USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1947 > Part 6
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The books and accounts in the town accountant's office were examined and checked in detail. The recorded receipts were checked with the treasurer's cash book and with the records of departmental payments to the treasurer, while the recorded disbursements were checked with the treasury warrants and with the record of payments by the treasurer.
The appropriations and loan orders, as listed from the town clerk's records of town meeting votes, were checked to the accounts in the accountant's ledger.
59
1947] DEPARTMENT OF CORPORATIONS & TAXATION
An analysis was made of the ledger accounts, the necessary cor- recting entries resulting from the audit were made, a trial balance was drawn off proving the accounts to be in balance, and a balance sheet, which is appended to the report, was prepared showing the financial condition of the town on February 28, 1947.
The books and accounts of the town treasurer were examined and checked. The receipts, as recorded, were analyzed and compared with the records of payments to the treasurer by the several departments and with the other sources from which the town received money, while the recorded payments were compared with the selectmen's warrants and with the accountant's books.
The cash book was footed throughout for the period of the audit and the cash balance was proved on February 28, 1947 and again on March 18, 1947.
The reported payments on account of debt and interest were com- pared with the amounts falling due and with the cancelled coupons and securities on file.
The securities and savings bank books representing the invest- ments of the trust, investment, and municipal contributory retirement funds were personally examined and listed, the transfers to the town and the income of the several funds being proved.
The records of the tax title redemptions and tax titles taken by the town, as well as of tax title foreclosures, were checked in detail and all outstanding tax titles and tax possessions on hand were listed and proved. Verification of the tax titles, as listed, was made by com- parison with the records in the office of the Registry of Deeds.
It was noted that of the 84 tax titles on hand, 67 were taken in the period from 1923 to 1945, inclusive. It is recommended that pro- ceedings be started to foreclose the right of redemption on all tax titles held over two years, as required by law.
The books and accounts of the collector were examined and checked. The commitments of taxes, assessments, departmental and water charges were examined and checked with the accountant's books. The recorded collections were checked with the payments to the treasurer and with the accountant's records, the abatements were compared with the departmental records of abatements granted, and the outstanding accounts were listed and proved to the accounts in the accountant's office.
The outstanding accounts were further verified by mailing notices to a number of persons whose names appeared on the books as owing money to the town, the replies received thereto indicating that the accounts, as listed, are correct.
It was again necessary to do a large amount of detailed checking in order to prove the tax and water accounts, due to numerous errors in posting, thereby adding considerably to the length and cost of the audit.
The records of licenses and permits issued by the selectmen, the town clerk, the building inspector, the inspector of plumbing, and by the health department were examined and checked, the recorded col- lections being compared with the payments to the treasurer and with the receipts on file.
The records of the sealer of weights and measures and of the school and library departments, as well as of all other departments collecting money for the town, were examined and checked in detail.
60
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
The surety bonds furnished by the officials bonded for the faith- ful performance of their duties were examined and found to be in proper form.
Appended to this report, in addition to the balance sheet, are tables showing a reconciliation of the treasurer's cash, summaries of the tax, assessment, tax title, departmental and water accounts, together with tables relative to the trust, investment, and municipal contributory retirement funds.
For the cooperation extended by the various town officials during the progress of the audit, I wish, on behalf of my assistants and for ยท myself, to express appreciation.
Respectfully submitted,
HBD:HAC
HERMAN B. DINE, Assistant Director of Accounts.
Board of Appeals
Swampscott, Mass., January 1, 1948.
Honorable Board of Selectmen, Town Administration Building, Swampscott, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The Board of Appeals herewith submits its report for the year 1947.
On the last page of the 1946 Report mention was made of the denial of the appeal of John DiDio to erect a four apartment building at 8 Dennison Avenue. Mr. DiDio took an appeal from such denial to the Emergency Housing Commission which, after hearing, reversed your Board's decision and granted Mr. DiDio's appeal.
