USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1925 > Part 18
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CHAPTER XI Inspection and Construction of Buildings
Inspector of Buildings
Section 1. The Inspector of Buildings shall be an experienced builder or architect.
Inspector's Duties
Section 2. He shall examine all buildings in the course of erec- tion, alteration or repair in the town, keep a record of such examina- tions, and immediately report to the Board of Selectmen all viola- tions of the by-laws.
Building Permits
Section 3. Any person intending to erect a dwelling house or other building of a character not described in Chapter 145 of the General Laws shall make an application in writing to the Inspector of Buildings for a permit for the erection of the same on a form furnished by such Inspector.
He shall submit to said Inspector all plans and specifications per- taining thereto, and no work shall be done until a permit has been issued therefor.
No person having obtained such a permit shall proceed with any work without first notifying the Inspector as to the time such work is to begin.
No permit issued by such Inspector, whether for a new building or for alteration, shall be in force for a period longer than one year.
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Permits for Garages
No permit to erect or alter a building used or intended to be used as a garage shall be issued by the Building Inspector until plans for the same and the location thereof have been approved by the Chief of the Fire Department, and the Board of Health or its agent.
In case the Building Inspector is personally interested in any build- ing for which an application has been filed, said application shall be referred to the Board of Selectmen, who shall have the application reviewed by a competent person before issuing the permit.
Alterations and Additions
Section 4. Any alteration in or addition to any building already erected, or hereafter to be built, of a character not described in Chapter 145 of the General Laws, except necessary repairs thereon not affecting the construction of the external or party walls, chim- neys or stairways, shall, to the extent of such work, be subject to these by-laws, and a permit therefor shall be obtained in the manner described in Section 3.
The rebuilding or repairing of any buildings which have been damaged by fire or other casualties shall be subject to the restrictions which are imposed on the erection of new buildings by these by-laws.
Approval of Buildings
Section 5. No building hereafter erected, altered, added to or re- paired, that is to be finished in whole or in part, shall be lathed, plastered or sheathed, until the owner or builder shall have notified the Inspector of Buildings, and shall have received from said Inspector a notice in writing that the work is satisfactory.
The Inspector of Buildings on receipt of a notice from the owner or builder that any building, or the alterations, additions or repairs to any building are ready for inspection shall as soon as possible inspect the premises, but shall not accept the building until all the requirements of the by-laws as to frames, chimneys, firestops, fur- nace or steam pipes, and all other parts of the construction have been complied with, and no building shall be occupied until approved by the Inspector.
The Inspector shall also require that all permanent piers or col- umns needed under girders, trimmers, etc., shall be in place before he accepts the building.
Foundations
Section 6. Foundation walls for wooden or masonry buildings shall be of stone, brick or poured concrete of the following minimum thicknesses:
Stone-16 inches or 4" thicker than the wall it supports.
Brick-12 inches or 4" thicker than the wall it supports.
Concrete poured in place-10 inches or 4" thicker than the wall it supports.
Stone walls shall have the first course extend clear through the wall, and above the first course shall be thoroughly bonded. Stone walls laid dry, that is, with stones not bedded in mortar but merely pointed with mortar on the outside, shall not be permitted.
Brick walls, both for foundations and upper stories shall be bonded by a header course every eighteen inches. Bricks and tiles used for exterior work shall have a burned face suitable for exposure to the weather.
All foundation walls shall extend at least 3 feet 6 inches below the ground and more when necessary to be substantially below the frost line. Foundations shall not be laid on frozen ground. Foundations shall have suitable footings to keep the load distribution within the carrying capacity of the soil. If suitable natural soil cannot be reached by reasonable excavation, piles of wood or concrete may be employed.
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Underpinnings
Section 7. Underpinnings for wooden construction shall extend at least eight inches above the adjacent ground surface.
Brick underpinnings for buildings not over two stories high shall not be less than eight inches thick, and under buildings three or more stories in height shall not be less than twelve inches thick for their entire height.
Concrete blocks may be used for underpinnings provided that 8 in. blocks are laid not more than 5 courses high and that 12 in. blocks are laid not more than 8 courses high.
Mortar Proportions
Section 8. The mortar for foundations, piers, chimneys or exterior masonry walls of stone, brick, cement-block, or tile shall have a strength not less than that of a mortar composed of one part Port- land cement to not more than three parts of clean, sharp sand, pro- portioned by volume, with an allowable addition of hydrated lime not to exceed twenty-five percent of the cement by volume.
