USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1929 > Part 4
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That a sewer be built in Sargent road and Prospect avenue, a dis- tance of approximately 430 feet from Aspen road and that the sum of forty-five hundred dollars be appropriated therefor to be raised by bonds or notes of the town.
That a sewer be built in Barnstable street for a distance of approxi- mately 230 feet from Stetson avenue and that the sum of nineteen hun- dred dollars be appropriated therefor to be raised by bonds or notes of the town. (Unanimous.)
Voted, that the Water and Sewerage Board be authorized to look into the apportionment of the costs of sewers to the town, and see of the part paid out by the town, what part the town gets back and report at the next adjourned town meeting.
Voted, Articles 37 to 44 inclusive be referred to the Finance Com- mittee.
Voted, Article 45. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the present practice of using the Lynn police station for the purpose of detaining persons arrested in Swampscott be continued, and that the sum of one hundred dollars be paid annually therefor to the city of Lynn, to be taken from the Excess and Deficiency Fund.
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RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1929]
That further action under this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted, Article 46. That the Town Clerk give a proper legal notice to all persons interested in the proposed amendment to the Zoning By-Laws, that a public hearing will be held at the adjourned town meet- ing on March 25, 1929.
Voted, Article 47. That the Town Clerk give a proper legal notice to all persons interested in the proposed amendment to the Zoning By-Laws, that a public hearing will be held at the adjourned town meeting on March 25, 1929.
Voted, Article 48. That a committee of eight consisting of one town meeting member from each precinct be appointed by the moderator to make an investigation of the subject matter referred to in the article and report at the adjourned town meeting.
Voted, Article 49. That a committee of one from each precinct be appointed by the moderator to investigate the needs of a new Town Hall and report at the next adjourned town meeting.
Voted, Articles 50 to 52 inclusive referred to Finance Committee. Voted, Article 53. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt. their recommendations.
Action under this article and on the recommendation of the Chief herein referred to, be indefinitely postponed.
Voted, Articles 54 and 55 be referred to the Finance Committee.
Voted, Article 56. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and their recommendations as amended. That the town appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars for the observance of the Fourth of July and that this sum be taken from the Excess and Deficiency Fund; that the Moderator appoint a committee, one member from each pre- cinct as a Fourth of July Committee.
Voted, Articles 57 to 62 inclusive be referred to the Finance Com- mittee.
Voted, that when we adjourn, it be to Monday evening, March 25, 1929, at 7:30 o'clock.
Voted to adjourn at 8:45 P. M.
Attest :
RALPH D. MERRITT, Town Clerk.
ASSISTANT TOWN CLERK
February 26, 1929. Nina C. Merritt appointed assistant Town Clerk and qualified for the office. Attest:
RALPH D. MERRITT, Town Clerk.
COMMITTEES APPOINTED
February 27, 1929.
John R. Hurlburt, Moderator, appointed the following committee under Article 48, to investigate the matter of taking land for Park purposes :
Precinct 1 Robert B. Hegarty
Precinct 2 James D. Bentley
Precinct 3 James A. Cook
Precinct 4 George J. Harvey
Precinct 5 Henry S. Baldwin
Precinct 6 Clarence B. Humphrey
Precinct 7 Joseph Atwood Precinct 8 Edward LaCroix
Under Article 49 to investigate the needs of a new Town Hall:
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Precinct 1 G. Edwin Allen
Precinct 2 Fred A. McKennon
Precinct 3 Stuart P. Ellis
Precinct 4
Robert C. Mansfield
Precinct 5 George B. Learned
Precinct 6 Howard K. Glidden
Precinct 7 Roger W. Pope
Precinct 8 Louis M. Atherton
Attest:
RALPH D. MERRITT, Town Clerk.
TOWN HALL COMMITTEE
March 2, 1929.
John R. Hurlburt, Moderator, appointed Gustavus J. Esselen, Jr., a member of the Town Hall Committee in place of Louis M. Atherton, who resigned from said committee. Attest: -
RALPH D. MERRITT, Town Clerk.
