USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1934 > Part 20
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233
REPORT OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN
1934]
Continual failure of Mr. Reeves to co-operate with the board, who by statutes, by-laws and oath of office are unquestionably responsi- ble for the conduct of the police department, resulted in the neces- sity of the Selectmen enacting a set of rules and regulations to conserve all rights and privileges of the citizens and members of the department. These regulations, to which you may refer under the police department report, were compiled from rules enforced in other communities and are common practice.
When they became in force there was considerable ado by Mr. Reeves and the press in regard to the second paragraph of the sec- ond rule, on the grounds that it strictly confined the Chief in his office while on duty. Even a casual perusal of that paragraph will prove the falsity of such an interpretation.
This rule was inserted so that the Chief would, to some extent at least, be available to the citizens during a certain period of the day. Under these regulations we are satisfied that the police depart- ment as a whole has been more efficient, contented and harmonious than for years past and that the town is getting better police pro- tection.
Although the report of the police department states that break- ing and entering cases were double those of 1933, there seems to be no serious cause for alarm, as that is 40 per cent. under the average for seven years past.
Good mental, moral and physical conditions of its members are essential to the proper conduct of a police department, but those qualifications are of no avail unless combined with tact and impar- tiality by the superior officers toward their subordinates and by the subordinates toward the citizens with whom they come in contact.
Foster Dam
At a special town meeting held October 19, 1934, it was voted to refer the report of the Committee on Water Supply for Foster Dam district to the board of Selectmen, they to investigate the pos- sibilities of accomplishing something in co-operation with the F. E. R. A.
In conformity with these instructions, the board has interviewed the E. R. A. officials in Boston and are informed that it is possible for E. R. A. funds to be used on private property provided roads or ways have been open and in use not less than twenty years. We find that the Foster Dam project was opened in 1917 and would not there- fore become eligible for E. R. A. projects until 1937. It is thus elimin- ated as an E. R. A. project for the present from that angle.
The Foster Dam committee also recommended the adoption of Section 25, Chapter 82, of the General Laws, which provides that the town, after going through certain procedure may enter upon un- accepted ways and streets of the town, and, without building the streets to grade, lay water and sewerage pipes, in which event it could probably become an E. R. A. project
As intrusted by the special town meeting, the Board has placed this matter upon the ballot for action by the voters. In this connec- tion we think it important to point out a seeming inconsistency in the conclusions of the Foster Dam committee. Under conclusions on page 16, they say, "We do not find any condition which in our opin- ion would warrant the setting aside of present town by-laws, the procedure which represents a background of eighty years of town government and under which the town has thus far progressed."
234
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Chapter 7, Section 8, of the town by-laws provides that streets must be brought to sub-grade before the town can enter and lay water mains.
Should the town accept the provisions of Section 25, Chapter 82, of the General Laws as recommended by the committee in their report on page 18, it would mark a change in the procedure which has been followed for so many years and is now in force. We have accordingly, so that there may be no question about it, inserted in the Town Warrant an article amending the By-Laws in that respect, and another article calling for the appropriation of money necessary to proceed with the work. Action on these two articles is wholly contingent upon the voters registering an affirmative vote in refer- ence to Section 25, Chapter 82, above referred to.
The Selectmen have in other words tried to provide the im- mediate means of carrying out the will of the voters should they register affirmative action. Should a negative vote be registered on Section 25, Chapter 82, the two articles would be inappropriate and unnecessary.
Respectfully submitted, KENNETH W. ULMAN, ERNEST C. BLANCHARD,
Dissenting from certain statements,
PHILIP E. BESSOM, Board of Selectmen.
