USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1924 > Part 3
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Article 3. The report of the Finance Committee on Article 3 was read by Benjamin B. Blanchard, Chairman.
Report of Finance Committee
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
The Finance Committee make the following report on matters for their consideration in the warrant for the special town meet- ing April 8, at 7.15 P. M.
Article 3. To see if the town will vote to appropriate forty- three hundred and twenty-seven dollars ($4,327) to change the hours of duty of the permanent officers and men of the
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Fire Department by installing a system similar to that in use in our neighboring cities and towns. This change to go into effect 90 days after the money is voted for the same, as pe- titioned for by Edward T. Brown, et als.
The Chief of the Fire Department presents this outline as the purpose of this article.
Five permanent men to be added to the department and the following schedule of hours on duty to be inaugurated:
First Day 8 A. M. to 6 P. M. 10 hours
Second Day
8 A. M. to 6 P. M. 10 hours
Third Day
8 A. M. to 8 A. M. 24 hours
Fourth Day
6 P. M. to 8 A. M. 14 hours
Fifth Day
6 P. M. to 8 A. M. 14 hours
Sixth Day
24 hours off.
Repeat schedule, no time off for meals.
Under this system there will always be a full crew at each fire house except when a man is on his vacation.
Men off duty would respond to second alarm or large fires.
Under the present system the men are on duty twenty-four hours a day for four days with three hours off each day for meals, then twenty-four hours off duty on fifth day.
Because of meal hours, one man is sometimes required to answer an alarm with a piece of apparatus.
Under the new plan the men will average eighty-four hours a week. Under the present plan they average one hundred seventeen hours thirty-six minutes weekly.
The new plan has been adopted by practically all neighboring cities and towns, including Milton, Dedham, Winthrop, Marblehead, Revere, Chelsea, Everett, Lynn, Salem, Beverly, Peabody and Boston.
Under this plan the additional cost this year will be not over $4,327 at present rates of pay, and for a full year $9,000.
We recommend that the Board of Fire Engineers be authorized to add five additional permanent Privates to the force, the working hours of the permanent men be as follows:
First Day 8 A. M. to 6 P. M. , 10 hours Second Day 8 A. M. to 6 P. M. 10 hours Third Day 8 A. M. to 8 A. M. 24 hours Fourth Day 6 P. M. to 8 A. M. 14 hours Fifth Day 6 P. M. to 8 A. M. 14 hours
Sixth Day 24 hours off.
No time off for meals and with present regulations for vacation: that for this purpose the sum of $4,327 be appropriated, and that said change shall become operative ninety days from date of the appropriation.
We further recommend that the recommendation of the Finance Committee be placed upon the ballot under Article 3, in accordance
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1924]
with the town by-laws, and that suitable provisions be made thereon to permit the registering of a vote for or against this recommen- dation.
BENJAMIN B. BLANCHARD, Chairman, HENRY A. SADLER, Secretary, WILL B. ANDERSON, MAURICE YOZELL, CHARLES I. PORTER, JAMES C. SOUTTER,
Finance Committee.
Voted that the report and recommendations of the Finance Com- mittee be accepted and adopted, and that fifteen men stand to place the article on the ballot in accordance with the by-laws of the town.
Article 4. Voted the report and recommendations of the Zoning Committee be accepted and adopted; and by-law adopted as printed amending Article 7 and 8 by adding, at the end thereof of each as follows: "but if there are any buildings on any street that do not conform to said building line obedience to this by-law shall not be required."
ZONING BY-LAW ARTICLE I
AUTHORIZATION AND DIVISION
By virtue and in pursuance of the powers delegated by Section 25 to Section 33, inclusive, of Chapter 40 of the General Laws, the town of Swampscott is divided into the following districts, viz., 2. General Residence District; 3. Single Residence District.
