USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1930 > Part 10
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There are other parts of the road that require repairing. The Town Engineer informs us that this can be done by covering the wood blocks with an asphalt emulsion. This will prolong the life of the blocks and will also present a surface that will be suitable and safe for travel. The cost of this work will be $3,000. We recommend therefore, that the sum of $3,000 be appropriated for this work from the Excess and Deficiency Fund: that the Board of Selectmen be authorized to make any contract that may be necessary for new con- struction and also for the work of repairing, and that the entire work be done under the direction and supervision of the Department of Public Works, Division of Highways of the Commonwealth.
Article 6. This article was before the meeting at the Annual Town Meeting and we then recommended that a bill be introduced into the Legislature to validate the action of the town whereby the sum of $3,153.15 was taken from the Municipal Insurance Fund and the Municipal Insurance Fund Income for the purpose of paying pre- miums on insurance policies. Owing to the lateness of the year it was not possible to have this bill enacted in the form of a law. The money, therefore, should be restored to the funds from which it was taken. We therefore recommend that the sum of $3,153.15 be appropriated from the Excess and Deficiency Fund for this purpose.
Article 7. At the last annual town meeting 'the subject of this article was considered and we recommended indefinite postponement. Since then, however, at the last Special Town Meeting, the salaries of the Chief of Police and those of the other officers and patrolmen were increased. At this meeting many arguments were urged by sub- stantial taxpayers for these increases. We believe that these arguments are applicable with the same force to the requests made in this article by the members of the Fire Department. We therefore recommend that the following annual salaries be established for the Fire Depart- ment, namely: Chief, $3,000: Deputy Chief, $2,750; Captains, $2,500; Privates first year, $1,800; second year, $1,900; third year $2,000 and thereafter $2,190; said increases to become effective July 1, 1930, and that for this purpose the sum of $2,157.57 be appropriated from the Excess and Deficiency Fund.
Article 8. This article seeks the appropriation of $600 to place underground the cables maintained by the town along Puritan road in connection with its fire alarm system. The wires of the Lynn Gas & Electric Company and the New England Telephone & Telegraph Company are to be put underground and the Board of Fire Engineers feel that this would be an opportune time to place underground the
76
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
cables maintained by the town. When all this work is done it will permit the removal of the wires and the supporting poles. This we believe will be a distinct improvement to the appearance of the street. We therefore recommend that this work be done under the direction and supervision of the Board of Fire Engineers and in accordance with the provisions of the by-laws relating to the letting of contracts, and that the sum of $600 be appropriated therefor from the Excess and Deficiency Fund.
Article 9. We have conferred with the Superintendent and the Town Engineer concerning this article and we are informed that work should be done now in laying out additional lots in the cemetery. The cost of this work will be $3,500. We recommend that the sum of $3,500 be appropriated for this purpose from the Cemetery Lots Fund, the work to be done under the direction of the Board of Selectmen and in accordance with the provisions of the by-laws relating to the award- ing of contracts.
Article 10. The subject matter of this article was before the meeting under an article in the warrant at the Annual Town Meeting. We recommended indefinite postponement because the road had not been brought to line and grade as shown on the plan in accordance with which said street was laid out. We now recommend that said road be accepted when the Town Engineer certifies in writing to the Board of Selectmen that it conforms in line and grade to said plan, and that the sum of $150 be appropriated for the purpose of making the street safe for travel when said certificate has been filed.
Article 11. We recommend that action under this article be indefin- itely postponed.
Respectfully submitted, JAMES W. SANTRY, Chairman, RALPH J. CURTIS, RALPH H. CARY, PAUL W. BRICKETT, DONALD REDFERN. JOHN A. WALDO,
Finance Committee.
Under Article 1, moved that the report of the Finance Committee be accepted and their recommendation be adopted. An amendment to this motion was made by Mr. Baldwin, namely: That the recom- mendation of the Finance Committee be amended and that Article 1 of the Warrant be adopted. This amendment was lost, 98 voting. For 36, against 62.
An amendment that Articles 2 and 3 be considered with Article 1 was lost. For 29, against 56.
Voted, Article 1. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Building Committee give further consideration to this project for the purpose of obtaining plans and specifications that will allow the erection of a high school building at a cost not to exceed $350,000.
Voted to take up Articles 2 and 3 together.
Report of the Committee on High School sites was read by Ralph H. Nutter, Chairman.