SELECTED TO FILL VACANCIES
March 22, 1929. At a special meeting of the Town Meeting Members of Precinct 8 held on the above date, Robert McKay, Eulow street, was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Clarence H. Holloway.
JOHN R. HURLBURT, Chairman, ARTHUR M. WYMAN, Clerk.
Attest:
RALPH D. MERRITT, Town Clerk. March 22, 1929.
At a special meeting of the Town Meeting Members of Precinct 5 held on the above date Philip H. Stafford, Banks road, was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Edward Tillotson.
HENRY S. BALDWIN, Chairman, CHARLES S. GOODRIDGE, Clerk.
Attest:
RALPH D. MERRITT, Town Clerk.
WARRANT FOR SPECIAL MEETING Monday, March 25, 1929
Essex, ss.
To either of the Constables of the town of Swampscott in said County, GREETING:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are directed to notify the inhabitants of the town of Swampscott, qualified to vote in elections and in town affairs, to assemble in the Town Hall in said Swampscott, on Monday, the twenty-fifth day of March, at 7:15 P. M., then and there to act on the following articles, viz:
Article 1. To see if the town will vote to rescind the vote taken on Article 2 of the Special Town Meeting held January 16, 1929, whereby it was voted to authorize the Board of Selectmen to take in fee for the purpose of a public way, the land described in Article 1 of the warrant for that meeting and to appropriate the sum of $300 therefor to be taken from the tax levy of the current year.
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RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1929]
Article 2. To see if the town will accept as a public way the following described way as located and laid out by the Board of Selectmen and appropriate money therefor.
Beginning at a point situated on the southerly line of Orchard road, said point being the point of reverse curve; thence curving to the left with a radius of 154.70 feet, for a distance of 100.86 feet; thence running S 76-39-20 W for a distance of 30.00 feet; thence curving to the left with a radius of 200.00 feet, for a distance of 44.05 feet to the land formerly of Maria S. Hastings recently taken by eminent domain by the town of Swampscott; thence N 62-43-50 W by said land formerly of Maria S. Hastings for a distance of 59.26 feet; thence curving to the right with a radius of 250.00 feet for a distance of 90.65 feet; thence N 76-39-20 E for a distance of 30.00 feet; thence curving to the left with a radius of 24.00 feet, for a distance of 42.81 feet, to the southerly line of Orchard road; thence easterly along said southerly line, for a distance of 134.05 feet to the point of beginning.
Article 3. To see if the town will authorize the Board of Select- men to take by eminent domain, for the purpose of a public way, the property described in Article 2 or an easement in and over the same, and appropriate money therefor.
Article 4. To see if the town will appropriate money for the pur- pose of constructing a street over the way as laid out and described in the foregoing articles.
Article 5. To see if the town will vote to lay water pipes in the way laid out by the Selectmen and described in Article 2 of this war- rant, and appropriate money therefor.
Article 6. To see if the town will vote to lay sewer pipes in the way laid out by the Selectmen and described in Article 2, of this war- rant, and appropriate money therefor.
Article 7. To appropriate and raise by borrowing or otherwise, under any general or special law which authorizes the town to raise money by borrowing 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 an attested copy thereof at the Town Hall, the post offices, at least one public and conspicuous place in each precinct in the town, and at or in the immediate vicinity of each railroad station in the town, seven days before the day appointed 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 fifteenth day of March, A. D. 1929. HOWARD K. GLIDDEN, R. WYER GREENE, DANIEL F. KNOWLTON, 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, at least one public and conspicuous place in each precinct in the town, and at or in the immediate vicinity of each railroad station in Swampscott on Monday March 18, 1929, the posting of said notices being seven days before the time of said meeting.
FRANK H. BRADFORD,
Constable.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING Monday, March 25, 1929
In accordance with the foregoing warrant the voters assembled at the Town Hall, and were called to order by John R. Hurlburt, Moderator, at 7:30 P. M. the necessary quorum being present. The warrant with the return thereon was read by the Town Clerk.
The Finance Report was read by James W. Santry, Chairman.
