USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1928 > Part 4
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It appears, however, that in consequence of the vote of the town at the special town meeting held November 8, 1927, counsel was retained to advise this Committee in its work and that a stenographer was em- ployed. The expense thus incurred was $125. We recommend that $125 be appropriated from the Excess and Deficiency Fund to pay this amount.
Article 19. To see if the town will vote to transfer to the Emer- gency Water Fund the unexpended balance of $1,291.82 in the Barnsta- ble street water main account.
30
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
We recommend that the town transfer the unexpended balance of $1,291.82 in the Barnstable street water main account to the Emergency Water Fund.
Article 20. To see if the town will authorize the Water and Sew- erage Board to sell the land, now owned by the town, on Danvers street in Salem, known as Thompson's Meadow.
The land was acquired by the town for $1,000 when the town was using Thompson's Meadow as a water supply. It was abandoned when the town made its contract with the Metropolitan Water Commission and has since been idle, with the town paying taxes each year which were partially offset by rents charged for billboards. It is understood that the town of Marblehead desires to obtain this land for its water supply and, as it could not be sold for any purpose, except as a part of that town's water supply, the Water and Sewerage Board recommends that they be permitted to sell the land to the town of Marblehead.
We recommend that the town authorize the Water and Sewerage Board to sell the land, now owned by the town, on Danvers street in Salem known as Thompson's Meadow, to the town of Marblehead for $1,000, the money so received to be credited to the Water Department from whose funds the original purchase was made, and that the Water and Sewerage Board are hereby authorized to execute, acknowledge and deliver in the name and in behalf of the town a deed conveying the title thereto.
Article 21. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Water and Sewerage Board to extend the lease of the property on New Ocean street, now used for garage purposes, to Frank I. Richardson for a term of five years.
While this article was under consideration we had no notice of any objection to the extension of the lease in question, but after the pub- lication of our report we learned that there was strong opposition to it from persons owning property in the vicinity of the premises covered by this lease. These persons desired to be heard before the presenta- tion of our report to this meeting and we accordingly conferred with them last night, with the members of the Water and Sewerage Board, and Mr. Richardson present. From the statements made at this con- ference we reached the conclusion that further consideration should be given to this subject and we therefore recommend that we be authorized to study the entire situation, including the advisability of discontinuing the use by the Water and Sewerage Board of premises in this neighbor- hood, and that a report be submitted at a special town meeting to be called by the Board of Selectmen for the first Monday of October next.
Article 22. To see if the town will vote to lay a water main in MacArthur circle, so called, a distance of approximately 180 feet, and appropriate or raise money therefor as petitioned for by Leon F. Ximiness et als.
Under Article 16 of the warrant for 1927 provision was made for laying a water main in Foster road from Burpee road a distance of approximately 480 feet to MacArthur circle. This work has never been done but the vote authorizing it and authorizing the loan for it are still in effect. Before this work in said Article 16 can be of any value the work described in Article 22 of this warrant, viz., laying a water main in MacArthur circle, must be done.
We therefore recommend that a water main be laid in MacArthur circle, a distance of approximately 180 feet from Foster road and that the sum of $860 be appropriated therefor from the revenue of the Water Department but on condition that the Town Engineer shall have cer- tified in writing to the Board of Selectmen that the street conforms in line and grade to the plan approved by the Board of Survey, and abut- ters 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 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.
31
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1928]
Article 23. To see if the town will vote to improve drainage condi- tions connected with or relating to Hawthorne Brook, or what it will do in relation thereto, and appropriate or raise money therefor as peti- tioned for by John W. Holden et als.
The estimated cost of this improvement is $8,000. It appears to be a matter connected with the development of adjoining private prop- erty rather than one calling for the expenditure of public funds.
We recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed. Article 24. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Water and Sewerage Board to do whatever is necessary to improve the drain- age conditions on Mapledale place, and appropriate or raise money therefor.
This end of Mapledale place is a low point where much surplus water collects from higher points after a rain storm or due to the melting of snow. The present catch basin is very old and is of in- sufficient capacity to take care of this surplus water properly, which results, according to the Surveyor of Highways, in damage to the surface of the street.
We recommend that the town vote to build a catch basin in Maple- dale place to be connected with a pipe emptying into the Sprague brook, so called, the work to be done under the supervision of the Water and Sewerage Board, that easements be taken in connection with said work if necessary and that the sum of $1,200 be appropriated therefor from the Excess and Deficiency Fund.
Article 25. To see if the town will vote to extend the eastern intercepting sewer from Palmer avenue eastward, about 1,650 feet, and appropriate or raise money therefor, as petitioned for by Charles D. C. Moore, et als.
