USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1930 > Part 12
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Frank E. Raymond, Ipswich (R) 222 330 267 308 350 298 297 435 2507 131 87 106 61 71
Matthew S. White, Lynn (D) Blanks 57 51 40 55
35
50 60 60 408
Question No. 1-An amendment to the constitution relative to the apportionment of senatorial representative and councillor districts, be approved:
Yes
149 168 156 180 198 167 194 300 1512 58 61 58 65 66 63 58
82 511
Blanks 203 239 199 179 192 191 236 200 1639
Question No. 2-Shall the proposed law which amends the General Laws by striking out Chapter 138 Section 2A, which section provides that "No person shall manufacture, transport by air craft, water craft or vehicle, import or export spirituous or intoxicating liquors as defined by section one unless in each instance he shall have obtained the permit or other authority required therefor by laws of the United States and the regulations made thereunder, be approved?
Yes
189 155 188 161 164 147 225 296 1525 158 244 169 213 238 199 186 223 1630 63 69 56 50 54 75 77 63 507
Question No. 3-Amendment to General Laws, Chapter 131: Yes 203 251 235 246 262 229 263 377 2066 109 112 No 86 83 99 103 109 110 811
Blanks
98 105 92 95
95 89 116 95 785
Dissolved at 9:05 P. M.
Attest:
RALPH D. MERRITT, Town Clerk.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT Thursday, December 4, 1930
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
42
25
45 53 52
359
749
2565
348
For Associate Commissioners, Essex County:
Charles M. Boyle, Peabody (D) 118 66 84 50
No
No
Blanks
73 131 87 747
Blanks
93
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1930}
to vote in elections and in town affairs, to assemble in the Town Hall in said Swampscott, on Thursday, the fourth day of December at 7:30 P. M., then and there to act on the following articles, viz:
Article 1. To see if the town will vote to transfer from the ac- count of Overlay Reserve to the account of Public Welfare, the sum of two thousand dollars, same to be in addition to the amount already appropriated for Public Welfare as petitioned for by the Board of Public Welfare.
Article 2. To see if the town will vote to transfer from the ac- count of Overlay Reserve to the account of Soldiers' Relief the sum of seventeen hundred dollars, same to be in addition to the amount already appropriated for Soldiers' Relief as petitioned for by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 3. To see if the town will vote to transfer from the ac- count of Overlay Reserve to the account of Town Hall the sum of four hundred dollars, same to be in addition to the amount already appro- priated for Town Hall maintenance as petitioned for by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 4. To see if the town will vote to transfer from the ac- count of Excess and Deficiency to the account of Election and Regis- tration the sum of twelve hundred dollars, same to be in addition to the amount already appropriated for Election and Registration, as petitioned for by the Town Clerk.
Article 5. To see if the town will vote to transfer from the ac- count of Overlay Reserve to the account of Legislative the sum of fifty dollars same to be in addition to the amount already appropriated for Legislative as petitioned for by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 6. To see if the town will vote to transfer from the ac- count of Overlay Reserve to the account of Selectmen's Contingent Fund the sum of two hundred dollars, same to be in addition to the amount already appropriated for Selectmen's Contingent Fund as petitioned for by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 7. To see what action the town will take to increase the salary of the Surveyor of Highways from $2,600 a year to $3,000 a year and also town employees of the Highway Department from $5.00 a day to $6.00 a day, and appropriate money to cover same, as petitioned for by Henry S. Baldwin et als.
Article 8. To see what action the town will take to increase the salary of the Moth Superintendent and Tree Warden from $40.00 a week to $50.00 a week and also town employees of the Moth Depart- ment from $5.00 a day to $6.00 a day, and appropriate money to cover same, as petitioned for by James D. Bentley et als.
Article 9. To see if the town will vote to appoint a committee to consist of the Board of Assessors and four town meeting members to be appointed by the moderator, to investigate the method of scientific appraisals now being made in several towns within the Commonwealth, to see if it would be applicable to Swampscott, the committee to report with its recommendations at the next annual town meeting, as petitioned for by the Board of Assessors.
