USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1950 > Part 12
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The present law requires a semi-annual check by the Division of the Necessaries of Life to determine the overall change in the cost of living and should this change be more than 5 percent, the increase or decrease must be applied to all assistance payments. It is our understanding that the increase in the cost of living during the first half of 1950, was determined to be just short of 5 percent, but we anticipate a general increase in all budgets shortly, to cover the increased cost of living during the latter part of 1950.
At the recent State Election, the voters of Massachusetts ap- proved the referendum liberalizing Old Age Assistance and this law is due to go into effect on June 1, 1951. The principal changes pro- vided by this law are, a minimum payment of $75.00 monthly, a change in the eligible age from 65 to 63 years, the inclusion of aliens in the program for the first time and does away with the responsi- bility of children to support their parents. Based upon our present case load, this law would add $20,000.00 per year to our expenditures by the establishment of the $75.00 minimum payment alone. Added to this, would be the addition to our rolls of many elderly persons now being cared for by their children, aliens of 63 years or more and others 63 or 64 years of age, who were not eligible before. It is conceivable that in our Town there could be between 50 and 75 elderly people now being cared for by their children, who would automatically become eligible to receive the minimum monthly grant of $75.00. This last item alone could cause an annual outlay of from $45,000.00 to $65,000.00 per year. Although the law states that the added expense of the new law shall be reimbursed by the State, the Town would have to supply the money to effect these changes and would receive their reimbursements some months later. State reim- bursements at the present time, are some six months in arrears as compared to three months for Federal reimbursements.
However, inasmuch as there are no Federal funds available to help carry out this law, we feel that some group (probably non- political) will see to it that the law will not go into effect on June 1st in anything like its present form.
We again wish to express our appreciation of the splendid co- operation we have received from the Swampscott Community Service, Inc., to Miss Sylvia Chesley, the Visiting Nurse and her assistant Mrs. Lois Smith who made a total of 889 visits during 1950 to re- cipients in all categories of assistance and to Chief Francis P. Wall and the members of his department, for their usual prompt and considerate service in moving patients to and from Hospitals, Con- valescent Homes and State Institutions.
SUMMARY OF CASES
1949
1950
Total Receiving Assistance
192
194
Total Receiving Aid in Other Cities and Towns
24
23
Number of Cases Receiving Aid December 31
160
160
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Cases Closed
30
35
New Applications
31
35
New Applications Withdrawn
3
1
Cases Accepted
26
34
Cases Rejected
2
0
The following is a summary of the financial operations of our department for the year 1950.
EXPENDITURES
For Assistance
From Town Appropriation
$68,730.62
From Federal Funds 40,217.42
Total
$108,948.04
For Salaries & Wages
From Town Appropriation
$ 3,145.53
From Federal Funds 2,665.70
Total $ 5,811.23
For Administration
From Federal Funds 336.04
Total Expenditures
$115,095.31
REIMBURSEMENTS
For Assistance
State Department
$45,606.07*
Other Cities & Towns 1,890.48*
Federal Government
45,596.06
Total $ 93,092.61
For Administration
Federal Government 1,900.66
$ 94,993.27
Net Cost to Swampscott for 1950 $ 20,102.04 * (Not available for use by this department)
Balance of Federal Funds on Hand December 31, 1950 For Administration $ 2,040.45
For Assistance 22,946.18
$24,986.63
Respectfully submitted,
WALTER L. RANGER, FRED M. SEATON, DONALD REDFERN, Bureau of Old Age Assistance.
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TOWN ENGINEER
1950]
Town Engineer
Board of Selectmen
Town of Swampscott
Gentlemen:
Submitted herewith is the annual report of services rendered by the Engineering Department during the calendar year ending December 31, 1950.
SELECTMEN'S DEPARTMENT
At the request of the Board of Selectmen, layout plans were made for the acceptance of the following streets: Blodgett Avenue, Bates Road, Cardillo Terrace, Reid Terrace, Commonwealth Avenue and Terrace, Porter's Court.
Estimates for 1950 Sidewalk Program.
Plan showing the voting precincts of the town.
Estimating and supervising the ledge removal on Humphrey Street.
Estimating cost of pointing the wall at rear of the Central Fire House.
Plan of a portion of Puritan Road for moving a house.
Estimate of cost to resurface Essex Street from Burpee Road to Salem line; and Humphrey Street widening for Chapter 90.
