USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1944 > Part 4
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1944 > Part 4
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Voted: Article 15. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 16. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
That the Town authorize the Board of Park Commissioners to purchase top soil, loam, seed and fertilizer sufficient to provide a practice and play area located in the rear of the present football field at Phillips Park, and that the sum of $1,150.00 be appropriated there- for.
Voted: Article 17. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 18. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Planning Board prepare a master plan of the Town in accordance with G. L. Chapter 41, Sections 81A to 81J, and that the sum of $1,400.00 be appropriated.therefor.
Voted: Article 21. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this Article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 22. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 26. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town authorize the Board of Park Commissioners to purchase sufficient concrete pipe to enclose brook at Phillips Park approximately 100 feet, as recommended by the Board of Health, and that the sum of $200.00 be appropriated therefor.
Voted: Articles 28 and 29. That these articles be considered to- gether. That the reading of the description in Article 29 be omitted.
The report of the Special Committee under these articles was read.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PURCHASE OF ELIHU THOMSON PROPERTY
The undersigned committee was appointed to investigate the advisability and cost of purchasing the Elihu Thomson estate on Monument Avenue for an administration building, and to report to the adjourned meeting of April 11, 1944.
The house was built by Professor Thomson in 1890 and occupied by him until his death in 1937. It is of mansion type; its appearance and location make it a landmark. The lot area is 148,487 square feet. The tax assessment is $72,600, a reduction by the Assessors from $93,000 the previous year.
The Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company owns the property under a trust created by Professor Thomson. It is incumbent upon the trustee to now dispose of it. Various ideas have been under considera- tion, such as (a) sale to a religious or charitable organization, (b) sale to a club, (c) demolition of house and sale of lots, (d) sale to the Town. Professor Thomson's sons would prefer to see the place pre- served publicly and, at the suggestion of our committee, have recom- mended to the trustee that price be sacrificed to effect a sale to the Town. As a result, the committee has a letter from the Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company stating that the Town of Swampscott may now have the property for $30,000. This is much less than the place is worth even under present conditions. It is a special price made to Swampscott.
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RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1944]
Whether such a purchase would be of real benefit to the Town has been given careful consideration by this committee.
Before discussing it as a practical matter, an intangible consid- eration may be mentioned. Professor Thomson was one of the world's great scientists. A pioneer in electricity, his invention and develop- ment of the important art of joining metals together, electric weld- ing, was one of the primary discoveries of the age, making possible tremendous development in metal construction; for illustration, the fabrication of modern naval vessels, of aircraft, of tanks. The record- ing meter which accurately measures, among other things, the elec- tricity used in households; the mechanism of the trolley car; train control; the tube which enables physicians and hospitals to use the X-ray without endangering the patient; the alternating current of electric distribution now of universal application; developments in high frequency electricity, and in the use of liquid air, are a few of his accomplishments. He made the General Electric Company possible. It was said by Owen D. Young, holding up that Company's balance sheet: "There is not an item on that sheet which could have existed at all, or if it did exist would have been worth putting on the asset side of any balance sheet, had it not been for the work of Professor Thomson."
That alone is an understatement. The fact is he was a benefactor of mankind. He is one of the rare geniuses who, quietly and without self-exploitation, have added genuinely to the world's useful knowl- edge. There is hardly a family in this country whose condition of life has not been improved by his discoveries and inventions in the appli- cation of electrical art. He was signally honored abroad as well as at home and his name ranks with Edison, Faraday, Kelvin and the few other great men in this field.
There is something to be said in favor of honoring this citizen of Swampscott by preserving the distinctive edifice he erected with care at the gateway to the Town.
There is another thing to consider. It happened that when the cen- tral section of the Town, the Mudge Estate, was laid out into lots for sale, the developers, a group called the Swampscott Land Trust, em- ployed as planner one of the foremost landscape architects of the time, Frederick Law Ohmstead. The result gave Swampscott a most attractive entrance and group of homes, which modern crowding has been unable to wreck, and which have contributed to the Town's fine residential character. This has been of great practical value to all the Town's people. Taxable value is not necessarily created by building as many houses as possible within a given area. When, as happens so often, this mistake is made, desirability for private dwellings lessens, deterioration sets in, and values decrease. To preserve the Thomson land in its present condition, in the long run well may be of greater practical benefit than cutting it up into lots. Moreover, as on Ocean Street, Lynn, the land is taxed too high for small, moderately priced houses, and anyone with means to build a more costly dwelling today would be likely to select a location of greater privacy. A trend toward apartment houses, which thus far has made no headway in Swamp- scott, could result.
