USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1925 > Part 7
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And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting attested copies thereof at the Town Hall, Post Offices and three other public and conspicuous places in the town, seven days before the day ap- pointed for said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk at the time and place of meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands this first day of May, A. D., 1925.
HARRY D. LINSCOTT, PHILIP W. BLOOD, R. WYER GREENE, Selectmen of Swampscott.
A true copy. Attest: FRANK H. BRADFORD, Constable.
Return on the Warrant
Pursuant to the within warrant to me directed. I have notified the legal voters of Swampscott, by posting attested copies of said warrant at the Town Hall, Post Offices and three other public and conspicuous places in Swampscott, on Monday, May 4, 1925, the posting of said notices being at least seven days before the time of said meeting.
FRANK H. BRADFORD, Constable.
Special Town Meeting, Tuesday, May 12, 1925
In accordance with the warrant the voters assembled at the Town Hall, on Tuesday evening, May 12, 1925. The necessary number being present, the meeting was called to order at 7.45 P. M., by Kendall A. Sanderson, Moderator. The warrant calling the meeting was read by the Town Clerk, and the return thereon.
The report of the Finance Committee was read by Charles I. Porter, Chairman.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
You can delegate to this committee the work of investigating the matters to come before you-but you cannot delegate to anyone the duty, to your town and to yourself, of voting after the informa- tion is supplied.
The purpose of this Town Meeting is to decide the way of spend- ing at least $100,000.00 so as to get the best result for the present and the future.
This is too important and far-reaching a matter to be settled by a small vote. In this case of a clear disagreement between the Finance Committee and the School Committee, we feel that both committees are entitled to your help in settling this matter now, so that the children can have, at the earliest time, the new school which is undoubtedly needed.
Come to this meeting and if either article is put on the ballot for an adjourned meeting, come then and give your town a big repre- sentative vote. Isn't this little enough for your committees to expect ?
Article 1. To see if the town will vote to select the premises adjacent to the Hadley School on Redington street and now owned by the town, as a site for a new elementary school, with adminis- trative offices and manual training rooms, as petitioned for by the School Committee.
As Articles 1 and 2 deal with the same subject, and the settle- ment of one involves the settlement of the other, we recommend that they be taken up jointly.
Article 2. To see if the town will vote to erect a six-room grade school, with administrative offices and manual training rooms, on land adjacent to the Hadley School and now owned by the town, as recommended by the special committee appointed by virtue of a vote passed at the adjournment of the annual town meeting of 1924, and appropriate money therefor, by borrowing or otherwise, as peti- tioned for by the School Committee.
In the writing of this article attention is drawn to the fact that the town now owns the land on Redington street upon which to place the new Elementary School. This is true, but only part of the truth. The Chick lot, back of the lot mentioned, was taken last year by right of eminent domain. The legality of the taking is now being tested in court. If the taking is judged legal, further court action is necessary to decide the value. The value of the front lot, with a worthless building, was over $1.00 a foot. The Chick lot has a good building on it, so that the value will not be small. The Chick lot has a right of way over the front lot which the proposed school would block. The town would therefore have to take the back lot or stand suit for damages on the right of way. Probably two acres can be bought on Forest avenue at less cost to the town.
In our report for the adjourned annual Town Meeting of this year, we made an extensive report on this matter under Article 46. The real question is: Shall the town build on Redington street, on a small lot, in a badly congested section, a new Elementary School Building of such size that it can care for the elementary pupils for probably not over five years, even though it does provide commodi- ous administrative offices, or shall it build on Forest avenue a school of sufficient size to care for the elementary pupils for a much longer period, on a large lot, safely reached by the children, and so located as to be more accessible to the larger number ?
It must be noted that even if an additional school building is built
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1925]
on Redington street, it will only increase the congestion of this district, and will not add to the attractiveness of the location either in appearance or as an inducement for development. If, on the other hand, a new Elementary School Building is built on Forest avenue, it will be in a healthy location, with plenty of land for future re- quirements, and in a district which will have greater value in the future development of the town, where a somewhat larger immedi- ate cost of maintenance will be more than offset by the return from additional taxable values on land now unimproved.