REPORT HIGH SCHOOL SITE COMMITTEE
At the adjourned town meeting of April 8, 1930, under an amend- ment to Article 73 of the town Warrant, the following vote was passed: "That a Committee be appointed by the Moderator who shall designate the chairman thereof; the committee to consist of the chair- man of the Board of Selectmen, acting chairman of the School Com- mittee, chairman of the High School Committee, one Town Meeting
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RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1930]
member from each precinct, to select a suitable location for a proposed new High School and report thereon at some future town meeting not later than the regular Town Meeting of 1931."
In accordance with the above vote the following committee was appointed April 24th, by the Moderator:
Ralph H. Nutter, chairman
Henry S. Baldwin, chairman High School Committee
Nathan G. Bubier, chairman Board of Selectmen
George C. Thomas, acting chairman School Committee
Arthur E. Santry Philip H. Stafford Henry A. Sadler Roger L. Currant
John A. Holmes
Vincent P. O'Brien
James A. MacDuff
Roy S. Bishop
Dr. Harry M. Lowd
Rufus W. Greene
William R. Gray
Clarence O. McArthur
Frank A. Mowatt Warren P. Melzard
William H. McCarty
The Committee held its first meeting on April 30, at which Philip H. Stafford was elected secretary.
Subsequent meetings were held during May and June, some of which were joint meetings with the High School Committee.
At an early meeting, the committee voted unanimously in favor of selecting a lot which should contain from ten to twelve acres, so that there might be ample room for future school growth also to pro- vide playgrounds and an athletic field adjacent to the High School building.
The committee visited and carefully studied various sites in every section of the town. Among them were the following:
1. Property at rear of Town Hall
2. Present High School lot
3. Jackson Park on Essex street
4. Paradise road near Sunbeam Tea Room
5. Whitney estate, Forest avenue
6. Forest avenue near Aspen road
7. Griffin lot on Humphrey street
8. Phillips Park lot on Humphrey street
EXPERT OPINION
Following a request of your committee, Payson Smith, State Super- visor of Education, sent without expense to the town of Swampscott. Frank P. Morse, supervisor of secondary education, and Burr F. Jones, supervisor of elementary education, on Tuesday, May 6, for the pur- pose of assisting your committee by giving their unbiased expert opinion on the matter of a location for the new High School.
Mr. Morse and Mr. Jones were met at the High School by school officials, members of the High School Committee and of the site com- mittee, together with Mr. Pratt, Town Engineer.
Considerable time was spent looking over the map and getting general information about distribution of population and direction of town growth. Incidentally, Mr. Morse had made a survey of the present high school building in 1927 and was fairly familiar with the local situation.
The party carefully inspected the various lots under consideration and secured from the Town Engineer information about foundation, drainage, cost of preparation and grading of the various lots. The following is quoted from the final paragraph of the report submitted by the State Department of Education:
"Fortunately, Phillips Park is an excellent high school site. It is adequate in size. It can be easily graded, in fact much of it has
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
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already been leveled. We are informed that borings already made indicate that there is excellent support for a building of the size and type contemplated. This lot is easily accessible as it may be reached by trolley lines. Finally the town owns the land. We recommend without hesitation that the town of Swampscott locate its proposed new high school building on the Phillips Park site."
PUBLIC HEARING
A public hearing was held at the High School on May 19, at which citizens of the town were urged to bring before the committee sug- gestions as to a suitable site for the proposed new high school building.
No new lots were suggested at this meeting but the majority opinion seemed to be in favor of the Phillips Park lot on Humphrey street.
SELECTION OF SITE
Each site was discussed separately by the committee, and, after careful consideration, all lots were eliminated except that on Forest avenue near Aspen road and Phillips Park on Humphrey street.
The Forest avenue lot is nearer the geographical center of the town but not particularly accessible, being distant from any trolley line. The direct approach from the east is a private way closed to the public. If this lot should be taken the town would be faced with the cost of purchasing the school site together with a right of way through the Whitney and Hastings estates, also, with the very heavy expense of preparing and grading rough land with outcropping ledges. The estimated cost of grading alone for school site and athletic field as submitted by a reputable contractor is $60,000. The total cost of school site, approach and grading would be excessive.
With these facts in mind, at a meeting on June 5 the committee voted in favor of the Phillips Park lot. The reasons for this selection are as follows:
Location
The lot is reasonably central in location being approximately half way between the Lynn and Marblehead boundary lines, slightly over three-quarters of a mile from Monument square, and, except for the Foster Dam section, less than two miles distant from any point in town.