235
REPORT OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN
1934]
THE TOWN BUDGET
The following is the list of amounts asked for under the budgets for 1935:
General Government
Moderator
$100.00
Finance Committee
150.00
Town meeting
100.00
Selectmen
3,500.00
Selectmen's contingent fund
500.00
Accounting
4,000.00
Treasury
5,456.50
Cert. of notes and bonds
50.00
Law
1,000.00
Collector of taxes
5,044.00
Assessors
4,500.00
Valuation book
800.00
Town Clerk
803.00
Election and registration
3,345.00
Engineering
7,200.00
Town Hall
5,100.00
Board of Appeals
80.00
Planning Board
160.00
Census
600.00
$42,488.50
Protection of Persons and Property
Police
$42,692.00
Fire
44,315.00
Moth
5,000.00
Tree Warden
3,140.00
Forest Warden
200.00
Inspector of Buildings
1,125.00
Care of prisoners
100.00
Sealers
608.00
Dog Officer
450.00
Constable
100.00
Inspector of Animals
200.00
97,930.00
Health and Sanitation
Health
7,538.00
Sewer
9,840.00
Refuse and garbage
10,480.00
Nurse
1,350.00
Dump
1,635.00
Dental clinic
1,200.00
Brooks
200.00
Particular sewers
800.00
District Nurse
600.00
Emergency sewer
1,500.00
35,143.00
236
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Highways and Bridges
Highway
$57,330.00
Seal coating
5,000.00
Street watering and oiling
1,500.00
Sidewalks and curbing
4,000.00
Snow and ice
10,000.00
Lighting streets
24,787.00
Street construction
1,000.00
103,617.00
Charities and Soldiers' Benefits
Public Welfare
34,029.00
Majority budget
Public Welfare
(37,700.00)
Minority budget
Pensions
3,825.64
Soldiers' Relief
10,000.00
State aid
300.00
Military aid
150.00
48,304.64
Schools and Libraries
Schools
188,926.00
Travel. Expense outside state
150.00
Library
11,554.00
200.630.00
Recreation and Unclassified
Parks
10,895.00
G. A. R. Hall
1,160.00
Legion lease
1,350.00
Insurance
4,152.66
Memorial Day
600.00
Printing Town Reports
1,200.00
Trust Fund Custodian's bond
50.00
Veterans' exemption
75.00
19,482.66
Enterprises
Water
71,837.25
Emergency water
5,000.00
Cemetery
5,605.00
82,442.25
Interest, Maturing Debt and Agency
Interest
29,018.75
Maturing debt
44,050.00
73,068.75
Total
$703,106.80
Respectfully submitted, KENNETH W. ULMAN, ERNEST C. BLANCHARD,
Dissenting from certain statements,
PHILIP E. BESSOM,
Board of Selectmen.
237
TOWN WARRANT
1934]
Town Warrant
Monday, February 18th, 1935.
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, quali- fied to vote in elections and in town affairs, to assemble in their respective precincts, in said Swampscott, on Monday, the eighteenth day of February, at 6 A.M., then and there to act on the following articles, viz:
At the close of the election the meeting shall adjourn to Monday, February 25, 1935, at 7.45 P.M., at the Town Hall.
Article 1. To choose a Moderator for one (1) year.
To choose a Town Clerk for one (1) year.
To choose three members of the Board of Selectmen for one (1) year.
To choose a Town Treasurer for three (3) years.
To choose one member of the Board of Assessors for three (3) years.
To choose a Collector of Taxes for three (3) years. To choose one member of the School Committee for three (3) years.
To choose one member of the Board of Public Welfare for three (3) years.
To choose one member of the Board of Health for three (3) years.
To choose one member of the Water and Sewerage Board for three (3) years.
To choose one member of the Park Commission for three (3) years.
To choose one member of the Board of Trustees of the Pub- lic Library for three (3) years.
To choose one Tree Warden for one (1) year.
To choose three Constables for one (1) year.
To choose one member of the Planning Board for two (2) years to fill vacancy.
To choose two members of the Planning Board for three (3) years.
To choose one member of the Board of Comissioners of Trust Funds for three (3) years.
To choose eight (8) representative town meeting members in each precinct for three (3) years; To choose one rep- resentative town meeting member in precinct one for one (1) year; To choose one representative town meeting member in precinct one for two (2) years; To choose two representative town meeting members in precinct four for one (1) year. (The one and two year terms being to fill vacancies.)
Article 2. To vote by ballot:
Shall the following Chapter 82, Section 25, of the General Laws, Tercentenary edition, be accepted ?