Article 10. To see if the town will adopt the following by-laws establishing a planning board as required by Section 70 of Chapter 41 of the General Laws in all towns having a population of over 10,000 inhabitants:
Section 1. A board of five members is hereby established to be known as the planning board. The terms of members shall be three years, but at the annual town meeting to be held in the month of February, 1931, there shall be elected two members to serve for one year, two members to serve for two years, and one member to serve for three years, and thereafter there shall be elected at the annual meeting in each year such members as are necessary to fill vacancies.
Section 2. Vacancies otherwise occurring in the board shall be filled as provided in General Laws, Chapter 41, Section 11.
94
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Section 3. The duties of such board shall be such as are stated in Chapter 41, Sections 70 to 72, of the General Laws, and further to con- sider and advise upon municipal improvements either at the request of other officials of the town or upon its own initiative. It shall consider and develop a town plan, with special attention to main ways, land developments, zoning, playgrounds and parks and sites for permanent school plants. The board shall meet at regular intervals. It may hold public meetings. It shall at all times have access to public documents or information in the possession of any town official or department. It shall examine the plans for the exterior of any public building, monu- ment or similar feature, and for the development and treatment of the grounds about the same before the adoption thereof, and may make such recommendations thereon as it may deem needful. It may provide for public lectures and other educational work in connection with its recommendations. It may incur expenses necessary to the carrying on of its work within the amount of its annual or special appropriations.
Section 4. All plans for laying out, extending, discontinuing or changing the limits of any way, street, playground, public park or square, and every purchase of land for the site of any public building, and all plans for the location, erection or alteration of public buildings, shall be submitted to said Board for its opinion at least two weeks in advance of action by the Board of Selectmen or the town.
Section 5. The Board shall make a report to the town annually, giving information regarding the condition of the town and plans or proposals for the development of the town and estimates of the cost thereof. Such reports shall be sent to the Selectmen not later than such time in January in each year as the Selectmen may prescribe or as may be prescribed by law in force relative to reports, and a copy thereof shall be filed with the Massachusett; Department of Public Welfare.
Article 11. To see if the town will vote to appoint a committee to consider the advisability of building a suitable building for park purposes at the Phillips Park playground, said committee to report at the next annual town meeting, as recommended by the Park Com- mission and Board of Selectmen.
Article 12. To see if the town will modify the zoning by-laws of the town of Swampscott so as to re-zone the property of the Knowlton heirs on the southerly side of Humphrey street, being all the land owned by the heirs of James and Clara Knowlton at 175 Humphrey street, in said Swampscott, so that the same shall be zoned for business instead of general residence, as at present; as heretofore adjudged by a single Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, as petitioned for by Daniel F. Knowlton et als.
Article 13. To see if the town will authorize the Board of Select- men to drill an artesian well and establish a public drinking fountain in the Foster Dam district, so-called, at a location in said district to be approved by said board; and to enter into a contract in behalf of the town for the building of said well and fountain; and to appropriate the sum of five thousand dollars by transfer from the Excess and Deficiency fund of the town to the account of Selectmen for that purpose, as recommended by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 14. To see if the town will vote to appropriate or transfer from the Excess and Deficiency fund to the account of library the sum .of three thousand dollars for the purpose of providing furnishings for the upper part of the town library as petitioned for by the trustees of the public library.
Article 15. To see if the town will vote to construct a culvert to enclose the brook from the Shelton road, across Bates road and through Muriel road a distance of approximately 500 feet and appropriate money therefor as petitioned for by S. Louis Eigner et als.
Article 16. To appropriate and raise by borrowing under any gen- eral or special law which authorizes the town to borrow money, or
95
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1930]
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 twenty-first day of November, 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 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, November 24, 1930, the posting of said notices being seven days before the time of said meeting.