Concrete Proportions
Concrete for bearing walls and piers shall be at least of the fol- lowing proportions by volume: one part Portland cement, three parts clean, sharp sand, and five parts coarse aggregate, free from loam, organic matter or other deleterious substances. Other mixtures of fine and coarse aggregate giving equivalent strength and density are permitted.
Concrete Block Proportions
Concrete blocks used for underpinnings or exterior walls shall have a composition not leaner than one part of Portland cement to seven parts fine and coarse aggregate combined.
Building Supports
Section 9. Buildings more than one story in height, and with a floor area of over 500 square feet, that do not rest on foundation walls, shall be supported on suitably driven piles, or piers of hard brick, stone or concrete; corner piers shall be not less than twelve inches square and intermediate piers not less then eight inches square. Wooden posts extending into the ground shall not be used for the support of buildings. All footings of piers shall be started at least three feet six inches below the surface of the ground exposed to frost.
Piers
Building floors shall be supported in cellars and basements as re- quired in Section 12 by suitable brick or concrete piers or cement- filled iron columns on proper footings. Stone piers shall not be used for the support of girders or walls in cellars or basements. Porches and piazzas shall be supported by concrete, brick, or stone piers. Stone piers shall be at least sixteen inches square and the unsupported height of brick or concrete piers either in basements or under piazzas shall not exceed ten times their least dimension.
Exterior Walls
Section 10. No building shall be erected or located on a lot of land so that any part of the building shall be within three feet of any line separating the land upon which such building rests from adja- cent land, except such buildings as are described in Chapter 145 of the General Laws and Acts in amendment thereof or in addition thereto.
For Dwellings
The minimum thickness of exterior masonry walls for dwellings shall be as follows:
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Brick 8 inches up to 20 ft. in height
Concrete block - 8 inches up to 10 ft. in height
or hollow tile 5-12 inches up to 20 ft. in height
Stone -16 inches up to 20 ft. in height
When gable construction is used, the same thickness is permitted up to the peak.
For Commercial and Industrial Buildings
Exterior bearing or party walls of brick, concrete, hollow tile or concrete-block for commercial and industrial buildings shall have a minimum thickness of eight inches in one-story buildings not ex- ceeding twelve feet in height. In multi-story buildings, the exterior walls shall have a minimum thickness of eight inches in the top story, with an increase of four inches in thickness for every successive story below.
Sills, Girders, Trimmers, Headers
Section. 11. All wooden buildings and their projections over one story in height, used as dwellings, stores, stables, or for manufactur- ing purposes, shall have sills not less than four by six inches.
There shall be girders not less than six by eight inches under the main partitions, and floor joists doubled or their equivalent, under all cross partitions in the first floor of all dwellings.
Headers and trimmers of all openings over four feet in first floor of dwellings shall be floor joists doubled or their equivalent, and in any other floor, if deemed necessary by the Inspector.
Floor Supports
Section 12. All beams carrying main partitions on first floor shall be supported on piers or columns as described in Section 9 not more than seven feet apart; trimmers in first floor over twelve feet in length shall be supported by a pier or post. All buildings shall be properly braced at the angles.
Floor Joists
Section 13. The floor joists for all floors in dwellings, except the attics, shall not be less than the following sizes:
First and second floor joists not less than 2-in. x 8-in .- 16 inches on center for a span of 14 feet or under; over 14-foot span joist must be 12 inches on center. All spans over 8 feet in width to be bridged in center with one row of 1-in. x 3-in. bridging; over 13 feet in width to be bridged with two rows of 1-in. x 3-in. bridging. Floor joists for attics shall be not less than 2-in. x 6-in .- 18 inches on centers.
Fire Stopping
Section 14. Fire stopping shall be provided to form an effectual horizontal fire barrier between stories and roof spaces. The stopping shall consist of pieces of wood not less than two inches thick fitted tightly, cement mortar, or brick filling. Fire stopping shall not be concealed from view until opportunity has been given the Building Inspector to approve it.
Before the chimney is plastered, a metal strip two inches wide on the floor, and turned up one-half inch against the chimney shall be provided at each floor level, including the attic.
Plates and Rafters
Section 15. All dwellings over one story in height shall have plates not less than four by four inches, or the equivalent, and if over six- teen feet in width shall have rafters not less than two by six inches set not more than twenty inches on centers.