From the practical side, we believe the town should vote to build one school, and that the safety and convenience of the children are of greater consideration than new administrative offices.
We recommend that the town vote to build an Elementary School Building on Forest avenue opposite Aspen road, that one from the Board of Selectmen, one from the School Committee, one from the Finance Committee, the Town Counsel and the Building Inspector be appointed a Building Committee to secure plans and estimates, and report at a special Town Meeting, and that the sum of $500 be appropriated for the use of this committee.
CHARLES I. PORTER, Chairman, HENRY A. SADLER, Secretary, JAMES C. SOUTTER, HOWARD B. ABORN, JAMES R. DYER, E. R. GRABOW.
For reference we reprint below our report on this matter as pre- sented at the adjourned annual Town Meeting.
- 1. If the question of building a gymnasium now is eliminated, we then consider this article solely from the standpoint of how to relieve the overcrowded condition existing at the Hadley School. This should be done by providing adequate facilities for the first six grades in the location which will best provide for their needs for the next ten to twenty years.
We are unable to agree with the majority of the School Building Committee that Redington street should be selected because:
(a) The Hadley School is in a congested neighborhood on a nar- row street, which carries a continuously increasing automobile traf- fic. The normal increase in the Junior High School pupils together with Elementary School pupils, as well as the pupils of the Paro- chial School on Blaney Street, is likely to render necessary the widen- ing of this street by taking land in a high priced section of the town. The price paid for the Methodist Episcopal Church property was over one dollar per square foot.
(b) The proposed school is planned to be placed six feet from the line. Undoubtedly within a short time the town would be asked to take the next lot for light protection and quite likely further takings to provide playground space for an increased number of school children.
(c) A location, central and accessible to the whole town is nec- essary for a Junior High School. The same location, unless centrally located for the district it should serve, is not the proper one for an Elementary School. The new homes for families with young children are increasing very rapidly on the hill, away from the older streets, and this condition will be more and more pronounced each year.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
There is at present one unused room in the Clarke School and two in the Machon School. Several pupils attend the Hadley School ele- mentary grades who live in other school districts. A slight change in the Elementary School districts should permit locating the new school where it can best serve present and future needs.
We have considered the available locations and unanimously favor Forest avenue, opposite the end of Aspen road, as shown on the map printed herewith, together with a list of pupils by streets in the district to be served. We believe the town should vote to build on this site a school building sufficiently large to provide for the normal increase in number of Elementary School pupils for at least ten years. The proposed addition to the Hadley School would pro- vide for little more than the present needs. Thus the immediate cost will be greater, but in ten years the total cost will be less.
We favor this site because:
(a) It is accessible to the pupils of the district.
(b) It will provide for the future school population.
(c) It takes the children away from the congested highways in- stead of toward them.
(d) A large school lot with playground space can be provided at a cost which would pay for only a small lot on Redington street.
(e) It will leave the newly taken land on Redington street for play space as was intended.
Voted to accept the report of the Finance Committee, and that the articles be taken up separately.
Article 1. Voted to amend the report of the Finance Committee as follows: That the town accept the lot on Redington street, adja- cent to the Hadley School and now owned by the Town as the site of a new Elementary School with administrative offices and manual training rooms. For, 111. Against, 52.
Voted that the town accept the lot on Redington street adjacent to the Hadley School and now owned by the town as a site of a new Elementary School with administrative offices and manual train- ing rooms.