Finance Report.
Article 1. We recommend that the vote passed under Article 2 of the warrant for the Special Town Meeting held January 16, 1929, be rescinded.
Article 2. The purpose of this article is to provide a suitable approach to the Stanley School. We recommend that the way des- cribed in this article, and as laid out by the Board of Selectmen, be accepted as a public way.
Article 3. We recommend that the Board of Selectmen be author- ized to take an easement for the purposes of a public way, in the premises described in Article 2 of this warrant, and that three hundred dollars be appropriated therefor from the Excess and Deficiency Fund.
Article 4. We recommend that the Board of Selectmen be author- ized to make a contract in behalf of the town for the construction of the way described in Articles 2 and 3 of this warrant, and that for this purpose the sum of twenty-three hundred dollars be appropriated from the Excess and Deficiency Fund.
Article 5. We recommend that the Water and Sewerage Board be authorized to lay water pipes in the way described in Article 2 and 3 of this warrant, and that the sum of sixteen hundred and fifty dollars be appropriated therefor from the revenue of the Water Department for the current year.
Article 6. We recommend that the Water and Sewerage Board be authorized to build a sewer in the way described in Article 2 and 3 of this warrant, and that the sum of two thousand dollars be appro- priated therefor by transfer from the unexpended balance of the Frank- lin avenue account.
Article 7. We recommend that action under this article be indef- initely postponed.
JAMES W. SANTRY, RALPH J. CURTIS, CHESTER A. BROWN, RALPH H. CARY, PAUL W. BRICKETT, DONALD REDFERN, Finance Committee.
Voted, Article 1. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the vote passed under Article 2 of the warrant for the Special Town Meeting held January 16, 1929, be rescinded.
Voted, Article 2. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations. That the way described in this article, and as laid out by the Board of Selectmen, be accepted as a public way.
Voted, Article 3. To accept the report of the Finance Committee, and adopt their recommendations: That the Board of Selectmen be authorized to take an easement for the purpose of a public way in the premises described in Article 2 of this warrant, and that three hundred dollars be appropriated therefor from the Excess and Deficiency Fund. (Unanimous.)
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RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1929]
Voted, Article 4. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows: That the Board of Select- men be authorized to make a contract in behalf of the town for the construction of the way described in Articles 2 and 3 of this warrant and that for this purpose the sum of twenty-three hundred dollars be appropriated from the Excess and Deficiency Fund.
Voted, Article 5. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows: That the Water and Sew- erage Board be authorized to lay water pipes in the way described in Articles 2 and 3 of this warrant and that the sum of sixteen hundred and fifty dollars be appropriated therefor from the revenue of the Water Department for the current year.
Voted, Article 6. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows: That the Water and Sewerage Board be authorized to build a sewer in the way described in Articles 2 and 3 of this warrant, and that the sum of two thousand dollars be appropriated therefor by transfer from the unexpended bal- ance of the Franklin avenue account.
Voted, Article 7. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations: That action under this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted to dissolve at 7:40 P. M. Attest:
RALPH D. MERRITT, Town Clerk.
ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Monday, March 25, 1929.
In accordance with the adjournment of February 25, 1929, the voters were called to order by John R. Hurlburt, Moderator, the neces- sary quorum being present.
Voted to dispense with the reading of the records of the last meeting.
A motion that the public hearing be held before the articles in the warrant are taken up in order was lost.
Finance Report was read by James W. Santry, Chairman.
Report of Finance Committee
To the Members of the Limited Town Meeting:
This report embraces a consideration of all articles in the warrant calling for the appropriation of money, and also all recommendations of officers and committees of the same nature.
In the future we suggest that all recommendations in the reports of officers or committees requiring appropriations appear in the form of an article in the warrant. At present the Finance Committee not only has to consider all articles in the warrant carrying appropriations, but also recommendations of a like nature. This requires careful scrutiny of the reports of all officers and committees to ascertain the presence of such recommendations.