These considerations alone would not justify purchasing the prop- erty. It must first be shown that it is needed and would be of useful value to the Town. Unless the need and the benefit were clear, the Committee did not feel that it could recommend purchase.
There is no present need of another auditorium. The auditorium in the Hadley School, or in the High School, is adequate for Town Meetings or other requirements. There is no justification of going to the expense of a new auditorium.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
There is need for an administration building. The present Town Hall, built in 1800 when Swampscott had one thousand residents, and poorly laid out for modern use, is inadequate for the public services. This has long been recognized. Lack of rooms, shortage of space, doubling up of offices. overcrowding, have prevailed for many years and there is no question but that Town officials and employees, citi- zens having occasion to transact public business. and the administra- tion of the Town's affairs have felt the result.
For some years there has been talk of remedying this by a new building. In 1940 a committee was appointed to look into the matter. The planning board also was directed by the Town Meeting of that year to consider it. The deterrent to action was the recognized fact that to attempt to enlarge the present building would be a waste of money and that if the Town undertakes to build a new Town Hall it will, according to past experience, end up with a cost of some $300.000. Nevertheless. unless something is done to meet this need. sooner or later the Town. under pressure from this steady demand. is almost certain to find itself with an expensive project on its hands.
To determine if the Thomson property is well constructed, sub- stantial and adequate for a municipal office building, and the cost of adapting it to such use, the Committee sought the advice of William Beals Sons. Boston, architects. and of Fred C. Pirie. William Beals Sons were the architects in charge of the remodelling and construction of the Swampscott High School. a job which everyone familiar with it agrees was well done. Mr. Pirie, formerly with J. T. Wilson & Son. Nahant, is an estimator of wide experience and recognized judgment. The committee had no appropriation. These men gave us the benefit of their services without compensation of promise or reward.
The architect's report is attached. Plans and a layout of offices were made. To summarize:
There is a main house, a "laboratory" in the rear, and a large three-car garage. The walls of house and laboratory are of masonry construction. The roofs are red slate with tar and gravel deck and copper flashings. The house floors are oak and most of the rooms have mahogany, oak or cherry panelling. There is no evidence of shrinkage or leaking. The heating and electrical systems are recent, in excellent condition and adequate. The basement is dry. Plumbing is good, some fixtures old and some new. The house would need very little done to it. The interior finish of the laboratory is unsuitable and would have to be completely renewed. The house and laboratory would be converted into one building by a connecting corridor. Necessary vaults for Town records would be installed. All can be done for an estimated cost of $30,000.
Thus for an overall expenditure of $60,000 the Town can have an excellent, adequate and beautiful administration building, with well laid out offices, grounds and parking space, sufficient for the Town's needs for many years to come, and with a location such that if the time ever arrives when a more pretentious structure. or an auditorium, should be required, ample room is all provided. The available space would be over 60 per cent greater than that of the present Town Hall. including the space here used for town meetings.
The architect's plan has been submitted to the Massachusetts De- partment of Public Safety which has given it approval for use as a Town Administration Building.
The upkeep of janitor service, heating, lighting and repair, it is judged, will not exceed that of the present Town Hall. The committee feels that the care of the grounds should be turned over to the Park Department to be kept in condition similar to the space in Monument
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RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1944]
Avenue, which, of course, when done, will call for some addition to that department's budget.
The present Town Hall ought not to be torn down. Use for it will develop. Out of the Thomson Estate grounds some 10,000 feet should be allocated to the Public Library, since the Board of Trustees desire land for a possible future addition.
The Committee is unanimous in its conviction that it would be a mistake for the Town to pass by this unusual opportunity.
Thought has been given to the question of financing. The Town's tax rate is $27. Its bonded indebtedness is low. To purchase the prop- erty for municipal use, bonds not exceeding 20 years may be issued. The Committee has consulted with Mr. Long, Tax Commissioner for the Commonwealth, with regard to financing by transfer from the Town's free cash, which we commonly refer to as the Excess and Deficiency Fund. He approved this and has authorized, in writing, the transfer of up to $50,000 for this purpose. The settled view of the state authorities is that such transfers for such purposes constitute proper use of that fund and good financing.
Accordingly, we recommend:
That the Town purchase the Elihu Thomson property on Monu- ment Avenue, Burrill Street and Hardy Road for not exceeding $30,000.
That the same be adapted and equipped for use as a Town Admin- istration Building.
That a Committee of five town meeting members be appointed by the Moderator with power in the name and behalf of the Town to make such purchase, adapt and equip the same for a Town Adminis- tration Building, including construction, renovating or remodelling, engage an architect, enter into contracts, and do all things necessary or incidental thereto.
