USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1941 > Part 10
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Plumbing permits issued
112
Installations approved 114
The sum of $314.00 has been collected for the plumbing per- mits issued during the year and said amount has been paid to the Collector and his receipt obtained.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD C. PHILLIPS,
Plumbing Inspector.
Prophylaxis 306
125
REPORT OF PLANNING BOARD
1941]
Town Counsel's Report
To the Board of Selectmen:
The following is my report as Town Counsel for the year 1941.
Numerous opinions and interpretations of Law have been given to persons in official capacities in the Town during the year on mat- ters relating to authority and duty under the Law.
Pleadings were prepared and filed in Court in connection with suits brought against the Town, and all claims presented to me were investigated and reported upon to you.
Trials in Court were had on several appeals from decisions of the Board of Appeals of Swampscott, on matters relating to Zoning.
Suits were started and entered in Court in behalf of several de- partments of the Town for claims against certain persons who were allegedly indebted to the Town.
Hearings were attended before your Board on various matters, and one hearing before the Alcoholic Beverages Commission, in Bos- ton, on an appeal from your refusal to grant a license to dispense wines and malt beverages.
Deeds, contracts and other legal documents have been prepared and approved in connection with the activities of Town Boards, De- partments and Committees.
Changes in the Laws of the Commonwealth in recent years re- lating to authority and duties of certain Boards and Departments, and to procedure to be followed by them under the Law, necessitate a study of all of the By-Laws, and rules and regulations now in effect in the Town of Swampscott, and such amendments made as are necessary; I so recommend.
Respectfully submitted,
LESTER B. MORLEY, Tawn Counsel.
Planning Board
To the Citizens of the Town of Swampscott:
The Planning Board during the year held six hearings as re- quired by law, on plans submitted for proposed land developments, and gave their approval to such of those as conformed to the by- laws of the Town and rules and regulations.
Zoning
Due to conditions existing at the present time the Board feels that they should not ask the Town for money to carry on the check- ing of the Zoning By-Laws and Building By-Laws and consequently will not publish the new book containing all the amendments to the same.
126
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
During the past year we appproved the plans for the Com- minutor Station which was built by the Sewer Department at their Station on Humphrey Street.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES R. MADDOCK, Chairman, GEORGE J. NICHOLS, Secretary, THOMAS W. DUNCAN, ALFRED L. RICHARDS,
ARTHUR McGOVERN,
Planning Board.
Public Welfare Visitor
I herewith submit my annual report as Investigator and Visitor for the Board of Public Welfare and Bureau of Old Age Assistance.
Our Old Age Assistance figures this year show a total of 191 cases who received this assistance. On December 31, 1941 there were 162 actually on our rolls.
Because this year has been a war boom period, many Old Age Assistance cases have needed reinvestigation as the children of many of them are now engaged in defense work. The result of these inves- tigations showed that some of the children were able to take more financial responsibility in the care of their parents. In some in- stances we were able to remove recipients entirely from our rolls and in other cases it was necessary to make reductions in individual allotments. These investigations were made at the request of the State Department of Public Welfare and entailed a great deal of extra work on my part but saved many extra dollars in our depart- mental expenses.
Most of the needy persons now on our Welfare rolls are chronic invalids, aliens or persons too old to obtain employment even on the W. P. A.
We have had sixteen Aid to Dependent Children cases, that is mothers with dependent children under 18 years of age who have no other means of support. In accordance with the law I have to make quarterly visits on these families as well as those on general relief.
Because of the passage of the Selective Service Law and pres- ent war conditions Civilian Conservation Corps enrollments have dropped to the vanishing point.
This year as in former years, I have received the fullest co- operation from the Swampscott Family Welfare and the Visiting Nurse, Miss Sylvia K. Chesley, in addition to all other charitable organizations in the town, and at this time wish to extend my thanks and appreciation.
DONALD REDFERN,
Visitor.
127
REPORT OF BUILDING INSPECTOR
1941]
Building Inspector
To the Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen: I herewith submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1941.