ARTICLE II GENERAL RESIDENCE DISTRICT
In district 2, except as herein otherwise provided, no building shall be used, and no building shall be erected or altered which is in- tended or designed to be used for a store or shop, or for manu- facturing or commercial purposes, or any other purpose except one or more of the following:
1. Residence for not more than two families.
2. Boarding, rooming, or lodging house.
3. Church.
4. Public school or other municipal building.
5. Private school, library, museum, or other building of an educa- tional character.
6. Club, except a club which carries on a business or is in the nature of a business.
7. Park, playground, or community purpose.
8. Farm, market garden, nursery or greenhouse.
9. Private garage to be used by the occupants or. owners of the premises, except that space. in the same for not more than two cars may be rented.
10. Private stable with provision for not more than two horses.
11. Such accessory purposes as are customarily incident to the foregoing purposes, and are not injurious to a neighborhood as a place of residence, but such accessory purposes shall not include any business, industry, trade, manufacturing or commercial purpose.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
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ARTICLE III SINGLE RESIDENCE DISTRICT
In District 3, except as herein otherwise provided, no building shall be used, and no building shall be erected or altered which is intended or designed to be used for a store or shop, or for manu- facturing or commercial purposes, or any other purpose except one or more of the following:
1. Residence for a single family.
2. Church.
3. Public school, or other municipal building.
4. Private school, library, museum, or other building of an edu- cational character.
5. Club, except a club which carries on a business or is in the nature of a business.
6. Park, playground, or community purpose.
7. Farm, market garden, nursery or greenhouse.
8. Private garage to be used by the occupants or owners of the premises, except that space in the same for not more than two cars may be rented.
9. Private stable with provision for not more than two horses.
10. Such accessory purposes as are customarily incident to the foregoing purposes, and are not injurious to a neighborhood as a place for single family residences, but such accessory purposes shall not include any business, industry, trade, manufacturing or com- mercial purpose.
ARTICLE IV BUSINESS DISTRICTS
In those areas in District 2 and indicated on the map on file in solid black, buildings may be used for business purposes pro- vided that, in each case, after a public hearing of which fourteen days' notice shall be given in such manner as the Board of Select- men may prescribe, said Board shall determine that the purpose for which the building is sought to be used will not be substantially detrimental to the use of property in the vicinity thereof.
ARTICLE V EXISTING BUILDINGS
Any building or part of a building which, at the time of the adoption of this by-law, is being used for a purpose forbidden by the provisions of articles two and three may continue to be used for the same purpose or for a purpose not substantially different in char- acter. Any such building or part of a building and any addition thereto made by permission of the Selectmen as hereinafter provided may be structurally altered or added to at any time provided the alterations or additions do not substantially enlarge the part of the building used for such purpose; and any such building or part of a building or such addition which is partially or wholly destroyed by fire or other casualty may be repaired or replaced by a structure of substantially the same size and character and used for the pur- pose for which it was formerly used or for a purpose not substan- tially different in character.
Any such building may be added to or enlarged at any time and such addition or enlargement used for the purpose for which the original building may lawfully be used under the provisions of the foregoing paragraph of this section provided, in each case, that,
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1924]
after a public hearing of which fourteen days' notice shall be given in such manner as the Selectmen may decide, the Selectmen shall determine that such addition or enlargement and the use to be made thereof will not to any substantial degree be detrimental to the use of other property in the vicinity thereof.
ARTICLE VI ZONING MAP
The Zoning Map, prepared by W. W. Pratt, town engineer, dated January, 1924, bearing the signatures of the Zoning Committee and showing the boundaries of each district and the designation of each district by means of a numeral is declared to be a part of this by-law.
ARTICLE VII
SETBACK DISTANCE IN GENERAL RESIDENCE DISTRICT
In District 2 no new buildings except those described in Article 4 shall be constructed and no building shall be altered, enlarged, ex- tended, reconstructed, raised, or moved so that any part thereof, except steps, shall be located nearer than ten feet to any street line. But if there are any buildings on any street that do not con- form to said building line, obedience to this by-law shall not be required.
