USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1934 > Part 3
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Voted, Article 4. If a By-law committee exist, same to be abol- ished, and a new committee be appointed by the Moderator.
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
To the Members of the Representative Town Meeting:
In making up our report and recommendations for the annual Town Meeting of 1934, we have tried to keep in mind that the income of most of our citizens is no better than for 1933, and that in many cases many families are not as well off as they were, having used up their reserves. We find from the figures of the Town Accountant that on December 31, 1932, the uncollected taxes were $193,310.69, and on December 31, 1933, they were $206,186.68. This is not a healthy condition and must be considered in appropriating money for the current year. It also indicates that our citizens are having increasing difficulty in meeting government expenses.
We believe that the municipal employee with a fixed wage or salary during these times has been better off than a large majority of the citizens and taxpayers. In order that the Town Meeting Mem- ber may readily know the base weekly pay of our different depart- ments, we submit below the following list:
Police: Chief, $57.47; Captain, $47.88; Patrolmen, $42.00.
Fire: Chief, $57.47; Deputy Chief, $52.71; Captains, $47.88; Firemen, $42.00.
Highway: Surveyor, $57.69; Highway employee, $30.00.
We do not feel that a 10 per cent reduction in the above pay is imposing a hardship on any one of these employees when it is con- sidered that we have registered as unemployed 637, and under help by Public Welfare 109 families. Also there was given aid by the Soldiers' Relief last year to 44 persons. Due to the civil service laws and laws governing the school teachers' salaries, the Town Meeting is limited in the action it may take. We have this year recommended that the 10 per cent reduction made in salaries and wages last year be continued and have given consideration to this in the budgets of the different departments.
We do not believe that the taxpayers of the town wish to expend extra funds for curbstones, sidewalks and street construction. We have therefore cut this amount to a figure to take care of emergen- cies. We have increased the Finance Committee Reserve Fund in or- der to take care of unemployment in the construction of drains and other projects, and to have funds for supplies if any of the projects now before the Civil Works Administration are approved.
We have asked for indefinite postponement in articles in the Warrant that we believe are not absolutely necessary or can be taken care of in some other manner. In the articles relating to athletic fields, we believe after some study that any money spent for this purpose should be concentrated in Jackson Park with the view of making the present field and the park back of it the real recreation development of the town.
In making this report we have had to consider the fact that in all probability the returns from the State from Income and Corpora- tion Taxes will be considerably less than last year.
1934]
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
23 ·
We realize that some departments and employees will feel they should not be cut, yet we must consider the town as a whole. It is evident that even with the reduction in the budgets, the retention of the 10 per cent pay reduction, and the indefinite postponement of many articles in the Warrant, that there will be an advance in the tax rate.
We ask your careful consideration of our recommendations, hav- ing in mind that you represent a large number of citizens and tax- payers who are not Town Meeting Members.
Article 5-We recommend that the Town Clerk be required to furnish a bond in the amount of $1,000 and that the Custodian of Trust Funds be required to furnish a bond in the sum of $10,000 for the ensuing year.
Article 6-We recommend that the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow up to $600,000.00 from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1934, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, and to renew such notes or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accor- dance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Law; any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1934.
Article 7-We recommend that the salaries of all elected town officials for the year 1934 be the same as that for 1933.
Article 8-We believe that it was the intention of the Town Meeting of 1933 that the wages of all town employees should be re- duced 10 per cent. until the next town meeting. As the town em- ployees have taken another stand we believe there should be no mis- understanding this year, that wages of all employees should be re- duced 10 per cent. from the wage scale of 1932 until further action by the town. We therefore recommend that no donations be accepted from any department unless the same shall be unanimously made by all employees of that department to continue until further action by the town.
Article 10-We recommend that action on this article be indefin- itely postponed.
