USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1931 > Part 6
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That the town purchase 400 feet of 11/2 inch hose and fittings and that the sum of $250 be appropriated therefor.
Voted, Article 34. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the sum of $350 be appropriated for the purpose of painting the Central Fire Station and making such other repairs as seem to them necessary.
Voted, Article 35. To accept the report of the Finance Commitee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted, Article 36. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows :
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted, that the meeting adjourn to Tuesday evening, April 14, 1931, at 8:00 P. M.
Adjourned at 9:55 P. M. Attest: RALPH D. MERRITT, Town Clerk.
ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Tuesday, April 14, 1931
In accordance with the adjournment of April 6, 1931, the town meeting members assembled at the Town Hall, and were called to order by John R. Hurlburt, Moderator, at 8:00 P. M., the necessary quorum being present.
Voted, to dispense with the reading of records of last meeting.
Voted, Article 37. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the sum of $225 be appropriated for this purpose.
Voted, Article 38. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
The report of the Committee of Revaluation was read by Charles A. Southworth.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON APPRAISAL OF PROPERTY Report of Committee to consider adopting a system of Scientific Appraisal of Property in Swampscott
The Warrant for the special town meeting held on December 4, 1930, contained the following article:
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 appraisal 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 town meeting, as peti- tioned for by the Board of Assessors.
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RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1931]
The above article being duly passed at said meeting, the moderator named Messrs. Carl J. Berry, Frank L. Burk, William G. Fallon and Charles A. Southworth as the four town meeting members. They met with the Assessors and organized with Charles A. Southworth as chair- man and Carl J. Berry, as secretary. This committee has investigated the matter of having a scientific appraisal of property in Swampscott, and submits the following report:
The State Commissioner of Taxation is given authority by Chapter 58, Section 3, General Laws, to provide assessors with such instructions and supervision as is needed to secure uniform assessment and just taxation, and to equalize the valuation of property for purposes of State, county, and local taxation. The Commissioner is urging upon municipalities the undertaking of a scientific appraisal of property, to the end that valuation and assessments shall be more equitable and just throughout the State.
Most taxpayers recognize the fact that the cost of governmental activities must constantly increase as a municipality grows and its citizens demand more and better service from all departments, and that this must necessarily result in an advance in valuation and in tax rate from time to time.
Where such advances are made reasonably, no citizen is likely to complain seriously, provided he can be convinced that he is not indi- vidually being called upon to pay more than his just and fair proportion of such necessary increase in the operation of his local government.
If his property is evaluated scientifically by a tax expert who comes from outside and is therefore a disinterested party, it seems as though he would be assured that he is receiving an absolutely impartial ap- praisal, and therefore a square deal; and that the best and fairest method yet devised for appraising and assessing real estate has been applied to his individual case.
This town has been very fortunate in the matter of keeping down the cost of operating its assessing department,-yet the records and data of the assessors are, according to the tax experts, in very good shape. The assessors feel, however, that they ought to be furnished with adequate and modern equipment to enable them to do the best possible work,-and they are positive that a scientific appraisal of the town's buildings at this time would give to their efforts a much greater degree of efficiency than can possibly be achieved otherwise.
The method of installing such a system has been explained to us in detail, though of course its nature and the amount of work involved vary with the condition in which the assessors' records are found in any community. After an examination of our records, it has been estimated that a scientific appraisal of buildings alone would cost six thousand dollars. The assessors do not believe an appraisal is necessary so far as land values are concerned,-which makes the cost of installing the system much less than it would otherwise be.
Briefly, the procedure in regard to buildings is this,-the dimensions and areas of all buildings in town are obtained, and a replacement figure given to each. The buildings are then depreciated from a physical basis,-their age, condition, etc., deducted, and also what is known as functional depreciation, as lack of utility, wrong location, obsolescence in general. These deductions having been made, the figure finally arrived at is considered the "sound value" of the building.
In the language of the Tax Commissioner, the appraisals so estab- lished represent the fundamental principles of taxation,-being full, fair and equal so far as it is humanly possible to make them so; full because everything assessable is taken; fair. because the values established are comparatively low; equal, because all have been treated alike, since the same yard-stick of measurement and determination has been used in every way.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
The assessors are unanimous in recommending the installation of this system of scientific appraisal in Swampscott, but only insofar as it relates to buildings; and all the town meeting members are also of the opinion that it would be for the town's best interest to take such action at this time. Your committee therefore recommends unanimously that the town appropriate the sum of six thousand dollars for this purpose, and authorize the Board of Assessors to proceed with the work.