238
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
"In a town which accepts the provisions of this section or has accepted corresponding provisions of earlier laws, the selectmen, road commissioners or sewer commissioners may, when a town way is laid out, relocated or altered, enter and lay sewers and water pipes therein before possession is taken for the purpose of constructing such way, in like manner as if it had been actually constructed. Such entry shall not be deemed an entry for the purpose of con- structing the way, and until such way has been constructed, sewer assessments shall be levied only upon the estates of persons connect- ing their drains with such sewers. If such laying out, relocation or alteration becomes void under the provisions of section three of chapter seventy-nine, all sewers or water pipes so laid therein shall be deemed to have been legally laid and placed therein; and dam- ages may be recovered therefor under chapter seventy-nine; and the right to recover the same shall accrue when such laying out, altera- tion or widening becomes void. This section shall not apply to cities."
Article 3. To vote by ballot:
Shall the provisions of Chapter 31, Section 48, General Laws, Tercentenary edition, be accepted, thereby placing under Civil Ser- vice the call members of the Fire Department.
Article 4. To hear and act on the reports of town officials, boards and committees.
Article 5. To see what amount of bonds will be required of the Town Clerk and Custodian of Trust Funds for the ensuing year.
Article 6. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations not calling for the appropriation of money, as contained in the reports of officers, boards or committees.
Article 7. To see what action the town will take in relation to salaries of town officials for the ensuing year.
Article 8. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations calling for the appropriation or expenditure of money, the creation of a debt, or the disposition of town property, as set forth in the reports of officers, boards or committees.
Article 9. To see what action the town will take in relation to the appropriation of money for departmental and other expenses as recommended and set forth in the Selectmen's report under the Town Budget.
Article 10. To see what action the town will take in relation to the appropriation or raising of money for permanent street construc- tion.
Article 11. To see if the town will vote to purchase a 600-gal- lon triple combination motor pumper and equipment, to replace the old apparatus now in service at the Phillips Beach fire station, and appropriate $8,100 therefor, as recommended by the Board of Fire Engineers.
Article 12. To see if the town will vote to appropriate $3,350 to replace old batteries and cables and make necessary changes and extensions in the fire alarm system, as recommended by the Board of Fire Engineers.
Article 13. To see if the town will vote to appropriate $490 for 500 feet 21/2-inch fire hose, as recommended by the Board of Fire Engineers.
Article 14. To see if the town will vote to appropriate $25,000 for a Selectmen's contingent fund to be disbursed by them for un- employment relief and ERA or similar projects, as recommended by the Board of Selectmen.
239
TOWN WARRANT
1934]
Article 15. To see if the town, in the event of the acceptance of Sec. 25, Chapter 82 (Ter. Ed.) of the General Laws, will vote to au- thorize the laying of water mains in Foster road and or in Windsor avenue as provided in said section, and authorize the Selectmen to take the necessary steps therefor, and appropriate the sum of $20,- 000 to be used on condition that an additional sum for such purpose is furnished by the Federal Government, and that the town shall receive deeds granting an easement or fee in such way or ways and a waiver of damages by the owners or persons holding interest there- in; or vote to take such other action in relation thereto.
Article 16. To see if the town will vote to amend, modify or annul section 8 of Chapter 7 of the town by-laws insofar as the same may relate to the laying of water mains or doing other public work on Foster road and or in Windsor avenue.
Article 17. To see if the town will authorize the Board of Park Commissioners to finish filling and grading an area on the covered dump now in Phillips Park, large enough for use as a football grid- iron, and erect a suitable chain link fence around same, and appro- priate $8,000 therefor, as recommended by the Park Commissioners.
Article 18. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $100 for the salary of the secretary of the Planning Board for the year 1934, as voted in Article 21 in the special town meeting of April 4, 1934, but not making an appropriation therefor, as pe- titioned for by Herbert Ingalls.
Article 19. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $97.46 to pay the bill of A. H. Jenkins & Son, Inc., for labor and materials furnished at Grand Army Hall in 1933 and remaining un- paid at the closing of the books for the year 1933.
Article 20. To see if the town will authorize the Board of Pub- lic Welfare to appoint one of its own members as agent and investi- gating officer and fix the salary of such an appointee of $800 and appropriate money therefor, as provided by Chapter 41, Sec. 4A, of the General Laws (Ter. Ed.).
