USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1924 > Part 4
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1,300 00 500 00
Collector of Taxes
3,200 00
Assessors
3,100 00
Town Clerk
700 00
Law
1,000 00
Election and Registration
1,635 00
Engineering
5,800 00
Town Hall
3,700 00
19241
Protection of Life and Property
Police Department
$29,945 00
Police Special-Motor Cycle
300 00
Beacon Lights
600 00
Fire General
26,830 00
Fire Special Hydrant Rental Hose
450 00
Repairs on Truck
560 00
Three New Boxes
480 00
Sealer
455 00
Moth Department
4,500 00
Tree Warden
1,650 00
Forest Warden
200 00
Dog Officer
150 CO
Building Inspector
450 00
Health and Sanitation
Board of Health
$6,460 00
Health Nurse
1,250 00
Refuse, Garbage and Night Soil
10,495 00
Cleaning Beaches .
1,000 00
Sewer Maintenance
8,200 00
Particular Sewers
500 00
Brooks
Highways and Bridges
Administration
$2,500 00
Repairs, Equipment and Maintenance
39,350 00
Snow Removal
10,000 00
Sidewalks and Curbing
2,300 00
Street Construction
2,000 00
Watering and Oiling
4,500 00
Seal Coating
3,000 00
Continuous Sidewalks
5,000 00
Street Lighting
18,000 00
Specials --
Bradlee avenue
$1,000 00
· Mountwood road
400 00
Humphrey street
6,000 00
Horses
Charities and Soldiers' Relief
Poor Department
$6,500 00
State Aid .
800 00
Soldiers' Relief
3.800 00
Pensions
Education
$140,156 00
Libraries
Cemetery
$3,000 00
Park Department
$8,000 00
Metropolitan Park Assessment
7,000 00
Memorial Day
$300 00
Town Reports .
1,302 50
Reserve Fund .
350 00
Heat and Light, G. A. R. Hall
300 00
Insurance Premiums
2,000 00
Soldiers' Exemption
50 00
Trust Fund Commissions
40 00
District Nurse
300 00
Firemen's Memorial Day
200 00
Repairs G. A. R. Hall .
250 00
Armistice Day
200 00
Interest
Tuberculosis Bonds
$2,040 00
Temporary Loans
9,500 00
General Debt
13,889 93
Sewer Bonds
9,470 00
Metropolitan Park (estimated)
3,400 00
Municipal Debt
General Debt
$45,000 00
Sewer Bonds
17,850 00
Metropolitan Park (estimated)
700 00
Agency
State Tax
$33,000 00
County Tax
31,000 00
State Enterprise
2,400 00
County Commissioners
Essex Sanatorium Assessment
$3,876 37
4,370 00
Schools
5,500 00
Cemetery
Recreation
Unclassified
600 00
2,500 00
39
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1,000 00
40
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Article 19. To see if the town will vote to rescind the votes passed April 3, 1923, at the adjournment of the annual town meeting, under Articles 19 and 55 of the warrant for said annual meeting, whereby the town voted to borrow the sum of $6,000, and to issue bonds or notes of the town therefor, in connection with the taking of the premises described in said Article 19, namely, that of the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church and of Mr. Isaac W. Chick.
Whereas at the adjourned annual town meeting held April 3, 1923, the town under Article 19 in the warrant for said meeting voted to authorize the Board of Selectmen to take by right of emi- nent domain for public school purposes certain property on Red- ington street belonging to the trustees of the First Methodist Epis- copal Church and certain property in the rear thereof belonging to Isaac W. Chick, and voted that the sum of $6,000 be appropriated therefor to be raised by notes or bonds of the town; and whereas by virtue thereof the Board of Selectmen on the 28th day of Sep- tember, 1923, made takings of each of said properties by right of eminent domain and in pursuance of said takings awarded the sum of $5,300 as damages to said trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the sum of $700 as damages to Isaac W. Chick; and whereas by virtue of said takings the right of the owners of said property to damages became vested; and whereas settlement of such damages with the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church may now be effected in the sum of $7,210; and whereas no bonds as yet have been actually issued under said vote of April 3, 1923; now therefore we recommend that said appropriation of $6,000 voted by the town under Article 19 of the adjourned annual town meeting, held April 3, 1923, be rescinded but that otherwise said vote remain in effect; and that in lieu of said $6,000 the town now appropriate, to be raised by taxation, the sum of $7,210 to effect a settlement with the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church in full for all damages and interest by virtue of said taking and the sum of $700 be raised by taxation, to cover the damages awarded to said Isaac W. Chick under said taking. It is not intended by this recommendation or any vote hereunder to effect or in any way invalidate said takings.