FRANK H. BRADFORD, Constable.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING Thursday, December 4, 1930
In accordance with the foregoing Warrant, the voters assembled at the Town Hall at 7:30 P. M., and were called to order by John R. Hulburt, Moderator, the necessary quorum being present. The War- rant with the return thereon was read by the Town Clerk.
In respect to the memory of James W. Santry, Everett P. Mudge and Arthur E. Santry, town meeting members who had passed away since the last town meeting, the town meeting members diverted from the business of the meeting and stood in silence for one minute.
The report of the Finance Committee was read by C. Frank Hath- away, Chairman.
Voted, Article 1. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations, viz: That the sum of $2,000 be transferred from the account of Overlay Reserve to the account of Public Welfare.
Voted, Article 2. To accept the report of the Finance Committee, and adopt their recommendations, viz: That the sum of seventeen hundred dollars ($1,700) be transferred from the account of Overlay Reserve to the account of Soldiers' Relief.
Voted, Article 3. To accept the report of the Finance Committee, and adopt their recommendations as follows: That the sum of four hundred dollars ($400) be transferred from the account of Overlay Reserve to the account of Town Hall maintenance.
Voted, Article 5. To accept the report of the Finance Committee, and adopt their recommendations as follows: That the sum of fifty ($50) dollars be transferred from the account of Overlay Reserve to the Legislative Account.
96
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Voted, Article 6. To accept the report of the Finance Committee, and adopt their recommendations as follows: That the sum of two hundred dollars ($200) be transferred from the account of Overlay Reserve to the Selectmen's Contingent Fund.
An amendment to the Finance Committee report namely: That the salary of the Surveyor of Highways be increased from $2,000 to $3,000 and the employees of the Highway Department be increased from $5 a day to $6 a day was lost. For 25, against 66.
Voted, Article 7. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows: That the salary of the Surveyor of Highways be increased from $2,600 to $3,000 and that action on wages of employees of Highway Department be indefinitely postponed.
Voted, Article 8. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows: That action under this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: an amendment under Article 10, that Sections 1 2 and 3 be adopted and Sections 4 and 5 be not adopted.
Voted, Article 10. That the town adopt Sections 1, 2 and 3 of the following by-laws establishing a planning board as required by Section 70 of Chapter 41 of the General Laws.
Section 1. A board of five members is hereby established to be known as the planning board. The terms of members shall be three years, but at the annual town meeting to be held in the month of February, 1931, there shall be elected two members to serve for one year, two members to serve for two years, and one member to serve for three years, and thereafter there shall be elected at the annual meeting in each year such members as are necessary to fill vacancies.
Section 2. Vacancies otherwise occurring in the board shall be filled as provided in General Laws, Chapter 41 Section 11.
Section 3. The duties of such board shall be such as are stated in Chapter 41, Section 70 to 72 of the General Laws, and further to consider and advise upon municipal improvements either at the request of other officials of the town or upon its own initiative. It ,hall con- sider and develop a town plan, with special attention to main ways, land developments, zoning, playgrounds and parks and sites for per- manent school plants. The board shall meet at regular intervals. It may hold public meetings. It shall at all times have access to public documents or information in the possession of any town official or department. It shall examine the plans for the exterior of any public building, monument or similar feature, and for the development and treatment of the grounds about the same before the adoption thereof, and may make such recommendations thereon as it may deem needful. I+ may provide for public lectures and other educational work in con- nection with its recommendations. It may incur expenses necessary to the carrying on of its work within the amount of its annual or special appropriations.
There were 68 voting. For 65; against 3.
Carried by more than a two-thirds vote.
Voted, Article 9. That the town appoint a committee to consist of the Board of Assessors and four town meeting members to be appointed by the Moderator, to investigate the method of scientific appraisals now being made in several towns within the Commonwealth, to see if it would be applicable to Swampscott, the committee to re- port with its recommendations at the next annual town meeting.
Voted, Article 11. That the town appoint a committee to consider the advisability of building a building for park purposes at the Phillips Park playground, said committee to report at next annual town meeting.