Article 21. To see if the town will vote to appropriate to the account of unpaid bills the sum of $4,887.95, to cover bills of the departments named, contracted in 1934 and remaining unpaid at the time of the closing of the books for the year 1934: Public Welfare, $4,514.41; Highway, $50.85; Police, $234.36; Legion Lease, $13.33; Planning Board, $75.
Article 22. To see if the town will vote to accept Nason road (extreme end) as a public way, as laid out by the Board of Select- men, in accordance with a plan made by W. W. Pratt, town engin- eer, and to appropriate money therefor, as petitioned for by John E. Gill et als.
Article 23. To see if the town will vote to remove the wooden blocks on Humphrey street and resurface same with some kind of permanent pavement and appropriate money therefor, as recom- mended by the Surveyor of Highways.
Article 24. To see if the town will vote to resurface Monument avenue (westerly side) from Burrill street to Farragut road and appropriate money therefor, as recommended by the Surveyor of Highways.
Article 25. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $1,000 to clean the town beaches, as recommended by the Surveyor of Highways.
Article 26. To see if the town will vote to construct a surface water drain about 600 feet long to drain the low area between Bur- rill street, Elmwood road, Thomas road and Paradise road and ap-
240
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
propriate money therefor, as petitioned for by Mildred Dressel Strauss, et als.
Article 27. To see if the town will vote to relay the water main in Elm place, a distance of about 450 feet, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Water and Sewerage Board.
Article 28. To see if the town will vote to relay the water main in Upland road, a distance of about 150 feet, and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Water and Sewerage board.
Article 29. To see if the town will vote to extend the sewer in Nason road a distance of 200 feet and appropriate money for the same, as recommended by the Water and Sewerage board.
Article 30. To see if the town will vote to extend the sewer in Aspen road a distance of 360 feet and appropriate money for the same as recommended by the Water and Sewerage board.
Article 31. To see if the town will authorize the Board of Pub- lic Welfare to appoint an executive secretary and fix the salary of such appointee at the rate of $1,560 per year, and appropriate money therefor, as provided by Chapter 41, Section 4A, of the General Laws, (Ter. Ed.) as petitioned for by Walter H. Forbes, Jr.
Article 32. To see if the town will authorize the Board of As- sessors, the Park Commission, the Board of Public Welfare and the Planning Board to appoint a member of such boards to act as secre- tary thereof and receive pay therefor, as provided by Capter 41, Section 4A, of the General Laws, (Ter. Ed.).
Article 33. To see if the town will vote to have the tree re- moved in front of a proposed driveway at number 38 Grant road and appropriate money therefor, as petitioned for by Richard Cutts and others.
Article 34. To see what action the town will take in relation to the appropriation of money for a World War Veterans' Honor Roll, as recommended by the Committee appointed by the last annual town meeting.
Article 35. To see if the town will vote to appropriate $225 to make certain alterations on the G. A. R. Building to conform with the State building laws relating to the occupancy of public build- ings, as recommended by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 36. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1935, and to issue a note or notes there- for, payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with Sec- tion 17, Chapter 44, General Laws.
Article 37. To see if the town will vote to appropriate $150 for the observance of Columbus Day under the jurisdiction of a citizens' committee appointed by the Board of Selectmen, as petitioned for by Louis LaParrella and others.
Article 38. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $500 for the suitable celebration of Armistice Day, as recom- mended by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 39. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $1,000 to celebrate Independence Day in a suitable manner, as recommended by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 40. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Moder- ator of the town meeting to appoint a committee of three or take such other action as it may deem advisable and report at the next town meeting, for the following purpose: To find out the cost and advisability of purchasing the property known as the Chick estate,
241
TOWN WARRANT
1934]
adjacent to the rear of the present Junior High School, for school purposes.
Article 41. A. To see if the town will vote or take such other action in relation thereto as it may deem advisable to amend its by- laws so as to increase the number of the Selectmen from three to five members, the same to become effective as of February, 1936.
