USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1926 > Part 4
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That the sum of $1,500 be appropriated for the foregoing purposes.
HARRY D. LINSCOTT,
PHILIP W. BLOOD,
R. WYER GREENE, LORING GRIMES, HAROLD H. BARTOL, JOHN B. CAHOON.
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 1926.
For your information we show the town's expenditures for the past five years as follows:
Year
From Taxes and Receipts
Borrowed Money
Total
Tax Rate
1921
$524,730.00
$74,500.00
$599,230.00
$24.00
1922
537,025.00
41,500.00
578,525.00
25.00
1923
603,279.00
28,000.00
631,279.00
26.00
1924
623,817.00
47,500.00
671,317.00
25.00
1925
649,290.00
64,863.00
714,153.00
26.00
There is an increase taken from revenue and receipts each year and in four of the last five years the increase is greater than the return from the increase in assessed valuations. Each $20,000 of appropri- ations means one dollar in the tax rate.
Eighty per cent of all tax receipts of Massachusetts last year was raised by local assessment on real and personal estates. Who pays these taxes ? All of us. If the town shovels off the sidewalks, or cares for the school children's teeth at the dental clinic or does any other work formerly done and paid for by the individual, taxes increase and we pay, at the same time losing the opportunity of insisting on efficiency. If we do not pay direct taxes we pay in the form of rent or in the cost of everything we buy from tax paying store keepers. Therefore those who only pay a poll tax are as interested as property tax payers in raising only necessary revenue for town expenditures.
The town is asked to accept a considerable number of streets this year. It is gratifying to find that many of these are already built to line and grade, so that the town is asked to assume the cost of main- tenance only without immediate expenditure to put them in condition. We believe the circumstances must be most unusual to warrant an acceptance under any other condition.
We still find some disinclination to enforce the terms of contracts. The signing of a fairly drawn contract, backed by a bond, should en- sure the insistance of full performance without fear, indifference or favor.
It is the opinion of this committee that the town should build sewers only where real need is demonstrated. This year some are requested which are merely for real estate developments. Unless the town should accept the "Betterment Act" we believe such requests must be refused.
38
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Most departments co-operate most heartily with us and the con- scientious work of the Town Accountant has been of great assistance to this committee. His care and diligence in checking and protecting balances have been a large factor in bringing the Excess and Defici- ency fund to a safe margin of over $14,000.
Article 4. To see what action the town will take in relation to salaries of town officials for the ensuing year.
There is no assistant Tax Collector, the former assistant now being the Tax Collector.
We recommend that the salary of the Tax Collector be increased to $1,500, to equal the salary of the former assistant.
We further recommend that all other salaries of town officials for the ensuing year be the same as last year.
Article 8. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations calling for the appropriation or expenditure of money, the creation of a debt, or the disposition of town property as set forth in the report of officers, boards, and committees in the annual report as follows: Board of Health, Band Concert Committee, Park Commission, Surveyor of Highways, Chief of Police, Sealer of Weights and Measures, Tree Warden, Forest Warden, Superintendent of Moth Work, Board of Five Engineers, Overseers of the Poor, Water and Sewerage Commission, Redington Street School Building Committee, Board of Assessors, Board of Selectmen, and the School Committee.
Under this article we take up all matters not included in the recom- mendations under Article 9.
We recommend that the recommendations of the Band Concert Committee be taken up under Article 52.
With reference to matters on page 194 of the annual Town Report, we recommend that the town vote to appropriate $2,500 to build a new locker building and wagon shed for the Highway Department.
The Board of Selectmen purchased a new truck for the emergency need for snow removal. We recommend that the town vote to appro- priate for payment the sum of $5,161.10 and that the truck loaned the town by the State be used only for snow removal purposes, except in the case of an emergency.
The salary of the Surveyor of Highways was raised last year, we recommend that action on this matter be indefinitely postponed.
With reference to matters on page 189 of the annual town report, we recommend that the town vote to install eight additional police call boxes and a new switch board at the Police Station and appropri- ate for these purposes the sum of $215 and for increase in operating expense the sum of $280.
In place of the five red flash lights asked for, we recommend the installation of 15 gongs, one at each call box, and the appropriation of $24 for operating charge for the balance of the year.