Accessibility
The lot is easily accessible being on a main thoroughfare with trolley lines. We have been assured that the Eastern Mass. Street Railway stands ready to furnish bus service to and from any section of the town at reasonable cost.
Size of Lot
The lot, containing approximately fifteen acres, is ideal from point of size, being large enough for future extension of the school building, also for playground, athletic field and parking area.
Modern school practice calls for an adequate playground adjacent to a school building. The object is not to develop championship teams but to give every pupil the advantage of physical training under proper supervision.
Under present conditions Phillips Park is not used to any great extent as a playground. Occasionally, Ocean House guests get per- mission from the Park Department to use the base ball diamond. With a playground adjoining the new High School the park would serve not only the high school pupils but townspeople in general and become a decided asset to the town of Swampscott.
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RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1930]
With a community hall seating more than seven hundred people and an athletic field for public use, parking space off the street is absolutely essential. The lot is large enough to provide fully for this.
Foundation
Borings have been made by B. J. Smith & Co., of Boston, founda- tion experts, who report that the soil is suitable for a foundation for a building much heavier than the proposed high school. The Town Engineer concurs in this opinion.
Grading
A substantial part of the Park has already been graded so that construction of a building could be started immediately.
Publicity
A modern High School located on the Phillips Park lot would create a very favorable impression on those passing through the town and would also attract desirable residents.
Cost
Phillips Park is not only the best lot for a High School building but the cheapest, being owned by the town. No taxable property would be destroyed by taking the lot for school use. The State Legislature has already given permission to use this land for school purposes.
Summary
Phillips Park was selected by the committee because it appears to be the best available site for.a High School in Swampscott. The location is excellent, being readily accessible and with suitable en- vironment. From an engineering standpoint the foundation is satis- factory. The lot is level and can easily be landscaped. It is sufficiently commanding to give the building a setting in keeping with its cost and importance, and finally the land may be used for school purposes at no cost to the taxpayers.
Recommendation
We recommend that the town vote to transfer Phillips Park from the Park Department to the School Department; said park to be used as a site for the proposed new High School building, playground, athletic field and parking area.
In closing we wish to acknowledge with thanks the assistance which has been rendered to the committee by various town officials particularly by the Town Engineer and Town Accountant.
Respectfully submitted,
Ralph H. Nutter, chairman
Clarence O. MacArthur
Philip H. Stafford, secretary
Rufus W. Greene
Henry S. Baldwin
Arthur E. Santry
Vincent P. O'Brien
Harry M. Lowd
Geo. C. Thomas
Roger L. Currant Nathan G. Bubier
Frank A. Mowatt
Roy S. Bishop
William H. McCarty
Warren P. Melzard
James A. Macduff
Henry A. Sadler
William R. Gray
John A. Holmes
Moved to accept and adopt the recommendation of the site com- mittee. An amendment was made by Mr. Greene as follows:
That the Board of Selectmen, in behalf of the town, be and hereby are authorized to take in fee for public school purposes, southeasterly by Forest avenue approximately 665 feet, easterly by land of Elizabeth F. D. Whitney 485 feet, north-westerly by land of the Boston & Maine Railroad, approximately 755 feet, westerly by land of Ralph Sevinor,
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
approximately 575 feet, being a portion of the land assessed to Stanbon, Nye & Hill and Elizabeth F. D. Whitney, containing about 333,000 square feet. Amendment was lost. For 44, against 45.
Voted, that the town transfer Phillips Park from the Park Depart- ment to the School Department, said park to be used as a site for the proposed new High School building, a playground, athletic field and parking area. Said vote was lost. For 44, against 52.
Voted, Article 4. That action under this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted, Article 5. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the sum of $6,000 be appropriated for this work from the Excess and Deficiency Fund, that the Board of Selectmen be authorized to make any contract that may be necessary for new construction and also for the work of repairing, and that the entire work be done under the direction and supervision of the Department of Public Works, Division of Highways of the Commonwealth.
Voted, Article 6. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendation as follows:
That the sum of $3,153.15 be appropriated from the Excess and Deficiency Fund for this purpose.
Voted, Article 7. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the following annual salaries be established for the Fire Department, namely :
Chief, $3,000; Deputy Chief, $2,750; Captains, $2,500; Privates, first year, $1,800; second year, $1,900; third year, $2,000 and thereafter $2,190, said increases to become effective July 1, 1930, and that, for this purpose, the sum of $2,157.57 be appropriated from the Excess and Deficiency fund.
