Town annual report of Swampscott 1942, Part 7

Author: Swampscott, Massachusetts
Publication date: 1942
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 206


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Program for Future Activities


These same Military requirements are handicapping the Board in the consideration of its long term plans. These plans, although temporarily delayed, are none the less in the opinion of the Board of prime importance.


The main points requiring consideration and which have already been called to the attention of the Town are:


(1) The development of a Master Plan such as is now available in many Towns.


(2) Revision of the zoning by-laws and the extension of re-zoning already completed in Districts 3 and 2B to other Districts of the Town.


(3) Long term planning as exemplified in the neighboring Town of Winchester and other communities throughout the country.


The Board believes the development of the Plans outlined al- though entailing some initial expense will in the final analysis show gratifying results.


The Board would welcome any constructive information and sug- gestions relative to such a Program.


Yours truly,


JAMES R. MADDOCK, Chairman, GEORGE J. NICHOLS, Secretary, THOMAS W. DUNCAN, ALFRED L. RICHARDS, ARTHUR McGOVERN,


The Planning Board.


73


BUILDING INSPECTOR


1942]


Building Inspector


To the Board of Selectmen: Gentlemen:


I herewith submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1942.


Permits Issued


Estimated Cost


Dwellings


New


7


$44,000.00


Alterations and Additions


22


8,585.00


Private Garages


New


11


5,950.00


Alterations and Additions


1


400.00


Miscellaneous


Greenhouse


1


5,000.00


Church (alterations)


1


2,000.00


Demolish Dwelling


1


Move Garage


1


Building Permits


45


Permits to Shingle


41


No. of Inspections (buildings)


64


No. of Inspections (shingling)


41


105


$48.00


Elevator operators' fees issued New


2


2.00


Renewals


4


2.00


$52.00


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 con- struction and repair.


Respectfully submitted,


RAYMOND O. DOANE, Building Inspector.


Board of Appeals


January 1, 1943


Board of Selectmen


Town Hall


Swampscott, Mass.


Gentlemen:


The Board of Appeals submits herewith its report for the year 1942. On January 19, 1942, a special meeting of the Board was held. Following are the minutes of that meeting.


RECORD OF SPECIAL MEETING It is with deep regret that the lamented death, this day,


45


$65,935.00


86


Amount of building fees collected


74


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


of our esteemed fellow member, Charles V. Easterbrooks, is recorded. Our association with him in the exercise of our duties on this Board has been an inspiration, in that he always acted in his official capacity fairly, with justice, and without bias and to the best dictates of his own judgment and conscience. In his passing the Town of Swampscott has lost the services of an honest and loyal official and citizen.


(Signed) CONRAD P. RICHARDSON, Chairman


C. GLOVER BOWES


A true record.


Attest: M. Dorothy Richardson, Clerk.


At a special meeting of the Board of Selectmen held January 27, 1942, Mr. Charles A. Easterbrooks was unanimously appointed a member of the Board of Appeals to serve the unexpired term of his father, the late Charles V. Easterbrooks.


All records of appeals heard by this Board during the past eight years have been indexed and filed and are now adequately stored in a suitable filing cabinet. The loose leaf record book has been brought up to date.


No appeals have been taken to this Board during the period covered by this report.


Respectfully submitted,


CONRAD P. RICHARDSON, C. GLOVER BOWES, CHARLES A. EASTERBROOKS, Board of Appeals.


Surveyor of Highways


-


To the Citizens of Swampscott:


I herewith submit my annual report for the year 1942.


All tar, hay, grain, gasoline, road oil, sand and gravel was bought under contract.


The patching material used for the maintenance of our streets and sidewalks was mixed by our own department using liquid tar, sand and crushed stone. Asphalt was not used this year as the government has frozen same for the duration of the war.


The following streets were sealcoated this year by spraying hot tar and covering same with sand: Bristol and Eastman Avenues, Hillcrest Circle, Maple, Plymouth and Railroad Avenues and Upland Road.


Sidewalks repaired were those on Burrill, Hampden, Humphrey and Redington Streets and Elmwood and Farragut Roads.