Permits Issued
Estimated Cost
Dwellings
New
30
$177,200.00
Alterations and Additions
36
58,715.00
Private Garages
New
41
24,125.00
Alterations and Additions
2
2,750.00
Town Buildings
Sewer Comminutor
1
5,600.00
Miscellaneous
Playhouse
1
4,500.00
Greenhouse _
1
225.00
Camp
1
1,250.00
Fog Eliminator House
1
1,000.00
Waiting Room
1
750.00
Library
1
2,600.00
Demolish Dwellings
4
Demolish Sheds
2
Building Permits
122
Permits to. shingle
49
171
No. of Inspections (buildings)
312
No. of Inspections (shingling)
49
361
$148.00
Elevator operators Licenses issued New
1
1.00
Renewals
5
2.50
$151.50
All hotels and elevators have been inspected and returns made to the State. Several complaints of violations of the building laws have been investigated and in all cases adjustments made.
Frequent examinations were made of buildings in course of construction and repair.
Respectfully submitted,
RAYMOND O. DOANE,
Building Inspector.
122
$278,715.00
Amount of building fees collected
128
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
School Committee, 1941
Marion D. Morse, Chairman
7 Millett Road
Edgar U. Burdett
LYnn 2-3853
Bernard F. Carey
LYnn 3-3696
79 Banks Road
Amos E. Russell
LYnn 5-0597
66 Kensington Lane
LYnn 3-6464
Regular meeting, second Wednesday of each month.
Superintendent of Schools and Secretary of the School Committee
Frank L. Mansur
88 Banks Road
LYnn 3-2193
The office of the Superintendent of Schools is open on school days from 8.00 A.M. to 4.00 P.M .; Saturdays from 9.00 A.M. to 12.00 M.
School Calendar 1942
Winter term begins Monday, January 5
Winter term closes Friday, February 20
Spring term begins Monday, March 2
Spring term closes Friday, April 17
Summer term begins Monday, April 27
High School Graduation Friday, June 12
Fall term begins Wednesday, September 9
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
The School Committee submits the following report for the year 1941:
In order to conform with the selectmen's request to "stream- line" reports for the sake of economy, we refer you to the superin- tendent's record for information concerning the school's finances, buildings, and educational program.
During the past year the trend in education has been to place greater emphasis on vocational training with the aim of fitting our youth for their very important place in the defense program. From the superintendent's report you will see that we have tried to make progress in this direction.
Now the all-important interest is in the school's policy in re- gard to the great emergency we are facing. Even before war was declared and before we had the emergency "alert," plans were be-
ing discussed for the protection of the children. As definite steps as possible were taken with what meager information was avail- able. Although the tempo was necessarily slow, these were steps in the right direction.
LYnn 2-2203
56 Elmwood Road
63 Orchard Road
Ralph N. Murray
1941]
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
129
Now we are working in conjunction with the state department and the local defense board and will cooperate to the fullest extent. In matters to be decided locally in connection with the individual schools, we shall rely on the guidance and judgment of the school department heads-judgment born of long years of experience with children-and a knowledge of the school buildings and equipment. This will assure a safe and sane procedure. It is a tremendous re- sponsibility and we are fortunate indeed in having as superintendent, a man of clear vision, in whose hands lies the safety of your children and ours during school hours.
Our policy has been and will be:
1st: To see that the children are as physically safe as is pos- sible.
2nd: To maintain the highest possible standard of morale.
3rd: To have the childrens' education continue with as little interruption as is possible, and to keep it at the same high level it has previously attained.
We place these aims in this order deliberately for a child can- not develop normally nor study intelligently, unless he feels phys- ically secure and mentally calm.
We make these plans with the earnest hope that the emergency for which they are a preparation will never occur. We hope in the handling of our defense program to bring to the children of the Swampscott Schools a realization of what it means to live in a de- mocracy. Our democracy is in peril. Let us not forget "the school is the chief instrumentality set up in America for the training of our citizens, for developing and maintaining thoughtful patriotism and for handing down the traditions of our American way of life to future generations."
Respectfully submitted, -
MARION D. MORSE,
Chairman,
EDGAR U. BURDETT,
BERNARD F. CAREY,
RALPH N. MURRAY, AMOS. E. RUSSELL.
FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
$199,400.00
Appropriation Expenditures
General Control
$7,051.07
Instructional Service
156,797.66
Operation of Plants
26,238.24
Maintenance
4,081.38
Capital Outlay
190.25
Auxiliary Agencies
4,257.11
Adult Alien Education
772.04
199,387.75
Unexpended balance
$12.25
130
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Credits to the Department
General Receipts
$148.43
Tuition Received-General 1,176.22
Tuition, State Department Public Welfare 398.51
State Refund, Adult Alien Education 360.00
State Refund, Trade and Vocational Schools 236.02
State Refund, General School Fund 15,155.80
$17,474.98
Net Cost of Schools
$181,912.77
To the School Committee of the Town of Swampscott Mrs. Morse, and Gentlemen:
The perspective for viewing the accomplishments of the year now closing is so warped by the magnitude of the happenings in the present month, that one must pause to re-establish events in their proper places and proportion in reviewing the work of the year.
The entire period has, of course, been colored by world events. Much of our teaching has been directed towards a better under- standing of the tenets and ideals of Democracy. School assemblies have stressed our faith in our own American institutions. The High School program on "Bill of Rights" Day was well worked out and most impressive. We have paid special attention, partic- ularly in classes considering current events and international trends, to relations with our South American neighbors in order to clarify the mutual interests and obligations between these nations and ourselves.
Meanwhile, we have striven to maintain our scholastic ideals and to refine our instructional procedures. Such processes are sel- dom spectacular, and I daresay that the lay mind would see little change of external form.
Curriculum
However, we did give several months last winter and early spring to the matter of language in the elementary grades, examin- ing new thought in the field of language teaching, acquainting our- selves with radical tendencies in methods as well as with the con- servative, and ended by examining in detail some ten of the latest pupils' text books in the subject. It was an interesting outcome at the end of the process, that, with all teachers of grades three through six participating, when we came to make a selection of a text to recommend to you for adoption, our choice was unanimous on a new and refreshing publication. I have never known a unan- imous choice to be made before with so many teachers participating. The text, moreover, is neither radical nor retroactive, but it is a great improvement over what we had been using. It is thoroughly modern and completely sound.
Speech Correction
During the year we have employed Miss Anne Linscott one day a week assisting pupils with speech defects. Strangelv enough this field of corrective work has always been neglected until recent-
131
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1941]
ly. For years we have given great attention to defective vision, hearing, and other bodily defects. There is no reason why oral defects should not receive the same attention. Certainly handicaps in this direction are as obvious and embarrassing, and probably cause quite as much mental anguish to sensitive sufferers, as do those that have previously received all our efforts.
At the present time thirty-six pupils are receiving this atten- tion, all at the Junior High School. Their difficulties consist of such defects as mumbled speech, lisping, stuttering, spastic speech, and muscular tongue weakness. You will grant, I think, that thirty-six is a large number to work with in one day, when each is a special case. I recommend that Miss Linscott's time be increased.
Music
Our work in instrumental music is advancing. In this field your committee has approved a plan of class lessons held Saturday mornings under the supervision of our Director of Instrumental Music. The plan is in all details similar to that in operation in several other nearby communities, and has been a real stimulant to the growth in numbers of pupils who are learning to play instru- ments. It should ultimately prove itself in the growth and accom- plishments of our musical organizations, although these are already in a healthy state of development.
Some fifty children are now taking lessons in these classes on nine different musical instruments. It is not the purpose of the classes to carry these pupils to advanced accomplishment, but to determine their aptitudes and interests. They are urged, for best results to themselves, to transfer to a private teacher as early as possible.
Adult Education
Adult alien education, as conducted by the school department under state support, has shown a distinct tendency to drop off. We attribute this to the increase in employment demands. and the number of people working nights. We offered classes at the High School early in the fall, and too few people enrolled to warrant operating them. Even those classes at the Machon School have decreased about twenty per cent from last year. Consequently we have discontinued one group. This does not indicate any slackening desire on the part of these people to acquire citizenship. The hours that Mrs. Gilles, our director of that branch of instruction, has to. give to this part of her work far exceed those required for class- room teaching, and the results show in the number of persons that she has finally assisted to their goal of full citizenship.
Radio
Under a committee of teachers with Mr. John Mclaughlin of of the High School as chairman, our schools are broadcasting pro- grams every other week over a neighboring station in Salem. These programs have touched on innumerable subjects - patriotic, economic, political, musical, literary, what not! Early in January a group from the High School will participate in a broadcast under the auspices of the State Department of Education.
