USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1922 > Part 3
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The town's main item of expense is its schools. This, of course, is as it should be. Next to food, clothing and shelter, education is a prime necessity. The past two years seem to have begun a new era of expendi- ture in the School Department, as shown by the following figures:
Payroll
1918 Spent $52,302 3,098
1919 Spent $56,600 2,569
1920 Spent $75,535 3,177
1921 Spent $94,347 11,365 25,957
1922 Asked $105,880 8,042
Books and supplies
Repairs, equipment, mainte- nance and other expense
10,934
11,657
12,820
20,050
Totals
$66,334
$70,826
$91,532 $131,669
$133,972
These figures do not include the cost of the New Machon School and the proposed Palmer School addition.
During the same period the number of pupils, taking the average membership figures of the Annual Report, have been as follows: 1918- 1354; 1919-1401; 1920-1441; 1921-1502.
We publish these figures as a matter of general information, as we believe they indicate that the schools, which now receive over 100 per cent. more money than they did four years ago, are being fairly well pro- vided for and we trust the pupils are receiving benefit from the additional money spent.
In recommending appropriations, reductions and postponements, the Committee has given consideration to the needs of each department and believes that the amounts recommended in each case will be sufficient to carry on the work required.
With a view to lessening the amount of money to be raised by tax levy this year, we recommend a transfer of $12,000 from the excess and deficiency fund of the town, the amount so transferred to be credited to current revenue for the year 1922.
Article 3-To hear and act on the reports of: Town Clerk, School Com- mittee, Board of Health, Inspector of Animals, Dog Officer, Sealer of Weights and Measures, Building Inspector, Board of Assessors, Trustees of the Public Library, Library Building Committee, Overseers of the Poor, Superintendent of Cemetery, Treasurer, Trust Fund Commissioners, Tree Warden, Superintendent of Moth Work, Forest Warden, Town Engineer, Chief of Police, Surveyor of Highways, Board of Fire Engineers, Inspector of Plumbing, Inspector of Slaughtering, Park Commissioners, Water and Sewerage Board, Honor Roll Book Committee, Machon School Building Committee, Board of Selectmen, Town Accountant, Finance Committee.
Such portions of the above reports as call for appropriation of money are set forth separately under later articles in the warrant and we rec- ommend that they be so taken up.
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1922]
Article 4-To see what amount of bonds will be required of the Town Treasurer for the ensuing year.
We recommend that the bond required of the Town Treasurer for the ensuing year be in the sum of $30,000.
Article 5-To see what amount of bonds will be required of the Col- lector of Taxes for the ensuing year.
We recommend that the bond required of the Collector of Taxes for the ensuing year be in the sum of $20,000.
Article 6-To see what amount of bonds will be required of the Water and Sewerage Board for the ensuing year.
We recommend that the bonds required of the Water and Sewerage Board for the ensuing year be in the sum of $6,000 for each member.
Article 7-To see what amount of bonds will be required of the Town Clerk for the ensuing year.
We recommend that the bond required of the Town Clerk for the ensuing year be in the sum of $1,000.
Article 8-To see what action the town will take in relation to salaries of town officials for the ensuing year.
We recommend that salaries of town officials remain the same as of last year.
Article 10-To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations in the report of the School Committee, as contained in the Annual Report, dated December 31, 1921, on pages 58 and 59.
There being no recommendations by the School Committee on pages 58 and 59 of the Annual Report, we believe no action is necessary. The school budget is taken up under Article 24. The question of an addition to the Palmer School is taken up under Article 25. We recommend that action under Article 10 be indefinitely postponed.
Article 11-To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations in the report of the Board of Health, as contained in the Annual Report, dated December 31, 1921, on pages 73-77 and 78.
The only recommendations of the Board of Health contained in the Annual Report appear on page 73. As to the question of dental clinic, we recommend that action be indefinitely postponed. We recommend that the other matters referred to on page 73 be taken up under Article 24.
Article 12-To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations in the report of the Sealer of Weights and Measures, as contained in the Annual Report, dated December 31, 1921, on page 84.