The ladies of the Swampsott Garden Club were in charge of the various ragweed stations which were in operation during July 13th through July 15th. These were located at MacArthur Circle, Swamp- scott Depot, Jackson Park, Phillips Park, Phillips Beach Fire House, 200 Paradise Road, and on Salem Street at the Tedesco Country Club. The Highway Department collected this ragweed and destroyed it.


On Plymouth Avenue the street and sidewalks were put to grade and resurfaced. The following material was used: 104 tons tar mix,


75


SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS


1942]


196 cubic yards of bank gravel, 134 tons stone dust, 80 cubic yards of sand and 800 gallons tar T 4.


On Walnut Road the sidewalks and street were put to grade and resurfaced using the following material: 99 tons of tar mix, 500 gallons tar T 4, and 25 cubic yards sand.


On Millett Road a broken surface drain was replaced using the following material: 200 linear feet 12 inch cement pipe tongue and groove, 300 brick, 25 bags cement and 8 tons of tar patch material.


On Palmer Lane an old service drain that was broken was re- placed using the following material: 76 feet of 15 inch standard pipe, 6 tons 3/4 inch stone for base, 20 tons of stone dust and 5 bags of cement.


At Elm Place a new drain was laid to replace the old one using the following material: 296 linear feet of 24 inch cement tongue and groove pipe, 800 brick, two manholes were built, 25 bags cement, 3 tons of brick sand, 10 tons bank gravel and 8 tons of loam.


Hawthorne Brook was cleaned out from Humphrey to Essex Streets.


At Manton Road a new fence 210 feet long was built to take the place of the old one there.


All streets in town were cleaned at least twice during the year and more often where needed.


There are now about 625 catch basins in town. These are cleaned out at least three times a year with our catch basin digger.


About 25 old catch basins around town were repaired using 2500 brick, 30 bags cement and 5 ton of sand.


For about a month in the fall of the year the department is kept very busy cleaning up the leaves from the streets that have fallen from the trees. This is done to prevent the drains from clog- ging up causing serious floods.


During the months of June, July and August both Fisherman's Beach and Whales, the latter being in front of the New Ocean House, were cleaned every day. The beaches in front of the Beach Club and the Hotel Preston were cleaned when needed.


All Highway buildings have been painted and also all our horse drawn sidewalk snow plows.


New equipment bought this year included the following: One Baker snow plow for the Ford truck, one Turbine Sewer Machine used to clean drains and sewers and one small gasoline water pump.


Our snow fighting equipment includes: one 1927 5-ton, one 1936 5-ton and one 31/2-ton White truck bought in 1940, one 11/2-ton 1934 Ford truck and one 5-ton tractor bought in 1927 and 3 sand spreaders. All trucks are equipped with removable bladed plows and the tractor has a V plow. We also have a V plow that may be attached to any of our 3 large trucks and also 14 horse drawn sidewalk plows. At the yard there is 400 cubic yards of sand treated with calcium chloride to be used on slippery streets.


Snow fences this year were taken down in April and put up in December as follows: Salem Street, Crossman and Linden Avenues, Stanley and Summer Roads, Dale Street and Dennison Avenue.


All our equipment was overhauled and put in good condition for the winter. This includes the four trucks, three mixers, catch basin digger and the tractor.


CHAPTER 90


Under Chapter 90 work which means streets where the State, County and Town each pay a third of the cost for their maintenance the following work was done.


A new drain 124 feet long and 2 new catch basins and one man- hole were built on Humphrey Street between Palmer Avenue and


76


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


Ocean. Also from the Marblehead line to Phillips corner Humphrey Street was sealcoated using the following material: 5530 gallons of tar T 8, 254 tons of 1/2 inch stone, 86 tons of patch material, 6 tons mason sand, 3400 common brick, 30 bags cement, 124 linear feet of cement reinforced 12 inch tongue and groove pipe and 6 ton roller coal.


The personnel of this department has had the misfortune this year of losing eight of its best men. Two of them, Frank Connell and George Farnum died; three, Patrick Dunn, James Dolan and Ed- ward Roberts, Jr., were retired owing to sickness; and three, James Champion, William S. Healy and Daniel Ranzano have entered our armed forces.