We suggest also that departments refrain from including in their recommendations money for their fixed expenses. These properly should appear in their budgets, for that is the only way in which the voters can learn the amount of money that each department is spending.
Article 4. We recommend that the salaries of all town officers for the ensuing year be the same as those of last year.
Article 7. The recommendations of the Water and Sewerage Board, on pages 132, 134 and 135 of the town report, are covered by articles in the warrant and our recommendations appear under each of those articles.
34
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
The recommendations of the Board of Health, on page 136 of the town report, have been covered by recommendations under articles in the warrant.
The Health Officer, on pages 137 and 138 of the town report, recommends the construction of sewers in twenty-one streets. At the meeting held February 25th the town adopted recommendations for sewers in some of these streets and more than $80,000 was appropriated for these purposes. While undoubtedly there is need for sewers in the other streets enumerated in the Health Officer's report, we feel that provision should be made for them at a later time, except the sewer in Walker road. We are informed that the houses that are now in the process of erection on this part of Walker road cannot be drained into cesspools because of the nature of the land. We recommend that a sewer be built in Walker road from the present terminus of the sewer in this road, in a northerly direction, for a distance of about 125 feet and that the sum of $1,208.03 be appropriated therefor by transfer from the unexpended balance of the Walker road sewer.
We have considered the recommendation of the Health Officer concerning the stable for the Highway Department in another part of our report.
All other recommendations made by the Board of Health or any officer thereof requiring the appropriation of money have been con- sidered in other parts of our report.
The Trustees of the Public Library, on page 151 of the town report, recommend that the upper room of the building be finished so that it may be used as a children's room. They desire, however, to give further consideration to this subject. We recommend that this be done and that a report be made concerning it to the next annual town meeting.
We recommend that action on all other recommendations of the Trustees be indefinitely postponed.
The Superintendent of the Cemetery, on page 161 of the town report, states that there is an unusual demand for lots in the cemetery and recommends the expenditure of $3,000 for the preparation of land to meet this demand. We recommend the appropriation of three thousand dollars for this purpose from the receipts arising from the sale of lots in the cemetery.
The Superintendent at a conference with our Committee stated that he is in need of a small truck. We recommend that he be author- ized to purchase a one-half ton truck for use in the Cemetery, and that the sum of five hundred dollars be appropriated therefor from the receipts from the sale of lots.
We recommend that action on all other recommendations of the Superintendent be indefinitely postponed.
The Chief of Police, on page 168 of the town report, recommends the installation of four traffic signal lights at the junction of New Ocean and Burrill streets. He estimates that the expense of this would be $500. After that there would be the cost of maintenance. These streets are generally used by the public and the expense of this item should not be borne entirely by Swampscott. We suggest that the Chief of Police confer with the Department of Public Works and the Board of Selectmen with the view of making some arrangement whereby a part of the expense of installing and maintaining these lights shall be borne by the Commonwealth. We recommend that further action under this recommendation be indefinitely postponed.
We recommend that two J. D. L. 74 Twin Harley-Davidson motorcycles be purchased for the use of the Police Department to replace unserviceable equipment, and that the sum of five hundred and thirty dollars be appropriated therefor from the Excess and Deficiency Fund.
We recommend the purchase of two Harley-Davidson side cars to be used on J. D. L. 74 Twin Harley-Davidson motorcycles by the Police Department, and that the sum of two hundred and thirty dollars be appropriated therefor from the Excess and Deficiency Fund.
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RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1929]
We have already reported on all other recommendations requiring the appropriation of money that appear in the report of the Chief of Police.
The Board of Engineers of the Fire Department, on page 175 of the town report, make the following recommendations, viz .: $1,000 for hydrant rental, $250 for installation of a fire alarm box at the Stanley School, and $500 for five hundred feet of 2 1-2 inch hose. We recom- mend that these recommendations be adopted and that the sum of seventeen hundred and fifty dollars be appropriated therefor from the Excess and Deficiency Fund.
We recommend that action on all other recommendations of the Board of Fire Engineers be indefinitely postponed.