This article relates to the building of the eastern intercepting sewer. No work has been done upon this sewer for the period of seven years. The town has already expended $40,000 in building a part of it, but full benefit can not be obtained from the work until the entire sewer is completed. It has been built to Palmer road. The Water and Sewerage Board and the Board of Health recommend that the building of this sewer be resumed. We have investigated the territory that will be served by it and believe that there is great present need for it. The entire cost will be about $67,000.
We recommend, however, that only that part of it from its present terminus to about Shepard avenue be constructed and that the sum of $13,000 be appropriated therefor, to be raised by bonds or notes of the town, the work to be done under the direction of the Water and Sewerage Board.
Article 26. To see if the town will vote to lay a drain to care for surface drainage which accumulates on Humphrey street at and near the corner of Forest avenue 'and appropriate or raise money therefor.
In order to relieve this condition it would be necessary to build a drain across Humphrey street through Puritan road, Puritan avenue to Atlantic road and thence to the brook in the old Palmer property. The cost of this work would be in the neighborhood of $4,000. We do not believe that public necessity warrants any such expenditure of public funds.
We recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article 27. To see if the town will vote to construct a vault at the Town Hall and appropriate or raise money for the same.
We do not advise the expenditure of the large amount of money that this would entail.
We recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article 28. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to sell and convey to Angelina Palleschi the lot located in Fairview avenue numbered 45 on Assessors' plan 13, as petitioned for by Angelina Palleschi.
This lot was taken by the town for taxes in 1920 and the accumu- lated taxes now amount to about $100.
32
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
We recommend that the town vote to authorize the Board of Select- men to sell to Angelina Palleschi the lot located on Fairview avenue numbered 45. plan 13 of the present Assessors' plans formerly known as lot 8, plan 27 of the old Assessors' plans for the sum of $100, and to execute, acknowledge, and deliver a deed conveying the title thereto. Article 29. To see if the town will vote to increase the salary of the Chief of Police to $2,800, and appropriate money therefor.
The salary of the Chief of Police is $2,360. The Article seeks to increase his salary to $2,800. This salary would be substantially in excess of that paid to persons occupying this position in other towns generally resembling Swampscott, and would be only $450 less than the amount that is paid to the Chief of Police of the City of Lynn. While the Committee cannot recommend that his salary be fixed at $2,800 we do believe that he should receive an increase above the amount that he is now paid. We are impressed with the statements contained in his annual report. These indicate that he has given thought to his duties, and if the plans which he therein discusses are carried out, we believe that the efficiency of the police force will be increased, and that the expenses of the department will be substantially reduced. During the current year two police officers have resigned. At the resig- nation of the first we conferred with the Board of Selectmen, and with the Chief, to determine what the policy of the Board was to be con- cerning the filling of this vacancy. It was then suggested that some- thing should be done to reduce the expense of this department, and the Chief stated that, if he were given an additional automobile, he would be able to run the department without the appointment of this officer, and that he believed that the addition of an automobile would add greatly to the efficiency of the department. The purchase of an automobile will reduce the annual expense of this department, and, in our opinion, would add to its effectiveness. The application of modern methods to this department in a manner to decrease its cost is to be commended,
and it indicates that the Chief is alive to the necessity of changing methods of his department as conditions change. We have made pro- vision in the budget for the Police Department for the purchase of a Ford automobile at a cost of $470, and have recommended an amount that will permit the use of eleven patrolmen instead of twelve.
We recommend that the annual salary of the Chief of Police be fixed at $2,600.
Article 30. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $1,000 for the observance of the Fourth of July.
We recommend that the town appropriate from excess and de- ficiency the sum of one thousand dollars to be used for the observance of the Fourth of July, and to be expended under the direction of a committee consisting of one citizen from each of the eight precincts of the town.
Article 31. To see if the town will vote to place under the control of the Park Commission those grass plots at the intersections of streets of the town not already under its control, and appropriate the sum of $200 for the care of the same.
The committee is advised that there are ten of these grass plots, some of which have been cared for through the generosity of residents in the vicinity thereof. There has been however no fixed responsibility concerning their care, and as a result at times, during the summer some of them have presented an appearance not favorable to the town. By placing the plots under the care of the Board of Park Commissioners the responsibility for keeping them in condition will be definitely fixed. We have included in the budget of the Park Commission a sum which will in the opinion of the Commissioners be sufficient to keep them in proper condition. No further appropriation will be necessary.
We recommend that those grass plots at the intersections of streets of the town not already under the control of the Park Commission be placed under the control of that board.
33
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1928]
Article 32. To see if the town will vote to replace the wood block pavement on Humphrey street and Monument square, from the Lynn line to a point at the top of the hill near the Post Office, a distance of approximately 2,000 feet, and appropriate or raise money therefor.