Article 20. To see if the town will vote to rescind the votes passed at the adjournment of the annual town meeting held April 3, 1923, under Articles 17 and 55 of the warrant for said annual meeting, whereby the town voted to borrow the sum of $5,000 and to issue bonds or notes of the town therefor, to be expended in con- structing a concrete culvert, in conjunction with the city of Lynn, over Stacey brook, from the end of the present concrete culvert at New Ocean street, a distance of about five hundred seventy feet (570'), to the Lynn culvert.
We recommend that the vote taken April 3, 1923, appropriating $5,000 for the purpose set forth in this Article be rescinded.
Article 21. To see if the town will vote to rescind the vote passed April 3, 1923, at the adjournment of the annual town meeting, under Articles 17 and 55 of the warrant for said annual meeting, whereby the town voted to borrow the sum of $24,000, by issuing bonds or notes of the town therefor, to be used in the reconstruction of Essex street, from the end of the cement road near the freight station, to the Salem line.
We recommend that the vote taken by the town April 3, 1923, authorizing the town to borrow the sum of $24,000 for the purposes set forth in Article 21 be rescinded.
41
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1924]
Article 22. To see if the town will vote to accept Palmer avenue, so called, from Humphrey street to the intersection of Orchard road with Palmer avenue, as laid out on a plan drawn by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated February, 1924, and to appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Arthur C. Lewis, et als.
With reference to accepting Palmer avenue, so called, from Humphrey street to Orchard road, this part of Palmer avenue, now being Orchard circle, as voted by Article 61 of this warrant, we find that the original plan accepted by the Board of Survey called for a grade which was not maintained in building, and for two catch basins to care for surface water. A new plan has been filed following the grades as built and leaving to the town the expense of building the catch basins at a cost of $550. We understand the petitioners will build the catch basins if the town will accept the street, and we believe this work should not be done at the expense of the town.
We recommend that the town accept Orchard circle, formerly called Palmer avenue extension, as laid out on a plan made by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated November 9, 1923, provided two catch basins and drains are first constructed in accordance with this plan, at no expense to the town, proper waivers first to be obtained from abutters.
Article 23. To see if the town will vote to accept Orchard road, so called, from Humphrey street to the intersection of Palmer ave- nue with Orchard road, as laid out on a plan drawn by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated February,.1924, and to appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Arthur C. Lewis, et als.
With reference to accepting Orchard road, the conditions are the same as for Article 22, two catch basins being required at a cost of $550.
We recommend that the town accept Orchard road, from Humphrey street to the intersection of Orchard circle with Orchard road as laid out on a plan made by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated No- vember 9, 1923, provided two catch basins and drains be first con- structed in accordance with this plan, at no expense to the town, proper waivers first to be obtained from abutters.
Article 24. To see if the town will vote to accept that portion of Buena Vista street, now unaccepted, as laid out on a plan made by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated February, 1921, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by C. Sanford Doughty, et als.
We recommend that action on this article be indefinitely post- poned.
Article 25. To see if the town will vote to accept Lawrence road, as laid out on a plan made by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated January, 1924, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by George D. Morse, Jr., et als.
We recommend that Lawrence road be accepted as laid out on a plan made by W. W. Pratt, dated January, 1924, and that the sum of $300 be appropriated.
Article 26. To see if the town will vote to accept Prospect avenue, as laid out on a plan made by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated January, 1924, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Leighton S. Thompson, et als.