With reference to matters on page 176 of the annual town report we recommend the following amounts for the purposes specified:
Hydrant rental $1,000
Painting Central Fire House and new water heater 400
New fire alarm batteries 375
Replace three fire alarm boxes 480
New hose 500
39
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1926]
We recommend the transfer of the balance of $14.30 from the ap- propriation for Pleasant street sewer, and the balance of $111.18 from the appropriation for Kings Brook culvert, to the Sewer Emergency fund.
We recommend the transfer of the balance of $566.74 from the ap- propriation for rebuilding the Palmer School, and $500 from the ap- propriation for the School Needs Investigating Committee, to the Redington Street School Building appropriation.
Article 9. To see what action the town will take in relation to the appropriation of money for departmental and other expenses as recom- mended and set forth on pages 213-223 of the annual town report.
It appears that under the will of Joanna Morse the income of the trust fund "shall be spent annually for the purchase of new books." This we find has not been done and the accrued income of this fund is now over $1,600.
We recommend that this income be transferred to the general funds of the town and known as the Joanna Morse Fund, and that the Library Trustees, acting under the terms of the will, provide for the purchase of new books from this accrued income, so that by this action no appropriation for this purpose will be necessary this year.
We are recommending an increased appropriation for Memorial Day to be used for services for all war veterans of the town.
We recommend the transfer of $4.556.51 from the balance from the premium on notes and bonds to retire bonds under General Debt.
We recommend the transfer of $6.45 from the balance of Military Equipment to Soldiers' Exemption. With reference to matters on pages 213 to 223 in the annual town report, we recommend the appro- priation of the following amounts for the several town departments and for the other specific purposes as set forth.
General Government
Legislative
$400 00
Selectmen
2,200 00
Auditing
2,275 00
Treasurer
1,498 00
Certification, Printing and Advertising
500 00
Collector of Taxes Assessors
3,100 00
Town Clerk
700 00
Law
1,000 00
Election and Registration
1.935 00
Engineering
5,875 00
Town Hall
3,400 00
Special : Painting and repairing roof
500 00
Board of Appeals
125 00
Protection of Life and Property
Police Department
43,500 00
Fire Department
36,200 00
Special : Extra expense for snow
426 89
Sealer of Weights and Measures
600 00
Moth Department
4,800 00
Tree Warden
2,100 00
Forest Warden
200 00
Dog Officer
200 00
Building Inspector
925 00
Constable
60 00
Town Weigher
30 00
Inspector of Animals
100 00
Health and Sanitation
Board of Health
7,830 75
Health Nurse
1,250 00
Refuse, Garbage and Night Soil
11,800 00
.
Cleaning Beaches
.
1,165 00
3,313 75
40
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Dental Clinic
500 00
Sewer Maintenance
8,200 00
Particular Sewers
1,000 00
Brooks
500 00
Highways and Bridges
Administration
2,600 00
Repairs and Maintenance
34,450 00
Crushed Stone, Sand and Gravel
3,000 00
Wood Blocks
500 00
Sargent and Aspen Roads
1,000 00
Special Repairs :
Shingling roofs and repairing stable floor New Equipment :
500 00
Two Horse cart
500 00
Single cart
250 00
Express wagon
150 00
Single pung
100 00
Seal coating
3,500 00
Street Construction
2,500 00
Street Watering and Oiling
5,000 00
Sidewalk and Curbing
2,500 00
Snow and Ice
18,000 00
Continuous Sidewalks
10,000 00
Street Lights .
18,000 00
Charities and Soldiers' Relief
Poor Department
8,000 00
State Aid
700 00
Soldiers' Relief
4,600 00
Pensions
4,707 60
Education
School Department
147,674 00
Special: High School roof and gutters, Hadley School roof and
repointing
5,000 00
Library : Books : From Joanna Morse accrued income
Periodicals and Binding
475 00
Salaries and Wages
4,050 00
Maintenance and Expense
875 00
Recreation
Park Department
Administration
125 00
Abbott Park
300 00
Blaney Beach Reservation
1.440 00
Jackson Park
1,000 00
Monument Avenue
475 00
Phillips Park
1,700 00
Soldiers' Monument Lot
50 00
General Expense
2,460 00
Water
200 00
Cemetery .