Under Article 12 a public hearing was declared as this article called for a change in the Zoning by-laws. Mr. Parsons and Mrs. Widger speaking for the change, Mr. Underwood and Dooley against, after which the hearing was declared closed.
A motion by Mr. Knowlton to accept and adopt Article 12 was lost, 85 voting. For 33; against 52.
97
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1930]
Voted, Article 13. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations: That the Board of Selectmen be authorized to enter into a contract in behalf of the town for the building of a well, fountain and approaches, and that the sum of five thousand ($5,000) dollars be transferred from Excess and Deficiency to the account of Selectmen.
Voted, Article 14. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations viz: That the sum of three thousand ($3,000) dollars be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency fund to the account of the Town Library.
Voted, Article 15. That action under this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted to dissolve at 9:15 P. M. Attest :
RALPH D. MERRITT, Town Clerk.
APPOINTED TREE WARDEN
November 22, 1930
Bernard B. Kennedy was appointed Tree Warden by the Selectmen to fill vacancy caused by death of Everett P. Mudge. Qualified for said office on above date. Attest: RALPH D. MERRITT, Town Clerk.
NAMED PARK COMMISSIONER
December 4, 1930
John Homan was appointed a member of the Park Commissioners to fill the term expiring in February, 1931, caused by the death of Everett P. Mudge, Park Commissioner. Attest: RALPH D. MERRITT, Town Clerk.
TOWN REVALUATION COMMITTEE
December 11, 1930
John R. Hurlburt, Moderator, appointed Carl J. Berry, 39 Essex avenue; William G. Fallon, 36 Andrew road; Charles A. Southworth, 7 Grant road, and Frank L. Burk, 16 Blaney circle, to serve with the Board of Assessors to study a plan of re-valuation of the town. Attest: RALPH D. MERRITT, Town Clerk.
BUILDING FOR PARK PURPOSES
Moderator John R. Hurlburt, named the following committee to investigate the advisability of erecting a suitable building for park purposes at Phillips Park: Archibald Miller, 5 Fuller terrace; Mrs. Eleanor Ingelfinger, 5 Cliffside street; Robert C. Mckay, 11 Eulow street; Edward LaCroix, 58 Orchard road; Leslie F. Allen, 16 Essex street.
Attest: RALPH D. MERRITT, Town Clerk.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Town Clerk's Statistics
Births Recorded-259
Males, 142; Females, 117.
In January, 23; February, 17; March, 25; April, 26; May, 21; June, 25; July, 23; August, 24; September, 17; October, 22; November, 17; December, 19.
Marriages Recorded-111
In January, 11; February, 11; March, 4; April, 8; May, 7; June, 16; July, 6; August, 11; September, 11; October, 13; November, 8; December, 5.
Deaths Recorded-132
Males, 72; Females, 60.
In January, 13; February, 10; March, 14; April, 22; May, 16; June, 7; July, 7; August, 7; September, 10; October, 11; November, 10; December, 5.
Dogs Licensed
Males, 473; females, 79. Breeder's License, 1.
Money paid to County Treasurer :
Resident citizen's sporting license.
147 @ $2.25
Alien sporting license
@ 15.25
Resident citizen's trapping license
3 @ 2.25
Resident citizen lobster license
16 @ 5.00
Money paid to the Commissioner of Fisheries and Game:
4 Auctioneer licenses
@ $2.00
$8.00
2 Pool tables
@ "2.00
4.00
1 Bowling alley
@ 2.00
2.00
3 Junk dealers
@ 75.00
225.00
Paid Town Treasurer
$239.00
Attest:
RALPH D. MERRITT,
Town Clerk.
99
DIVISION OF ACCOUNTS
1930]
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Department of Corporations and Taxation DIVISION OF ACCOUNTS STATE HOUSE, BOSTON
February 14, 1930
To the Board of Selectmen, Howard K. Glidden, Chairman, Swamp- scott, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen: I submit herewith my report of an audit of the books and accounts of the town of Swampscott for the period from July 1 to December 31, 1929, made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44 of the General Laws. This report is in the form of a report made to me by Edward H. Fenton, Chief Accountant of this Division. Very truly yours. THEODORE N. WADDELL, Director of Accounts.