March 13, 1947, a hearing was held on the appeal of Benjamin Robinson from a refusal of the Building Inspector to grant a permit to occupy the basement at 3 Rock Avenue for residential purposes. This Board denied the appeal and, the following August, Mr. Robinson appealed to the Emergency Housing Commission which affirmed your Board's decision.
There were eight appeals heard and disposed of in 1946 and nine- teen in 1947 and the work of this Board more than doubled the work accomplished in the past year, involving more hearings, correspond- ence, conferences, etc., and indications point to an equally busy season during 1948, if not more so.
Respectfully submitted,
CONRAD P. RICHARDSON, C. GLOVER BOWES, EUSTIS B. GRIMES,
Board of Appeals.
61
BOARD OF ASSESSORS
1947]
BOARD OF ASSESSORS -1947
The Board of Assessors submit herewith all figures used by them in the determination of the Tax Rate and other figures of a statistical nature:
The property in the town assessed by the local assessors January 1, 1947 amounted to $24,208,838, an increase over the previous year (1946) of $419,479.
The Real Estate valuation January 1, 1947 was $22,813,930, an increase over the previous year (1946) of $389,815. The valuation of Personal Estate assessed by the local assessors January 1, 1947 was $1,394,908, an increase over the previous year (1946) of $129,664.
The Excise tax on automobiles for 1947 was $42,978.58, an increase of $23,842.53 over 1946.
LIABILITIES 1947
State Assessments :
State Tax
$19,400.00
Auditing Municipal Accounts
1,027.12
Charles River Basin
2,331.37
Metropolitan Parks
5,326.90
Nantasket Beach Maintenance
735.72
Boulevards
108.41
Metropolitan Water
13,960.00
State Retirement System Audit
249.02
1946 Under-estimates
474.39
Total State Assessments
$43,612.93
County Assessments :
County Tax
$56,200.72
Tuberculosis Hospital Assessment
12,977.64
1946 Under-estimates
1,071.97
Total County Assessments
70,250.33
Town Appropriations:
(a) to be raised by Taxation
$1,044,446.47
(b) raised by Axailable Funds
63,978.12
1,108,424.59
Overlay deficits :
1942
$117.86
1943
70.33
Overlay 1947
20,000.00
TOTAL LIABILITIES
$1,242,476.04
ASSETS 1947
Property Tax Valuation $24,208,838 @ $35 per $1000. $847,313.26
Available Funds
66,607.71
Estimated Receipts (State Accounts)
170,988.25
Estimated Receipts (Town Accounts)
150,036.19
Over-estimates 1946
42.63
Poll Taxes: 3,744 @ $2.00
7,488.00
Total Assets
$1,242,476.04
188.19
62
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
ESTIMATED RECEIPTS (State)
Income Tax
$69,760.95
34,088.05
Corporation Tax
36,166.25
Gasoline Tax
16,862.02
Old Age Tax (meals)
2,137.50
$170,988.25
ESTIMATED RECEIPTS (Town)
Motor Vehicle-Trailer Excise
$18,565.33
Licenses
4,133.83
Fines
187.00
Special Assessments
8,542.93
General Government
420.97
Protection of Persons and Property
244.10
Health and Sanitation
603.35
Charities
39,091.40
Old Age Assistance
243.83
Veterans' Benefits
1,631.89
Schools
1,133.83
Libraries
1,363.21
Recreation
468.50
Public Service Enterprises (Water Dept.)
69,860.16
Interest
1,652.46
Chapter 90 Road Work
500.00
Plumbing Receipts
236.00
Claims
1,157.40
$150,036.19
TABLE OF AGGREGATES
Number of Persons, Partnerships and Corporations Assessed on Property
3,392
Number of Polls Assessed
3,744
Value of Land
$ 6,707,030
Value of Buildings
16,106,900
Value of Assessed Real Estate
$22,813,930
Value of Stock in Trade
$164,550
Value of Machinery
129,586
Value of Live Stock
225
Value of Poles, Wires, etc.