3,150 00
Special: Shingling Tool House
265 00
Unclassified
Reserve Fund
4,666 41
Memorial Day
500 00
Town Reports
1,285 76
Heat and Light, G. A. R. Hall
350 00
Insurance Premiums
2,000 00
Soldiers' Exemption
43 55
Trust Fund Commission Bond
40 00
District Nurse
300 00
Firemen's Memorial Sunday .
200 00
Legion Lease
400 00
Interest and Maturing Debt
Interest
Anticipation Loan .
9,500 00
General Debt
15,419 00
Sewer Bonds
8,486 75
Essex T. B. Hospital Bonds
2,440 00
Municipal Indebtedness
General Debt
38,643 49
Sewer Bonds
15,850 00
Essex T. B. Hospital
4,000 00
County of Essex
Essex T. B. Hospital assessment
3,773 18
.
.
Cemetery
41
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1926]
Art. 10. To see what action the town will take relative to the fol- lowing unexpended balances from appropriations raised by notes and bonds of the town:
Humphrey Street
$ 32
Burpee Road
1,143 47
Atlantic Avenue 1,136 69
Burrill Street 1,503 41
Military Equipment 6 45
Palmer School Addition
566 74
Pleasant Street Sewer
14 30
Under other articles we have recommended the transfer of each of the balances specified in this article. We recommend that action on these transfers be taken under the articles where the transfers are recommended.
Art. 12. To see if the town will vote to install water mains in Kensington lane and Lewis road, a distance of approximately 1,000 feet, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Ernest M. Folger, et als.
We recommend that the town vote to lay a 6-inch water main in Kensington lane and Lewis road a distance of about 1,000 feet and appropriate for this purpose the sum of $6,000 to be raised by notes and honds of the town, but only when the Town Engineer shall have certified in writing to the Board of Selectmen that the street con- forms in line and grade to the plan accepted by the Board of Survey, and an easement has been granted for a drain as shown on the afore- said plan, and abutters have signed an agreement to pay 6 per cent. interest on the investment until the water rates of the users are equal to the interest thereon, proper waivers to be obtained from the abutt- ers if in the judgment of the Water and Sewerage Board waivers are necessary for the protection of the town.
Art. 13. To see if the town will vote to lay a 6-inch water main in Bay View drive, so-called, a distance of approximately 350 feet, to connect with the mains authorized to be laid in said road by votes of the town under Articles 41 and 42 of the warrant for the annual town meeting held February 18, 1924, and appropriate money for same, as petitioned for by C. I. Lander, et als.
We recommend that the town lay a 6-inch water main in Bay View drive, so-called, a distance of about 350 feet to connect with the mains authorized by the votes of the town under Articles 41 and 42 of the warrant for the annual town meeting of 1924, when laid, and that $2,650 from the revenue of the Water Department be used for this purpose, but only when the Town Engineer shall have certified in writing to the Board of Selectmen that the street conforms in line and grade to the plan accepted by the Board of Survey, and abutters have signed an agreement to pay 6 per cent. interest on the invest- ment until the water rates of the users are equal to the interest there- on, proper waivers to be obtained from the abutters if in the judg- ment of the Water and Sewerage Board waivers are necessary for the protection of the town.
Art. 14. To see if the town will vote to extend the sewer in Walker road a distance of about 330 feet, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.
We recommend that the town vote to extend the sewer in Walker road a distance of about 330 feet, and that the sum of $2,600 be appro- priated from revenue for this purpose.
42
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Art. 15. To see if the town will vote to extend the sewer in King street a distance of about 120 feet, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.
We recommend that the town vote to extend the sewer in King street a distance of about 120 feet, and that the sum of $850 be appro- priated for this purpose.
Art. 16. To see if the town will vote to build a sewer in Fuller avenue, from Bay View avenue to Bond street, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Marion G. Coughlin, et als.
The need for this sewer does not appear to be urgent.
We recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Art. 17. To see if the town will vote to lay a sewer in Puritan road southerly from the junction of Puritan road and Humphrey street at Philips corner, a distance of approximately 300 feet, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Addie N. Furbush, et als.
There is an urgent need for this sewer.
