.
ART. 43. To see if the town will vote to acquire land and to erect a building thereon for commemorating the services and sacrifices of soldiers, sailors and marines, and to appropriate money therefor.
ART. 44. To see if the town will accept the following bequest in the will of Miss Chlotilda Farrar, namely :
"To my executrix hereinafter named two hundred and fifty dollars ($250), to be paid over to the town of Swampscott, Massachusetts, the income of which shall be expended annually for a flower bed or other floral decoration of said burial lot, provided that the said town will accept the said fund for that purpose."
The burial lot therein described being lot No. 233}, Section A, Garden Path, in the Swampscott Cemetery.
ART. 45. To see if the town will place an electric light on Lodge road, as petitioned for by John Cerica, et als.
ART. 46. To see if the town will place an electric light on Burpee road, as petitioned for by Elmer B. Dyer, et als.
ART. 47. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of one thou- sand dollars ($1,000), to celebrate the Fourth of July, as petitioned for by Alfred F. Frazier, et als.
ART. 48. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of two hundred dollars ($200) to help defray the expenses of the Firemen's Memorial Sunday, as petitioned for by Jefferson G. Owens, et als.
ART. 49. To see if the town will vote to place a fire alarm box near
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1922]
the corner of Pine and Superior streets, as petitioned for by Alfred F. Frazier, et als.
ART. 50. To see what action, if any, the town will take relative to the removal of the building on the property adjoining the Town Hall and commonly known as "The Morris Property."
ART. 51. To see if the town will vote to accept sections 42,43 and 44 of Chapter 48 of the General Laws, said act being entitled "An Act to make certain substantial changes in and additions to the laws relating to Towns" and the said sections being entitled "Relative to Fire Departments."
ART. 52. To see if the town will vote to transfer from High School addition appropriation to the Machon School appropriation, the sum of twenty-one dollars and thirty-one cents ($21.31).
ART. 53. To see if the town will vote to appropriate fifteen hundred eighty-five dollars and ninety-one cents ($1,585.91), to pay balance due on the contract of C. S. Cunningham & Sons, for the Machon School.
ART. 54. To see if the town will vote to transfer to excess and deficiency the sum of seven thousand six hundred ninety-eight dollars and twenty-nine cents ($7,698.29), overdrawn appropriation and carried for- ward to 1922, by authority of the Department of Corporation and Taxa- tion, Division of Accounts.
ART. 55. To see if the town will authorize voting by precincts at special elections of town officers.
ART. 56. 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 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 sixth day of February, in the year 1922.
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 and three other public and conspicuous places in Swampscott on Saturday, February 11, 1922, the posting of said notices being at least seven days before the time of said meeting.
FRANK H. BRADFORD, Constable.
Annual Town Meeting, February 20, 1922.
In accordance with the foregoing warrant, the voters of the town assembled at the voting places in the several precincts and were called to order at 6 o'clock A. M. by the presiding officers. The warrant calling the meeting was read, with the return thereon.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
The following were qualified as Precinct Officers :
Precinct 1-Warden, William R. Patten (R) ; clerk, Robert B. Hegarty (D); Inspectors, Clarence F. Shaw (R), John B. Cahoon (D); tellers, Alexander J. Wallace (D), Thomas E. Berry (R), James A. Hegarty (D), Fred Wallace (R), William J. Brennan (D).
Precinct 2-Warden, John H. Cullen (D); clerk, Herman F. Story (R); Inspectors, Anthony A. Lyons (D), George V. Doane (R) ; tellers, Samuel Hooper (R), John C. Doherty (D), James J. Finnegan (D), Timothy J. Ryan (D), Frank G. Melvin (D), John A. Finnegan (D); Daniel F. Knowlton, Moderator; George T. Till, Town Clerk.
Precinct 3-Warden, John J. Scheurin (R); clerk, William J. Lynch (D); inspectors, Alfred H. Titus (R), Ellen Q. Lynch (D).
