USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1940 > Part 10
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Complaints investigated
722
Defects in streets reported
34
Dog complaints investigated or reported to dog officer
Dogs reported injured by motor vehicles
18
Dogs killed by motor vehicles
14
Dogs reported missing
116
Dogs found and turned over to owner or dog officer
97
Dogs shots by police
2
Doors and windows found open and secured
228
Lights in vacant buildings investigated
14
Larceny reports $50 and over in value investigated
14
Reports unfounded
3
Larceny reports under $50 in value investigated
96
Reports unfounded
6
Messages delivered for other departments
153
Obstructions removed or lighted
22
Persons reported missing and located
26
Residences temporarily closed and special attention given
129
Robbery reports filed
0
Sale or transfer of motor vehicle notices filed
215
Sale of second-hand motor vehicles, dealers' reports filed
400
Sick persons assisted
24
Signal system:
Duty calls reported
22,768
Calls to fires
81
Calls to hospitals
120
Street lamps reported out
339
Suicides reported and investigated
2
Suicide attempts reported and investigated
2
Suspicious persons interviewed
24
Water leaks reported
11
Windows reported broken, cases investigated
45
Wires reported defective
€
Stolen Property
Amount of property reported stolen and recovered
$1145
Amount of property reported stolen and not recovered: By breaking and entering
$1260
By robbery
None
Miscellaneous larceny
$1670
Amount of property recovered for other departments
$25
Automobiles reported stolen here and recovered elsewhere
9
Automobiles stolen and not recovered
0
Automobiles recovered for other departments
4
REMARKS
Changes in Personnel
On April 1, Patrolman Samuel Hooper, a World War Veteran, was placed on the pension roll because of physical incapacitation. He served as a regular patrolman from June 6, 1924. On March 28, James H. Pedrick was appointed a permanent patrolman to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Patrolman Hooper.
Police Ambulance
During the year the necessity of a modern police ambulance for the citizens of Swampscott was called to my attention on numerous occasions. For many years the department has been without an adequate ambulance for transferring patients and injured to and
Disturbance quelled
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65
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
from hospitals. Although such work in most cases is not necessarily a duty of the police, it has been the custom for many years to per- form the work gratis as a courtesy to the citizens. The same practice is in operation in most cities and towns, and in some communities a charge is made for the service.
The present ambulance, a Ford model purchased in 1934 for the sum of $1750.00, is a suitable patrol wagon but is not an adequate ambulance. It is constructed on a truck chassis and has very little to offer a patient in the way of comfort. I recommend that the 1934 ambulance be replaced by a modern hospital ambulance.
Appreciation
I wish to thank the Board of Selectmen and all other town officials for their cooperation and assistance during the year.
Recommendations
I recommend that the 1934 police ambulance be traded for one 1941 police ambulance and that the sum of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) be appropriated for the same.
I recommend that two 1939 Plymouth sedans be traded for two 1941 two-door sedans and that the sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars ($750.00) be appropriated for the same.
Respectfully submitted,
WALTER F. REEVES, Chief of Police.
Board of Fire Engineers
To the Board of Selectmen:
The Board of Fire Engineers and the Chief of the Fire Depart- ment submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1940.
Important Notice
Co-operation of the Fire Department and the citizens is not only desirable but of invaluable assistance in the extinguishing of fires. There can be no more beneficial co-operation than the adoption by all persons who discover fires of the practice of sounding the nearest fire alarm box. The fire alarm is much quicker and registers more accurately than other means of notification. If the telephone must be used, because of the remote location of the alarm box, always dial "Operator" and then give her the location of the fire as well as the name and address. If possible, detail some one to the nearest box to pull it and direct the apparatus to fire.