132
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Surplus Foods
We have sought to make what use we can of the foods available for free distribution in our school lunches through the federal Sur- plus Food Administration. We have approached this service con- servatively in order not to upset the self-supporting feature of our lunch programs. Our lunch rooms have been self-supporting over a long period, and are still on that basis. Obviously these lunch programs must go on when the free surplus foods are no longer available. Our policy, therefore, has been to utilize only such products as can be added to our regular menus as extras rather than as replacements for ordinary items. It is not the intent that these surplus products should decrease in any way our regular purchasing of commodities in market, and we have tried strictly to adhere to this policy. We have consistently considered our ac- ceptance of items on this basis.
Physical Examinations
By vote of your committee several years ago, all teachers com- ing into the system are required to submit a certificate of physical well-being before entering into employment, and to undergo a phys- ical examination by school physicians each year thereafter while in our service. This year such examinations have been extended to include the janitorial staff.
Janitorial Changes
Retirement and death during the twelve months have affected our schools more directly and seriously than at any time within the last ten years. In August Mr. Harold Wheeler, janitor at the Stanley School since it was opened in 1929, passed away suddenly. Though known to have been in ill health for some time, his con- dition until close to the end was not known to be critical. Mr. Wheeler had been throughout his service a loyal and efficient cus- todian, respected by teachers and pupils alike, and his death was a shock to us all.
On December first, Mr. Herbert Wood of the Junior High School retired voluntarily under pension. Mr. Wood had been for better than fifteen years head janitor of his building, and his faith- fulness to his duties had many times been a matter of comment. The long hours necessary for proper attention to his work never found him other than cheerfully on his job, earnestly attentive to duties that are especially difficult in this building.
On November 25th Mr. Simeon Strong accepted compulsory re- tirement under the state retirement requirements. Janitor in his building for more than twenty years, Mr. Strong had become an institution in his district. His neatly kept building had been a matter of personal pride with him, and indeed with the neighbor- hood. Always calm, agreeable and efficient, never intruding but ever firm, he stood as an example of what was upright and honor- able to all who came in contact with him, while a full generation of children passed under his guidance and control. He has left his mark of fine manhood on them all. By a thoughtless action of the town years back, he has been placed in a position where his pension is much less than it should and otherwise would have been. It is my understanding that a movement is on foot to correct this
133
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1941]
unforeseen injustice. I trust that the town may as a whole support the movement if it comes to pass.
With these changes the promotion policy of your committee has been put into effect. Janitors who have proven themselves effective and capable have been regularly advanced to better paying positions, and new assistants have been elected to begin their climb up the ladder.
Mr. Thomas Bailey, assistant at the High School, succeeded Mr. Wheeler at the Stanley School in mid-summer.
Mr. Frank Coletti has gone successively from the High to the Clarke Schools, and now is head at the Junior High School.
Mr. Emery Doane has gone from assistant at the Junior High to the High School, and thence to custodian at the Clarke.
Mr. Henry Callahan, elected assistant at the Junior High in the summer, is now in charge of the Machon School.
Mr. Michael Pagnotta and Mr. Wendell Jones, elected during the fall, are the Present assistants at the Senior High and Junior High Schools respectively.
Salaries
An increase in salary has been forthcoming for many town em- ployees. Our janitors are as industrious and efficient. Their hours are as long, or longer. They carry heavy responsibilities. Their present salaries do not represent adequate adjustment to living costs. It is my belief that only the lack of a town meeting quorum defeated your efforts to correct their condition last fall, and I am happy that your committee has indicated its intention of pursuing the matter to its end.
Changes in Teaching Force
Of our teaching force, Miss Edith Farnum, a grade school teacher since 1898 passed away suddenly in February. Miss Far- num was one of our long service teachers who had devoted her life to the interests of children and her community. Her philosophy was that of cheerful giving of her generous inner self and her limited means.
In April Miss Rosemary LeClair, building assistant at the Hadley School resigned to be married.
During the summer Miss Hazel Dullea, of the Stanley School, Miss Evilena Snider of the Clarke School, Miss Marjory Kiernan of the Clarke School, and Miss Mary Evans of the High School all resigned to be married. As of January first Miss Geraldine Minton leaves us for the same reason.