We recommend that the matters referred to on page 84 be taken up under Article 24.
Article 13-To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations in the report of the Board of Assessors, as contained in the Annual Report, dated December 31, 1921, on page 86.
We recommend that the matters referred to on page 86 be taken up under Article 24.
Article 14-To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendation in the report of the Trustees of the Public Library, as contained in the Annual Report, dated December 31, 1921, on page 90.
We recommend that action under this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article 15-To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations in the report of the Overseers of the Poor as contained in the Annual Report, dated December 31, 1921, on page 92.
We recommend that the matters referred to on page 92 be taken up under Article 24.
Article 16-To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations in the report of the Superintendent of Cemetery, as contained in the Annual Report, dated December 31, 1921, on page 94.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
We recommend that the matters referred to on page 94 be taken up under Article 24.
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, dated December 31, 1921, on page 111.
We recommend that the matters referred to on page 111 be taken up under Article 24.
Article 18-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, dated December 31, 1921, on page 112.
We recommend that the matters referred to on page 112 be taken up under Article 24.
Article 19-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, dated December 31, 1921, on page 113.
We recommend that the matters referred to on page 113 be taken up under Article 24.
Article 20-To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations in the report of the Surveyor of Highways, as contained in the Annual Report, dated December 31, 1921, on page 120.
We recommend that the matters referred to on page 120 be taken up under Article 24.
Article 21-To see what action the town will take in relation to the rec- ommendations in the report of the Board of Fire Engineers, as contained in the Annual Report, dated December 31, 1921, on pages 123 and 124.
We recommend that the matters referred to on pages 123 and 124 be taken up under Article 24.
Article 22-To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations in the report of the Park Commissioners, as contained in the Annual Report, dated December 31, 1921, on page 127.
We recommend that the matters referred to on page 127 be taken up under Article 24.
Article 23-To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations in the report of the Water and Sewerage Board, as contained in the Annual Report, dated December 31, 1921, on pages 129, 136 and 139.
We recommend that the Water and Sewerage Board be authorized to lay a ten-inch pipe in Forest avenue from Redington street about eleven hundred feet to connect with the pipe on Aspen road and to continue on Forest avenue with a six-inch pipe as far as Magnolia road, and that the sum of $6,867.00 be appropriated therefor, to be raised by notes or bonds of the town.
We recommend that balances from the Palmer avenue and Banks road sewer appropriations, amounting to $2,844.29, be transferred to the Sewer Emergency Fund to be applied by the Water and Sewerage Board, so far as practical, on construction of sewers voted by the town, in any year where the amount appropriated is less than the cost, or for such other purposes as the town may at any time vote.
We recommend that the other matters referred to on pages 136 and 139 be taken up under Article 24.
Article 24-To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations in the report of the Board of Selectmen, as contained in the Annual Report, dated December 31, 1921, on pages 154, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172 and 173.
With reference to the matters on page 154 of the Annual Report, we recommend that the town, through the Board of Selectmen, purchase from the Boston & Maine Railroad a piece of land, approximately 150 square feet in area, at the corner of Burrill street and Columbia avenue, and that thereupon necessary changes for the safety of traffic be made by substi-
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1922]
tuting a curve for the present sharp apex, and that for the purpose of such purchase and changes the sum of $600 be appropriated.
With reference to the matters on pages 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172 and 173, we recommend the appropriation of the following amounts for the several town departments and for other specific purposes as set forth below:
APPROPRIATION FROM REVENUE.
General Government.
Legislative
$400 00
Selectmen
2,160 00
Accountant
2,000 00
Treasurer
1,175 00
Printing, certification and advertising
300 00
Collector of Taxes
1,525 00
Assessors
3,125 00
Town Clerk
600 00
Town Clerk for services at elections and meetings Law
1,000 00
Election and Registration
1,200 00
Engineering
6,035 00
Town Hall
3,000 00
Town Hall Seats
1,000 00
Protection of Life and Property.