CHARLES A. SOUTHWORTH. CARL J. BERRY. FRANK L. BURK. WILLIAM G. FALLON.
EDWARD A. MAXFIELD. CLARENCE B. HUMPHREY. JOHN B. EARP.
Voted, Article 39. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
The report of the Planning Board was read by Henry S. Baldwin. J. Henry Welch made an amendment to the Planning Board's re- port viz:
That the Board of Library Trustees be authorized to remove the present tablet on the Ramsdell monument and replace it with one which will state historical facts correctly, for which purpose the sum of $200 be appropriated. The amendment was lost.
Voted, Article 40. To accept the report of the Planning Board and adopt their recommendations, as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Under Article 41 the report of the Planning Board was read by George M. Glidden, chairman.
Conrad P. Richardson made an amendment to the Planning Board's report, viz :
That the official zoning map of the Town of Swampscott shall be changed so that all lots between the beaches on Humphrey street shall be shown in black, to the end that both sides of said street in that area shall be under the same restrictions. The amendment was lost.
Voted, Article 41. To accept the report of the Planning Board and adopt their recommendations, as follows:
That action under this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted. Article 42. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations, as follows:
That action under this article be indefinitely postponed.
Under Article 43 an amendment was made by Harry D. Linscott. viz :
That the words $500 be accepted in place of the words $1,000. The amendment was lost.
Voted. Article 43. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the sum of $1.000 be appropriated for the observance of the Fourth of July, 1931, and that the Moderator be authorized to appoint a committee of three to conduct such observance.
Voted, Article 44. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows :
That the sum of $500 be appropriated for this purpose.
Voted. Article 45. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows :
That the town transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account the sum of $10.000 to be used by the Assessors in fixing the tax rate for the year 1931. (Unanimous).
Voted. Article 46. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations, as follows:
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RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1931]
That the Selectmen be authorized to sell or dispose of at their discretion the old Palmer School building and land on Humphrey street, now owned by the town.
Voted, Article 47. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations, as follows:
That the section heretofore referred to, be accepted as a public way as laid out by the Board of Selectmen and in accordance with the above plan and that the sum of $550 be appropriated to put it in condition for public travel, the work to be done under the direction of the Sur- veyor of Highways. (Unanimous).
Voted, Article 48. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That Commonwealth avenue be accepted as a public way as laid out by the Board of Selectmen in accordance with the plan made by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, and that the sum of $400 already appro- priated be used to put it in condition for public travel; this vote to become effective as soon as the Selectmen have obtained such waivers from abutting owners as it deems necessary for the protection of the town, and the Town Engineer certifies in writing that the street is at line and grade. (Unanimous).
Voted, Article 49. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action under this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted, Article 50. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That this article is illegal and void.
Under Article 51 the report of the Planning Board was read by Ralph J. Curtis.
Voted, Article 51. To accept the report of the Planning Board and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the article be adopted. To amend the zoning by-laws by changing from general residence district to single residence district the area included in the following streets and the land contiguous thereto or in the vicinity thereof, so that said area shall be subject to the pro- visions of Article 3 of said zoning by-law except that a set back distance of ten feet will be allowable, namely: Easterly side of Walker road from Boston & Maine track to Mountwood road and Mountwood road. Yes, 99; No, 0.
Voted, Article 52. That action under this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted. That Articles 53 and 54 be taken up together.
Voted, Articles 53 and 54. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on these Articles be indefinitely postponed.
Voted, Article 55. To be laid on the table.
Voted, that the town meeting members render a vote of thanks to Town Counsel Linscott for the service rendered the town.
Voted, to dissolve the town meeting at 9:50 P. M. Attest : RALPH D. MERRITT,
Town Clerk.
WARRANT SPECIAL TOWN MEETING Monday, April 27, 1931
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 di- rected 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-seventh day of April, at 8 P. M., then and there to act on the following articles, viz:
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Article 1. To see if the town will vote to acquire in fee, either by purchase or by eminent domain, for public school purposes, any or all of the premises known as the Stanbon, Nye & Hill property located on Forest avenue about opposite Aspen road and Magnolia road, bounded on the west by land now or formerly of Blaney, on the east by land of Elizabeth F. D. Whitney, and lying adjacent to the Swampscott branch of the Boston & Maine Railroad on the south, containing approximately six acres more or less, and or any portion of the land of Elizabeth F. D. Whitney on said Forest avenue adjacent to said Stanbon, Nye & Hill premises, and appropriate money therefor, as petitioned for by the School Committee.