That for the purchase of said property there be appropriated six thousand dollars for the tax levy of the current year and twenty-four thousand dollars to be raised by notes or bonds of the Town not ex- ceeding ten years in total maturity.
And that for the cost of construction, renovating, remodelling and equipping the same, the sum of $30,000 be raised by transfer from the Excess and Deficiency funds of the Town.
April 11, 1944.
COMMITTEE:
H. D. LINSCOTT, Chairman; HENRY S. BALDWIN, PHILIP W. BLOOD, RICHARD P. BREED, LORING GRIMES.
The report of the planning board was read.
The report of the Finance Committee was accepted and their recommendations adopted as follows:
REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE ON ARTICLES 28 AND 29
1. That the report of the committee on the Elihu Thomson prop- erty be accepted and its recommendations adopted.
2. That the Town purchase for not exceeding Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) the real estate commonly known as the Elihu
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Thomson property, located at 22 Monument Avenue, Swampscott, and more particularly bounded and described in Article 29 of the annual warrant of the current year, and to that end that the sum of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) be raised and appropriated, Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000) thereof to be provided in the tax levy of the current year and, to provide for the balance of Twenty-Four Thousand Dollars ($24,000) that the Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen be and hereby is authorized to borrow the sum of Twenty-Four Thousand ($24,000) and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor in accord- ance with the provisions of Chapter 44 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Said bonds or notes to be payable in ten years from the date of issue or at such earlier time as the Treasurer and Selectmen may determine.
3. That for the purpose of converting the same into use as a town administration building in accordance with the report of said committee, the sum of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) be appro- priated and that the same be raised by transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Fund of the Town.
Vote: For 112. Against 16.
Voted: Article 31. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this Article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 32. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town appropriate the sum of $500.00 to defray the ex- penses of the Massachusetts Selectmen's Association Convention to be held in Swampscott during the summer of 1944 in accordance with the authority granted by General Laws (Ter. Ed.), Chapter 40, Sec- tion 5.
Voted: Article 33. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town appropriate the sum of $300.00 to defray the ex- penses of the Essex County Forest Wardens' Association to be held in Swampscott in May of 1944 in accordance with the authority granted by General Laws (Ter. Ed.), Chapter 40, Section 5.
Voted: Article 34. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 for purchasing 1000 feet of 21/2" double jacket hose, said purchase to be made by the Board of Fire Engineers under provisions of Chapter 5, Sections 1, 2, and 3 of the Town By-Laws.
Voted: Article 35. To accept the report of the Finance Committee as amended and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town purchase an aerial ladder fire truck to replace the twenty-seven year old ladder No. 1 which is in a dangerous condition, and that the said purchase be made by the Chief of the Fire Depart- ment and the Board of Selectmen under the provisions of Chapter 5, Sections 1, 2, and 3 of the Town By-Laws, and that the sum of $16,- 500.00 be appropriated therefor.
Voted: Article 38. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town authorize the Board of Park Commissioners to erect a public toilet building at Phillips Park to replace the one con- demned by the Board of Health, and that the sum of $2600.00 be ap- propriated therefor.
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RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1944]
Voted: Article 39. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 42. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 43. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town accept Chapter 162 of the Acts of 1941 which pro- vides as follows:
"The mayor in cities, except Boston, and, except as otherwise provided in Section fifteen A, the selectmen in towns shall annually, in March, nominate one or more inspectors of animals, and before April first shall send to the director the name, address and occupation of each nominee. Such nominee shall not be appointed until approved by the director. In cities at least one such inspector shall be a registered veterinarian, except in a city where this requirement cannot be com- plied with by reason of a charter provision relating to the qualifica- tions of appointees to office therein. In a town which has a board of health and accepts this paragraph, the nomination of such inspectors shall be made by the board of health and not by the selectmen."
Voted: Article 45. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 46. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 47. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town authorize the Board of Park Commissioners to purchase approximately 1300 cubic yards of loam to cover the foot- ball field at Blocksidge Field and that the sum of $2150.00 be appro- priated therefor.
Voted: Article 48. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town authorize the Park Commissioners to purchase and erect 1000 seats of portable bleachers at the football field at Blocksidge Field and that the sum of $2400.00 be appropriated there- for.
Voted: Article 49. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 50. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town increase its reserve police force from three to five members as authorized by the provisions of General Laws (Ter. Ed), Chapter 147, Section 13A.
Voted: Article 51. That the Town paint the Town Hall two coats on the exterior and that the sum of $1500.00 be appropriated therefor.