Article 2. An amendment to the Finance Committee report was made by Edward Tillotson, Chairman of School Committee, as fol- lows: Be it moved that the town vote to build a school building con- sisting of six classrooms, administrative offices and two manual train- ing rooms as recommended by the building committee appointed at the adjourned Town Meeting of 1924, and in accordance with the plans secured by said committee and that the sum of' $92,000 be appropriated therefor as follows: five thousand to be raised in the tax levy for the current year and that the Treasurer with the ap- proval of the Selectmen be authorized to borrow a sum not to exceed eighty-seven thousand dollars and to issue bonds or notes of the town therefor; said bonds or notes to be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by a majority of the Selectmen, and shall be issued and payable in accordance with the provisions of Section 19 of Chapter 44 of the General Laws and of Clause 3 of Section 7 of said Chapter 44 as amended by Chapter 338 of the Acts of 1923 and any Acts in amendment thereof or in addition thereto so that the whole loan shall be paid in not more than twenty years from the date of the first bond or note or at such earlier dates as the Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen may determine; said bonds or notes shall be denominated on the face thereof "Swampscott School Loan, 1925" and shall bear such rates of interest as may be fixed by the Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen, and that one from
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1925]
the Board of Selectmen, one from the School Committee, one from the Finance Committee, the Building Inspector, and an additional member to be selected by the Moderator be appointed a Building Committee to carry out this enterprise. Passed by vote. For, 141. Against, 13.
Voted that the town build a school building consisting of six classrooms, administrative offices and two manual training rooms as recommended by the Building Committee appointed at the adjourned Town Meeting of 1924, and in accordance with the plans secured by said Committee, and that the sum of $92,000 be appropriated therefor as follows: namely five thousand to be raised in the tax levy for the current year and that the Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen be authorized to borrow a sum not to exceed eighty-seven thousand dollars and to issue bonds or notes of the town therefor; said bonds or notes to be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by a majority of the Selectmen, and shall be issued and payable in accordance with the provisions of Section 19 of Chapter 44 of the General Laws and of Clause 7 of said Chapter 44 as amended by Chapter 338 of the Acts of 1923 and Acts in amendment thereof or in addition thereto so that the whole loan shall be paid in not more than twenty years from the date of the issue of the first bond or note or at such earlier dates as the Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen may determine; said bonds or notes shall be denomi- nated on the face thereof "Swampscott School Loan, 1925" and shall bear such rates of interest as may be fixed by the Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen, and that one from the Board of Se- lectmen, one from the School Committee, one from the Finance Com- mittee, the Building Inspector and an additional member to be se- lected by the Moderator be appointed a Building Committee to carry out this enterprise. For, 141. Against, 2.
Voted to dissolve at 8.55 P. M.
Attest: RALPH D. MERRITT,
Toun Clerk.
May 12, 1925
Kendall A. Sanderson, Moderator, appointed Louis H. Kimball, 75 Banks road, a member of the Building Committee for School House. Charles W. Mowry, 43 Grant road, appointed a member of By-Law Committee, in place of Egbert H. Ballard, who resigned from said Committee.
Attest: RALPH D. MERRITT,
Town Clerk.
Warrant for Special Town Meeting, Tuesday, October 6, 1925 ESSEX SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Swampscott in said County, GREETINGS:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are di- rected to notify the inhabitants of the Town of Swampscott, quali- fied to vote in elections and in town affairs, to assemble in the Town hall, in said Swampscott, on Tuesday, the sixth day of Octo- ber, at 8 P. M., then and there to act on the following articles, viz:
Article 1. To see if the Town will authorize the Board of Select- men to take by eminent domain for the purpose of widening Reding- ton street a strip of land at the intersection of Redington street and Humphrey street in said Swampscott, approximately nine feet in width and 84 feet in length, containing about 910 square feet, bounded and described as follows or however otherwise bounded:
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Beginning at an angle point on the easterly line of Redington street; thence running easterly about 9.00 feet; thence running southwesterly for a distance of about 71.00 feet; said line being parallel and nine feet easterly from the present line of Redington street; thence curving to the left with a radius of 9.00 feet for a distance of 17.13 feet to the intersection of the northerly line of Humphrey street. Above parcel to contain all the land lying be- tween present line of Redington street and described line, and appro- priate or transfer money therefor.
Article 2. To see if the town will vote to transfer from the Ex- cess and Deficiency Fund the sum of $7,100 for the use of the Police Department during the balance of the current year.