Article 11-We recommend that the item for water of $56,760.40 be taken from the estimated receipts of the Water Department for the current years. We recommend that the following amounts be ap- propriated for the various departments for the ensuing year:
Budget 1934 General Government
Salaries and Wages
Others $75.00
Total $75.00
Town Meeting
Moderator
$90.00
90.00
Selectmen
2,700.00
700.00
3,400.00
Selectmen's Contingent Fund
500.00
500.00
Finance Committee
150.00
150.00
Accountant
3,150.00
300.00
3,450.00
Treasurer
1,440.00
723.00
2,163.00
Certification of Notes
and Bonds
50.00
50.00
Collector of Taxes
1,537.20
2,453.00
3,990.20
Assessors
3,060.00
1,100.00
4,160.00
Town Clerk
457.20
302.40
759.60
Law
900.00
900.00
24
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Election and Registration
2,475.00
1,435.00
3,910.00
Engineering
5,544.00
540.00
6,084.00
Town Hall
2,412.00
2,200.00
4,612.00
Board of Appeals
50.00
50.00
100.00
Planning Board
25.00
10.00
35.00
Protection of Life and Property
Police
$33,939.00
$4,490.00
$38,429.00
Fire
36,495.00
3,765.00
40,260.00
Moth
3,900.00
1,100.00
5,000.00
Tree Warden
2,184.00
200.00
2,384.00
Forest Warden
157.50
25.00
182.50
Sealer of Weights and Measures
360.00
170.00
530.00
Inspector of Buildings
945.00
85.00
1,030.00
Inspector of Animals
180.00
180.00
Dog Officer
270.00
270.00
Constable
90.00
90.00
Care of Prisoners
100.00
100.00
Insurance
2,750.00
2,750.00
Health and Sanitation
Health
$3,094.20
$4,100.00
$7,194.20
Health Nurse
1,170.00
50.00
1,220.00
Refuse and Garbage
11,286.00
11,286.00
Health Dump
1,458.00
15.00
1,473.00
Dental Clinic
900.00
200.00
1,100.00
Sewer
5,553.00
3,800.00
9,353.00
Particular Sewers
200.00
200.00
Brooks
150.00
150.00
Emergency Sewer
750.00
750.00
District Nurse
270.00
270.00
Highways and Bridges
Highways
$35,100.00
$8,500.00
$43,600.00
Resurfacing Streets
4,000.00
4,000.00
Seal Coating
4,000.00
4,000.00
Street Construction
2,000.00
2,000.00
Sidewalks and Curbing
1,000.00
1,000.00
Street Watering and Oiling. .
1,000.00
1,000.00
Snow and Ice
6,000.00
6,000.00
Lighting Streets
24,000.00
24,000.00
Continuous Sidewalks
135.00
135.00
Charities
Public Welfare
$1,400.00
$20,000.00
$21,400.00
Pensions
4,237.28
4,237.28
Soldiers' Relief
360.00
9,800.00
10,160.00
State and Military Aid
800.00
800.00
Education
Schools
$173,608.46
$173,608.46
Traveling Expenses outside state
100.00
100.00
Library
Library
$5,715.00
$4,230.00
$9,945.00
Parks
Park
$4,616.10
$2,400.00
$7,016.10
. .
·
25
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1934]
Unclassified
Printing Town Reports
Trust Fund Custodian's bond
$980.73 50.00 17,000.000
$980.73 50.00 17,000.00
Reserve Fund
Heat and Light,
G. A. R. Hall
$486.00
270.00
756.00
Legion Lease
1,290.00
1,290.00
Memorial Day
450.00
450.00
Veterans' Exemption
75.00
75.00
Enterprises
Water
$13,640.40
$43,120.00
$56,760.40
Cemetery
4,338.00
985.00
5,323.00
Interest, Maturing Debt and Agency
Interest
$34,434.00
$34,434.00
Maturing Debt
58,050.00
58,050.00
County Assessment
4,804.70
4,804.70
Totals
$179,291.60
$472,314.57
$651,606.17
Article 15-We recommend that the sum of $1,000 be appro- priated for the purpose of foreclosure and redemption of tax titles to be expended by the Town Treasurer under direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Article 16-We recommend that the sum of $1,899.96 be appro- priated to the account of unpaid bills to cover bills remaining unpaid at the close of 1933, as follows: Board of Public Welfare $1,757.00; Park Department $114.51; Heat and Light G. A. R. Hall $12.04; Library $16.41.
Article 18-We recommend that action on this article be indefin- itely postponed.
Article 19-We recommend that action on this article be indefin- itely postponed.
Article 20-In reference to the removal of wooden blocks on Humphrey Street and resurface of same, we do not believe under present conditions this work should be undertaken. The blocks are in fairly good condition, and with a little repair by the Highway De- partment the road will give good service for some considerable time. We therefore recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article 21-As we find that most of the property owners on Pur- itan Road are opposed to this improvement we therefore recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article 22-We recommend that the sum of $1,000 be appropriat- ed to replank the surfaces of Essex Street and Danvers Road bridges, as recommended by the Surveyor of Highways.