696,646
All Other Tangible Personal Property
403,901
Tax Rate per $1000
1,394,908 $35.00
Number of Horses Assessed
5
Number of Acres
1,675
Number of Dwelling Houses Assessed
2,781
TAXES FOR STATE, COUNTY AND TOWN PURPOSES
On Personal Estate
$ 48,821.96
On Real Estate
798,491.30
On Polls
7,488.00
TOTAL TAXES ASSESSED
$854,801.26
Respectfully submitted, FRANK E. MORRISON, CLARENCE B. HUMPHREY, JOHN A. HOLMES,
Board of Assessors.
11,973.48
63
BUILDING INSPECTOR
1947]
Building Inspector
To the Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1947:
Permits Issued
Estimated Cost
Dwellings:
New
32
$341,000.00
Alterations and additions
24
62,645.00
Private Garages:
New
39
32,100.00
Alterations and additions
4
4,225.00
Miscellaneous :
Temple
1
125,000.00
Field House
1
40,000.00
Tool House
1
800.00
Restaurant (Alteration)
1
750.00
Store (Alteration)
1
2,000.00
Hotel (Alteration)
1
500.00
Summer Houses (2)
2
400.00
Fire Escape
1
300.00
Boiler House
1
250.00
Demolish Business Block
1
110
$609,970.00
Building Permits
110
Permits to Shingle
84
194
Number of Inspections (Buildings)
124
Number of Inspections (Shingling)
84
208
Amount of Building Fees Collected
$149.00
Elevator Operators' Licenses Issued :
New
1
1.00
Renewals
7
3.50
$153.50
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 con- struction and repair.
Respectfully submitted,
RAYMOND O. DOANE, Building Inspector.
64
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Report of Sealer of Weights and Measures
Swampscott, Mass., December 31, 1947.
To the Board of Selectmen:
I hereby submit my report for 1947.
SCALES:
Adjusted
Sealed
Not Sealed
Con- demned
Platform, over 10,000 lbs.
0
1
0
0
Platform, 100 to 5,000 lbs.
0
6
1
0
Counter, under 100 lbs.
1
14
0
0
Beam, 100 to 5,000 lbs.
0
1
0
0
Spring, under 100 lbs.
11
20
1
0
Computing, under 100 lbs.
8
27
2
1
Person weigher (slot)
0
3
0
1
Prescription
0
4
0
0
WEIGHTS:
Avoirdupois
0
29
0
0
Apothecary
17
53
0
12
Metric
1
18
0
0
VOLUMETRIC MEASURES:
Liquid Measures
0
45
0
0
Dry Measures
0
7
0
0
AUTOMATIC LIQUID-MEASURING DEVICES:
Gasoline Meter Systems
2
49
2
0
Vehicle Tank Meter Systems
10
30
0
0
Bulk Station Meter System
0
6
0
0
Grease-Measuring Devices
2
24
0
0
LINEAR MEASURES:
Yard Sticks
0
4
0
0
MISCELLANEOUS
0
1
0
0
Totals
52
342
6
14
TRIAL WEIGHINGS
COMMODITY :
Number Tested
Number Correct
Incorrect
Under
Over
Bread
24
24
0
0
Butter
211
211
0
0
Dry Commodities
268
268
0
0
Flour
24
24
0
0
Fruits and Vegetables
416
399
3
14
Lard
58
58
0
0
Meats and Provisions
11
10
0
1
Potatoes
178
129
6
43
Totals
1,190
1,123
9
58
65
DOG OFFICER
1947]
INSPECTIONS
Paper or fibre cartons
27
Pedlers' licenses
3
Milk jars
403
Coal certificates
2
Markings of:
Bread
57
Food packages
1,055
Clinical thermometers
101
Ice cream cans
62
Oil jars
118
Other inspections
252
Total
2,080
TESTS MADE
Re-tests of gasoline devices after sealing
10
Manufacturers' sealed milk jars 17
MEASUREMENTS MADE FOR TOWN
Gravel, 22 loads 88.0 cu. yds.