Article 3. To see if the town will vote to transfer the sum of $2,431.12, being the unexpended balance of the money appropriated for the resurfacing of Atlantic avenue for the purpose of completing the resurfacing of Stetson avenue, Norfolk avenue and Middlesex avenue to Burrill street.
Article 4. To see if the town will vote to appoint a committee consisting of the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Health to investigate the acquisition by the town of locations for the disposi- tion of its waste material, the report of the committee to be made to the next annual Town Meeting.
Article 5. To see if the town will vote to have the collection of ashes and other waste material done by the Highway Department after January 1, 1926.
Article 6. To see if the town will vote to install a water main in Kensington lane and Lewis road a distance of approximately 1000 feet and appropriate money for the same.
Article 7. To appropriate and raise by borrowing under any general or special law which authorizes the town to borrow money or otherwise such sum or sums of money as may be necessary for any or all of the purposes mentioned in the foregoing articles.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting attested copies thereof at the Town Hall, Post Offices and three other public and conspicuous places in the town, seven days before the day ap- pointed for said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk at the time and place of meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands this twenty-sixth day of September, A. D., 1925.
HARRY D. LINSCOTT, PHILIP W. BLOOD, R. WYER GREENE, Selectmen of Swampscott.
A true copy. Attest: FRANK H. BRADFORD,
Return on the Warrant Constable.
Pursuant to the within warrant to me directed, I have notified the legal voters of Swampscott by posting attested copies of said war- rant at the Town Hall, Post Offices and three other public and con- spicuous places in Swampscott, on Tuesday, September 29, 1925, the posting of said notices being at least seven days before the time of said meeting.
FRANK H. BRADFORD,
Constable.
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1925]
Special Town Meeting, Tuesday, October 6, 1925
In accordance with the foregoing warrant, the voters assembled in the Town Hall on Tuesday evening, October 6, 1925. The meet- ing was called to order promptly at 8 o'clock by Kendall A. San- derson, Moderator. The warrant calling the meeting, and the re- turn thereon was read by Ralph D. Merritt, Town Clerk. There were more than one hundred voters present.
The report of the Finance Committee was read by Charles I. Porter, Chairman.
Report of the Finance Committee for the Special Town Meeting of Tuesday, October 6, 1925
Article 1. To see if the town will authorize the Board of Select- men to take by eminent domain for the purpose of widening Red- ington street a strip of land at the intersection of Redington street and Humphrey street in said Swampscott, approximately nine feet in width and 84 feet in length, containing about 910 square feet, bounded and described as follows or however otherwise bounded:
Beginning at an angle point on the easterly line of Redington street; thence running easterly about 9.00 feet; thence running south- westerly for a distance of about 71.00 feet; said line being parallel and nine feet easterly from the present line of Redington street; thence curving to the left with a radius of 9.00 feet for a distance of 17.13 feet to the intersection of the northerly line of Humphrey street. Above parcel to contain all the land lying between present line of Redington street and described line, and appropriate or trans- fer money therefor.
The purpose of this Article is to widen the easterly corner of Humphrey and Redington streets. We are unable to determine the probable cost of taking 910 square feet of land, as outlined in the Article, as the owner claims that excessive and undetermined prop- erty damage would result. The purpose of this Article can be prop- erly provided for by taking a triangular strip of land about 9 feet wide at Humphrey street and running to a point on Redington street, containing 513 square feet.
We recommend that the town vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to take by eminent domain a piece of land bounded and described as follows:
Beginning at an angle point on the easterly side of Redington street, thence running S-45-46-20 W, for a distance of 71.21 feet, thence curving to the left, with a radius of 10 feet for a distance of 17.60 feet, to a point on the northerly side of Humphrey street; thence along said line of Humphrey street, N-55-03-40 W, for a distance of 12.10 feet; thence curving to the right with a radius of 9 feet for a distance 17.13 feet; thence running on the easterly line of Redington street N-54-01-10 E for a distance of 73.94 feet to the point of beginning. Containing 513 square feet.