Police Department
$25,000 00
Fire-General
26,690 00
Fire-Special
3,310 00
Sealer
455 00
Moth Department
5,000 00
Tree Warden
1,350 00
Forest Warden
100 00
Dog Officer
150 00
Building Inspector
450 00
Health and Sanitation.
Board of Health
$4,614 00
Health Nurse
1,114 00
Refuse, Garbage and Night Soil
9,000 00
Cleaning Beaches
691 00
Sewers, Maintenance
8,200 00
Care of Brooks .
500 00
Particular Sewers
500 00
Highways and Bridges.
Administration
$2,350 00
Repairs, Equipment and Maintenance
33,850 00
Snow Removal
5,000 00
Sidewalks and Curbing
3,000 00
Street Construction
1,800 00
Watering and Oiling
5,000 00
Seal Coating .
2,000 00
Continuous Sidewalks
3,800 00
Street Lighting
19,500 00
Forest Avenue
3,000 00
Replanking Essex Street Bridge
1,200 00
Sand Shed and Repairs Horses
2,500 00
600 00
.
100 00
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Charities and Soldiers' Relief.
Poor Department
$6,500 00
State Aid
1,700 00
Soldiers' Relief
6,000 00
Pensions
3,000 00
Military Aid .
1,000 00
Education.
Schools
$130,000 00
Libraries
5,800 00
Recreation.
Administration and Care of Parks
$5,200 00
Metropolitan Park Assessment
7,000 00
Memorial Day
300 00
Cemetery.
Cemetery
$2,850 00
Unclassified.
Town Reports
$1,218 58
Reserve Fund
2,500 00
Damage Claim
770 15
Essex County Sanatorium
2,024 44
Heat and Light, G. A. R. Hall.
300 00
Insurance Premiums
2,000 00 50 00
Soldiers' Exemptions
Trust Fund Commissioners
40 00
District Nurse
300 00
Firemen's Memorial
200 00
Interest.
Temporary Loans
$9,000 00
General Debt
15,769 70
Sewer Bonds
9,475 70
Metropolitan Park
3,200 00
Municipal Debt.
General Debt
$37,590 62
Sewer Bonds
15,850 00
Metropolitan Park
700 00
Agency.
State Tax
$45,000 00
County Tax
30,000 00
State Enterprises
1,500 00
.
Article 25-To see if the town will vote to authorize the School Com- mittee to add two rooms to the Palmer School, so-called, and to appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the School Committee.
We recommend that two rooms be added to the Palmer School, so called, and that the sum of $19,000 be appropriated therefor to be raised by notes or bonds of the town, the work to be in charge of a joint com- mittee consisting of the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee.
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1922]
Article 26-To see if the town will vote to accept that portion of Fair- view avenue as shown on a plan drawn by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated January, 1922, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Michael Hardiman, et als.
We recommend that action under this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article 27-To see if the town will vote to accept that portion of private way known as Burpee road and all of the private way known as Bertha street, and to be known as Burpee road, as shown on a plan drawn by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated February, 1921, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by C. Sanford Doughty, et als.
Burpee road, running from Essex street to the Machon School is an accepted street. It was accepted last year and built by the town at an expense of $6,356. From the end of the accepted street, at the school, a private way continues back into Mountain Park, so called. For a distance of about 500 feet beyond the Machon School this private way is also known as Burpee road. Thereafter for a distance of about 200 feet it is known as Bertha street. The Committee has investigated this matter very carefully and has conferred with the Town Engineer concerning it. Beginning with the Machon School lot for a distance of 500 feet, there are no buildings of any kind upon this private way. At present there is no defined way that would permit the passing of a team or an automobile. It is in the nature of a path with ledge and boulders on one side and a deep gully on the other. This ledge extends into what would be the street, if laid out in accordance with the plan, and continues for a distance of about one-half of the projected length. This would mean that much of the work in building the way, in accordance with the plan, would have to be through solid ledge.