I wish to recommend that the town resurface Salem Street from Humphrey Street to the State Road as it is a heavy traveled street and is in very bad condition.


Respectfully submitted,


TIMOTHY J. RYAN, Surveyor of Highways.


Public Library


To the Citizens of Swampscott:


The members of the Board of Trustees of the Public Library herewith present their report for the year 1942.


Circulation


Last year we reported a slight decrease in the circulation of books and periodicals, and stated that this trend would be likely to continue for the duration.


The year 1942 shows a decrease of 8.3%. It is due to the ab- sence from Swampscott of approximately 700 men and boys, who are in the armed services of our government, to increased employment, and to the large number of citizens who are engaged in various Civilian Defense activities. There is much less spare time for reading.


There was a greater demand for technical books during the year, and their purchase was justified by a twenty per cent increase in the circulation of this type of book.


Statistical details as to circulation appear at the end of this report.


Books Added


Twenty-two hundred fifty books have been added to the library during the year. It is the largest addition in any single year since the library was established. Technical books and books about war constitute the major portion of the increase.


Cooperation with the School Department


We quote from the report of our Librarian, Mr. Arthur H. Par- sons, Jr.


"As in past years, there has been mutually helpful cooperation between the library and the school department. Collections of books were placed in most of the elementary and junior high school class- rooms, both at the public and at the parochial school. In addition we had a collection of books on deposit at the high school.


"Such classroom loans, by placing books near the children, in- creases their desire to read and enables those who live at a distance from the library to borrow books more frequently than they other- wise could. A total of 3,827 books were circulated in this manner.


"Miss Knowles has given instruction in the use of the library to all ninth grade pupils of the Hadley School and of St. John's


77


PUBLIC LIBRARY


1942]


School. These classes, seven in all, visited the library and received two lessons each, after which they were given problems designed to test their ability to use the library effectually.


"Miss Rose visited all the elementary schools and spoke at as- semblies and in classrooms on the facilities and books available in the boys' and girls' room, as well as on the values of reading good books.


"For the American history classes at the high school the staff prepared an eight-page reading list of historical novels, all of which are in the library.


"The school department, on its side, rendered valuable assistance to the library by mimeographing these book lists and all of our postal cards. In addition, the manual training classes at the high school built for us a new bookcase for the office."


Cooperation of Other Town Departments


The Board of Trustees is grateful to the Water Department, the Highway Department, and the Police Department for their excellent cooperation throughout the year.


Service for Shut-Ins


This service, begun by the Girl Scouts in 1941, has been con- tinued, and is much appreciated by those invalids and elderly persons who are unable to go to the library. We are all grateful to the girls for their kindly offices.


Machon Book Station


This deposit library is carried on by the Swampscott Woman's Club and the library. Six hundred forty more books were circulated during the year. The Board of Trustees acknowledges with gratitude the fine spirit of Mrs. C. Hudson Johnson and Mrs. Ernest N. Jor- gensen in being at the Machon School each Tuesday afternoon to issue these books.


Gifts to the Library


The Board of Trustees gratefully acknowledges gifts from the following persons:


Mrs. Eben Parsons


Mrs. Horace Fifield


Miss Bessy Creighton


Miss Ruth Blodgett


Miss Ethel Tewksbury


Mr. Ralph Russell


Mr. Ralph Bristol


Mr. Wilbur Woodbury


Mr. Thomas Hunt


Mrs. Fred C. Marsh


Mrs. Norman S. Dillingham


Mr. John S. Sanborn


Mrs. Nellie F. Knowles


Mrs. Cora Raymond


Mrs. John S. Blodgett presented to the library a marble statue of a Greek slave girl, sculptured by G. P. Bazzanti Firenzi. It graces the lobby of the building and is a welcome addition to the small but slowly increasing art collection of the library.