Loam, 5 loads 20.0 cu. yds.
This department wishes to extend its sincere gratitude to those who cooperated in the performance of my duties as Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Respectfully submitted,
C. WALTER BURRILL, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Dog Officer
Swampscott, Mass., January 7, 1948.
To the Board of Selectmen,
Administration Building,
Swampscott, Mass.
Gentlemen:
There were 797 complaints received by me concerning dogs within the town during the year 1947 all of which were investigated and remedied.
There were 596 dogs turned over to the Dog Officer, 147 being restored to their various owners and 356 proven to be stray dogs, were disposed of. Many dogs within the town have died during the past year, some being killed by motor vehicles, others died of natural causes.
All owners who had neglected to license their dogs as provided by statute have been notified and required to procure the necessary license. The total number of licenses issued during the year 1947 was 662.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIS E. SHEPHARD,
Dog Officer.
66
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Report of Planning Board
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
The Town Meeting Warrant for 1947 carried Articles 47, 48, 49 and 50, each requesting permission to make variation of the zoning by-laws.
The Planning Board studied the articles in question and also held a public hearing on March 18, 1947, as required by law. At the hearing more than a majority of those expressing an opinion objected to the passage of the articles mentioned above. Following the hearing the petitioners for Articles 48 and 50 requested that they be withdrawn, and in keeping with this action the Board recommended rejection. Rejection was also recommended by the Board on Article 49 because its acceptance would create a traffic hazard.
We recommended rejection of Article 47 for its wording was so restrictive that it obviously would not be approved by the Attorney General's office nor upheld in the courts.
The Town Meeting accepted the recommendations of the Board on all four articles.
On April 9, 1947, approval was given to a plan of the sub-division for a portion of the land on Galloupe's Point.
On May 12, 1947, approval was given to a plan of sub-division for property at the junction of Shepard and Atlantic Avenues. These are the only sub-divisions approved during the year.
There has been some activity in connection with the property identified as the Sprague Estate but no plan of sub-division has been submitted.
A sub-division plan was submitted to us unofficially for certain land located between Essex and Cherry Streets but as the plan con- templated the use of a dead-end street we requested that efforts be made to change the plan so that a dead-end way would not be required. There has been no further discussion of the matter.
The proposed new Zoning By-Law submitted to the Town Meet- ing but not accepted in 1946 has been revised and will be included in the 1948 Warrant. At present the text of the by-law and the zoning map are being prepared for distribution to Town Meeting members and other Town officials during January 1948. It is hoped that these booklets will be studied carefully so that those interested may be in a position to discuss the by-law at the hearing to be held prior to the Annual Town Meeting. The date of the hearing, together with the com- plete text of the proposed ordinance and the accompanying map will appear in the public press as required by law. It is very important that there be complete discussion of this matter at the hearing because the law does not permit material changes to be made on the floor of the Town Meeting when the Article is submitted. Furthermore, if it has to be completely re-advertised, the Town is committed to additional expense; therefore, the Planning Board hopes that all differences may be adjusted so that the much needed improvement in zoning will be accepted.
Respectfully submitted,
THE PLANNING BOARD. James R. Maddock, Chairman Ralph L. Williams, Secretary Chester A. Brown Gordon L. Brown Alexander B. Way, Jr.
67
TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
1947]
Board of Trustees of the Public Library
Swampscott, Mass., January 8, 1948.
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
The Board of Trustees of the Swampscott Public Library submits its report for the year 1947.