Article 2. To see if the town will vote to construct on the premises described in the foregoing article, or any portion thereof that may be acquired by the town, a public high school and to originally equip and furnish the same and appropriate money therefor, as petitioned for by the School Committee.
Article 3. To see if the town will appoint a committee with full authority to proceed with the erection, equipment, furnishing and preparation for use of the public high school referred to in the fore- going article, on said premises on Forest avenue, Swampscott, and to that end to engage an architect, obtain plans, advertise for bids, enter into contracts, and generally to do any and all things necessary or proper to erect, furnish, equip, prepare and complete such public high school, and appropriate money therefor, as petitioned for by the School Committee.
Article 4. 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 which 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 imme- diate 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 sixteenth day of April, A. D. 1931.
R. WYER GREENE, HARRY E. HARDY, EDWARD LaCROIX, 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 Saturday, April 18, 1931, the posting of said notices being seven days before the time of said meeting.
FRANK H. BRADFORD, Constable.
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RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1931]
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING Monday, April 27, 1931
In accordance with the foregoing Warrant, the town meeting members assembled at the Town Hall at 8:00 P. M., and were called to order by John R. Hurlburt, Moderator, the necessary quorum being present. The Warrant with the return thereon was read by the Town Clerk.
The Planning Board report was read by George M. Glidden, and the Finance Committee report by C. Frank Hathaway.
PLANNING BOARD REPORT
This 'article, referring to the taking of a certain parcel of land on Forest avenue for high school purposes, has received the careful con- sideration of the Planning Board.
One of the duties of this board is to consider and prepare a town plan, anticipating all future developments, and the erection of a high school on the property described in this article would comply in all respects with the tentative plan which is now being considered by the board.
The property is geographically in a central location. At the present time the approaches are good and as the territory in the proximity develops, so will the approaches be developed. In fact, there is at present time a plan under consideration for the extension of Forest avenue from its present termination through the Whitney estate and thence to Humphrey street. Furthermore, if in time the development proved the necessity, it would be a simple matter to construct an over- head bridge over the Boston & Maine Railroad tracks, thus opening up the territory to the west of the tracks. The proposed location would help to develop the neighboring lands, thus adding more taxable prop- erty to the town. The zone in which this site is located is adapted for school purposes. The cost of land taking would be low.
In considering the sites for high school purposes, the present Town Hall site was considered by the Planning Board. There are, however, objections to it. The placing of a high school on the present Town Hall site would preclude the possibility of a civic center. In the town plan now being considered by the Planning Board, it is hoped that this site may be developed as a civic center, embracing a memorial audito- rium, an administrative building, and a police station. The land takings necessary for a high school on this site would be very costly, in the vicinity of $110,000; the area is limited and to erect a suitable high school on such limited area would dwarf the present buildings in the neighborhood.
We recommend. therefore, by unanimous vote, that the town accept the site described in Article 1 for high school purposes.
GEORGE M. GLIDDEN, JOHN R. HURLBURT, HERBERT E. INGALLS, RALPH J. CURTIS, HENRY S. BALDWIN,
Planning Board.
FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT
To the Members of the Limited Town Meeting:
The Finance Committee herewith submits its report concerning Article 1 in the Warrant for the special town meeting of April 27, 1931. Article 1. The lot referred to in Article 1 contains between 71/2 and 8 acres; it is made up of two distinct sections, said sections being
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
separated by the Marblehead branch of the Boston & Maine Railroad Co., whose tracks at this point run through a deep cut approximately 25 feet below the surface of the lot. The easterly or Forest avenue section contains about 512 acres and the smaller or westerly section con- tains about two acres. The topography of the whole lot is difficult to describe. There is no level surface on any part of it, and a substantial part of the easterly section is a swamp and the remainder is made up of innumerable declivities and covered with ledges and boulders. The committee availed itself of the advice of Mr. W. W. Pratt, our town engineer, and we concluded from our conference with him that to cut and fill such part of the lot as would be necessary to place the proposed school with its immediate surroundings would involve an expense of about $25,000. Just what it would cost to cut and fill the remainder of that section so as to make it of any practical use is problematical, but we are advised that an expenditure of $50,000 on this section would not make much of a showing. It has been suggested by the Planning Board that the two sections of this lot could be joined by an overhead bridge. This, however, would be expensive and impractical in our opinion and furthermore the westerly section, so called, would require the expenditure of many thousand dollars to make that available for any practical use, consisting as it does almost entirely of a very steep, high ledge.