Circulation :


Adult fiction


47,947


Adult non-fiction


16,448


Adult periodicals


3,568


67,963


67,963


Juvenile fiction


19,844


Juvenile non-fiction


4,685


Juvenile periodicals


881


25,410


25,410


93,373


78


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


Books:


New books added Books discarded


2,246


480


Books in library, January 1, 1943


27,323


Fines receipts turned over to the town


$866.02


Respectfully submitted,


LEE T. GRAY,


JAMES D. CUMMINS, GEORGE W. HOWE,


Board of Trustees.


Board of Public Welfare


To the Citizens of Swampscott:


The Board of Public Welfare submits the following report for the year 1942.


At the present time we are carrying on our rolls only unemploy- able persons.


The people we are aiding are physically unable to obtain em- ployment, or are aliens not eligible for defense work. The majority of them are between the ages of fifty and sixty-four years.


People in this age group find it practically impossible to obtain work. As fast as these people reach the age of sixty-five years, we then transfer them to our Old Age Assistance Department, as the Federal Government and the State participate, along with the town in payments made to recipients of this class.


In the past there have been wide diversities of granting relief. Now we have a uniform standard budget, which is issued by the State Department of Public Welfare and is adjusted to the cost of living every six months. Swampscott now administers assistance on a budgetary basis, which takes into consideration the actual needs the individual family in relation to an accepted standard, and pro- viding adequate assistance on such a basis leads to a fair distribu- tion of agency funds and conservation of the taxpayers' money.


We wish to convey our thanks to the various fraternal and social service organizations for their fine co-operation with our depart- ment, during the year.


As we have been reimbursed by the State and other cities and towns and individuals, in the amount of $2,529.52, the net cost to the town is $11,033.93. This is a saving over the previous year of $4,411.07.


Respectfully submitted,


FRED M. SEATON, WALTER L. RANGER, DONALD REDFERN, Board of Public Welfare.


1942]


COMPARISONS OF PERSONS AIDED


Families Aided


Single (non-family) persons aided


Persons Aided in Institutions


Total Number of Persons Aided on Public Welfare


Total No. of Families Aided on A. D. C.


1940


1941


1942


1940


1941


1942


1940


1941


1942


1940


1941


1942


1940


1941


1942


44


27


11


9


16


17


8


7


8


225


164


124


16


12


12


January


.......


41


25


10


8


16


15


8


7


7


201


163


105


16


13


12


February


..


37


27


10


9


15


14


8


7


7


192


169


105


16


14


12


March


28


14


7


14


16


15


9


7


7


143


119


94


16


14


11


April


.. ......


..


23


5


7


13


16


16


10


7


7


128


67


93


16


13


11


May


24


9


5


15


16


13


9


7


7


119


88


76


15


14


10


June


20


6


6


16


19


13


8


7


7


106


70


79


15


13


10


July


17


6


10


15


22


13


7


5


8


90


76


90


15


14


10


August


14


7


6


15


20


13


6


5


8


73


87


78


13


14


10


September


22


3


3


15


20


12


6


5


8


101


67


67


13


13


10


October


26


12


5


13


18


11


6


5


8


125


91


72


13


13


9


November


...


29


13


6


14


17


11


6


5


9


146


98


74


12


13


7


December


....


...


..


BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE


79


SUMMARY OF TEMPORARY RELIEF


1940


1941


1942


Families aided during the year


109


81


54


Families being aided at the present time


49


31


26


Families aided at the expense of other cities and towns


14


11


5


Families aided at the expense of the State


17


15


8


Families aided with settlement in Swampscott


67


48


42


Persons supported in State Institutions


11


7


11


Number of new applications rejected during the year


4


3


5


Number of new applications received during the year


22


16


11


Number of requests for aid rejected during the year


132


114


89


SUMMARY OF AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN


1940


1941


1942


Families aided during the year


17


16


12


PAID TO OTHER CITIES AND TOWNS


1940


1941


1942


Lynn


$2,553.57


Lynn


$2,331.90


Lynn


$800.91


Millis


544.30


Cambridge


67.92


Cambridge


35.34


Brockton


307.51


Brockton


310.30


Brockton


28.53


Cambridge


15.00


Salem


163.85


Worcester


61.50


Framingham


72.85


Boston


19.61


Salem


136.75


Palmer


13.43


Somerville


16.00


Peabody


11.00


Revere


45.00


Salem


1.25


$3,579.91


$2,893.68


$1,063.03


[Dec. 31


TOWN DOCUMENTS


80


.....