Department Records
Swampscott
Box alarms
71
Still alarms
202
Lynn
19
Marblehead
14
Equipment Used
21/2 -- inch hose
11/2-inch hose
17950 feet 4250 feet
125
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS
1940]
3/4 -inch hose
22700 feet
Booster tanks
115
Indian tanks
122
Ladders used
1286
Fyre fyters
3
Hand chemicals
1
Fuses
1
Salvage covers spread Drills
21
Engine No. 1 answered
83
Engine No. 2 answered
158
Engine No. 3 answered
183
Ladder No. 1 answered
87
Service Car answered
14
Hours of duty
221 hours, 53 minutes
Automobile fires
13
Dump fires
30
Loss and Insurance Record
Value of buildings
$352,780.00
Damage to buildings
48,562.00
Insurance on buildings
399,000.00
Insurance paid on buildings
48,162.00
Loss over insurance
400.00
Value of contents
101,300.00
Damage to contents
43,485.00
Insurance on contents
88,500.00
Insurance paid on contents
26,185.00
Loss over insurance
17,300.00
Permits Issued
Oil burner power
98
Oil burner range
60
Blasting
15
Garage applications approved
54
Inspections
During the past year an inspection division was undertaken. All the mercantile, public buildings and hotels were inspected and recommendations were made, but due to lack of man power we were unable to follow up our recommendations or continue any inspections.
This is a very valuable branch of fire service and we hope in the near future to be able to undertake an efficient inspection bureau.
Drills
Fire drills were held in the several schools in conjunction with the annual Fire Prevention talks given by Mr. Luke E. Thompson. They demonstrated to our satisfaction that the pupils were well trained and a credit to the faculty that train them.
First Aid
During the past year we were able, after an invitation from the American Red Cross and the willingness of Luke E. Thompson of our department to accept it, to establish a First Aid Division in our department. Mr. Thompson, after hard study, received an instructor's rating for teaching Red Cross First Aid. He has taken care of prac- tically all our injuries and some cases from outside the department. We are happy to announce that he is available for any service the citizens may have need for. It is the intention of the National Red Cross to establish and maintain a Red Cross First Aid room in the Engine House under the supervision of Mr. Thompson, but due to
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
lack of room and funds this will have to be postponed. In conjunc- tion with his work we have installed a few new pieces of first aid equipment and as fast as room and money become available we hope in the near future to have a first aid organization of which the town will be proud.
Fire Alarm
Our fire alarm system is in good condition at present. Due to the opening of new districts of the town, laying out of new streets and the installation of new hydrants, our fire alarm system is fast losing its efficiency. Therefore, rather than delay things until a large sum of money will have to be appropriated to bring the system up to standard requirements we propose a four-year plan be put in operation to take care of said expansions or any others to come. In this program we intend to rearrange our layout so that unpro- tected areas will be covered, relocate our boxes, install new ones where needed and run such wires as are required and keep up with the growth of the town. Some of our equipment will have to be replaced from year to year due to the elements. Fire alarm boxes will have to be numbered in districts. Under this program our fire alarm can be kept in first class condition.
During the past year a direct telephone line was installed be- tween our station and Fire Alarm Headquarters of Lynn eliminating any delay in our summoning Lynn to our aid.
Due to a new pole program by the Lynn Gas & Electric Co. we were obliged to go to considerable expense in changing our wires to the new poles. This required much stock and labor, so depleted our stock of fire alarm supplies. Therefore, we feel that with the accept- ance of this program in conjunction with our regular budget we can operate the fire alarm assignment efficiently.
We ask that the sum of $4000.00 be appropriated to be used for fire alarm expansion and necessary improvements under a four-year program and divided as follows:
$1,000.00 1941
$1,000.00 1942
$1,000.00 1943
$1,000.00
1944
Buildings
The sum of $3,000.00 was appropriated at the annual Town Meeting for repairs at the Central Fire Engine House. After a long deferment the money became available and the recommended repairs began. An oil burner and hot water unit was installed as agreed. As the other work was started we found ourselves facing the usual conditions found in undertaking repairs of this type. We soon found that our appropriation was not going to be enough. We felt that under these conditions we should proceed as far as we could with the funds available. This was done, but left us with the building half done. We found ourselves facing a serious heating problem at this point. We appeared before the Finance Committee and, feeling that this would be a good time to complete the project, we requested the necessary funds to complete it. The Finance Committee recom- mended and the Town Meeting voted the sum of $1,000.00 for heating only. This was supervised by a special committee and is now being installed. The rest of the repairs are at a standstill and conditions are deplorable and will have to be finished. We make the recommen- dation that the sum of $2,500.00 be added to the Fire Department Budget Others, under the title of BUILDING REPAIRS AND MAIN- TENANCE and be used as such. Under this arrangement this project could be completed.