Voted, Article 8. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations, as follows:
That this work be done under the direction and supervision of the Board of Fire Engineers and in accordance with the provisions of the by-laws relating to the letting of contracts and that the sum of $600 be appropriated therefor from the Excess and Deficiency fund.
Voted, Article 9. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the sum of $3,500 be appropriated for this purpose from the Cemetery Lots fund, the work to be done under the direction of the Board of Selectmen and in accordance with the provisions of the by- laws relating to the awarding of contracts.
Voted, Article 10. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That Stanley road be accepted when the Town Engineer certifies in writing to the Board of Selectmen that it conforms in line and grade to said plan and that the sum of $150 be appropriated for the purpose of making the street safe for travel when said certificate has been filed.
Voted, Article 11. That action under this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted to dissolve at 10.30 P. M. Attest: RALPH D. MERRITT, Town Clerk.
STATE PRIMARY The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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 hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said town who
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RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1930]
are qualified to vote in primaries to meet in their respective precincts in said Swampscott on Tuesday, September 16, 1930, at six o'clock A. M., for the following purposes:
To bring in their votes to the primary officers for the nomination of candidates of political parties for the following offices: Governor, for this Commonwealth; Lieutenant Governor, for this Commonwealth; Secretary of the Commonwealth, for this Commonwealth; Treasurer and Receiver-General, for this Commonwealth; Auditor of the Com- monwealth, for this Commonwealth; Attorney-General, for this Com- monwealth; Senator in Congress, for this Commonwealth; Represent- ative in Congress, for 6th Congressional District; Councillor, for 5th Councillor District; Senator, for 1st Senatorial District; two Represent- atives in General Court, for 12th Representative District; District At- torney, for Eastern District; Register of Probate and Insolvency, for Essex County; County Commissioner, for Essex County; Associate County Commissioners (2), for Essex County; County Treasurer, for Essex County, and for the election of the following officers: District member of State Committee for each political party for the 1st Sen- atorial District; 10 members of the Republican Town Committee; 10 members of the Democratic Town committee; 12 delegates to State Conventions of the Republican party; 10 delegates to State Conven- tions of the Democratic party.
All the above candidates and officers are to be voted for upon one ballot. The polls will be open from 6 A. M. to 4:30 P. M.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting attested copies thereof seven days at least before the time of said meetings as directed by vote of the town.
Hereof fail not and make return of this warrant with your doings thereon at the time and place of said meeting.
Given under our hands this twenty-ninth day of August, A. D., 1930.
NATHAN G. BUBIER, HOWARD K. GLIDDEN, HARRY E. HARDY, 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 Post Offices, Town Hall, at least one public and con- spicuous place in each precinct in the town and at or in the immediate vicinity of each railroad station in Swampscott, on Thursday, Septem- ber 4, 1930. The posting of said notices being seven days before the time of said meeting.
FRANK H. BRADFORD, Constable.
TO FINANCE BOARD
September 11, 1930.
John R. Hurlburt, Moderator, appointed Harry E. Whitten, 20 Ocean View road, a member of the Finance Committee from Precinct seven, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of James W. Santry. Attest :
RALPH D. MERRITT, Town Clerk.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
STATE PRIMARY Tuesday, September 16, 1930.
In accordance with the foregoing warrant, the voters assembled at their several precincts in town and were called to order by their presiding officers. The Warrant calling the meeting and the return thereon was read by the clerk in each precinct.
The following precinct officers were appointed by the Selectmen, and qualified for the office.
Precinct 1. Warden, Edward H. Jordan (R); Clerk, Robert B. Hegarty (D); Inspectors, Robert L. Cunningham (D), Lewis A. Cole- man (R); Tellers, Charles A. Bryson (D), William, H. Dow (R), Hueburt C. Griffin (R), Franklin H. Keating.
Precinct 2. Warden, Harry E. Cahoon (R); Clerk, John E. Co- ville (D); Inspectors, Louis N. Crocker (R), Leon D. Monty (D); Tellers, Martha F. Duran (R), Belle M. Walsh (D), Louis Sherman (R), Mary G. Stone (D).
Precinct 3. Warden, Stuart P. Ellis (R); Clerk, Albert Stone (D); Inspectors, Burton R. Carroll (R), Harold R. Young (D); Tellers, William O. Titcomb (R), Charles E. Melzard (R), James H. Sul- livan (D).