The ballots prepared by the Town Clerk were delivered to the precinct officers previous to the opening of the polls and counted by the officers in Precincts 1 and 2, the count starting at 2 o'clock. The ballot boxes registered correctly, the checks on voting lists were the same as number of ballots cast.
The result of the balloting was declared at 10.30 o'clock as follows:
Number of ballots cast in Precinct 1, 844; in Precinct 2, 941; Precinct 3, 171; total, 1956.
For Moderator:
Pre. 1
Pre. 2
Pre. 3
Total
Daniel F. Knowlton, elected
649
762
137
1,548
195
179
34
408
For Town Clerk:
George T. Till, elected
671
779
146
1,596
Blanks
173
162
25
360
For Selectmen:
Henry S. Baldwin, elected
432
591
109
1,132
Frank E. Morrison, elected
520
364
78
962
Clarence B. Delano, elected
391
396
78
865
John B. Earp
321
436
76
833
William E. Carter
220
435
79
734
Elias G. Hodgkins
190
182
43
415
Alfred B. Jones
169
113
12
294
Ralph D. Merritt
120
125
16
261
Blanks
169
181
22
372
For Treasurer :
James W. Libby, elected Blanks
175
155
30
360
For Assessor, three years:
Elmer B. Dyer, elected
389
383
51
823
Hiram W. Rowell
307
411
88
806
Blanks
148
147
32
327
For Collector of Taxes:
Philip E. Bessom, elected Blanks
164
166
23
353
For School Committee, three years:
John Vannevar, elected Blanks
200
211
39
450
For Overseer of Poor, three years:
Joseph F. Crowell, elected
655
773
139
1,567
Blanks
189
168
32
389
For member Board of Health, three years:
Harold H. Bartol, elected
347
300
54
701
George C. Webster
307
310
63
680
Ralph Maxwell
121
260
31
412
Blanks
69
71
23
163
For member Water and Sewerage Board, three years:
George D. R. Durkee, elected
480
498
88
1,066
680
775
148
1,603
644
730
132
1,506
669
786
141
1,596
Blanks
23
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1922]
George H. Lampard
298
361
64
723
Blanks
66
82
19
167
For Park Commissioner, three years:
475
471
74
1,020
Robert L. McNamara
263
400
90
753
Blanks
106
70
7
183
For Trustee Public Library, three years :
Elihu Thomson, elected
669
777
141
1,587
Blanks
175
164
30
369
For Tree Warden:
681
759
145
1,585
Everett P. Mudge, elected Blanks®
163
182
26
371
For Constables :
Frank H. Bradford, elected
557
654
130
1,331
Charles Walter Burrill, elected
541
615
127
1,283
Clarence W. Horton, elected
571
668
130
1,369
Blanks
873
886
126
1,885
For Commissioner Trust Funds, 1 year :
11
1
12
Blanks
844
930
170
1,944
For Commissioner Trust Funds, 2 years :
Henry S. Baldwin, elected
2
2
Scattering
1
9
10
Blanks
843
930
171
1,944
For Commissioner Trust Funds, 3 years :
Nathan G. Bubier
3
3
Scattering
1
5
1
7
Blanks
843
933
170
1,946
License Question :
Yes
179
190
64
433
No
513
619
84
1,216
Blanks
152
132
23
307
Adjourned.
Attest: GEORGE T. TILL,
Town Clerk.
Adjourned Annual Town Meeting, February 21, 1922.
In accordance with the warrant the voters assembled at the Town Hall on Tuesday evening, February 21, 1922. The meeting was called to order by Daniel F. Knowlton, Moderator, at 7.45 o'clock, the necessary number of voters being present. The records of the previous meeting were read by the Town Clerk and declared approved.
Voted, Article 3. To accept all reports of committees and officers as printed in the Annual Report, and that a vote of thanks be tendered to each board of officers and committee, with especial reference to the Honor Roll Book Committee for valued service rendered.