Miss Margaret Durgin, returning after a long leave due to illness, succeeds Miss Dullea, and Miss Dorothea Paulson and Miss Mary Santry, assistants, take over regular classrooms to succeed Miss Snider and Miss Farnum respectively.
Miss Eileen Soper, a graduate of Middlebury and Columbia, has succeeded Miss Evans.
134
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Miss Marjorie Chamberlain, a graduate of Worcester State Teachers College, succeeds Miss Kiernan.
In September because of fewer pupils we discontinued the ser- vices of Miss Grace Young, teaching part-time in the Junior High School, but she is now appointed to the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Miss Minton.
Miss Margaret Forbes, a graduate of our own schools and of Salem Teachers College, and Miss Christine Zahr, formerly a teach- er in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, have been elected building assist- ants.
Financial
From year to. year, it seems that the concern we have constantly with us is financial, but the present year has required more atten- tion, and more rearrangements of our budgetary allotments, than any for some time past. Our original budget was submitted at $200,628, but previous to Town Meeting this sum was voluntarily reduced by your committee to. $199,700 in anticipation of changes in the teaching force that might result in some reduction in ex- penses. On top of this, Town Meeting action lopped off $500 on the theory that the cost of coal could be reduced, in spite of the fact that this department has no control over coal prices because the town's contract is let by the Board of Selectmen, and in the face of the fact that by the time the Town Meeting acted at least half of the year's supply was in our bins in the natural course of our requirements. This left us with a deficit by April first of about $1400.
Suddenly we encountered unforeseen repair items. Dormer windows at the Clarke School went to pieces, rigging on the stage at the High School became dangerously loosened, roofs became defective and a boiler began to leak, until shortly those items, which could not be neglected, had mounted to a thousand dollars or more. We consulted the Finance Committee, who admitted the difficulty of our situation, transferred $200 to aid us, and recommended to a Town Meeting a sum sufficient to meet the emergencies. That Town Meeting never materialized due to a lack of quorum, and we were left "holding the bag." Without detailing all the steps taken, by reassignment of funds, curtailing here and there, omitting matters that had been planned, we have been able to come through the year with no deficit.
Repairs
I recommend for major repair items next year:
Exterior painting at the Hadley School (postponed from 1941). Further attention to waterproofing exterior walls not yet treated.
Improvement of the heating system at the Hadley Junior High School. (This is an outmoded one-pipe steam system, so set up as to fail to free itself of air pockets and water and to waste much water by expelling it rather than returning it properly to the boiler, with a resultant low return in heat for coal and labor ex- pended.)
Continuation of the program of redecorating the interior of the Stanley School (curtailed last year.)
135
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1941]
Painting of stairwells at the Machon School.
Painting of a portion of the Junior High School basement. Painting of one or more rooms at the Clarke School.
I recommend, further, that a trial be given in one building to a device known as the "Firemaster," reliably reported to save coal and to secure evener and higher night temperatures in buildings by assuring more perfect fuel combustion.
Defense
The later weeks of the year have been devoted to matters deal- ing with defense work. We have made what plans are within our power for the protection of children in case of air raids, and the details are at this moment reasonably well worked out in each building. Several teachers and janitors have qualified as air raid wardens and will serve in that capacity in our buildings during the day or in their districts at night. One of our teachers is an in- structor in this field. Several others have completed the regulation first aid courses under the Red Cross. One or more classes of teachers in this branch of service are to begin in January. One teacher at the High School has organized about sixty girls in knit- ting groups. Another is instructing adult classes in nutrition and canteen. Defense stamps are on sale in all schools and our sales have exceeded the $175 mark weekly since we began to sell. We have high school boys, girls, and teachers on the rolls of the air raid watch now functioning day and night. One man teacher is on the advisory draft board. Our buildings have provided quarters for three air raid wardens and groups and the radio class, drill quarters for the newly formed unit of the State Guard, a report center for one district of air raid wardens, and we are to house the canteen groups that are about to open. With your approval I have offered to the authorities the facilities of our buildings and the ser- vices of our employees for the registration of civilian man-power soon to come. During the past month at our Junior High School pu- pils have collected some ten tons of newspapers alone to help in the paper stock shortage. Forty-one of our recent high school students are known to be with the armed forces.
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