No studding for any part of the outside walls of any building over one story in height shall be less than two by four inches and sixteen inches on centers.
All boards which form any part of the frame of the building shall be nailed at each bearing with not less than two eight-penny nails, or the equivalent.
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[Dec. 31
Height of Buildings
Section 16. No dwelling house, except as described in Chapter 145 of the General Laws, shall be constructed more than two and a half stories high, nor of a height exceeding 35 feet. The height is defined as the perpendicular distance from the top of the masonry foundation to the highest point of the roof beams in the case of flat roofs and to the average height of the gable in the case of pitched roofs. Where there is more than one level of roof or foun- dation wall, the measurement shall be taken on the side where the distance from the average level of the top of the foundation wall to the average level of the roof is greatest.
A half story in the meaning of the above paragraph is any story included within the roof framing, having the floor area of the rooms not more than seventy-five percent of the area of the ground floor.
Wooden buildings for industrial or commercial purposes shall not exceed two and a half stories in height.
Garages in Dwellings
Section 17. When a garage is located beneath a dwelling or at- tached to it, the walls and ceiling shall be of fire resistive construc- tion approved by the Building Inspector. When a garage is located beneath a dwelling, all doors and windows with their frames and sash shall be of standard fire resistive construction, and glazed with wire glass.
Openings in Party Walls
Section 18. No opening or doorway shall be cut through a party or partition wall of any building without a permit from the Building Inspector, and when required by the Building Inspector every such doorway shall be protected by standard, self-closing fire doors with approved fire resistive frame and hardware.
Chimneys
Section 19. Chimneys shall have a tile flue-lining covered with at least four inches of brickwork. Top of chimney shall be capped with cement, tile or stone. Chimneys inside of buildings shall be plastered on the outside up to underside of roof boards.
Fire Protection of Woodwork
Section 20. Woodwork shall be kept at least one inch away from the outside brick work of chimneys and in no case shall nails be driven into the masonry of a chimney for the support of woodwork.
Section 21. Smoke pipes from furnaces and heaters shall be kept at least eighteen inches away from any woodwork unless the wood- work is protected to the satisfaction of the Building Inspector.
Section 22. Registers, connected with hot air furnaces shall be set in non-combustible borders, at least two inches wide.
Section 23. Steam pipes shall be kept at least one inch from all woodwork or shall be protected by an incombustible ring or tube, or rest on iron supports.
Penalty for Violation
Section 24. Whoever violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $20 for each offense.
It was found that certain subjects were in no way covered by by-laws. To take care of such situations the following drafts of by- laws are reported and their adoption is recommended, namely:
Annual Reports
(a) All town officers, boards, and committees shall make a report in writing to the town. Such reports shall be printed in the annual town report, and to permit such printing shall be submitted to the Board of Selectmen no later than January fifth of each year. Con-
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tracts for printing annual town reports shall be made by the Select- men subject to the provisions of these by-laws.
Auditing of Town Accounts
(b) All accounts of the town shall be audited semi-annually by the Director of Accounts in the Department of Corporations and Taxation.
Financial Year
(c) The financial year shall begin on the first day of January and shall end on the thirty-first day of December.
Police Department
(d) The Board of Selectmen shall be in charge of the Police De- partment and shall make rules and regulations for the government thereof. This Department shall consist of a chief of police, and such other commissioned and non-commissioned officers and patrol- men as the Selectmen may appoint; their compensation shall be fixed by the town.
Town Counsel
(e) The Board of Selectmen shall appoint a duly admitted at- torney-at-law as town counsel and shall fix his compensation. He shall attend to all legal matters pertaining to the town and to all legal matters arising in connection with the performance of the duties of any officer, board or committee thereof. He shall make a written report to the Board of Selectmen concerning the services rendered by him during the year, which shall be printed in the annual town report.
Engineering Department
(f) The Selectmen shall annually appoint an engineer at a fixed salary, who shall have the power to appoint such assistants as may be necessary subject, however, to the approval of the Selectmen as to number and compensation thereof. He shall have charge of all engineering pertaining to the town and no person employed in said Department shall engage in engineering work on his private account without permission in writing from the Selectmen. The Town En- gineer shall have charge of and shall preserve, arrange and index all plans, surveys, field notes, records, documents and all other in- formation relating to the engineering work of the town so that the same may be readily accessible for public use. No water pipes shall be laid in any public way or in any way the plan of which has been approved by the Board of Survey except in accordance with plans on file in the office of the Town Engineer.