Voted, Article 3. That the Water and Sewerage Board and the Board of Selectmen be a committee to report at the adjourned meeting upon the recommendation of Edward H. Fenton, Chief Examiner, in regard to collection of water rates.
Articles 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 were referred to the Finance Committee.
The report of the Finance Committee on Article 9 was read by Harry D. Linscott, Chairman.
Voted, Article 9. To accept the report 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 money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year, beginning January 1st, 1922, to an amount
Scattering
.
·
James T. Lyons, elected
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
not exceeding in the aggregate the sum of three hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($350,000), and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, any debt or debts incurred under this note to be paid from the revenue of said financial year. (Unanimous.)
The report of the School Committee on Article 10 was read by Edward Tillotson, Chairman.
Voted, to refer the above report to the Finance Committee.
Articles 11 to 27 inclusive were referred to the Finance Committee.
Voted, Article 28. To indefinitely postpone the matter of discontinuing that portion of Forest avenue lying between Aspen road and the Whitney estate.
Articles 29 to 43 inclusive were referred to the Finance Committee.
Voted, Article 44. To accept the following bequest in the will of Miss Chlotilda Farrar, namely: "To my executrix hereinafter named, two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) to be paid over to the town of Swampscott, Massachusetts, the income of which shall be expended annually for a flower bed or other floral decoration of said burial lot, provided that said town will accept the said fund for that purpose." The burial lot therein described being lot No. 2332, Section A, Garden Path, in the Swampscott Cemetery.
Articles 45 to 49 inclusive were referred to the Finance Committee. Article 50 was referred to the Finance Committee.
Voted, Article 51. To lay this article on the table, to be acted upon at a later meeting.
Articles 52, 53 and 54 were referred to the Finance Committee.
Voted, Article 55. To accept and adopt this article authorizing voting by precincts at special elections of town officers.
Article 56 was referred to the Finance Committee.
Voted, that when we adjourn it be to Tuesday evening, April 4th, 1922, at 8 o'clock.
Voted to adjourn at 8.55 o'clock.
Attest: GEORGE T. TILL, Town Clerk.
Petition for Recount.
SWAMPSCOTT, February 23, 1922.
Petition for the recount of votes cast at the town election of February 20th, was received, petitioning for a recount of votes cast for Selectmen, Assessor and member of Board of Health. The votes were recounted by the Board of Registrars, assisted by Charles H. Thomas, William I. Curtis, Frank G. Melvin and Arthur E. Willard. While errors were found they were not of sufficient number to change the election.
Attest: GEORGE T. TILL, Town Clerk.
Special Town Meeting Warrant, Tuesday, April 4, 1922. 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 town affairs, to assemble in the Town Hall, in said Swampscott, on Tuesday, the fourth day of April, at 7.45 P. M., then and there to act on the following articles, viz .:
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1922]
ARTICLE 1. To hear the report of the School Committee concerning the disposition of the old Machon school site, located on Essex street, with the buildings thereon, and to see what action the town will take in connection therewith.
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-fourth day of March in the year 1922.
CLARENCE B. DELANO, FRANK E. MORRISON, HENRY S. BALDWIN.
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 and three other public and conspicuous places in Swampscott on Saturday, March 25, 1922, the posting of said notices being at least seven days before the time of said meeting.
FRANK H. BRADFORD,
Constable.
Special Town Meeting, April 4, 1922.
In accordance with the warrant, the voters assembled at the Town Hall, on Tuesday evening, April 4, 1922.
The meeting was called to order at 7.45 o'clock by Daniel F. Knowlton, Moderator, the necessary quorum being present. The warrant and return thereon was read by the Town Clerk.
The report of the School Committee jointly with the Park Commissioners was read by John Vannevar, of the School Committee.
The report of the Finance Committee was read by Harry D. Linscott, Chairman.
Report of Finance Committee.