B. To see if the town will vote or take such other action as it may deem advisable to have the terms of the Selectmen commencing February, 1936, as follows: The two selectmen receiving the highest number of votes to serve for three years; the two selectmen receiv- ing the next highest number of votes to serve two years, and the selectman receiving the next highest number of votes to serve one year. Thereafter all selectmen to be elected for a term of three years; the Board of Selectmen to appoint its chairman from year to year.
C. To see if the town will vote or take such other action as it may deem fit and proper to change the salary of the members of the Board of Selectmen so that the chairman will receive a salary of $350 a year, and that the associate members receive each a salary of $250 a year, as petitioned for by Robert B. Hegarty and others.
Article 42. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Moder- ator to appoint a committee consisting of the Board of Selectmen and three citizens of the town to investigate into the feasibility and expense of the laying out of a way ten feet wide leading from Stet- son avenue through land adjacent to land of the Swampscott Tennis Club, under the Boston & Maine Railroad and over land of said railroad to Essex street for the use of pedestrians, and said com- mittee report to this or some special town meeting before the next annual town meeting.
Article 43. 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.
The polls will close at 6 P.M.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting an at- tested 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 thirty-first day of January, A. D., 1935.
KENNETH ULMAN, ERNEST C. BLANCHARD, PHILIP E. BESSOM, Selectmen of Swampscott.
A true copy. Attest:
WAYNE ANDERSON, Constable.
242
INDEX
Index
Reports of Departments and Committees
Animals, Inspector of
190
Appropriations Voted
28
Assessors
171
Board of Appeals
.
181
Cemetery, Superintendent of
.
191
Dental Clinic
.
144
Dog Officer
.
184
Election, Town
17
Finance Committee
9
Finance Committee, Reports of
22
Fire Engineers
. .
191
Foster Dam Water Report
54
Health, Board of
135
Health Officer
136
Health Nurse
143
Highway Surveyor
183
Jury List
228
Library, Trustees of
179
Milk Inspector
144
Mortuary Report
142
Moth Superintendent
192
Park Commissioners
.
186
Planning Board
.
143
Population
178
Selectmen, Board of
230
School Enrollment
132
School Committee
124
School Department Directory
133
State Election
76
State Primary
44-48
Town Accountant
193
Town Budget
.
10
Town Clerk's Statistics
82
Town Counsel
182
Town Engineer
3-19
Town Meeting Members
7
Town Officers Elected
2
Town Warrant, February 19, 1934
10
Town Warrant, April 4, 1934
35
Town Warrant, October 19, 1934
52
Town Warrant, February 18, 1935
237
Tree Warden
. .
War Memorial Committee's report . .
226
Water and Sewerage Board ... .
145
Weights and Measures
. .
176
ยท
.
.
.
177
Plumbing, Inspector of
. . .
150
Police Department
. .
175
Public Welfare
.
.
157
Forest Warden
.
185
Building Inspector
.
192
Town Officers Appointed
28
Town Clerk's Records
148
PAGE
INDEX
243
Financial Reports
PAGE
Accountant's Department
193
Assessors' Department
200
Assets
171
Balance Sheets
100-120-223
Bonds and Notes Payable
160
Borrowing Capacity
165
Cemetery
219
Collector of Taxes
168-200
County Tax
220
Division of Accounts
83-104
Election and Registration
201
. Engineering Department
201
Fire Department
203
Health Department
206
Highway Department
209
Interest and Maturing Debt
220
Law Department
200
Liabilities
161
Library
214
Metropolitan Assessments
221
Moth Extermination
204
Park Department
215
Pensions
212
Police Department
203
Property Report
. .
.
213
Selectmen's Contingent Fund
199
Selectmen's Department
198
Sewer Department
207
Sewer Notes and Bonds
161
Snow and Ice Removal
210
Soldiers' 'Relief
212
State Tax
220
Statistics (1892-1934)
173
Street Lighting
210
Tax Rate
172
Town Budget
235
Town Debt
165
Town Hall Department
202
Town Receipts
193
Transfers
196-282
Treasurer's Report
160
Treasurer's Department
200
Trust Funds
166
Valuation
172
Water Department
218
Water Debt
146
Water Loans
161
Welfare Costs
. . .. . . . . .
211
. .
. .
. .
.
.
.
. .
.
..
172
Refuse and Garbage disposal
207
School Department
.
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