And as the exact amount to be paid will probably be settled by court action, that the nominal sum of $952 be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Fund of the town for this purpose.
Article 2. To see if the town will vote to transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Fund the sum of $7,100 for the use of the Police Department during the balance of the current year.
The Police Department, under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen, is now organized with an increased number of officers. We find that approximately $7000 additional is required to continue the present organization for the balance of the year.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
We recommend a transfer of $7,000 from the Excess and Deficiency Fund of the town for the use of the Police Department during the balance of the current year.
Article 3. To see if the town will vote to transfer the sum of $2,431.12, being unexpended balance of the money appropriated for the resurfacing of Atlantic avenue, for the purpose of completing the resurfacing of Stetson avenue, Norfolk avenue and Middlesex avenue to Burrill street.
The cost of resurfacing Stetson and Norfolk avenues was $1,294.43 more than the appropriation of $15,000 for that purpose.
We recommend the transfer of $1,294.43 from the unexpended balance of the appropriation for resurfacing Atlantic avenue, this sum to be used to settle the unpaid bills for the resurfacing of Stet- son and Norfolk avenues.
Article 5. To see if the town will vote to have the collection of ashes and other waste material done by the Highway Department after January 1, 1926.
Under competitive bidding the lowest cost contract is obtained. The present, rates of pay for this type of work are less than paid the town employees. The successful bidder can sell clear ashes for filling at the highest price obtainable, is financially interested to do this and figures on this income to reduce his bid. Private business of this nature is usually more efficient and less costly than public work, and the town is protected by bond. Under the contract sys- tem no expenditure for equipment is involved.
We recommend that the Board of Health be instructed to prepare a contract for the town similar to the one now in effect, after pro- posals for contracts have been properly advertised, to provide for the collection of ashes and such other waste material as is now col- lected under the present contract, the new contract to run from January 1, 1926, until April 30, 1926, and that when the town pro- vides additional locations for the disposition of its waste material, or upon the refusal of the town to do so, the Board of Health shall prepare a term contract similar to that now in effect, for this purpose.
Article 6. To see if the town will vote to install a water main in Kensington lane and Lewis road, a distance of approximately 1,000 feet and appropriate money for the same.
There being no Board of Survey plan for Kensington lane and Lewis road, we recommend that action on this article be indef- initely postponed.
CHARLES I. PORTER, Chairman, HENRY A. SADLER, JAMES R. DYER, HOWARD B. ABORN,
Finance Committee.
Article 1. Voted to amend the Finance Committee report on Article 1, that part of the report that relates to the value of the strip of land be deleted.
Voted to accept and adopt the report of the Finance Committee as amended: That the town authorize the Board of Selectmen to take by eminent domain a piece of land bounded and described as follows: Beginning at an angle point on the easterly side of Red- ington street, thence running S-45-46-20 W, for a distance of 71.21
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1925]
feet; thence curving to the left, with a radius of 10 feet for a dis- tance of 17.60 feet, to a point on the northerly side of Humphrey street; thence along said line of Humphrey street, N-55-03-40 W, for a distance of 12.10 feet; thence curving to the right with a ra- dius of 9 feet for a distance 17.13 feet; thence running on the east- erly line of Redington street N-54-01-10 E for a distance of 73.94 feet to the point of beginning. Containing 513 square feet. That the nominal sum of $952 be transferred from the Excess and Defi- ciency Fund for this purpose. (Unanimous.)
Voted, Article 2. That the report of the Finance Committee be accepted and their recommendations be adopted as follows: that the town transfer $7,000 from the Excess and Deficiency Fund for the use of the Police Department during the balance of the year. Yes 157; No 59.
Voted, Article 3. That the report of the Finance Committee be accepted and their recommendations be adopted as follows: that the town transfer $1,294.43 from the unexpended balance of the appro- priation for the resurfacing of Atlantic avenue, this sum to be used to settle the unpaid bills for the resurfacing of Stetson and Norfolk avenues. (Unanimous.)
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