Having these considerations in mind, we feel that the lot would be no bargain at any price. We, therefore, recommend that further action upon this article be indefinitely postponed.
C. FRANK HATHAWAY, RALPH H. CARY, HARRY E. WHITTEN, PAUL W. BRICKETT, LESLIE F. ALLEN, DONALD REDFERN, Finance Committee.
Under Article 1, a motion to accept the report of the Finance Com- mittee and adopt their recommendations, viz: To indefinitely postpone action under this article was lost. Yes, 49; No, 57.
Voted, Article 1. That the Selectmen be authorized to take by eminent domain for public school purposes the land on Forest avenue, commonly known as "The Stanbon, Nye & Hill Lot" bounded and described substantially as follows, and that the sum of $16,000 be appropriated therefor, of which $6,000 thereof shall be raised from the tax levy of the current year, and that the balance, namely $10,000. be raised by notes or bonds of the town, issued within the limit of in- debtedness, and to that end the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be authorized to borrow a sum not exceeding said balance, namely $10,000, and to issue notes or bonds of the town therefor; said notes or bonds to be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by a majority of the Selectmen and to be issued and payable in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44 of the General Laws and all acts and amendments thereof and in addition thereto, so that the whole loan shall be paid in not less than fifteen years from the issue of the first bond or note, said bonds or notes to be denominated on the face thereof "Swampscott High School Loan 1931" and to bear such rates of interest as may be fixed by the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen.
Parcel "A." Beginning at a point on the northerly side of Forest avenue at the intersection with the westerly line of the Whitney estate, thence running 68-44-20W along the northerly line of Forest avenue a distance of four hundred and fifty-four and six one hundredths (454.06) feet to stone monument at a bend in Forest avenue; thence turning and running S62-34-10W along the northerly line of Forest avenue a distance of eight and ten one hundredths (8.10) feet to the easterly boundary line
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RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1931]
of land belonging now or formerly to Blaney; thence turning and run- ning in a general north-westerly direction, following the line of an old stone wall, a distance of five hundred and seventy-six and seventy-three one hundredths (576.73) feet to an old stone monument at the southerly line of the property of the Boston & Maine Railroad; thence turning and running in a general easterly direction on a curved line, having a radius of 1088.46 feet, a distance of four hundred and ninety-six and seventeen one hundredths (496.17) feet to the westerly boundary of the Boston & Maine Railroad location; thence turning and running in a generally southeasterly direction along the westerly boundary of the Whitney estate a distance of four hundred seventy-one and thirteen one hundredths (471.13) feet to the intersection of the northerly line of Forest avenue with the westerly line of the Whitney estate being the point of beginning.
All of said measurements being more or less.
Said parcel contains 231,290 square feet of land more or less.
Parcel "B." Parcel of land "B" lies along the northerly side of the Boston & Maine Railroad location and is the continuation of the so-called "Parcel A."
From the old stone monument at the northerly corner of the Blaney property and the northwesterly corner of "Parcel A," the stone monu- ment being on the southerly line of the Boston & Maine Railroad loca- tion; thence running in a generally northwesterly direction across the railroad property a distance of 61.46 feet to second old stone monument on the northerly line of the railroad location, said second old stone monument being the point of beginning for the description of "Par- cel B."
Beginning at the second old stone monument above mentioned; thence running in a generally northeasterly direction by land of the Boston & Maine Railroad and land of now or formerly Rowen a dis- tance of four hundred and sixty and eighty-four one hundredths (460.84) feet to the westerly boundary of the Whitney estate; thence turning and running in a generally southeasterly direction along the westerly boun- dary of the Whitney estate a distance of two hundred and twenty-three and forty-three one hundredths (223.43) feet to a third old stone monu- ment at the intersection of the northerly line of the Boston & Maine Railroad location; thence turning and running in a generally south- westerly direction along a curved line, having a radius of 1038.46 feet and said curved line also being fifty feet distance from the northerly boundary line of "Parcel A" at all points, a distance of five hundred and one and twenty-seven one hundredths (501.27) feet to the so-called second old stone monument and the point of beginning.
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