We recommend that action on this article be indefinitely post- poned.
42
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Article 27. To see if the town will vote to accept Sherwood road, as laid out on a plan made by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated January, 1924, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Frederick S. Hall, et als.
We recommend that action on this article be indefinitely post- poned.
Article 28. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $1,200 for the purpose of regrading Bellevue road from Humphrey street to the Boston & Maine Railroad tracks, as petitioned for by John H. Sutherland, et als.
We recommend that the sum of $1,200 be appropriated for the purpose of this article.
Article 29. To see if the town will vote to resurface Puritan road from the junction of Humphrey street and Puritan road to the junc- tion of Puritan road and Atlantic avenue, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Surveyor of Highways.
We recommend that this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article 30. To see if the town will vote to resurface Essex street from the Boston & Maine Railroad freight yards to the Salem line and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Sur- veyor of Highways.
With reference to the matter of rebuilding Essex street, the town last year took the necessary action in regular town meeting to ap- propriate money and authorize the rebuilding of this street. The State, County Authorities, and Swampscott were ready to proceed with this work, but the consent of the city of Salem was not forth- coming, and therefore it could not be undertaken. We understand this year that the city of Salem is likely to appropriate money to rebuild their end of the street.
We recommend that Essex street be reconstructed with cement from the end of the cement road near the freight station in Swamp- scott to the Salem line, on condition that the Massachusetts Highway Commission on behalf of the Commonwealth and the County Com- missioners on behalf of the county of Essex each contribute one- fourth of the expense thereof, the work to be done in accordance with specifications approved by the Massachusetts Highway Com- mission. For the town's share of the expense thereof we recommend that the sum of $24,000 be appropriated, of which $4,500 shall be raised in the tax levy of the current year and $19,500 be raised by notes or bonds of the town, we suggest the Board of Selectmen se- cure from the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Company, or its representatives, or successors, an aggreement to repair its pres- ent track and raise it to grade, using a type of rail and construc- tion satisfactory to the Board, and that all other public service cor- porations having rights on or under said portion of Essex street to be notified to install all contemplated, and repair all existing under- ground construction before the work is started.
Article 31. To see if the town will vote to appropriate $2,000 for street signs, as recommended by the Surveyor of Highways.
The purpose of this article is to replace the present wooden signs with new steel posts and signs. We consider this expenditure inad- visable at this time, and therefore recommend that action be indefi- nitely postponed.
43
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1924]
Article 32. To see if the town will vote to resurface Greenwood avenue from Rockland street to Forest avenue, to conform to the street lines, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Surveyor of Highways.
We recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
· Article 33. To see if the town will vote to purchase a gravel pit, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Sur- veyor of Highways.
We find that there is but one gravel pit where a suitable grade of gravel can be obtained in this vicinity, and that the owner of this pit is not willing to sell. We further find that our Surveyor of High- ways has been securing his gravel from this pit as needed, and we understand that he can continue to do so.
We therefore recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article 34. To see if the town will vote to build sewers in Aspen road, Arbutus road, Sargent road, Prospect avenue, Ocean View road, Millett road, Wyman road and Forest avenue, for a distance of about six thousand feet (6,000'), and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by James C. Soutter, et als.
From the report of the Board of Health, it is evident that this section of the town is badly in need of sewers; and that a start must be made in the near future.
This will involve a large expenditure of money and at present no comprehensive plan is ready upon which definite estimates can be submitted.
We recommend that a study be made of this section as a whole by the Water and Sewerage Board and Town Engineer and that plans and estimates be prepared.
Article 35. To see if the town will vote to construct a sewer in Essex street, near Belmont avenue, a distance of about four hundred feet (400'), and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Thomas Handley, et als.
We recommend that the sum of $2,500 be appropriated from the Sewer Emergency Fund for the purpose of this article.
Article 36. To see if the town will vote to construct a sewer in Banks road, beginning at 85 Banks road and running southerly for a distance of about one hundred seventy feet (170'), and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Mrs. Florence M. Lacey, et als.