Voted: Article 52. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the purpose of establishing an office and hiring necessary help to carry on a Vet- erans' Rehabilitation program.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Voted: Article 54. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the surveyor of the highway be authorized to convert the present steamroller from steam to gasoline and that the sum of $1650.00 be appropriated therefor to be expended by the surveyor of highway under the Provisions of Chapter 5, Sections 1, 2, and 3 of the Town By-Laws.
Voted: Article 55. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town appropriate the sum of $700.00 for purchasing ammunition for the use of the Swampscott Unit, Massachusetts State Guard.
Voted: Article 56. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Dissolved at 10:22.
Attest:
MALCOLM F. MacLEAN, JR., Town Clerk.
April 7, 1944.
On the above date Francis L. Smith submitted his written resig- nation to the Town Clerk as a Town Meeting Member from Precinct 7.
April 12, 1944.
On the above date Earl Abrams submitted his written resignation to the Town Clerk as a Town Meeting Member from Precinct 2.
April 14, 1944.
On the above date John R. Hurlburt, Moderator, appointed the following committee under the vote on Articles 28 and 29 of the Adjourned Annual Town Meeting of April 11, 1944:
Chairman P. W. Blood
33 Rockland Street
Henry S. Baldwin
141 Elmwood Road
Richard P. Breed
106 Bradlee Avenue
Dr. Loring Grimes
84 Humphrey Street
Harry D. Linscott
78 Greenwood Avenue
WARRANT FOR PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY Tuesday, April 25, 1944 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex, ss. To either of the Constables of the Town of Swampscott in said County, GREETING:
In the name of the Commonwealth you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said town who are qualified to vote in Primaries to meet in their respective precincts in said Swampscott, Tuesday, the Twenty-fifth day of April, 1944, at 2:00 o'clock P.M., for the following purposes:
To bring in their votes to the Primary Officers for the Election of Candidates of Political Parties for the following offices:
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RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK
1944]
7 Delegates at Large to the National Convention of the Republican Party.
7 Alternate Delegates at Large to the National Convention of the Republican Party.
12 Delegates at Large to the National Convention of the Democratic Party.
12 Alternate Delegates at Large to the National Convention of the Democratic Party.
2 District Delegates to the National Convention of the Republican Party, 6th Congressional District.
2 Alternate District Delegates to the National Convention of the Republican Party, 6th Congressional District.
4 District Delegates to the National Convention of the Democratic Party, 6th Congressional District.
4 Alternate District Delegates to the National Convention of the Democratic Party, 6th Congressional District. District Members of State Committee-(One Man and One Woman) for each political party for the First Essex Senatorial District.
10 Members of the Republican Town Committee.
10 Members of the Democratic Town Committee.
The Polls Will Be Open from 2 P.M. to 8 P.M.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies thereof seven days at least before the time of said meeting as directed by vote of the town.
HEREOF FAIL NOT, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, at the time and place of said meeting.
Given under our hands this thirteenth day of April, A.D., 1944. (Seal.)
PHILIP E. BESSOM, ALBERT S. HILLS, JAMES W. BUCHANAN, Selectmen of Swampscott.
(Seal.) A true copy. Attest: LEONARD H. BATES, Constable.
RETURN ON THE WARRANT
Pursuant to the within warrant to me directed, I have notified the legal voters of Swampscott, by posting attested copies of said warrant at the Town Hall, Post Offices, at least two public and con- spicuous places in each precinct in the town, and at or in the imme- diate vicinity of each railroad station in Swampscott on April 17, 1944, the posting of said notices being seven days before the time of said meeting.
LEONARD H. BATES, Constable.
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY Tuesday, April 25, 1944
In accordance with the foregoing Warrant the voters of Swamp- scott assembled at their voting places in the several precincts and
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
were called to order at 2 o'clock P.M. by their presiding officers. The Warrant with the return thereon was read by the Clerk in each Precinct.
The following were appointed Precinct Officers and qualified for same:
Precinct 1: Warden, Gladys E. Hanscom (R); Clerk, Esther F. Philbin (D); Inspectors, Ruth B. Houghton (R), Lauretta M. Four- nier (D).
Precinct 2: Warden, William T. Pearson (R); Clerk, Edwin F. Moran (D); Inspectors, James E. Connor (D), Lillian A. Currant (R).
Precinct 3: Warden, Stuart P. Ellis (R); Clerk, Walter L. Kehoe (D); Inspectors, Donald L. Sawyer (D), Almer A. Jackson (R).
Precinct 4: Warden, John C. Pirie (R); Clerk, Bessie F. Maguire (D); Inspectors, Horace P. Fifield (R), Henry Grace (D).
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