We recommend that the town vote to lay a sewer in Puritan road for a distance of about 450 feet from the trunk line sewer toward Humphrey street and appropriate for this purpose the sum of $1,400.
Art. 18. To see if the town will vote to lay sewers in the following streets and appropriate money for the same: Puritan park for a dis- tance of 470 feet; Atlantic road for a distance of 400 feet; Puritan avenue for a distance of 610 feet; and on private land for a distance of 210 feet, thus connecting with the present main, as petitioned for by Herbert R. Pickering, et als.
The need of this sewer does not appear to be urgent.
We recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Art. 19. To see if the town will vote to continue the sewer from the property of Rose F. Vorenberg, 386 Puritan road, in Puritan road toward Little's Point, approximately 1,100 feet, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Herbert E. Gale, et als.
The cost of building this sewer is estimated to be $8,000 to benefit only one house.
The Puritan Manor development across the street from this house is largely on low land backing on the trunk line sewer. At some future time this will probably have to be sewered, at which time this house can be connected.
We recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Art. 20. To see if the town will vote to lay a sewer in the property known as "The Orchards," in Neighborhood road, for a distance of 225 feet; in Nason road for a distance of 350 feet; and in Orchard road for a distance of 284 feet and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Isabelle D. Nason, et als.
The need for the sewer appears to be urgent.
We recommend that the town vote to build sewers in the following streets or parts thereof when accepted by the town, namely Neighbor- hood road for a distance of about 225 feet, Nason road for a distance of about 350 feet and Orchard road for a distance of about 284 feet- and that for this purpose the town appropriate the sum of $6,700 to be raised by notes and bonds of the town.
43
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1926]
Art. 21. To see if the town will vote to lay a sewer in Millett road, westerly and northerly from the junction of Oceanview road and Millett road, a distance of approximately 700 feet, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by R. Wyer Greene, et als.
The need for the sewer appears to be urgent.
We recommend that the town vote to lay a sewer in Millett road westerly and northerly from the junction of Ocean View and Millett roads a distance of about 650 feet and that for this purpose the town appropriate the sum of $7,500, to be raised by notes or bonds of the town.
Art. 22. To see if the town will vote to lay a sewer in Paradise road from the manhole at Banks road northeasterly to Franklin avenue and in Franklin avenue from Paradise road to a point near the end of the present sewer in Franklin avenue, a distance of approxi- mately 1,400 feet, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by J. C. Pearson, et als.
The need for this sewer does not appear to be urgent.
We recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Art. 23. To see if the town will vote to lay a 12-inch pipe for the drainage of Orchard circle, with necessary manholes and catch basins, and appropriate money for same, as recommended by the Surveyor of Highways.
The catch basins on this street are inadequate. The town must make provision to care for the surface water in Orchard circle which is an accepted street.
We recommend that the town vote to lay a 12-inch pipe from the catch basins in Orchard circle through Palmer avenue to Atlantic avenue and southwesterly to the Palmer road drain, and to build man- holes and catch basins in connection therewith, and that for this pur- pose the town appropriate the sum of $3,300, as follows: from revenue $500 and $2,800 by notes and bonds of the town.
Art. 24. To see if the town will vote to extend King's brook cul- vert, so-called from its present terminus to Superior street, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by John Dalferro, et als.
The situation on King's Brook does not appear to be serious.
We recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Art. 25. To see if the town will vote to continue the reconstruc- tion of Essex street with cement from the end of the cement road, near the cemetery in Swampcsott, to the Salem line, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Surveyor of Highways.
The cost of resurfacing Essex street was greater than the appro- priation so that the work was not completed.
To complete the work to the Salem line will require $1,500 ad- ditional.
We recommend that Essex street be reconstructed with cement, from the end of the present cement construction to the Salem line, on condition that the Division of Highways on behalf of the Common- wealth and the County Commissioners on behalf of the County of Essex, either or both, will pay one half the expense thereof, the work to be done in accordance with specifications approved by the said Division of Highways, and that for the town's share of the expense thereof the sum of thirty-two cents be transferred from the balance of Humphrey street appropriation, specified in Article 10, the further
44
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
sum of $6.221.74 be appropriated which with the balances of $1,277.94 from the Essex street appropriation provides $7,500 for this purpose, said work to be done under contract made by the Board of Selectmen on behalf of the town.