127
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS
1940]
Phillip's Beach
This is one of the finest buildings owned by the town and it does not seem to us that this building should be allowed to go to pieces. The last repairs made on this building were made by the W.P.A. about 7 years ago. We recommended these repairs last year but they were put off to a later date. This building is fast becoming a repair problem and we feel that, rather than let it go to pieces, it should receive immediate attention. We recommend the sum of $1,000.00 be appropriated to cover the painting and any other repairs needed.
Permanent Men
We feel at this time that more permanent men should be added to the Fire Department. Our town is known as a bed-room town (resi- dential). This makes it impossible for us to maintain our Call-Man Force up to its peak. Our modern apparatus and equipment are use- less unless you have men to operate them. We need men when we arrive at fires and have in the past found ourselves at some great disadvantages due to this fact. Our Call Force, due to conditions over which we have no control, is practically useless unless the fire is of such magnitude or after working hours so that they have time to arrive. This condition should be remedied. We have sixteen perma- nent men as follows: 1 Chief, 1 Deputy-Chief, 2 Captains, and 12 Privates (8 men on a shift), divided as follows: 2 men at Phillip's Beach, 6 men at Central Fire Engine House. It is almost impossible for 2 men to put any piece of apparatus to work outside of incipient fires. This condition occurred at a recent fire.
We feel that 2 men should be added to Engine No. 2, Phillip's Beach, one on each shift, making 3 men on a shift. This would make this machine servicable. The Central Fire Engine House presents the same problem: that is, 5 men operate 3 pieces of apparatus under normal conditions.
During woods fire seasons, dump fires, and sickness, these pieces have only one man and at times we have to leave one in quarters due to no operators. We feel that 4 men should be added to this assignment putting 3 men on each piece at all times. This, in conjunction with our off shift, would enable us to put our machines to work efficiently.
Whistle
We are facing a serious problem with our whistle equipment. This is twenty years old and after yearly inspections by State officials we find our poundage at such a low pressure that it is getting useless.
These tanks are beyond repair as they do not meet State require- ments. They cannot stay at the Town Hall due to life hazards. They will have to be removed and relocated, and a suitable building erected to house them, all of which will mean the expenditure of at least $10,000.00. This should be taken into consideration in regards to placing more men on the Department. This would enable us to elimi- nate the whistle. This whistle is maintained for our Call Force and at present we get only 1 or 2 men during the day time, and at night time, holidays and after working hours, 1 or 2 more, after some delay. It costs us $2,600.00 to maintain this Call Force and, for what we get out of it, we feel, along with the whistle problem, that more permanent men would solve these problems.
We recommend that 6 permanent men be added to the Fire De- partment, namely, 2 at Phillip's Beach and 4 at Central Fire Engine House and the sum of $10,000.00 be appropriated for the same.
Apparatus
We have one 1000-gallon pump, one 600-gallon pump, and one 350-gallon pump, which was installed on an old 1932 chassis and is
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
known as Engine No. 3, one ladder truck (26 years old), one fire alarm truck (new) and one chief's car. This equipment is in good condition at present but at the enormous sum of nearly $2,000.00 to keep it so. Due to numerous runs to the Windsor Avenue dump in this and past years, we ran into a continuous repair problem, and as long as this dump condition continues we will always have this repair problem. Our own mechanic, with the aid of the men, has made some fine improvements and has installed a number of useful pieces of equipment at practically no expense to the town, among the out- standing are the new 11/2-inch hose hook-ups on all engines, tem- porary flood lights, life-preservers, first aid equipment and many others.
Engine No. 3, so called, is a Chevrolet 1932 truck. Each year more equipment has been added to it, so that now with its 350-gallon pump, installed this year, we find it is overloaded to such a degree that it is not dependable and requires constant repairs. This is an indispensible piece of apparatus and answers practically every alarm in town. We feel that rather than continue to make repairs on this machine, along with the fact that it is eight years old, it should be replaced by a heavier chassis. We therefore recommend that the sum of $2,000.00 be appropriated to purchase a truck suitable to the Chief of the Fire Department.