The estimated cost of replacing the wood block over the area named in the article is $28,000. It is stated that the cement base under the blocks is in good condition, but that the sand cushion between the blocks and the base has been washed away in many places, thus allow- ing the frost to get under the blocks and to force them up as has been the case in many instances the past three years. The blocks themselves having withstood the wear of travel for the past 14 years have lost their life and are not therefore in a condition to be relaid on a new sand cushion.
The committee feels that the present condition of the pavement is not bad enough to require any such heavy expenditure as has been proposed. It believes that a careful cost of repairs on any portion of the wood block pavement should be kept from now on in, order that when the necessity of replacing this pavement is forced upon the town that a fair idea of the maintenance cost of this type of pavement will be available.
We recommend that the Town Engineer be requested to keep a record of the yardage and cost of replacing any portion of the wood block pavement on Humphrey street and Monument square and that the Surveyor of Highways be requested to report to the Town Engineer all instances of repairs made on this pavement and the cost of work done by his department.
We recommend that all further action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article 33. To see if the town will vote to seal coat Atlantic ave- nue and appropriate or raise money therefor.
Atlantic avenue according to the Surveyor of Highways and Town Engineer is in good condition at the present time, but has begun to show signs of raveling, under the wear of the constant traffic. If this raveling is not arrested at once the entire surface will soon disintegrate, . and will entail a heavy expense in laying a new surface. By applying what is technically known as a seal coat, this raveling will be stopped and the street will be in good condition for many more years.
We recommend that the town vote to seal coat Atlantic avenue and that the sum of $1,100 be appropriated therefor from the Excess and Deficiency Fund.
Article 34. This article seeks to have the town construct that part of Foster road, from Burpee road, to Tid street, a distance of about 200 feet. This road is located in the Foster Dam District, so called, and the person who is developing this locality has built a road, from MacArthur circle, that extends southerly to Tid street. We visited the location and found no houses upon it. There are, however, houses located some distance from the stretch of road in question, and if this part of the road were built a better means of access to these houses would be provided. It would also furnish a more convenient and a safer way for the children of the district to attend the Machon School. We hesitate in making any recommendation for this work because it seems to be appropriating public money to assist in the development of land. The other features, however, that we have mentioned we believe should be considered by the town, and these seem to be suf- ficient to justify the expenditure of public money.
We therefore recommend that that part of the road between Burpee road and Tid street as laid out by the Board of Selectmen be accepted as soon as all waivers are signed and delivered, and that the sum of $1,200 be appropriated from the Excess and Deficiency Fund to put it in condition for travel.
Article 35. To see if the town will vote to accept Bay View Drive as laid out by the Board of Selectmen in accordance with a plan drawn by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated February, 1928.
34
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
This street is not sufficiently built up at the present time to war- rant its acceptance and the expenditure of public funds upon it in the opinion of the committee.
We recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article 36. To see if the town will accept that part of Hillcrest circle not already accepted, as laid out by the Board of Survey and appropriate or raise money therefor, as petitioned for by George D. R. Durkee et als.
This street is practically all built up and is well up to line and grade.
We recommend that the town vote to accept that part of Hillcrest circle not already accepted, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen as soon as the Town Engineer certifies to said board that it is built to conform to the plan approved by the Board of Survey and that the sum of $900 be appropriated therefor from the Excess and Deficiency Fund.
Article 37. To see if the town will vote to resurface Oceanview road from Sargent road, a distance of about 200 feet easterly, and ap- propriate or raise money therefor.
This street has been accepted for many years and is in urgent need of attention. The estimated cost is $400.
We recommend that the town vote to resurface Oceanview road from Sargent road, a distance of about 200 feet easterly, and that $400 be appropriated therefor from the Excess and Deficiency Fund.
Article 38. To see if the town will vote to accept Banks circle, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen in accordance with a plan drawn by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated March, 1926, and appropriate or raise money therefor as petitioned for by John A. Potts et als.
This is a short piece of road extending from Banks road which has been laid out by the Board of Selectmen and is presented for acceptance. Waivers have been signed by all abutters and there are dwelling houses on all lots abutting thereon.
We recommend that that part of Banks circle as laid out by the Board of Selectmen in accordance with a plan drawn by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer. dated March, 1926, be accepted and that the sum of $400 be appropriated therefor from the Excess and Deficiency Fund.
Article 39. To see if the town will vote to accept Lodge road, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen, in accordance with a plan drawn by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated February, 1928, and appropriate or raise money therefor, as petitioned for by Donato Pagano et als.
This street is fairly well built upon and is used considerably.