The cost of building the entire stretch of road provided by the article has been estimated at $9,000 by the Town Engineer. In our opinion, having in mind that, for a distance of 500 feet, no house of any kind is located upon this way, and that the territory surrounding it is sparsely settled, we recommend against the expenditure of any large amount of money on this street at this time. The town has already expended a very large sum of money in accepting, laying out and building Burpee road from Essex street to the Machon School. We realize that it would be an accommodation to have a more convenient passage to the Machon School for the children living in the Mountain Park section of the town. We suggest that the town smooth over a path upon that part of Burpee road that has not as yet been accepted, and do whatever work may be necessary thereon to make it passable and safe for the children traveling to and from the Machon School from the section above indicated. This would have to be done with the consent of the owners of the property. To accomplish this, we recommend the appropriation of $500 to be expended by the Surveyor of Highways in the manner above indicated.
Article 29-To see if the town will vote to resurface that portion of Essex street from the concrete roadway near the Boston & Maine freight house to the Salem line and appropriate money for the same, as recom- mended by the Surveyor of Highways.
Essex street is part of a main thoroughfare running through the county. It is essentially a county road. It is in poor condition, and, as traffic over it consists largely of heavy trucking, should be resurfaced with permanent pavement. To rebuild it with anything other than a permanent pavement, preferably concrete, would be a waste of money. To rebuild it with concrete pavement from the end of the present concrete near the Boston and Maine freight house to the Salem line would cost $40,000. The town cannot bear the expense this year, and ought not to bear it alone. During recent years the county and state have pursued a policy of joining with towns in the re- building of roadways of this character. The budgets of the State Highway Department are made up annually in the fall of the year. We believe if petitions are filed in season there is a possibility of having this work done jointly, and accordingly, we recommend that the Board of Select- men be instructed to take such steps as are necessary to obtain the co-
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
operation of the county and the state for the resurfacing of Essex street from the present concrete roadway near the Boston & Maine freight house to the Salem line, and that they also be instructed to communicate with the city of Salem and ask said city to take similar action with a view of completing such resurfacing.
Article 30-To see if the town will vote to resurface Burrill street from Railroad avenue to Essex street and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Surveyor of Highways.
We recommend that Burrill street be resurfaced with asphalt pave- ment from Railroad avenue to Essex street, in accordance with specifica- tions approved by the Division of Highways of the Commonwealth, and that the sum of $6,500 be appropriated therefor, to be raised by notes or bonds of the town, the work to be let out by the Surveyor of High- ways and Board of Selectmen acting jointly.
Article 31-To see if the town will vote to resurface Humphrey street from Glen road to Phillips corner and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Surveyor of Highways.
Humphrey street is a main town thoroughfare. Its surface consists of permanent pavement as far as Glen road, but for the short distance from Glen road to Phillips corner it is unpaved and in extremely bad condition. We recommend that Humphrey street be resurfaced with concrete from Glen road to Phillips corner, in accordance with specifica- tions approved by the Division of Highways, and that the sum of $16,000 be appropriated therefor, to be raised by notes or bonds of the town, the work to be let out by contract by the Surveyor of Highways and Board of Selectmen acting jointly.
Article 32-To see if the town will vote to appropriate four thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500) to finish the work on Forest avenue, as recommended by the Surveyor of Highways.
The town voted to accept Forest avenue as a public street from Reding- ton street to the Whitney Estate in the year 1920. A certain amount of work has been done on it each year and the road is still incomplete. There is a balance of last year's appropriation of $1,667.65. We recommend that in addition to this balance the sum of $3,000 be appropriated for the completion of the work on Forest avenue.
Article 33-To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) to build a sidewalk on Humphrey street from Morton road to Bradley avenue, as recommended by the Surveyor of Highways.
We recommend that action under this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article 34-To see if the town will vote to appropriate five thousand 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.
As Bellevue road is not an accepted street we do not see how the town can properly spend $5,500 to regrade and surface the same, and accord- ingly we recommend that action under this article be indefinitely post- poned.