.....


.


1942]


REIMBURSEMENTS


1940


1941


1942


Cities and Towns


$1,412.44


Cities and Towns


$404.34


Cities and Towns


$812.26


Individuals


388.41


Individuals


378.24


333.00


State


State


Temporary Aid


1,622.30


Temporary Aid


1,230.56


Aid to Dependent Children


5,154.22


Federal Grant A. D. C.


2,554.00


Federal Grant A. D. C. 2,365.67


Federal Grant Admin.


261.65


Federal Grant Admin. 282.29


$11,393.02


$6,676.25


$2,529.52


AMOUNTS DUE TOWN


1940


1941


1942


Individuals


$706.19


Individuals


$107.67


Lynn


$241.50


Peabody


14.00


Peabody


5.47


State Temporary Aid


950.79


Lynn


135.94


Lynn


140.53


Boston


455.91


State Temporary Aid


545.34


State Temporary Aid


471.31


State A. D. C.


437.13


Boston


153.08


Worcester


92.59


Boston


170.01


$2,101.20


$878.06


$1,648.20


Aid to Dependent Children


2,015.15


Individuals State Temporary Aid


1,384.26


BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE


81


82


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


Aid to Dependent Children


As this is a new department, the following is a financial sum- mary of the work accomplished during the past year:


EXPENDITURES


Local Assistance $8,562.55 65.20


Office Administration


Total


$8,627.75


REIMBURSEMENTS


From Federal Government:


For Assistance


$3,875.05


For Administration


363.52


Total


$4,238.57


From State Department


$3,065.57


Total


7,304.14


Total Expenditures $8,627.75


Total Reimbursements


7,304.14


Net Cost to Swampscott for 1942


1,323.61


Balance on hand from Federal Funds, December 31, 1942


$1,121.12


Respectfully submitted, FRED M. SEATON, WALTER L. RANGER, DONALD REDFERN, Aid to Dependent Children.


Bureau of Old Age Assistance


To the Citizens of the Town of Swampscott:


During the past year, your Bureau of Old Age Assistance has endeavored to render their best service in the interest of the town and in accordance with the laws and regulations of the State De- partment.


The number of cases as of January 1, 1942, was 162, and at the close of the year ending December 31, 1942, there are 150 cases on our rolls.


Minimum grants subject to deductions of other income and re- sources are $40.00 for individuals living alone; $65.00 for married couples, both eligible, living alone, or brothers and sisters, both eligible, living alone, after April 30, 1942. For all others, living in a family group, the present minimum amounts will continue to apply. The determination as to what constitutes a family group shall be made in accordance with the State Department's rules and regula- tions.


Deductions from the minimum amounts because of income or resources shall be made in accordance with the State Department's rules.


83


BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE


1942]


Local boards and bureaus shall comply with all rules and regu- lations adopted by the State Department.


A scale is set up exempting legally liable relatives living apart from Old Age Assistance applicants or recipients as follows:


Unmarried child living apart from parents


$1,000


Married child with no children living apart from parents 1,500


Married child with 1 child living apart from parents 2,000


Married child with 2 children living apart from parents 2,500


Married child with 3 children living apart from parents


3,000


All others are determined on the merits of the particular case. This scale became effective April 30, 1942.


Equity in real estate shall be based on the five year average, and $3,000 is clearly exempt.


Recovery may be sought from a person or his estate or any property not otherwise exempted by law. The State Department must approve such suits.


Insurance of $1000 or less, regardless of date of issue, does not disqualify an applicant. This is now in effect.


A recipient is allowed up to 90 days per year visit out of the State.


In March, 1942, the Bureau of Old Age Assistance was required to place the office under the supervision of the Department of Civil Service in order to obtain reimbursements from the Federal Govern- ment. At that time, Miss Helen E. Carson, a Swampscott resident, was appointed as clerk.