He shall keep an accurate set of books showing in detail the ex- penses of his department and of all work done by it. He shall each year submit to the Selectmen in time for publication in the annual report a statement showing the work of his department for the year and the expenditure of money in connection therewith.
Numbering of Buildings
(g) It shall be the duty of the Town Engineer to assign numbers to all buildings or parts thereof on or near the line of public or private ways within the town, and a list of such numbers shall at all times be on file in his office. Every occupant or owner of such building or buildings shall cause to be displayed upon some suitable portion thereof, facing such street or way, the proper street num- ber of said building. No number other than the one shown on the list on file in the Engineer's office shall be displayed on any such building or part thereof. Any owner or occupant violating this by- law shall be punishable by a fine of not more than twenty dollars for each offence.
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[Dec. 31
Streets
(h) No water pipes shall be laid in a street or way nor shall any other public work be done in or upon the same until such street or way has been built in conformity with a plan duly approved by the Board of Survey and it shall be the duty of the Town Engineer to certify that fact in writing to said board. No street nor way shall be accepted by the town until it has been built in conformity with a plan duly approved by said board.
(i) Article 60 of the warrant for the last town meeting was re- ferred to the Committee. It is as follows:
"To see if the town will accept the following by-law.
"Section 1. Every roof hereafter constructed in the town of Swampscott shall be covered with a fire resistive roof covering satisfactory to the Inspector of Buildings.
"Section 2. Whenever a roof covering is hereafter replaced in whole or in part the new roof covering shall be of fire resistive material satisfactory to the said Inspector.
"Section 3. All new gutters or renewed gutters shall be metal, or wood, lined with sheet copper and fastened with copper nails."
After considering the provisions of this proposed by-law and after conference with the Inspector of Buildings and the Chief of the Fire Department, the Committee submits the following draft and recom- mends its adoption, namely:
Roofs.
Any roof hereafter constructed in the town of Swampscott shall be covered with a fire resistive material satisfactory to the Inspector of Buildings.
Whenever twenty-five percent. or more of a roof covering is here- after replaced, the new covering shall be of a fire resistive material satisfactory to the said Inspector.
Whosoever violates any provision of this by-law shall be punish- able by a fine of not more than twenty dollars for each offence.
The Committee believes that to adopt Section 3 of the draft of the by-law appearing in the above mentioned article would add unneces- sarily to the expense of building, and therefore should not be in- cluded in the by-law reported.
(j) Article 63 of the warrant for the annual meeting in Febru- ary, 1925, was also referred to this committee, namely:
"To see if the town will accept Section 3 of Chapter 143 of the General Laws of Massachusetts.
This section was formerly Section 1 of Chapter 655 of the Acts of 1913 and has already been accepted by vote of the town at the town meeting held February 21, 1916.
The committee has not finished its work and therefore suggests that it be permitted to continue under the same powers delegated to it by vote of the town under the above mentioned article.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES W. SANTRY, CHARLES W. MOWRY, LOUIS M. ATHERTON, CLARENCE E. CAHILL, CHAS. D. C. MOORE,
By-Laws Committee.
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Allowance for Overdrafts
OFFICE OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN, TOWN HALL, SWAMPSCOTT, MASS. JANUARY 13, 1926.
CHARLES I. PORTER,
Chairman, Finance Committee,
Swampscott, Mass.
Dear Mr. Porter :- I am instructed by the Board of Selectmen to request that a transfer be made from the Contingent Account to the account of Certification of Notes and Bonds, $52.23; to the account of Overlay, 1923, $125.96; to the account of Overlay, 1924, $263.58; to the account of Soldiers' Relief, $787.62; and to the account of Interest on General Debt, $54.42; to cover overdrafts in 1924 which could not be foreseen.
I would appreciate very much if you would give me an answer to this request tonight in order that I may complete the closing of my books at once.
Very truly yours,
Board of Selectmen, HORACE R. PARKER, Clerk.
HRP/MDB
HORACE R. PARKER,
Town Accountant.
Dear Sir :- This will be your authority for making transfers from the Contingent Fund to the following accounts, same to be made as of December 31, 1925, and to cover overdrafts:
Certification of Notes and Bonds
$ 52 23
Overlay, 1923
125 96
Overlay, 1924
263 58
Soldiers' Relief
787 62
Interest on General Debt
54 42
Signed: CHARLES I. PORTER,
Chairman Finance Committee.