Article 35-To see if the town will vote to lay a six-inch (6-in.) water main in lower Elmwood road replacing the old two-inch (2-in.) pipe for a distance of about three hundred eighty feet (380 ft.) and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.
We recommend that the town lay a six-inch water main in lower Elm- wood road replacing the old two-inch (2-in.) pipe for a distance of about 380 feet and that the sum of $775 be appropriated therefor, to be raised by notes or bonds of the town.
Article 36-To see if the town will vote to lay a six-inch (6-in.) water main in Morton road for a distance of about ten hundred and eighty-five feet (1,085 ft.), and appropriate money for the same as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.
35
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1922]
We recommend that the town lay a 6-inch water main in Morton road for a distance of about 1,085 feet and that the sum of $2,712 be appro- priated therefor to be raised by notes or bonds of the town, interest at the rate of 6 per cent. to be paid on the investment until the water rates of the users equal the interest thereon, proper waivers to be obtained from abutters, if, in the judgment of the Water and the Sewerage Board, waivers are necessary for the protection of the town.
Article 37-To see if the town will vote to lay a six-inch (6-in.) water main in Bradlee avenue for a distance of about two hundred feet (200 ft.) and appropriate money for the same as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.
We recommend that the town lay a 6-inch water main in Bradlee avenue for a distance of about 200 feet and that the sum of $500 be appro- priated therefor to be raised by notes or bonds of the town, interest at the rate of 6 per cent. to be paid on the investment until the water rates of the users equal the interest thereon, proper waivers to be obtained from abutters, if, in the judgment of the Water and Sewerage Board, waivers are necessary for the protection of the town.
Article 38-To see if the town will vote to lay a six-inch (6-in.) water main in Lawrence road for a distance of about one hundred sixty feet (160 ft.) and appropriate money for the same as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.
We recommend that the town lay a 6-inch water main in Lawrence road for a distance of about 160 feet and that the sum of $400 be appropriated therefor to be raised by notes or bonds of the town, interest at the rate of 6 per cent. to be paid on the investment until the water rates of the users equal the interest thereon, proper waivers to be obtained from abutters, if, in the judgment of the Water and Sewerage Board, waivers are necessary for the protection of the town.
Article 39-To see if the town will vote to lay a six-inch (6-in.) water main in Francis road for a distance of about one hundred twenty feet (120 ft.) and appropriate money for the same as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.
We recommend that the town lay a 6-inch water main in Francis road for a distance of about 120 feet, and that the sum of $300 be appropriated therefor to be raised by notes or bonds of the town, interest at the rate of six per cent. to be paid on the investment until the water rates of the users equal the interest thereon, proper waivers to be obtained from abutters, if, in the judgment of the Water and Sewerage Board, waivers are necessary for the protection of the town.
Article 40-To see if the town will vote to extend the sewer in Hill- crest circle for a distance of about sixty feet (60 ft.) and appropriate money for the same as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.
We recommend that the town extend the sewer in Hillcrest Circle for a distance of about 60 feet and that the sum of $300 be appropriated there- for to be raised by notes or bonds of the town.
Article 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.
We recommend that the town construct jointly with the city of Lynn a concrete culvert over Stacey brook, so called, connecting the present cul- verts at Humphrey and New Ocean streets, the total expense not to exceed $30,000, said expense to be borne equally between the town of Swamp- scott and the city of Lynn, and that the town appropriate the sum of $15,000 for its share thereof, to be raised by notes or bonds of the town; that the Board of Selectmen be authorized to enter into a contract jointly with the city of Lynn for the carrying out of the purposes of this article, proper waivers from owners of property upon or through which said work is to be done to be obtained if in the opinion of said board the same are necessary for the protection of the town.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Article 42-To see if the town will vote to construct a sewer in Cherry street for a distance of about six hundred feet (600 ft.) from Hillside avenue, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Joseph M. Bassett, et als.
We recommend that the town construct a sewer in Cherry street for a distance of about 600 feet from Hillside avenue and that the sum of $3,000 be appropriated therefor, to be raised by notes or bonds of the town.
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