ARTICLE VIII
SETBACK DISTANCE IN SINGLE RESIDENCE DISTRICT
In District 3 no new building shall be constructed and no build- ing shall be altered, enlarged, extended, reconstructed, raised or moved so that any part thereof, except steps, shall be located nearer than twenty feet to any street line. But if there are any buildings on any street that do not conform to said building line obedience to this by-law shall not be required.
ARTICLE IX ENFORCEMENT
Whoever violates any of the provisions of this by-law shall be punished by a fine of not more than twenty dollars for each viola- tion. Upon any well-founded information from any citizen that this by-law is being violated or upon his own initiative, the In- spector of Buildings shall take immediate steps to enforce the by-law.
ARTICLE X VALIDITY
The invalidity of any section or provision of this by-law shall not invalidate any other section or provision thereof.
Voted that when we do adjourn it be to Wednesday, April 16, current, at 12 o'clock noon in the Town Hall, the polls be open from 12 o'clock noon to 8 o'clock P. M., for the purpose of voting by ballot, in accordance with the provisions of the by-law, entitled "by- law to place motions on ballot."
Voted to adjourn at 8.15 P. M.
Attest: RALPH D. MERRITT,
Town Clerk.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Adjourned Annual Town Meeting, April 8, 1924
In accordance with the adjournment of February 19, 1924, the voters were called to order by Kendall A. Sanderson, Moderator, at 8.16 P. M.
Voted to dispense with the reading of the records of last meeting.
The report of the Committee on Gamewell Red Light Police Sig- nal System, was read by C. Sanford Doughty.
April 8, 1924.
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Swampscott:
Pursuant to the authority vested in us as a Committee ap- pointed to investigate the Police Signal System and Gamewell Police Signal System, we submit the following report:
We have investigated the present Signal System of the Police Department and find it to be inadequate, antiquated and of little value. No question exists in our minds as to the need of a better Signal System.
We have made an extensive investigation of the Gamewell Signal System, and recognize its merit. There are several op- tional devices, together with problems relative to wiring, location, et cetera, each carrying a different cost, and we are not pre- pared at this time to make definite recommendations.
It is an important matter in many aspects, and we deem it wise to postpone further action for a period of one year, or until the next annual town meeting, at which time, if our sug- gestion meets approval, we will make a more complete report.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN F. LUTHER, C. SANFORD DOUGHTY, H. ASHLEY BOWEN, WILLIAM L. QUINN.
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 1924.
For your consideration we submit the town's expenditures for the past five years, as follows:
Year
1919
$404,383 00
1920
487,276 00
653,276 00
1921
524,730 00 74,500 00
599,230 00
1922
537,025 00 41,500 00
578,525 00
1923
603,279 00
28,000 00
631,279 00
Money Obtained from Taxes and Receipts Money $30,800 00 166,000 00
Borrowed
Total $435,183 00
A very large total is called for in the articles of the 1924 war- rant. If this total is granted, property holders, rent payers and the credit of the town will be placed in an embarrassing position.
Co-operative investigations by the Finance Committee and heads of departments have shown where reductions can be made from department budgets and a proper efficiency still be maintained. Matters in some articles have not appeared to be of sufficient imme- diate necessity to warrant favorable recommendations this year. Matters in others are of such nature that a start cannot be made until intelligent and comprehensive plans are prepared.
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1924]
Of the amounts asked, the Finance Committee recommends a total of $613,239 to be raised from receipts and taxes and $143,450 by borrowing.
This is the year in which a genuine and earnest effort is being made by Federal, State and Municipal governments to reduce taxes. The Finance Committee has aimed to attain that ideal without loss of efficiency. If these three agencies can reduce taxation a decrease in the cost of living should result and this will be equivalent to an advance in personal incomes. Requests for wage increases have been considered with this expected result in mind, at the same time with due consideration for the justness of the request and the ne- cessities of the town employees.