Article 23-We recommend that action on this article be indefin- itely postponed.
Article 24-As there is a serious situation as regards the sur- face water in Cedar Hill Terrace and Bay View Avenue that must be eliminated and as part of this could be done by the unemployed, we therefore recommend that the sum of $3,500 be appropriated for the construction of a drain from the Bay View Avenue catch basins to Humphrey street.
Article 25-As this work can be done as maintenance by the Highway Department, we recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
26
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Article 26-At the present time we see no need for the purchase of two motor driven sidewalk plows and an air compressor, but we recommend that $900 be appropriated to be spent by the Surveyor of Highways for the purchase of one small dump truck with hoist.
Article 27-We recommend that the sum of $500 be appropriat- ed for the cleaning of town beaches, work to be done by the Surveyor of Highways as same may be necessary.
Article 28-We recommend that the town vote to accept Hamp- shire street as a public way as laid out by the Board of Selectmen in accordance with the plan made by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated January, 1934, and appropriate the sum of $450 therefor.
Articles 29, 30, 31, 32, 33-These articles all pertain to Swamp- scott Highlands and should be considered together. They call for the appropriation of over $79,000.00, and this appropriation would only take care of one-sixth of the whole area of the so-called Swampscott Highlands. In looking into the matter we find that there would be a probability in the near future of a demand for sewerage, and the whole project would come to well over $600,000. The plan as recom- mended by the Planning Board under the Betterment Act would be a serious thing for the residents of Swampscott Highlands; and the total undertaking being so much greater than appears from the ar- ticles in the warrant, we believe a further study should be made. We know that action must be taken in this matter, but we do not think that the time we have had at our disposal is sufficient to make recom- mendations where the town might eventually be involved in an ex- penditure nearly equal to its present bonded debt. We therefore recommend that the Moderator be authorized to appoint a committee of five to make a report at a Special Town Meeting to be called as near May 15, 1934, as possible, and that this committee be required to insert articles in the warrant for such Special Town Meeting that will enable the carrying out of their report.
Article 34-We recommend that action on this article be indefin- itely postponed.
Article 35-We find that the present drain pipes are in an old water location and there has been no trouble except once when the tidegate broke, therefore we recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article 36-We find that there is a great need for a hospital ambulance for the town. We therefore recommend that the sum of $1,750 be appropriated for the purchase of a hospital ambulance.
Article 37-We recommend the exchange of the 1930 Chevrolet police patrol car for two small roadsters, equipped with short-wave radio receiving sets, and that the sum of $1,160 be appropriated for the same as recommended by the Chief of Police.
Article 38-We believe that under present conditions the Police Department should have a teletypewriter service. We therefore rec- ommend that the sum of $350 be appropriated for the installation of a teletypewriter in the Police Station as recommended by the Chief of Police.
Article 39-We recommend that the Chief of Police be author- ized to exchange two Harley-Davidson motorcycles for one small single cylinder motorcycle and appropriate the sum of $190 therefor as recommended by the Chief of Police.
Article 40-Before any action is taken regarding the purchase of a fire engine for the Phillips Beach station, we believe that a careful study should be made to see if a fire building could not be located nearer the center of the town, thus enabling the Fire De- partment to protect the town without the purchase of additional equipment. The Fire Department has a new one thousand gallon
27
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1934]
pumper, capable of four lines of hose and with the additional water pressure from the new standpipe we believe that no further equip- ment other than a hose wagon may be needed. We therefore recom- mend that the Moderator appoint a committee of five to make a study of the fire protection of the town and report to the next Special Town Meeting.
Article 41-As the charging and battery plant of the fire alarm system is practically worn out, we recommend the appropriation of $360 to make necessary changes in the same as recommended by the Board of Fire Engineers.
Article 42-We recommend that $500 be appropriated for the purchase of rubber lined fire hose as recommended by the Board of Fire Engineers.
Article 43-We recommend that $2,100 be transferred from the Emergency Sewer Fund for the construction of a sewer at Hillcrest circle and Upland road, a distance of 425 feet.
Article 44-We recommend that the sum of $5,000 be transferred from the Water Available Surplus to the Water Emergency Fund for emergency.
Article 45-We recommend that action on this article be indefin- itely postponed.