Art. 26. To see what action the town will take in relation to the appropriation of money for permanent street construction.
We recommend that the town vote to resurface the easterly side of Monument avenue, Walker road to its intersection with Banks road, Middlesex avenue from its intersection with Norfolk avenue to Burrill street, and Palmer avenue from Humphrey street to Atlantic avenue, the work on Palmer avenue to be done only after the Orchard road drain has sufficiently settled, the work on all these streets to be done by contract made by the Board of Selectmen for the town with bituminous macadam construction in accordance with specification ap- proved by the Division of Highways and that for these purposes the amount of $24,000 be appropriated as follows: from revenue, $5,216.43; by notes and bonds of the town, $15,000, and by transfers of $1,143.47 from the Burpee road appropriation; $1,136.69 from the Atlantic avenue appropriation, and $1,503.41 from the Burrill street appropria- tion.
Art. 27. To see if the town will vote to resurface Middlesex avenue with bituminous macadam from and including the intersection with Norfolk avenue to Burrill street and appropriate money for the same.
The purpose of this article has been provided for under the recom- mendation for Article 26.
We recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Art. 28. To see if the town will vote to resurface Palmer avenue, from Humphrey street to Atlantic avenue, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Herbert A. Johnson, et als.
The purpose of this article has been provided for under the recom- inendation for Article 26.
We recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Art. 29. To see if the town will vote to appropriate $700 to change lines and grades and build catch basins at the junction of Humphrey and Redington streets, as recommended by the Surveyor of Highways.
The purpose of this article is to make use of the land taken at the corner of Humphrey and Redington streets last year.
We recommend that the town vote to widen Redington street at the "corner of Humphrey street, lay granolithic sidewalk and rebuild catch basins, and appropriate for these purposes the sum of $700. The side- walk work provided for under this recommendation is to be done only by order of the Board of Selectmen in their discretion.
Art. 30. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $2,000 for street signs, as recommended by the Surveyor of Highways.
This committee believes the town should make a start in providing the town with attractive street signs conspicuously placed.
We recommend that the town vote to appropriate the sum of $2,000 for the purchase and placing of street signs, the main thoroughfares first to be provided for, the work to be done under the direction of the Board of Selectmen and the Surveyor of Highways.
Art. 31. To see if the town will vote to build a catch basin at the southerly corner of Atlantic avenue and Palmer road, connecting with the drain in said road, and appropriate money for the same, as recom- mended by the Surveyor of Highways.
45
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1926]
The purpose of this article is provided for under the recommenda- tion of Article 23.
We recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article 32. To see if the town will vote to remove the ledge on Buena Vista street to a line corresponding with the street line, so that the full width of the roadway will be available for traffic, as already laid out and accepted by the town, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for by Harold W. Doughty, et als.
The cost of this work would be $5,500. With the many necessary appropriations this year it seems unwise to make any appropriation for this purpose.
We recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Art. 33. To see if the town will vote to purchase for use of the Highway Department, a crawler tractor of not over 5-ton weight and having a standard maximum engine capacity of not less than 55 H.P .; together with a suitable all-steel, one-man snow plow to fit same and appropriate money for the same in a sum not exceeding $6,000, as petitioned for by Edward A. Terhune, Jr., et als.
With the purchase this year of a new 5-ton truck, the town now has two trucks, which, if started at the beginning of a snow storm, can keep the streets clear under any but most extraordinary conditions. We believe the purchase of further additional equipment can be post- poned.
We recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Art. 35. To see if the town will vote to purchase an automobile for the use of the Surveyor of Highways in connection with his duties, and to appropriate money therefor.
With the present equipment a slow horse drawn wagon or a 5-ton truck must be sent for a small piece of work. An open express body auto will permit sending one or two men with tools for such work. We believe this type of car best for the use of the Surveyor of High- ways.
We recommend that the town vote to buy an open express body auto and that for this purpose the sum of $900 be appropriated.
Art. 36. To see if the town will appropriate a sufficient sum of money to permit the moving of furniture from the Hadley school to the annex connected therewith, and to permit also the purchase and installation of new furniture for use in said annex, as recommended by the School Committee.
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