C. H. LAMPARD,
Chief of Department.
Approved :
FRANK E. BESSOM, Chairman, THOMAS J. MINTON, ALBERT C. WHIPPLE, Board of Fire Engineers.
Board of Health
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
The Board of Health herewith submits the following report for the year ending December 31, 1940, together with those of its vari- ous officers.
The citizens of Swampscott have enjoyed a very healthy year, from a public health standpoint, although the number of communica- ble diseases reported are somewhat larger than last year.
The reports of measles and whooping cough were substantially higher than during the previous year. The records of the depart- ment show that, while surrounding communities have experienced decided increases in the number of scarlet fever cases reported, there were 7 less cases reported here this year than during the year 1939.
Six cases of pulmonary tuberculosis and 1 case of other forms have been reported during the past year. One death has occurred. Seven resident cases and 1 non-resident case, having a settlement in this town, were admitted to sanatoriums for treatment, as follows: 6 to the Essex Sanatorium, 1 to Lakeville and 1 to the Veterans' Hospital at Rutland Heights, Mass. Seven patients have been dis- charged from the sanatoriums and there are 3 patients now receiv- ing treatment at the expense of this department.
In cooperation with the State Department of Public Health a reclassification was made of all cases being carried on the records of
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REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
1940]
that department. Of the 84 cases on their records, 39 were removed after the initial checkup because of death, removal from Swamp- scott or they were unlocated cases. As a result of the initial checkup 45 cases were left for reclassification. It was not necessary to visit 32 of the cases as 11 were in sanatoriums and X-rays of the other 21 were available for review. Of the group that had X-rays avail- able, 11 were retained on the Active List, 3 were placed on the In- active List, 5 were referred to the Essex Sanatorium School Clinic and 2 were referred for contact-observation. Home visits were made in 13 cases, of whom 8 came to the clinic for examination and X-ray while 5 refused to appear. Of the group examined 2 were retained on the Active List, 5 were placed on the Inactive List and 1 was referred for contact-observation. After a review of our histories of the 5 cases who refused to appear at the clinic, 4 were placed on the Inactive List and 1 retained on the Active List. A summary of the work shows that of the 45 cases referred for reclassification, 25 were retained on the Active List for periodic visits by our nurse as well as periodic checkups at the sanatorium out-patient clinics; 12 were placed on the Inactive List and will no longer need routine nursing visits, etc., 5 were referred to the annual school clinic for routine checkup and 3 were referred for contact-observation by our nurse. As the result of the reduction in the list of active cases it will now be possible to give more time and attention to the active group and their families.
Forty-eight residents and 18 non-residents have been bitten by dogs during the past year. Anti-rabic treatment was necessary in one case because the person bitten was unable to obtain the name of the owner or the license number of the dog and it was impossible to locate the dog. One hundred fifty-nine dogs were inoculated against rabies and reports were received from one hundred twenty- seven owners that their dogs had been privately inoculated.
Dental and Pre-School examinations have been made during the year. Two hundred nineteen pupils in the ninth and eleventh grades of the parochial and public schools were given the Von Pirquet test for tuberculosis under the supervision of Dr. McHugh of the Essex Sanatorium. Twenty-nine of those tested showed a positive reaction to the test and were accordingly X-rayed. Twenty-seven of those X-rayed were negative and two were referred to the Observation Group for the annual checkup by the clinic. Two children were dis- charged from the Observation Group.
Complaints of mosquitoes were reduced to a minimum this year because we were provided with funds that made it possible to proceed with the ditching, draining and oiling of all known breeding places in time to prevent the hatching of the larvae or cause the killing thereof as soon as they emerged from the eggs. At this time we wish to express our appreciation of the assistance and work of Frederick Burk in making the elimination of the pests successful.
Major complaints received during the past year were those relating to the nuisance and source of filth in the rear of 416 Puritan Road and adjacent property, the operation of the Lynn Sand & Stone Co. plant, the Windsor Avenue dump and that of the State Com- missioner of Public Health relative to the manner in which we are disposing of our sewage and the operation of our sewer receiving basin.