CIRCULATION
There has been a slight decrease in the total circulation of books and periodicals, which has been almost entirely in the fiction field. Interlibrary loan borrowing increased during the year by 25%, indi- cating both greater students' use and more specialized requests from the general public. During the year there was displayed the much publicized collection of "Great Books" and from this collection there was at least 1 circulated every day for a period of nearly 8 months. The American Library Association list of 50 outstanding books of 1945, of which the Library owned all but 6, was also very popular.
The details concerning circulation are given at the end of this report.
ADDITION TO LIBRARY BUILDING
Attention is again directed to the need for an addition to the library building. The downstairs store room, which, because of lack of space and other inadequate facilities is closed to the public, was again expanded; this time to its absolute limit by the addition of more book cases. This leaves the building with no further shelf room avail- able, and although the library force can handle the situation as it now is for another year or so, the public cannot be adequately served in the present building for a much longer period.
PERSONNEL CHANGES
Mrs. Miriam Porter, an Assistant Librarian, left on March 1, to join her husband in Washington. She had been a valuable Assistant, particularly in developing the work with high school students. Mrs. John Johnson has assisted two afternoons a week during school ses- sions, but otherwise the position was vacant until October 14, when Miss Ruth E. Pollard was appointed a full time general Assistant.
In March the Board decided, since no trained library assistants were available, or likely to be available for some time, to create the position of Library Secretary, in order to relieve the Librarian of much detailed office work and accounting. This position was filled by the appointment of Miss Barbara O'Neill. She has filled the position most acceptably and also has assisted when necessary in both the Children's Room and the Adult Desk.
Mr. Hay, Janitor for many years, resigned in March because of his continuing ill health. After an interim, when the janitorial staff from the Town Administration Building carried on at the Library, Mr. Andrew Tennent was made Janitor on April 22.
There have been two changes in the Board of Trustees during the year. Mr. Lee T. Gray, a member of the Board since 1932, and Chair- man for several years, resigned in January. Mrs. C. Fred Smith, Jr.,
68
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
was appointed to fill the unexpired term, and in March she was elected Trustee for 3 years.
The Reverend James D. Cummins, a Trustee since 1940, resigned in December, and, as of the date of this report, his successor has not been appointed.
NEW ITEMS
Under the direction of the Park Department, material improve- ments have been made to the yard in the rear of the Library; an un- sightly fence has been removed; the hedge has been transplanted, a path built and the lawn reseeded.
Flowers for the Circulation Desk have been received each week from the different Garden Clubs of the Town. These flowers have occasioned much favorable comment and have given pleasure and in- terest to the visitors to the building.
An index to Thompson's Swampscott, the one local history of the Town, was made during the year and typed in quadruplicate.
Book talks were given by the Librarian at meetings of the Garden Club of Swampscott, the Tuesday Garden Club and the Women's Guild of the First Church Congregational.
Mrs. Linden, Acting Children's Librarian, visited grades 2 through 6 in all the schools, explaining the use of the Library and services offered.
Fine cooperation between the schools and the Library has again continued during the year. Many teachers now inform the Librarian of the material they are recommending for reading, and, as a result, the library staff is able to make it more readily available. The library staff is at present compiling a list of available biographical material not in reference books, on the lives of scientists, for use of the schools.
During the year several collections of books have been lent to the Junior High School for a tryout in a library project there.
CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT
The work in the Children's Department has gone well under Mrs. Linden's enthusiastic leadership; 74 children joined the summer read- ing club; certificate reading has continued on a voluntary basis. Book Week offered varied activity in games and contests and concluded with a study hour, at which Mrs. John A. Lord generously substituted for the Children's Librarian, who was ill. The Spring Book Festival had as a climax a Puppet Show put on by the Junior High School pupils, under the direction of Miss Hester Dwinnell.
The Police Department has cooperated with the Library, as in former years, by transporting 54 class room collections to the various schools.