We recommend that a sewer be constructed as set forth in this article, and that the sum of $1,300 be appropriated from Sewer Emergency Fund.
Article 37. To see if the town will vote to construct a sewer, starting at Bay View avenue, through Fuller avenue, Bond and Sherwood streets, for a distance of about seventeen hundred feet (1700'). and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by James C. Soutter, et als.
This article is in close relation to Article 34.
We recommend that a study of this section be made as a whole by the Water and Sewerage Board and the Town Engineer and that plans and estimates be prepared.
44
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Article 38. To see if the town will vote to build a sewer in Palmer avenue, so called, from Humphrey street to the intersection of Or- chard road and Palmer avenue, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Arthur C. Lewis, et als.
We recommend that this article be taken up in conjunction with Article 39.
Article 39. To see if the town will vote to build a sewer in Or- chard road, so called, from Humphrey street to the intersection of Palmer avenue with Orchard road, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Arthur C. Lewis, et als.
We recommend that the town build a sewer from Humphrey street, through Palmer avenue, so called (now named Orchard circle), and Orchard road to Humphrey street, as petitioned for in Articles 38- 39, and that the sum of $9,000 be appropriated therefor to be raised by notes or bonds of the town, when these streets are accepted.
Article 40. To see if the town will vote to construct a culvert for a part of King's brook, extending from Stacey brook to Huron street, a distance of about five hundred seventy feet (570'), in ac- cordance with the plans prepared by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, and appropriate five thousand dollars ($5,000) for the same, as rec- ommended by the Board of Selectmen.
We recommend that action on this article be indefinitely post- poned.
Article 41. To see if the town will vote to lay a six-inch water main in Bay View drive, so called, from Cedar Hill terrace, a dis- tance of about three hundred fifty feet (350'), and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Walter A. Hall, et als.
We recommend that a six-inch (6-in.) water main be laid in Bay View drive, so called, from Cedar Hill terrace, a distance of about three hundred and fifty feet (350') and that the sum of $2,300 be ap- propriated therefor, to be raised by notes or bonds of the town, in- terest at the rate of six per cent to be paid on the investment until the water rates of the users are equal to 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 when said street is accepted.
Article 42. To see if the town will vote to lay a six-inch water main in Bay View drive, so called, from Wyman road extension, a distance of about four hundred feet (400'), and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Mrs. Helen M. Williams, et als.
We recommend that a six-inch (6-in.) water main be laid in Bay View drive, so called, from Wyman road extension, a distance of about four hundred feet (400'), and that the sum of $2,300 be ap- propriated therefor, to be raised by notes or bonds of the town, in- terest at the rate of six per cent to be paid on the investment until the water rates of the users are equal to 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 when said street is accepted.
Article 43. To see if the town will vote to lay a six-inch water main in Hawthorne road and Estabrook road, a distance of about nine hundred feet (900'), and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by George W. Foster, et als.
45
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1924]
We recommend that a six-inch (6-in.) water main be laid in Haw- thorne road and Estabrook road, a distance of about nine hundred feet (900'), and that the sum of $2,700 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 are equal to the interest thereon, proper waivers to be obtained from abutters, if in the judgment of the Water and Sewer- age Board waivers are necessary for the protection of the town.
Article 44. To see if the town will vote to lay a ten-inch water main from Essex street along said street as far as Overhill road for a distance of about nine hundred feet (900'), and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Franklin Keating, et als.
The purpose of this article is to lay a ten-inch (10-in.) water main from Essex street, through the Greenway to Overhill road. The petitioners agree to pay the cost of installation, so that no ap- propriation is necessary.
We recommend that this article be referred to the Water and Sewerage Board.
Article 45. To see if the town will vote to raise ninety-six thou- sand twenty-seven dollars and eighty cents ($96,027,80), to pay the assessment levied by the County Commissioners of Essex County, under Chapter 429 of the Acts of 1923, for the construction of the Tuberculosis Hospital at Middleton, and provide for raising the means therefor, by issuing bonds, or otherwise, as the town may de- termine.