Report of the Finance Committee on Article 1 in Warrant for Special Town Meeting, Tuesday, April 4, 1922, at 7.45 P.M.
Article 1. The Finance Committee recommends that the town convey to George D. R. Durkee the old Machon school property, so-called, consisting of a lot of land on Essex street, Swampscott, containing approximately 21,321 square feet of land, with building thereon, in exchange for a conveyance by said Durkee to the town of a certain lot of land, containing approximately 22,000 square feet, bounded and described as follows: Beginning at a point on Burpee road at the southeasterly corner of the present Machon school lot, so-called, and thence running northerly one hundred thirty-two (132) feet by said Machon school lot to Jackson Park; thence turning and run- ning easterly by Jackson Park three hundred twenty-eight (328) feet to Essex Street; thence turning and running southwesterly by Essex street sixty (60) feet; thence turning and running westerly by other land of said Durkee three hundred fifteen (315) feet; thence turning and running
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
southerly by other land of said Durkee eighty-seven (87) feet; thence turn- ing and running westerly by Burpee road fifty (50) feet to the point of beginning. Said premises are shown on plan filed with report of School Committee herewith. And that said exchanges be made by proper deed or deeds free from incumbrances and that the School Committee of the town of Swampscott be authorized to execute, acknowledge and deliver any in- strument or instruments necessary to carry out this vote.
HARRY D. LINSCOTT, FRANK A. MOWATT, LOWELL E. SPRAGUE, BENJ. B. BLANCHARD, ELGAR H. TOWNSEND, JOHN A. HOLMES.
Voted, Article 1. To accept the report and adopt the recommendations of the Finance Committee as amended as follows: That the town convey to George D. R. Durkee the old Machon school property, so called, consisting of lot of land on Essex street, Swampscott, containing approximately 21,321 square feet of land with building thereon, in exchange for a con- veyance by said Durkee to the town of a certain lot of land containing approximately 22,000 feet, bounded and described as follows: Beginning at a point on Burpee road at the southeasterly corner of the present Machon school lot, so called, and thence running northerly one hundred thirty two (132) feet by said Machon school lot to Jackson Park, three hundred twenty eight (328) feet to Essex street; thence turning and running southwesterly by Essex street, sixty (60) feet; thence turning and running westerly by other land of said Durkee three hundred and fifteen (315) feet; thence turning and running southerly by other land of said Durkee eighty seven (87) feet; thence turning and running westerly by Burpee road fifty (50) feet; to the point of beginning. Said premises are shown on plan filed with the report of the School Committee herewith. And that said exchanges be made by proper deed or deeds free from incumbrances and that the School Committee of the town of Swampscott be authorized to execute, acknowledge and deliver any instrument or instruments necessary to carry out this vote, and to incorporate into the deed given by the town of Swampscott that the land deeded under this vote shall be used for residential purposes only.
Voted, to dissolve at 8 o'clock.
Attest: GEORGE T. TILL, Town Clerk.
Adjourned Annual Town Meeting, April 4, 1922.
In accordance with the adjournment of February 21, 1922, the voters were called to order by Daniel F. Knowlton at 8 o'clock P. M., April 4, 1922, the necessary quorum being present. The records of the adjourned meeting of February 21 were read by the Town Clerk and declared approved.
Voted, to take up Articles 3 and 51. The report of the committee to whom was referred the recommendation of the State Bureau of Statistics, regard- ing Water Department affairs, was read by Charles E. Hodgdon, stating that in their opinion circumstances do not warrant any change at present.
Voted, Article 3. That the Board of Selectmen be and are hereby directed and authorized to take the necessary steps to cause all moneys due the town to be collected by the Collector of Taxes upon warrants given him by the Water and Sewerage Board, and all other boards, departments and agents of the town who are not at the present time using that system.
A motion to accept and adopt the provisions of Article 51, relative to the Fire Department, was lost.
The report of the Finance Committee was read by Harry D. Linscott, Chairman.