GIFTS TO THE LIBRARY
During the year the Library received from Mrs. Edward Hollis a gift of about 100 volumes, mainly of science, and in excellent condi- tion; a gift of 242 books, miscellaneous titles, from Mr. Lambert G. Snow, and a gift of 4 volumes of Pictorial History of World War II from the Joseph L. Stevens Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars. Donors of other gifts are as follows :-
American Christian Palestine Committee
American Optometric Association
1947]
TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
69
American Zionist Emergency Council
Mr. H. F. Anderson
Mr. Henry Baldwin
Hon. George Bates
Miss Ruth R. Blodgett
Boston & Maine Railroad
Mrs. R. B. Buxton Cancer Society
Mr. William T. Carpenter
Mrs. Hazel Chase
Chrysler Corporation
Consul General of Guatemala
Mr. F. W. Dau
Mr. Frank C. Durkee
Essex Institute
General Electric Company
Mr. Philip P. Johnson
Labor's Non-Partisan League
Lynn Institution for Savings
Lynn Telephone & Telegraph Company
Peter Maitland
Massachusetts Secretary of State
Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.
National Academy of Sciences
National Association of Broadcasters
National Foreign Trade Council
New England Regional Office Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith
Mr. G. W. Pearce, Jr.
Polish Embassy
Mr. Arthur Pound
G. P. Putnam's & Sons
Ski News
Miss Phyllis Southwick
Dr. M. J. Steiner
Mr. Harold S. Walker
Miss Grace Young
STATISTICS
Circulation :
Adult fiction
32,955
Adult non-fiction
15,751
Adult periodicals
3,777
52,483
Juvenile fiction
22,831
Juvenile non-fiction
3,856
Juvenile periodicals
473
27,160
Total
79,643
Books:
Books in the library January 1, 1947
30,391
New books added
1,634
Books discarded
1,470
Books in the library January 1, 1948
30,555
Attendance:
Adult
34,344
Juvenile
11,254
45,598
70
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Registered borrowers:
Adult
2,778
Juvenile
830
3,608
Fine receipts turned over to the town
$1,199.20
LIBRARY STAFF (December 31, 1947)
Edith N. Snow, Librarian
Doris B. Linden, Acting Children's Librarian
Susan Duval, Assistant
Ruth E. Pollard, Assistant
Barbara O'Neill, Library Secretary
Andrew Tennent, Janitor
Part-time Helpers :- Mary Hutchinson, Lorraine Willows, Beryl Doliber, Marjorie Symonds.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE W. HOWE, Chairman, MARCIA G. SMITH,
Board of Trustees.
Superintendent of Cemetery
To the Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my annual report for the year 1947.
The total interments for the year were 84. All receipts for fu- nerals, foundations and sale of lots were paid to the Collector of Taxes.
Sunken graves were filled and seeded.
Trees and shrubberies were pruned and cared for.
Some of the larger trees were taken down and lots were replaced with new sod as this will give us a new growth of grass in the spring.
Weed killer was used over all the walks and avenues.
I recommend that more single and double graves be plotted as they are in great demand. The Town Engineer has agreed to cooperate with me in making the required plans.
I wish to express my appreciation to all departments which have cooperated with me.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN E. WOOD, Superintendent.
71
RECREATION PROGRAM
1947]
Report of Instructor at Jackson Park
At the beginning of this year, in the middle of June, there were enough boys interested in baseball to make up four midget teams from the age eight to eleven. (I think that this should be extended to include twelve years of age too.) This interest should show the people of the town that two parks should be in operation during the sum- mer months. The number of boys showing interest this year at ONE PARK ONLY should show us the general attitude of the boys in Swampscott. If they have the opportunity to play they will take to it like a child eating candy.
At this time we have but one instructor. It would be necessary to have an instructor at each park and a head instructor or a SUPER- VISOR OF PARKS. The hours for instruction should be extended to include Saturdays. This would be so the instruction would be equal for the Midgets and the Juniors. Besides having baseball it has been suggested by several persons about the town to have women instructors to take charge of smaller children.
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