Article 46-As the conditions at the Administration Building at Blaney Beach are very bad, both as to the physical condition of the building and the necessity of making changes in the sewers and plumbing, we recommend that the sum of $5,700 be appropriated, to be expended by the Board of Park Commissioners to make the neces- sary repairs and alterations.
Article 47-We recommend that the sum of $900 be appropri- ated for the purchase of a truck with a dump body and hoist for the use of the Park Department, as recommended by the Park Commis- sioners.
Article 48-We recommend that action on this article be indefin- itely postponed.
Article 49-We are not unmindful that some day the town must provide ample room for school athletics, but we do not believe the purchase of the land described in this article would fulfill the require- ments. We therefore recommend that action on this article be in- definitely postponed.
Article 52-We believe that the town should at some date pro- vide a suitable permanent honor roll of World War veterans, but we do not believe at the present time the town should appropriate money for this purpose. We therefore recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article 53-We recommend that action on this article be indefin- itely postponed.
Article 54-Considering the present demands that the town has by Public Welfare and Unemployment Relief, we do not believe it is an appropriate time for the expenditure of money for the celebra- tion of the Fourth of July. We therefore recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article 57-We recommend that the sum of $3,000 be transferred from Cemetery Lots Fund and Income to the account of Cemetery Improvement for the purpose of continuing work at the Cemetery.
Article 58-As this article has been taken care of in another manner we recommend that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
28
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Article 59-We recommend that action on this article be indefin- itely postponed.
JOHN H. BLODGETT, Chairman,
ANDREW B. HOLMES,
HAROLD F. MERRILL,
LELAND S. ROSS,
ANSON M. TITUS,
PAUL W. BRICKETT,
ROGER W. POPE,
ROBERT F. KIMBALL,
Finance Committee.
Voted, Article 5. To accept the report of the Finance Commit- tee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town Clerk be required to furnish a bond in the amount of $1,000.00 and the Custodian of Trust Funds be required to furn- ish a bond in the sum of $10,000.00 for the ensuing year.
Voted, Article 6. To accept the report of the Finance Commit- tee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow up to $600,000.00 from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1934, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, and to renew such notes or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws; any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1934. (Unanimous.)
Voted Article 7. To accept the report of the Finance Commit- tee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the salaries of all elected town officials for the year 1934 be the same as that of 1933.
Voted, Article 8. To accept the report of the Finance Commit- tee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That no donations be accepted from any department unless the same shall be unanimously made by all employees of that depart- ment to continue until further action by the town. Yes 57 No 46. Voted, Article 9. That action under this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted Article 10. To accept the report of the Finance Commit- tee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action under this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted under Article 11 to accept the report of the Finance Com- mittee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the item for water of $56,760.40 be taken from the esti- mated receipts of the Water Department for the current year.
Voted to take up the Budget for 1934 under Article 11 by each subdivision.
Voted, to accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations for the budget for General Government 1934 as follows:
General Government
Salaries and Wages
Others $75.00
Total $75.00
Town Meeting
Moderator
$90.00
90.00
Selectmen
2,700.00
700.00
3,400.00
Selectmen's Contingent Fund
500.00
500.00
Finance Committee
150.00
150.00
29
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1934]
Accountant
3,150.00
300.00
3,450.00
Treasurer
1,440.00
723.00
2,163.00
Certification of Notes and
Bonds
50.00
50.00
Collector of Taxes
1,537.20
2,453.00
3,990.20
Assessors
3,060.00
1,100.00
4,160.00
Town Clerk
457.20
302.40
759.60
Law
Election and Registration
2,475.00
1,435.00
3,910.00
Engineering
5,544.00
540.00
6,084.00
Town Hall
2,412.00
2,200.00
4,612.00
Board of Appeals
50.00
50.00
100.00
Planning Board
25.00
10.00
35.00
Voted, to accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as amended on the Budget for the Protec- tion of Life and Property for 1934 as follows:
That the sum of $34,538.20 be appropriated for salary and wages for Police under the budget of 1934 submitted by the Finance Com- mittee of the town instead of the sum of $33,939.00.
That the sum of $37,108.38 be appropriated for salary and wage for the Fire Department under the budget of 1934 submitted by the Finance Committee of the town instead of the sum of $36,495.00.