The County Commissioners as trustees of the Essex County Tu- berculosis Hospital District have assessed the town's share of the construction cost of the hospital as $96,027.80 and have sent their warrant to the town calling for payment of the same. We recom- mend that the town appropriate the sum of $96,027.80, of which amount the sum of $27.80 shall be raised out of the tax levy of the current year and $96,000 shall be raised by notes or bonds of the town.
Article 46. To see if the town will vote to increase the salary of the chief of police from $2,160 to $2,800, the captain of police from $2,000 to $2,500, and the permanent police from $1,800 to $2,200, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Board of Selectmen.
After complete study, most careful and sympathetic consideration, we recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article 47. To see if the town will vote to accept the following scale of wages for the Fire Department: chief, $2,800; deputy chief, $2,600; captains, $2,400; privates, $2,200, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by George F. Clay, et als.
We recommend that the wages of the deputy chief be increased from $1,875 to $1,950 annually and the three captains from $1,825 to $1,900 annually, which would be more commensurate with the ability possessed and the responsibility assumed by these officers over the privates, who are now receiving $1,800 annually, that the sum of $225 be appropriated therefor to cover this increase, which is to be retroactive to April 1, 1924.
The requests for other advances under this article have been voluntarily withdrawn by the petitioners.
46
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Article 48. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to take by right of eminent domain for cemetery pur- poses, and appropriate money for the same, a certain parcel of land bounded and described as follows:
Beginning at the southwesterly corner of the present town cemetery on Essex street, thence running easterly by the north- erly line of Essex street for a distance of about four hundred sixty feet (460') to the westerly side line of Capen road; thence running northerly by the westerly line of Capen road for a dis- tance of about nine hundred five feet (905') to the northerly line of the town of Swampscott; thence running westerly by said town line for a distance of about two hundred thirty-five feet (235') to the easterly line of the present town cemetery; thence running southerly by the easterly line of the said cemetery for a distance of about ten hundred seventeen feet (1017') to the point of beginning.
We recommend that the Board of Selectmen be authorized to take by right of eminent domain for cemetery purposes the land de- scribed in Article 48 and that there be appropriated therefor the sum of $12,700. The same to be raised by transferring that amount from funds of the town accumulated from the sale of cemetery lots and applying the same to carry out the purposes of this vote.
Article 49. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to take by right of eminent domain for public park purposes, and appropriate money for the same, a certain parcel of land bounded and described as follows:
Beginning at a point on the southerly side of the Greenway at the intersection of the division line between Jackson Park and Progress Park; thence running southwesterly by said divi- sion line for a distance of about twenty-nine and seventy hun- dredths feet (29.70'); thence running westerly by several courses along the northerly line of Jackson Park for a distance of about sixteen hundred forty-two and ninety-three hundredths feet (1,642.93') to land formerly of F. H. Griswold; thence running easterly for a distance of about nine hundred feet (900') to the westerly side line of Overhill road; thence running southerly by the westerly line of said Overhill road on a curve of one hun- dred fifty feet (150') radius for a distance of about three hun- dred fourteen feet (314') to the Greenway; thence running east- erly by the southerly side line of the Greenway for a distance of about seven hundred forty-six and sixty-two hundredths feet (746.62') to the point of beginning.
A careful investigation fails to reveal to us any convincing rea- sons why at this time, when every effort is being made to reduce taxes or at least keep them at their present level, the property as described in this article should be purchased for park purposes. We therefore recommend that action on this article be indefinitely post- poned.
Article 50. To see if the town will vote to erect a building to be used for public school purposes, on the land in Redington street ad- jacent to the Hadley School premises, and appropriate money for the same.
Immediate steps should be taken to relieve the congested situation at the Hadley School. The present cramped conditions of the Junior High as outlined by our Superintendent of Schools we believe do not work well for economy or the efficiency of either teachers or pupils.
47
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1924]
We recommend that the Board of Selectmen, the School Commit- tee and the Town Counsel be appointed a Building Committee to in- vestigate and determine the present school building needs; to secure tentative plans and estimates, and report at a special town meet- ing, and that the sum of $500 be appropriated for the use of this committee.
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