The Surveyor of Highways, on page 179 of the town report, recom- mends the replanking of the Essex street bridge. We recommend that this work be done under the direction of the Surveyor of Highways in accordance with the provisions of the by-laws relating to the letting of contracts, and that the sum of six hundred dollars be appropriated therefor from the Excess and Deficiency Fund.
The Surveyor of Highways also recommends that the abutment on the Danvers street bridge be pointed. It is estimated that this work will cost $800. We recommend that this work be done, under the direction of the Surveyor of Highways, in pursuance of the provisions of the by-laws relating to the awarding of contracts, and that the sum of eight hundred dollars be appropriated therefor from the Excess and De- ficiency Fund.
Another part of our report deals with the recommendation of the Surveyor of Highways concerning a stable for the use of the Highway Department.
The Board of Selectmen, on page 211 of the town report, recom- mends that notice be taken of the 300th anniversary of the Settlement of Lynn, of which Swampscott was then a part. At the conference with the Board concerning this subject it was stated that plans are under consideration involving the placing of markers at certain historical points in the town, and that for this purpose some money would be required. We believe that public attention should be directed to this interesting event. Chapter 16 of the Acts of 1929 permits the use of public money for the observance of this anniversary. We recommend the appropriation of two hundred dollars from the Excess and Deficiency Fund for this purpose to be expended under the direction of a com- mittee of three residents of the town to be appointed by the moderator.
The Board of Selectmen also recommends, on page 214 of the town report, the extension of the white way lights along Essex street to the railroad bridge and along Humphrey street from Millett road to Phillips corner. The town is spending about $25,000 annually in lighting its streets. This is more than one dollar of our tax rate. We believe that no additional substantial expense should be incurred for this purpose at the present time. We therefore recommend that con- sideration of this matter be indefinitely postponed.
We have considered all other recommendations of the Board of Selectmen in other parts of our report.
The committee on the erection of a stable for the use of the Highway Department, on page 233 of the town report, recommends the appropriation of $20,000 for the construction of a building for this purpose. At the last annual town meeting our committee, after con- ferring with the Surveyor of Highways, recommended the appropriation of $10,000 for this building. This was found to be insufficient and the meeting passed a vote directing the committee on the stable to give further study to the subject. In the meantime, additional plans have been made by Mr. Charles V. Burgess, architect. We have gone over these plans with the committee and they appear to cover every feature that is desired by the Surveyor of Highways. The estimates obtained by the committee indicate that this building can be erected for $17,500.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
The need of a stable is emphasized by the Surveyor of Highways and the Board of Health. Our inspection of the building indicates that a new structure should be provided. We therefore recommend that the sum of seventeen thousand five hundred dollars be appropriated to be raised by bonds or notes of the town, for the erection of a stable suitable for the needs of the Highway Department, in pursuance of plans and specifications made by Charles V. Burgess, architect, and in accordance with the by-laws relating to the awarding of contracts, and that the Stable Committee be authorized to make, sign and deliver in the name and behalf of the town a contract therefor.
The needs of the High School have been carefully investigated by a committee appointed at the last annual town meeting. The report of this committee is printed in the town report on pages 225 to 227, in- clusive. We have conferred with this committee and have also exam- ined the building. We recommend that a committee be appointed to select a site suitable for a new high school building, to employ an architect, if this is deemed advisable by the committee, to prepare plans and estimates for such a building, and to report at a subsequent town meeting concerning said site, the estimated cost thereof, a sketch or outline of said building, and the estimated cost of erecting and equip- ping it; said committee shall consist of five persons to be appointed in the following manner, viz .: one member from the School Committee to be designated by the School Committee, and four citizens of the town to be appointed by the moderator. We further recommend that the sum of $801.90 be appropriated by transfer from the Redington street school account to be used by the committee for the above mentioned purposes.
Article 8. 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 216, 217 and 218 of the annual town report. 1
We recommend that the sum of $1,083.20 be transferred from the account of Excess and Deficiency to the account of Awards and Exe- cutions for the purpose of paying such awards as may be approved by the Board of Selectmen.
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