We have given each article of expenditure our most careful atten- tion and thought, with the idea of providing for necessities and such new projects as it was felt the town could afford to consider this year. Our bonded indebtedness is increased because of the assess- ment of over $96,000 for the Essex County Tuberculosis Hos- pital and the probability of a new school building. We are pay- ing this year approximately $38,540 in interest and $63,500 on principal of money borrowed, which comes directly out of taxation. It appears an easy matter on the face of it to advocate bonding an article, but a bond issued under such circumstances becomes simply a deferred debt plus the interest.
An amendment to Section 7, Chapter 44 of the General Laws, ap- proved April 30, 1923, framed to prevent excessive borrowing by cities and towns, provides that cities and towns may incur debt within the debt limit for certain purposes, but that only such sum may in any year be authorized to be borrowed as exceeds twenty- five cents per one thousand dollars of the valuation of the city or town for the preceding year. This applies, among others, to appro- priations for land, buildings and streets under certain circum- stances. In the long run the result is admirable, as abnormal bor- rowing and therefore abnormal interest totals are prevented, but the application of this law puts on the tax rate seventy-five cents this year which formerly would have been bonded, and an additional twenty-five cents if money is later appropriated for a new school building.
We believe expenditures for the removal of snow and ice have in- creased out of proportion to the benefit derived. Last year was of course a phenomenal year, but the expenditures so far this year, with an exceptionally open winter, are more than 50 per cent in excess of the whole year 1922. All of this money is spent in antici- pation of the appropriation. Sidewalk, street and gutter plowing is desirable and accomplished at reasonable cost, but hand shovel- ing is inadequate and excessively costly. We believe this work should be kept at an absolute minimum, far less than now attempted.
Attention is called by the Surveyor of Highways to the unsatis- factory condition of streets following their opening for water, sewer and gas mains. An especially aggravated condition is indi- cated by the recommendation to appropriate $6,000 to resurface Humphrey street where a sewer was laid last year by M. Mc- Donough Co., on contract at a cost of $6,378.37. Except for that part where the sewer was laid, this section of Humphrey street is in good condition. This makes the direct and consequential cost of this sewer $12,387.37. Approval of work rests with the Water and Sewerage Board, Town Engineer and Surveyor of Highways. We believe the Board of Selectmen should arrange that inspection be
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
more stringent, that contracts be so drawn as to fully protect the town and that bids from contractors who do not perform work of satisfactory quality be not considered.
We recommend a transfer of $19,500 from the Excess and De- ficiency Fund of the town and of $2,200 from Reserve from Over- lay, the amounts so transferred to be credited to current revenue for the year 1924.
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 Collector 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 Sewer- age 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 the Town Officials for the ensuing year.
We recommend that the salaries of the Town Officials for the ensuing year be 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 con- tained in the annual report, dated December 31, 1923, on pages 83, 91, 92, 94 and 95.
The recommendations of the School Committee on pages 83, 91 and 94 call for no appropriation of money. We, therefore, make no report.
With reference to the recommendation on page 92 for the erec- tion of a new school building, we recommend that this be taken up under Article 50 in the warrant.
We recommend that the question on page 95, for the appropria- tion of money for supervised play for our children during July and August be indefinitely postponed.
Article 11. 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, 1923, on pages 109, 117 and 120.
With reference to matters on page 109 we recommend that water mains be replaced in Harrison avenue, as recommended by the Water Board, for a distance of 935 feet, and in Maple avenue for a dis- tance of 600 feet, and that the sum of $5,200 be appropriated. Said amount to be raised by notes or bonds of the town.
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1924]
We recommend that the unexpended balances from appropriations for Forest avenue, Fuller avenue, Rock avenue, and others amount- ing to $5,248.77 be transferred to the Water Emergency Fund.
We recommend that a sum of $300 be appropriated to purchase a set of plans for the Sewer Department as outlined on page 117.
With reference to laying sewers from Humphrey street through Palmer avenue and Orchard road, we recommend that this be taken up under Articles 38 and 39 in the Town Warrant.
