USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1926 > Part 6
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
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 substanially 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.
Sec. 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.
Sec. 8. The mortar for foundations, piers, and chimneys of stone, brick, cement-block, or tile shall have a strength not less than that of a mortar composed of one part Portland cement to not more than three parts of clean, sharp sand, proportioned by volume, with an allowable addition of hydrated lime not to exceed twenty-five per cent of the cement by volume.
Masonry walls above the underpinning shall be laid in mortar com- posed of one part Portland cement, one part hydrated or properly slacked lime to not less than six parts of clean, sharp sand.
Concrete Proportions.
Concrete for bearing walls and piers shall be at least of the follow- ing 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 per- mitted.
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 of fine and coarse aggregate combined.
Building Supports.
Sec. 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 than eight inches square. Wooden posts extending into the ground shall not be used for the sup- port 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
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1926]
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.
Sec. 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 adjacent land, except such buildings as are described in Chapter 145 of the General Laws and Acts in amendment thereof or in addition thereto.
The minimum thickness of exterior masonry walls for dwellings shall be as follows:
Brick-8 inches up to 20 ft. in height.
Concrete block or hollow tile-8 inches up to 10 ft. in height; 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.
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 exceed- ing 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.
No vertical chases (i.e. grooves for pipes, flues, wires, etc.) shall be permitted in 8 inch walls.
Brick veneer-walls shall be provided with metal ties embedded in mortar points at least 16 inches apart vertically and 24 inches hori- zontally.
Floor and roof timbers shall be attached to masonry walls by suit- able metal ties.
Sills, Girders, Trimmers, Headers.
Sec. 11. All wooden buildings and their projections over one story in height, used as dwellings, stores, stables, or for manufacturing pur- poses, 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.
Sec. 12. All beams carrying main partitions on the first floor shall be supported on piers or columns as described in Section 9 not more than seven feet apart; trimmers in the first floor over twelve feet in length shall be supported by a pier or post. All buildings shall be propertly braced at the angles.
Floor Joists.
Sec. 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
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
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.
Sec. 14. Fire stopping shall be provided to form an effectual hori- zontal 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.
Sec. 15. All dwellings over one story in height shall have plates not less than four by four inches, or the equivalent, and if over sixteen 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.
Height of Buildings.
Sec. 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 foundation wall, the measure- ment 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 per cent 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:
Sec. 17. When a garage is located beneath a dwelling or attached to it, the walls and ceiling shall be of fire resistive construction ap- proved by the Building Inspector. When a garage is located beneath a dwelling, all doors and windows with the frames and sash shall be of standard fire resistive construction, and glazed with wire glass.
Opening in Party Walls.
Sec. 18. No opening or doorway shall be cut through a party or partition wall of any building without a permit from the Building In- spector, 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.
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1926]
Chimneys.
Sec. 19. Chimneys less than 8 inches thick shall have a tile flue- lining covered with at least four inches of brickwork. Top of chim- ney 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.
Sec. 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.
Sec. 21. Smoke pipes from furnaces and heaters shall be kept at least eighteen inches away from any woodwork unless the woodwork is protected to the satisfaction of the Building Inspector.
Sec. 22. Registers, connected with hot air furnaces shall be set in non-combustible borders, at least two inches wide.
Sec. 23. Steam pipes shall be kept at least one inch from all wood- work or shall be protected by an incombustible ring or tube, or rest on iron supports.
Penalty for Violation.
Sec. 24. Whoever violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $20 for each offense.
Strike out Section on Roofs as printed and substitute the following: Roofs.
Any roof hereafter constructed in Districts 1 and 2 of the Town of Swampscott, as established by the Zoning By-Law, shall be covered with a fire-resistive material such as metal, tile, slate, asbestos shingles, or surfaced asphalt shingles. If asphalt shingles are used, they shall weigh not less than 235 pounds per hundred square feet laid or 74 pounds per hundred square feet of material not laid.
Whenever twenty-five percent or more of a roof covering is here- after replaced, the new covering shall be one of the fire resistive ma- terials mentioned above.
Whoever violates any provision of this by-law shall be punishable by a fine of not more than twenty dollars for each offense.
Accepts Report
Voted, Article 8. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows: That the recommenda- tion of the Band Concert Committee be taken up under Article 52.
That the town appropriate $2,500 to build a new locker building and wagon shed for the Highway Department.
That the town appropriate the sum of $5161.10 for the payment of new truck purchased by the Board of Selectmen, for emergency need for snow removal.
That action on the raise of salary of the Surveyor of Highways be indefinitely postponed.
That the town install eight additional police call boxes and a new switch board at the Police Station and appropriate for these purposes the sum of $215 and for increase in operating expense the sum of $280.
That the town install 15 gongs, one at each call box, and appropriate $24 for operating charges for the balance of the year. (Unanimous.)
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Voted with reference to matters on page 176 of the Annual Town Report, the following amounts for the purposes specified:
Hydrant rentals $1,000 00
Painting Central Fire House and new water heater 400 00
New fire alarm batteries 375 00
Replace three fire alarm boxes 480 00 .
New hose
500 00
That the town transfer the balance of $14.30 from the appropriation for Pleasant street sewer and the balance of $111.18 from the appro- priation for King's brook culvert. to the Sewer Emergency fund.