Precinct 4. Warden, Daniel F. Knowlton (R); Clerk, Donald S. Sawyer (D); Inspectors, James W. Robertson (R), John B. Cahoon (D); Tellers, Horace P. Fifield (R), Thomas J. McManus (D), Bessie F. Maguire (D), Warren P. Melzard (R).
Precinct 5. Warden, Albert Enholm (R); Clerk, Raymond H. Owen (D); Inspectors, Walter L. Kehoe (D), Irving A. Curtis (R); Tellers, Alice E. Leslie (D), Winnifred G. Jacobs (R), Bary G. Bryce (D), John T. Morrison (R).
Precinct 6. Warden, Herman E. Story (R); Clerk, Timothy J. Ryan (D); Inspectors, John T. Merchant (R), John H. Coan (D); Tellers, Harry G. Hutchinson (R), Mary Turner (D), Mary Collins (D), Elliott A. Bunting (R).
Precinct 7. Warden, Charles A. Addison (R); Clerk, Eustis D. Grimes (D); Inspectors, Charles M. Cahoon (R), Bernard J. Nevins (D); Tellers, Howard I. Young (R), Joseph C. Palmer (R), Patrick H. McGeough (D), Henry E. Acker (D).
Precinct 8. Warden, Charles A. Flagg (R); Clerk, Mary Donlan (D); Inspectors, Louise A. Miller (R), Mary F. Gannon (D); Tellers, Olive Flagg (R), Wm. C. Hill (R), Ellen O. Lynch (D), Margaret J. Duratti (D).
The polls were opened at 6 o'clock A. M. and closed at 4:30 o'clock P. M.
The result was declared at 7:30 P. M. The ballot boxes registered correctly and checks on the check list agreed with the number of ballots cast.
Republican
Democratic
Precinct 1
105
24
Precinct 2
141
14
Precinct 3
139
11
Precinct 4
139
11
Precinct 5
161
7
Precinct 6
106
15
Precinct 7
117
30
Precinct 8
203
15
Total vote cast
1111
127
83
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1930]
REPUBLICAN BALLOT
Precincts
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 8 Tot.
For Governor:
92 133 126 134 155 103 104 192 1039
6
2
8
0
5
1
8
5
35
John D. Devir, Malden Blanks
7
6
5
5
1
2
5
6
37
For Lieut. Governor:
Wm. S. Youngman, Boston Blanks
19
24
18
17
15
14
17
22
146
For Secretary:
85 114 111 124 149
97 171
744
Frederick W. Cook, Somerville Blanks
20
27
28
15
For Treasurer:
9
14
8
8
34
20
14
23
219
E. D. Whitaker, N. Adams
0
0
3
4
6
3
3
3
22
6
14
18
11
21
13
13
33
129
Geo. B. Willard, Brookline J. W. Wethington, Dedham R. A. Wood, Cambridge
2
0
1
3
9
2
2
15
34
Alonzo B. Cook, Boston Blanks
21
19
20
15
12
12
12
31
142
For Attorney-General:
79 114 112 123 140
94
97 171
930
J. E. Warren, Taunton Blanks
26
27
27
16
21
12
20
32
181
For Senator in Congress:
51
70
58
90
88
59
55
73
544
E. S. Draper, Hopedale
33
58
73
40
65
41
55 125
490
A. J. Gillis, Newburyport Blanks
12
8
4
4
6
5
0
2
41
For Congress, Sixth District: A. Piatt Andrew, Gloucester
64
94
35
36
33
42
8
4
12
86
For Councillor, Fifth District:
A. Bower, Lawrence
8
8
8
5 117
9
5 91
10 97
14
67
E. B. Fraser, Lynn
76 110 119
141
1
0
2
2
17
Blanks
19
19
10
13
10
10
8
28
117
For Senator, First Essex District:
F. W. Osborne, Lynn
15
16
15
11
14
11
17
13
112
Blanks
20
21
18
18
10
11
11
24
133
For Representatives in General Court, Twelfth Essex District:
J. D. Bentley, Swampscott
49
63
88
87
96
64
56 107
610
Harry E. Day, Salem Blanks
76 102
75
75
87
58
76 143
692
For District Attorney, Eastern
21
29
36
44
50 42
37 24
25 28
55
297
Edward F. Flynn, Lynn
28
40
42
38
61
38
59 5
80
452
John W. Morgan, Lynn Blanks
10
8
10
4
8
7
20
72
For Register of Probate & Insolvency:
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