We are pleased to state that practically all monies due the town have been collected.


Following is a financial summary of the work accomplished by this department during the past year:


EXPENDITURES


Local Assistance


$64,044.10


Swampscott cases aided in other


Cities and Towns


2,037.26


Salaries and Wages


1,409.60


Office Administration


1,210.23


Total


$68,701.19


REIMBURSEMENTS


From Federal Government:


For Assistance


$38,535.92


For Administration


1,429.64


Total


$39,965.56


From State Department


$25,553.19


From Cities and Towns


1,286.43


Total


$66,805.18


Total Expenditures


$68,701.19


Total Reimbursements


66,805.18


Net Cost to Swampscott for 1942


$1,896.01


Balance on hand from Federal Funds December 31, 1942 $6,943.89


84


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


SUMMARY OF CASES


Total receiving assistance


Number receiving aid December 31, 1942


Cases closed New applications


45


41


Cases accepted


Cases rejected


Respectfully submitted,


FRED M. SEATON, DONALD REDFERN, WILLIS B. CHAPMAN, Bureau of Old Age Assistance.


Surplus Commodities Distribution


During the year 1942, we have continued the distribution of Federal food and clothing commodities from the W.P.A. distribu- tion center.


Those entitled to receive Federal commodities are the employees of the W.P.A., Old Age Assistance Recipients, Aid to Dependent Children families and General Relief cases, all of whom are certified by the Board of Public Welfare.


The following list of Foods were distributed during the year:


Apples


24,371 lbs.


Grape Fruit Canned .5,600 cans


Pea Beans


5,502 lbs.


Evap. Milk 4,848 cans


Fresh Beets


3,493 lbs.


Fresh Milk 38,472 qts.


Cabbage


3,500 1bs.


Sweet Potatoes 10,575 lbs.


Carrots


2,225 lbs.


Prunes


4,680 lbs.


Wheat Cereal


3,842 lbs.


Rolled Oats


8,960 lbs.


Corn Meal


3,280 lbs.


Squash


1,907 lbs.


Eggs


4,960 doz.


Lard


4,481 lbs.


Graham Flour


5,970% lbs.


Onions


558 doz.


Wheat Flour 15,477$4 lbs.


Oranges


The above food commodities represented a total valuation of $14,576.83. In addition to the food we received 5369 articles of clothing valued at $5,455.25. The clothing was a variation of about 255 kinds of apparel for men, women and children. School lunches amounted to $321.93.


Beginning December 1, 1942, we moved the Commodity Store from 29 New Ocean Street, to Railroad Avenue, which is more cen- trally located and accessible to the greatest number of recipients. This change in location should also result in a saving to the town.


As we have been assured that the W.P.A. will be continued until at least June 30, and that in case of war or natural disaster the Commodity Store would be a distribution center of supplies, we have decided to continue it for the next year.


It is of interest to note that we have very few requests from welfare recipients for clothing and we believe our Welfare costs have been kept at a minimum in this respect.


FRED M. SEATON, Chairman Board of Public Welfare.


192 150


33 8


85


BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE


1942]


Annual Report as Investigator of Old Age Assistance, Public Welfare, and Aid to Dependent Children


I herewith submit my annual report as Investigator and Visitor for the Board of Public Welfare and the Bureau of Old Age As- sistance.


As the war period continues, we find very little change in our Old Age Assistance figures. Last year there was a total of 191 re- ceiving assistance, and this year there was a total of 192, a difference of 1 person.


On May 1, 1942, the State Department of Public Welfare issued a Manual of Standards of Assistance for the Administration of Pub- lic Assistance or instructions for Local Bureaus of Old Age Assist- ance. We were required to review all cases on both our Old Age Assistance and Welfare rolls. We had to revise these budgets when- ever necessary in order to bring them in line with the State Standard budget for families and single individuals. It was necessary to do this in order to obtain our reimbursements from the State and Fed- eral governments for Old Age Assistance, Public Welfare and Aid to Dependent Children.




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