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1922]
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
The Finance Committee submits herewith its report on matters in the Warrant of the Annual Town Meeting of 1922.
During the past four years the town has spent money as follows:
Revenue
Borrowed
Total
1918
$404,872 00
$19,000 00
$423,872 00
1919
404,383 00
30,800 00 435,183 00
1920
487,276 00
166,000 00
653,276 00
1921
524,730 00
74,500 00 599,230 00
"Revenue" refers to money raised from receipts and taxes. " Bor- rowed" refers to money raised on notes or bonds, to be paid back with interest, out of "revenue" during subsequent years. The above does not include money spent in repair and extension of the water system, as that is paid out of receipts from the water service.
While in business expense can be lessened to meet the needs of the times, town expenses keep on mounting. If all the appropriations asked for in the warrant to be considered by the town meeting April 4, 1922, are granted, the town will spend this year the sum of $786,513.27. Thus although the town's expenditures during the past two years were extremely liberal, and although prices of labor and material, the purchase of which forms a principal part of the town's expense, are declining generally, it is now proposed to spend $187,283 more than we spent a year ago.
Of this proposed expenditure of $786,513.27, the amount of $611,713 is of the class of expense for which the money would be raised from "revenue"; while $174,800 is of the class for which money could be raised by borrowing, i. e., issuing bonds. The bond issue articles are: Palmer School addition, $19,000; Essex street resurfacing, $40,000; Burrill street resurfacing, $6,500; Humphrey street resurfacing, $16,000; Hillcrest circle sewer, $300; Stacey Brook culvert, $15,000; Cherry street sewer, $3,000; Soldiers' Memorial, $75,000. The town's borrowing capacity is fixed by law, and at the present time is $105,383. (See page 106 of Annual Report.) The bond issue articles within the debt limit which we recom- mend in this report amount to $56,500, leaving an available borrowing capacity of $48,883, a small margin of safety which should be kept abso- lutely intact for possible emergencies. For the town to exceed the rec- ommendations would, in our opinion, be dangerous financing. In fact, all the bond issue articles could not legally be adopted because the borrow- ing capacity would be exceeded.
It seems clear that in fairness to the people as a whole the town ought not to expend the sum of $786,513.27 during the current year. Hence some of the appropriations asked for must be reduced, and others indefinitely postponed.
We believe a continually increasing taxation harmful to the town. Many persons seem to feel that higher taxation means merely the writing of a larger check by well to do property owners. If this were the only effect, the question would be a simple one. The fact is that those who can afford to pay high taxes feel them the least. People in poor or moderate circumstances are the ones pinched. Increasing assessments and rates are one means whereby individual home building is gradually checked, slender equities of small property owners are diminished, rents and community housing problems are increased, and the ownership of real estate is slowly but surely transferred from wage earners and people of moderate income to speculators, apartment house builders and those who command reserves of capital or credit. Unbalanced taxation is one of the elements that may gradually change the character of a community. Today people invest freely in tax exempt municipal bonds, thereby lend- ing their money to the community to spend, as all communities spend, wastefully, and at the same time, although there is a crying need in each community for more homes, genuine investment in this direction finds
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
few takers. High taxation, while not the main obstacle to needed home development today, is a contributing cause. Every responsible official, from the President of the United States down, who has considered the matter, is urging that the burden of taxation must be reduced before conditions can get back to normal.
The total recommendations made by the Finance Committee amount to approximately $600,738. Of this approximately $540,938 would be raised from "revenue" and the balance by borrowing.
One of the larger items of expense is the amount paid for labor. The town pays $5.00 per day for unskilled labor, so-called, while private con- tractors are paying about $3.60. While perhaps the town rate should not fluctuate as in private work, we believe it would not be unfair to lower it to $4.50 a day. No action of the town is necessary here. The heads of departments hiring labor have a right to use their judgment, within reason, as to amounts paid. In recommending appropriations the Finance Committee has considered a $4.50 rate.
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