That the town transfer the balance of $566.74 from the appropri- ation for rebuilding the Palmer school and $500 from the appropri- ation for School Needs Investigating Committee, to the Redington Street School Building appropriation.
Voted, Article 9. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the accrued income under the will of Joanna Morse, amount- ing to $1,600 be transferred to the general funds of the town, and be known as Joanna Morse fund, and that the Library Trustees use the same for the purchase of new books.
An increased appropriation for Memorial Day to be used for services for all veterans of the town.
That the town transfer $4,556.51 from the balance from the prem- iums on notes and bonds to retire bonds under the General Debt.
That the town transfer $6.45 from the balance of Military Equip- ment to Soldiers' Exemption.
The Appropriations
The appropriations of the following amounts for the several town departments and for the other specific purposes are as follows: (Unan- imous.)
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
3,313 75
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 0
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
7,530 75
Health Nurse
1,250 00
Refuse, Garbage and Night Soil
11,800 00
Cleaning Beaches
1,165 00
1926]
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
63
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 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
ยท
300 00
Cemetery
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Voted, Article 10. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations; that action on these transfers be taken under the articles where the transfers are recommended.
Voted, Article 12. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows: That the town lay a 6 inch water main in Kensington lane and Lewis road a distance of about 1000 feet and appropriate the sum of $6,000 to be raised by notes and bonds of the town, 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 Sur- vey, and an easement has been granted for a drain as shown on the aforesaid 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 abutters if in the judgment of the Water and Sewerage Board waivers are necessary for the protection of the town. (Unanimous.)
Voted, Article 13. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows: 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 En- bineer 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 investment until the water rates of the users are equal to the interest thereon, proper waivers to be obtained from the abutters if in the judgment of the Water and Sewerage Board waivers are necessary for the protection of the town.
Voted, Article 14. To accept the report of the Finance Committee, and their recommendations adopted as follows: That the town extend the sewer in Walker road a distance of about 330 feet, and that the sum of $2,600 be appropriated from revenue for this purpose.
Voted, Article 15. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows: That the town extend the sewer in King street a distance of about 120 feet, and that the sum of $850 be appropriated for this purpose.
Voted, Article 16. That action on this Article be indefinitely post- poned.
Voted, Article 17. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows: That the town 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.
Voted, Article 18. That action on this article be indefinitely post- poned.
Voted, Article 19. That action on this article be indefinitely post- poned.
Voted, Article 20. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows: That the town build sewers in the following streets, or parts thereof, when accepted by the town, namely Neighborhood road for a distance of about 225 feet, Na- son road for a distance of about 350 feet and Orchard road for a dis- tance 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. (Unanimous.)
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TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS
1926]
Voted, Article 21. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows: That the town 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 for this purpose the town appropriate the sum of $7,500 to be raised by notes or bonds of the town. (Unanimous.)
Voted, Article 22. That action on this article be indefinitely post- poned.
Voted, Article 23. To accept the report of the Finance Committee, and adopt their recommendations. That the town lay a 12-inch pipe from the catch basins in Orchard Circle through Palmer avenue to At- lantic avenue and southwesterly to the Palmer road drain, and to build manholes and catch basins in connection therewith, and for that pur- pose the town appropriate the sum of $3,300 as follows: From revenue $500 and $2,800 by notes or bonds of the town. (Unanimous.)
Voted, Article 24. That action on this article be indefinitely post- poned.
Voted, Article 25. To accept the report of the Finance Committee, and adopt their recommendations: 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 Commonwealth and 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 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. (Unanimous.)
Voted, Article 26. To accept the report of the Finance Committee, and adopt their recommendations as follows: That the town 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 streets to be done by contract made by the Board of Selectmen for the town with bituminous macadem construction in accordance with the specifi- cations approved by the Division of Highways and that for these pur- poses 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 appropriation. (Unanimous.)
Voted, Article 27. Action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted, Article 28. Action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted, Article 29. To accept the report of the Finance Committee, and adopt their recommendations. That the town 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 sidewalk work provided for under this recommendation is to be done only by order of the Board of Selectmen in their discretion.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Voted, Article 30. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations. That the town 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.
Voted, Article 31. That action on this article be indefinitely post- poned.
Voted, Article 32. That action on this article be indefinitely post- poned.
Voted, Article 33. Amendment made by Edward A. Terhune, Jr. that the chair appoint a committee of 5 including 3 Selectmen to pur- chase 5-ton tractor and plow, without restriction of choice and raise and appropriate sum not exceeding $6,000 to be raised as committee deems best. For 92. Against 84.
Voted, that the chair appoint a committee of 5 including 3 Select- men to purchase 5-ton tractor and plow, without restriction of choice and raise appropriate sum not exceeding $6,000 to be raised as com- mittee deems best.
Voted, Article 35. To accept the report of the Finance Committee, except the type of auto be left to the Surveyor of Highways, and that for this purpose the sum of $900 be appropriated.
Voted, Article 36. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations, that the town appropriate $4,000 for the purpose of this article.
Voted, Article 37. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations: that a committee of three voters, one of whom shall be a member of the Finance Committee, be appoint- ed to serve with the School Committee to investigate the needs of the Palmer School district and to report at a later town meeting.
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