Theodore N. Waddell, Director of Accounts, Department of Corpora- tions and Taxation, State House, Boston.
Sir :- As directed by you, I have made an audit of the books and accounts of the town of Swampscott for the period from July 1 to December 31, 1929, and submit the following report thereon:
The books and accounts in the town accountant's office were ex- amined and checked. The recorded receipts were checked with the records of the several departments collecting money for the town and with the treasurer's books. The recorded payments were checked with the selectmen's warrants authorizing such payments and with the treasurer's cash book.
An analysis of the accountant's ledger was made, a trial balance was taken off, proving the accounts to be in balance, and a balance sheet, which is appended to this report, was prepared showing the financial condition of the town as of December 31, 1929.
The books and accounts of the town treasurer were examined and checked. The recorded receipts were checked with the accountant's books and with the sources from which money is being paid into the town treasury, while the payments were checked with the warrants of the selectmen authorizing the treasurer to disburse town funds. The cash balance was verified by a reconciliation of the bank statements.
The securities of the trust and investment funds were personally examined and checked in detail. The income was proved and the dis- bursements were verified.
In examining the savings bank deposits representing the investment of the Municipal Insurance Fund it was noted that, in accordance with a vote of the town passed at the annual meeting in 1929, the sum of $3,153.15 was withdrawn from the savings bank deposits and transferred to the town treasury to meet the payment of premiums on insurance on town property. Since such transfers do not come within the provisions of Section 13, Chapter 40, General Laws, which prescribes the purposes for which the fund may be used, it would appear that the above amount should be appropriated by the town and restored to the fund. Section 13, Chapter 40, General Laws, reads as follows:
A town which at a meeting or a city which by its city council accepts this section, or has in like manner accepted corresponding pro- visions of earlier laws, may appropriate an amount not exceeding in any one year one twentieth of one percent of its assessed valuation to establish and maintain a municipal buildings insurance fund, from which any municipal buildings or other municipal property damaged
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
or destroyed by fire, lightning or otherwise may be repaired, rebuilt or replaced by other buildings or property to be used in place thereof: but no money shall be appropriated for such purpose while the fund equals or exceeds one per cent. of such assessed valuation. Such fund shall be managed and administered by the sinking fund commissioners of the town, if any, otherwise by the commissioners of trust funds of the town.
The accounts of the town collector were examined and checked. The commitments of taxes, of departmental accounts receivable, and of special assessments were verified, the recorded collections were com- pared with the payments to the treasurer, the abatements, as recorded, were checked with the records of the departments authorized to grant such abatements, and the outstanding accounts were listed and proved. A further verification of the outstanding accounts was made by mailing notices to a number of persons whose names appeared on the books as owing money to the town, the replies received thereto indicating that the outstanding accounts, as listed, are correct.
The commitments of water charges were verified, the abatements were checked to the water department records, and the payments to the treasurer were checked to the treasurer's books. The outstanding water accounts were listed and reconcile'd with the accountant's ledger.
The deeds, representing the tax titles taken by the town, were examined, listed, and proved to the accountant's ledger.
The town clerk's records of dog and of hunting and fishing licenses issued were examined, and the payments to the county and State, respectively, were verified by receipts on file and a count of the cash on hand.
The records of receipts from rent of the town hall, library fines, sealer of weights and measures, police and cemetery departments, and from licenses issued by the selectmen and health departments were examined. The reported payments of the treasurer were checked to the treasurer's books and the outstanding accounts were listed and checked to the accountant's ledger.
Appended to this report, in addition to the balance sheet, are tables showing a reconciliation of the treasurer's cash, summaries of the tax and water accounts, and of the departmental accounts receivable. together with tables showing the condition of the several trust and investment funds.
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