We recommend that the town vote to accept Lodge road, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen, in accordance with a plan drawn by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated February, 1928, when all abutters have signed waivers, and that the sum of $1,400 be appropriated therefor from the Excess and Deficiency Fund.
Article 40. To see if the town will vote to accept Bates road, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen, in accordance with a plan drawn by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated February, 1928, and appropriate or raise money therefor, as petitioned for by Donato Pagano et als.
This street is the connecting link from Humphrey street to Lodge road and will eventually lead through the Puritan Manor property to Puritan road. It is considerably traveled and well built up.
We recommend that the town vote to accept Bates road, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen, in accordance with a plan drawn by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated February, 1928, when all abutters have signed waivers and that the sum of $2,000 be appropriated therefor from the Excess and Deficiency Fund.
Article 41. To see if the town will vote to accept Kensington lane, a distance of 700 feet, beginning at Glen road and then continuing to Northern avenue as laid out by the Board of Selectmen in accordance with a plan drawn by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated February, 1928, and appropriate or raise money for resurfacing the same as peti- tioned for by Ernest M. Folger et als.
35
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1928]
This street has been built to line and grade by the developers of the property and the majority of the lots have been built upon. It is fifty feet in width and has substantial sidewalks on both sides.
Article 42. To see if the town will vote to accept Northern avenue, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen in accordance with a plan drawn by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated February, 1928, and appropriate or raise money for surfacing the same as petitioned for by Ernest M. Folger et als.
This is the original thoroughfare from Humphrey street to Ken- sington lane and is the only entrance to the latter from the easterly end. It is sometimes known as Northend avenue. The two streets are so connected that we have made our recommendation in one sum.
We recommend that the town vote to accept Kensington lane, a distance of 700 feet, beginning at Glen road and then continuing to Northern avenue and also Northern avenue both as laid out by the Board of Selectmen in accordance with plans drawn by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated February, 1928, when all abutters have signed waivers, and that the sum of $1,500 be appropriated from the Excess and Deficiency Fund for resurfacing Kensington lane and surfacing Northern avenue.
Article 43. To see what action the town will take in relation to the appropriation or raising of money for permanent street construction.
The Surveyor of Highways and the Town Engineer have called our attention to the condition of Norfolk avenue between Stetson ave- nue and Paradise road, in an easterly direction from Stetson avenue and report that a permanent surface should be built. The sewer and all other underground conduits have been laid and we feel that this should be done. The estimated cost is $9,500.
We recommend that the town vote to resurface Norfolk avenue, easterly from Stetson avenue to Paradise road, the work to be done by contract made by the Board of Selectmen for the town, with bitum- inous macadam construction in accordance with specifications approved by the division of highways of the State Department of Public Works, and that for this purpose $47.83 be transferred from the appropriation for Humphrey street resurfacing and $9,452.17 from the Excess and Deficiency Fund.
Article 44. To see if the town will authorize the Board of Select- men to take by eminent domain for the purpose of widening Blaney street a strip of land at the southeast corner of Humphrey street and Blaney street in said Swampscott, containing about 70 square feet and appropriate money therefor.
This article contemplates the taking of 69 square feet of what is now being used as sidewalk at the southeast corner of Humphrey and Blaney streets. The land owned by Lynch Brothers runs out to a point at the present curbstone of Blaney street where the street sign post is located. The proposed taking will not affect the present building and is only intended as a protection to the town against any repetition of the expense entailed by delayed action at the corner of Humphrey and Redington streets.
We recommend that the Board of Selectmen be authorized to take by eminent domain for the purpose of widening Blaney street a strip of land at the southeast corner of Humphrey street and Blaney street in said Swampscott, containing 69 square feet, according to a plan drawn by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated January, 1928, and that $105 be appropriated therefor from the Excess and Deficiency Fund.
Article 45. To see if the town will vote to take such action as is necessary to improve the surface drainage conditions in Ocean View and appropriate or raise money therefor.
The location is described in this article as Ocean View, but this is a mistake. The conditions against which complaint is made are located at Oceanside. We have visited these premises and find that the condi- tions in question are on private property and are in no way caused by anything done by the town.
36
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
We recommend that action under this article be indefinitely post- poned.
Article 46. To appropriate and raise by borrowing under any gen- eral 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.
The recommendations under this article will be read from the floor.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES W. SANTRY, Chairman.
RALPH J. CURTIS, CHARLES F. HATHAWAY, CHESTER A. BROWN, JOHN R. HURLBURT, PAUL W. BRICKETT,
FREDERIC J. RUDD, JOHN A. WALDO,
Finance Committee.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
1927
1928
Appropriated $450.00
Expended
Asked
Recommended
Legislative
$344.45
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