The $6,000 that was appropriated at the Special Town Meeting held on November 18, 1940. for the construction of a sewer and surface water drain from Hemenway Road to the rear of the lots on Puritan Road from a noint opposite Littles Point Road, will now make it possible to eliminate the conditions that have caused the nuisance.
130
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
On September 16, 1940, the following communication was re- ceived from the Board of Selectmen relative to the controversy between the residents of upper Swampscott and the Lynn Sand & Stone Co .:
September 13,1940
Board of Health Town Hall Swampscott, Mass.
Gentlemen:
At a meeting of the Board of Selectmen held on September 12, 1940, the Town Counsel called to the attention of the Board, in regard to the controversy between the residents of upper Swamp- scott and the Lynn Sand & Stone Company, the provisions of the General Laws, Chapter 111, Section 143, as amended by Chapter 269, Section 2 of the Acts of 1933, which provides in substance that the Board of Health may assign certain places in the town for the exercise of any trade or occupation which is a nuisance or injury to property, or a danger to public health. This section of our laws further pro- vides that the Board of Health is authorized to prohibit the exercise of such trade within the limits of the town, or in places not assigned by them.
The Town Counsel pointed out to the Board that there have been cases wherein the court has decided that nuisance existed from noise alone, especially when the noise occurred during the hours when people were trying to sleep, and upon proper proceedings being brought the court would decree suitable relief providing, of course, that a nuisance was established.
The Board, therefore, voted to call these provisions of the Gen- eral Laws to the attention of the Board of Health and to request that you take, immediately, such action as might be proper and necessary in the controversy referred to.
The Board of Selectmen is going to continue on its own investi- gation in the matter and suggests to the Board of Health that the investigations might be carried on together, and within the next few days.
The Board shall appreciate your courtesy in submitting a writ- ten report on these matters at next week's meeting.
Very truly yours, BOARD OF SELECTMEN, John S. McKenney, Secretary.
The Board made an investigation of the conditions complained of and after due consideration thereof submitted their findings, in writing, to the Board of Selectmen, as follows:
October 3, 1940
Board of Selectmen Swampscott, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
The Board of Health begs to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of September 27, 1940, and report that after investigation and due consideration it is their opinion that the operation of the Lynn Sand & Stone Company plant is not dangerous to the public health and is not a nuisance within the meaning of the law.
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REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
1940]
If the complainants differ with the opinion of the Board then they are at liberty to seek relief through the Superior Court.
Very truly yours,
CLARENCE W. HORTON,
Health Officer.
The disposition of rubbish and waste material, by dumping, has always been a bone of contention and cause of complaints and there is every indication that it will continue to be a problem for many years to come. The members of this Board are personally opposed to public or private dumps but they are necessary in order that the private citizen as well as builders, contractors, garages, hotels, stores and various others may dispose of the large amounts of rubbish and other waste material that collects and must be disposed of after the weekly collections have been made.
Conditions at the Windsor Avenue dump are no different than have existed in other sections of the town where dumps have been maintained. Fires are bound to occur. There is nothing more annoy- ing or disagreeable than the stench that is caused by the smoke from a dump fire and we believe that our citizens are justified in their complaints but we are not provided with equipment for putting out fires. All we can do is report the existence of a fire to the Fire De- partment. At the present time the weekly collections of our ashes, garbage, paper, rubbish and other waste materials are disposed of outside the limits of our town through the good graces and tolerance of the citizens and officials of other communities. To date the arrangement has been highly satisfactory from our standpoint but we wonder if our citizens have ever thought of what might happen if the officials of those communities should feel that they no longer wanted the refuse and waste material of the Town of Swampscott and decided to prohibit its transportation through the streets of their community. Should such a situation occur we will be faced with the problem of disposing of the materials within our own boundaries. We call attention to the fact that the Board of Health caused an article to be inserted in the warrant for the annual town meeting of February 23, 1932, to see if the town would vote to install an incinerator for the disposal of its combustible waste material and offal from the fish markets, hotels, etc., and appropriate money for the same but the town meeting members voted to adopt the recommendations of the Finance Committee and action on the article was indefinitely postponed. We still believe that the method of dis- posing of our rubbish and waste material is one that should be de- cided by the citizens. therefore, we are recommending that the follow- ing article be inserted in the warrant for the annual town meeting:
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