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[Dec. 31
Accountant's Department
-
REPORT OF THE TOWN ACCOUNTANT
To the Board of Selectmen:
In compliance with the provisions of Chapter 41 of the General . Laws, I herewith submit the following report of the Accounting De- partment for the year ending December 31, 1925.
TREASURER'S RECEIPTS
TAXES.
Real estate, 1923
$155 92
Personal, 1923
33 80
Poll, 1923
25 00
$ 214 72
Real estate, 1924
53,155 82
Personal, 1924
262 13
Poll, 1924
20 00
53,437 95
Real estate, 1925
392,712 39
Personal, 1925
39,605 70
Poll, 1925
5,004 00
437,322 09
Tax Titles
1,107 03
$492,081 79
Income, 1922
$ 134 50
Income, 1923
672 50
Income, 1924
1,748 50
Corporation Tax, Business
6,603 77
Corporation Tax, P. S.
5,015 32
Income Tax, 1925
57,852 75
National Bank Tax
2,084 04
Street Railway Tax
539 64
74,651 02
Amount carried forward
$566,732 81
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ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT
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Amount brought forward
$566,732 81
LICENSES AND PERMITS.
Junk
$225 00
Peddlers
42 00
Pool table
2 00
Bowling alley
2 00
Milk
9 50
Automobile dealers
70 00
Auctioneers
4 00
Express
5 00
Elevator
14 50
Taxi
12 00
Itinerant vendors
54 00
440 00
FINES AND FORFEITS.
Court fines
685 40
GRANTS AND GIFTS.
Dog licenses
$464 18
Dog damages
57 00
521 18
SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS.
Moth, 1924
$ 145 25
Moth, 1925
1,596 63
Sewers, 1924
469 54
Sewers, 1925
903 33
Sewer bills
1,789 07
Sidewalks, 1924
232 47
Sidewalks, 1925
735 66
Sidewalk bills
407 72
1,375 85
GENERAL GOVERNMENT.
Collector
$209 88 \
Rent, Town Hall
208 00 ยท
Board of Appeals
135 00
Gasoline permits
162 50
Rent, Morris House
96 00
811 38
PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY.
Police
$54 76 /
Sealer of Weights and Measures
70 04 /
124 80
Amount carried forward
$575,595 24
1,741 88
3,161 94
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[Dec. 31
Amount brought forward
$575,595 24
HEALTH.
Board and treatment
$137 55
Division of Sanatoria
318 57
456 12
CHARITIES.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
$1,962 41
Cities and towns
91 50
2,053 91
SOLDIERS' BENEFITS.
State Aid
558 00
SCHOOLS.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
$783 02
Tuition
281 25
Sale of old material
50 00
1,114 27
LIBRARY.
Receipts
215 00
PARK.
Rents
367 40
CEMETERY.
Sale of lots
$1,665 50
Perpetual care
200 00
1,865 50
WATER DEPARTMENT.
Water rates
$59,596 37
Water services
4,980 30
Rents
500 00
Reimbursement from emergency fund
1,383 33
66,460 00
INTEREST.
Treasurer's deposits
3,553 13
Taxes
2,072 73
Sewers
53 44
Investment fund
148 75
Accrued interest
288 38
Premium on bonds
2,263 87
8,380 30
Amount carried forward
$657,065 74
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ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT
1925]
Amount brought forward
$657,065 74
MUNICIPAL INDEBTEDNESS.
Loans in anticipation of revenue
$400,000 00
Tuberculosis Hospital notes
63,000 00
School loan
87,000 00
Street loans
35,500 00
Sewer loan
3,000 00
588,500 00
TRUST FUNDS.
Ellen E. Andrews estate
$ 150 00
Cemetery trust funds
12,465 75
Phillips Medal Fund
38 01
Joanna Morse Library Fund
168 54
Ellen R. Whittle Library Fund
375 21
Mary L. Thomson Library Fund
53 58
13,251 09
REFUNDS.
Insurance premium
$ 34 75
Overpayment school salary
10 50
From County:
Tuberculosis Hospital Construction
29,005 44
Essex street paving reimbursement
11,361 02
From State:
Essex street paving reimbursement
11,361 02
51,772 73
$1,310,589 56
Balance, January 1, 1925
96,715 78
Total receipts
$1,407,305 34
TRANSFERS
From Sidewalk Revenue to Excess and Deficiency $ 285 18
From Moth Revenue to Excess and Deficiency 1,637 50
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