Protection of Life and Property
Salaries and
Police
$34,538.20
Others $4,490.00
Total $39,028.20
Fire
37,108.38
3,765.00
40,873.38
Moth
3,900.00
1,100.00
5,000.00
Tree Warden
2,184.00
200.00
2,384.00
Forest Warden
157.50
25.00
182.50
Sealer of Weights and Meas- ures
360.00
170.00
530.00
Inspector of Buildings
945.00
85.00
1,030.00
Inspector of Animals
180.00
180.00
Dog Officer
270.00
270.00
Constable
90.00
90.00
Care of Prisoners
100.00
100.00
Insurance
2,750.00
2,750.00
Voted, to accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations for the Budget of the Health and Sanitation for 1934 as follows:
Health and Sanitation 1
Salaries and
Health
Wages $3,094.20 1,170.00
Others $4,100.00 50.00
Total $7,194.20
Refuse and Garbage
11,286.00
11,286.00
Health Dump
1,458.00
15.00
1,473.00
Dental Clinic
900.00
200.00
1,100.00
Sewer
5,553.00
3,800.00
9,353.00
Particular Sewers
200.00
200.00
Brooks
150.00
150.00
Emergency
750.00
750.00
District Nurse
270.00
270.00
Voted, to accept the report of the Finance Committee and their recommendations for the budget for Highways and Bridges for 1934 as amended as follows:
1,220.00
Health Nurse
Wages
900.00
900.00
30
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
That the sum of $40,161.00 be appropriated for salaries and wages for Highways under the budget for 1934 submitted by the Finance Committee instead of the sum of $35,100.00.
Highways and Bridges
Highways
$8,500.00
$48,661.00
Resurfacing Streets
4,000.00
4,000.00
Seal Coating
4,000.00
4,000.00
Street Construction
2,000.00
2,000.00
Sidewalks and Curbing
1,000.00
1,000.00
Street watering and oiling
1,000.00
1,000.00
Snow and Ice
10,000.00
10,000.00
Lighting Streets
24,000.00
24,000.00
Continuous Sidewalks
135.00 135.00
Voted, to accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows for the 1934 Budget for Charities:
Charities
Public Welfare
Wages and Salaries $1,400.00
Others $20,000.00
Total
Pensions
4,237.28
4,237.28
Soldiers' Relief
360.00
9,800.00
10,160.00
State and Military Aid
800.00 800.00
Voted, to accept the report of the Finance Committee, and adopt their recommendations for the 1934 Budget for Schools as amended, that the sum of $16,500.00 be added to the budget of the School Committee, making the total budget $190,108.46.
Education
Schools
$190,108.46 $190,108.46
Traveling Expenses outside
state
100.00 100.00
Voted, to accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations for the budget of the Library for 1934 as follows:
Library
Library
$5,715.00 $4,230.00 $9,945.00 Voted to accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows for the Budget for the Parks for 1934.
Parks
Wages and Salaries
Others
Total
Parks
$4,616.10 $2,400.00 $7,016.10
Voted, to accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations for the Budget for Unclassified for 1934 as follows:
Unclassified
Wages and Salaries
Printing Town Reports
Trust Fund Custodian's Bond
Reserve Fund
Heat and Light G. A. R. Hall
486.00
Others $980.00 50.00 17,000.00 270.00
Total $980.00 50.00
17,000.00 756.00
Wages and Salaries $40,161.00
Others
Total'
$21,400.00
1934]
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
31
·
Legion Lease
1,290.00
1,290.00
Memorial Day
450.00 450.00
Veterans' Exemption
75.00 75.00
Voted, to accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations for the Budget for Enterprises for 1934 the item for water to be taken from the estimated receipts of the Water Department for the current year.
Enterprises
Wages and Salaries Others
Total
Water
$13,640.40 $43,120.00
$56,760.40
Cemetery
4,338.00 985.00 5,323.00
Voted, to accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations for the Budget for 1934 as follows:
Interest Maturing Debt and Agency /
Interest
$34,434.00 $34,434.00
Maturing Debt
58,050.00 58,050.00
County Assessment
4,804.70 4,804.70
Voted, Article 12. That the town will elect the Collector of Taxes and the Town Treasurer each for a term of three years be- ginning with the annual election for the year 1935. 109 voting, Yes, 74; No, 35.
Voted, Article 13. To accept and adopt Article 13 namely the following By-law.
The Collector of Taxes shall have the sole authority to collect, receive, sue for all water bills and other sums due for the supply of water service furnished by the water department, or interest under any agreement with the Water Department. Any existing By-law inconsistent with the foregoing by-law is hereby repealed. (Unan- imous.)
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