We further recommend that the unexpended balances from Humphrey street and Mountain avenue sewers, amounting to $1,905.57, be transferred to the Sewer Emergency Fund to be used by the Water and Sewerage Board so far as practical in construc- tion of sewers voted by the town in any year where the amount appropriated is less than the final cost, or for such other sewer purposes as the town may at any time vote.
We recommend the remaining matters on pages 117 and 120 be taken up under Article 17 in the warrant.
Article 12. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations in the report of the Board of Fire Engineers, as contained in the annual report, dated December 31, 1923, on pages 122, 123 and 124.
With reference to matters on pages 122 and 123 and as summar- ized on page 124, we recommend that they be taken up under Article 17, with the exception of the question of installing a punch register at the Lewis street Engine House, Lynn. Investigation discloses that while the present system of alarm announcement at the Lewis street Engine House is not strictly modern, it is giving satisfactory service, and we therefore recommend that the installing of a punch register be indefinitely postponed.
Article 13. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations in the reports of the Tree Warden, the Super- intendent of Moth Work, and the Forest Warden, as contained in the annual report, dated December 31, 1923, on pages 128, 129 and 130.
With reference to matters on pages 128, 129 and 130, relating to the recommendations of the Tree Warden, Superintendent of Moth Work and Forest Warden, we recommend that they be taken up for consideration under Article 17.
Article 14. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations in the report of the Board of Health, as con- tained in the annual report, dated December 31, 1923, on pages 136, 142 and 143.
With reference to matters on page 136, regarding establishing of a health clinic, we recommend that it be indefinitely postponed.
We recommend that the matter of building sewers in the Shaw estate be taken up under Articles 34 and 37, and the other matters on page 136 be taken up under Article 17.
With reference to the establishing of a health center and clinic as recommended by the health officer on page 142 and a dental clinic as recommended by the health nurse on page 143, we recom- mend that they be indefinitely postponed.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Article 15. 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, 1923, on pages 147 and 149.
We recommend that matters on page 147 be taken up under Ar- ticle 17.
With reference to matters on page 149, we recommend that the erection of a locker building and the purchase of a three-ton truck be indefinitely postponed, and that other matters be taken up under Article 17.
Article 16. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations in the report of the Chief of Police, as con- tained in the annual report, dated December 31, 1923, on pages 152 and 153.
With reference to matters on pages 152-153, we recommend that the purchase of an automobile be indefinitely postponed and that other matters be taken up under Article 17.
Article 17. 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, 1923, on pages 189, 193, 194, 195, 202 and 205.
With reference to the several recommendations of the Board of Selectmen as contained on pages 189, 193, 194, 195, 202, we recom- mend that they be referred as follows:
Essex st. resurfacing Page 193 to Article 30
Methodist Church property Page 193 to Article 19
Cemetery land purchase Page 202 to Article 48
Matters on pages 189, 195 are taken up under General Govern- ment. With reference to the Stacey brook culvert on page 194, we recommend that the unexpended balance of $4,726.86 left over from a previous appropriation for the extension of Stacey brook culvert be transferred and credited to current revenue of the town for the year 1924. We recommend that the town construct jointly with the city of Lynn a concrete culvert over Stacey brook from the end of the present culvert at New Ocean street northerly for a dis- tance of about 570 feet to the Lynn culvert, the expense to be borne equally between the town of Swampscott and the city of Lynn; and that for the town's share of said expense the sum of $9,500 be ap- propriated, of which the sum of $4,500 shall be raised in the tax levy of the current year and the sum of $5,000 to be raised by notes or bonds of the town.
With reference to the other matters on pages 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, we recommend the appropriation of the following amounts for the several town departments and for the other spe- cific purposes as set forth below:
General Government
Legislative
$300 00
Selectmen
2,200 00
Auditing
2,200 00
Treasury
Printing, Certification and Advertising
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