SANITARY SEWERS
New sanitary sewers were constructed in Dukes Street, Brown Road, Pleasant Street, Sherwood Road, Pine Hill Road, Walnut Road, Forest Avenue, Muriel Road, Mountwood Road, Sumner Street, Den- nison Avenue and Salem Street.
The above mentioned main sanitary sewers will add about one mile to our present system.
Lines and grades were given for cleaning Hawthorne Brook for a distance of about 500 lin. ft. north of Humphrey Street.
The Engineering services required by the Sewer Department included preliminary surveys, completion of preliminary plans, esti- mate of quantities, and cost of construction, preparation of specifi- cations, designation of lines and grades in the field, supervision of construction, preparation of final plans, computation of final quan- tities and cost, computations for assessments. Record plans and de- scription of necessary easements for these sewers were completed.
BOARD OF HEALTH
At the request of the Health Officer we have assisted him at various times in locating cesspools and inspecting septic tanks in areas where there are no sanitary sewers.
Estimates were also made for fencing in proposed Dumping Areas.
ASSESSORS' DEPARTMENT
As real estate transfers and land development plans became available, corrections were made on all plans of the assessors' de-
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
partment and said plans are up to date as of December 31, 1950. This work included a study of over three hundred and seventy-two abstracts and several land development plans and Land Court Plans.
PARK DEPARTMENT
Lines and grades, upon request of the Park Department, were given for three baseball fields, a parking area, a basketball court, and design and layout of a sprinkler system at Phillips Park; a basketball court at Abbott Park and the same at Jackson Park plus a new Hockey Rink. The Master Plan of Phillips Park was brought up to date showing all the new play areas. A new play area was staked out on Windsor Avenue.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Two traffic studies have been requested by the Police Depart- ment and these plans will be made in 1951. When these plans are completed they are presented to the State Department of Public Safety for study and recommendation regarding traffic signals.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
The Engineering services required by the Highway Department included preliminary surveys, completion of preliminary plans, esti- mate of quantities and cost of construction, the designation of lines and grades in the field, as follows:
King's Beach Terrace and Porter's Court, a new surface on the entire streets.
Sidewalks and Curbing, Humphrey Street, Morton Road, Erie Street, Atlantic Avenue, Bradlee Avenue, Phillips Avenue, Nason Road, Huron Street, Burpee Road, Magnolia Road, Forest Avenue, and Lexington Circle. Surveys for lines at No. 38 Hawthorne Road, No. 835 Humphrey Street and Francis Road corner of Morton Road.
STREET LINE SURVEYS
At the request of citizens concerned, six surveys were made for the purpose of locating street lines as established by the town plans on Pleasant Street, Redington Street, King Street, Atlantic Avenue corner of Bradlee Avenue, Beach Bluff Avenue, Bradlee Avenue near Phillips Avenue, and Sherwood Road. This work in some cases in- cluded the study of private deeds and visits to the Essex Registry of Deeds in Salem to straighten out errors found in old plans and deeds.
WATER DEPARTMENT
The Water Department has had the largest program in the past year of any year since the establishment of said department.
The Engineering services required by the Water Department in- cluded preliminary surveys, preliminary plans, estimates of ledge excavation, final location surveys and plans. Water pipe location plans were made for the following streets: Alden Road, 550 lin. ft .; Blodgett Avenue, 571 lin. ft .; Charlotte Road, 145 lin. ft .; Cliff Road, 285 lin. ft .; Dale Street, 328 lin. ft .; Dukes Street, 90 lin. ft .; Foster Road, 159 lin. ft .; Laurel Road, 603 lin. ft .; Lewis Road, 229 lin. ft .; Linden Avenue, 629 lin. ft .; Loring Avenue, 248 lin. ft .; connection with the City of Salem, MacArthur Circle, 122 lin. ft .; Muriel Road, 447 lin. ft .; Nantucket Avenue, 39 lin. ft .; Nason Road, 130 lin. ft .; Phillips Beach Avenue, 88 lin. ft .; Pine Hill Road, 132 lin. ft .; Shepard Avenue, 258 lin. ft .; Sherwood Road, 77 lin. ft .; Stanley Road, 298 lin. ft .; Swampscott Avenue, 292 lin. ft .; Tid Street, 320 lin. ft .; Worcester Avenue, 180 lin. ft .; Young Avenue, 603 lin. ft .; and relocation of 460 lin. ft. on Mountwood Road.
135
TOWN ENGINEER
1950]
The total of mains laid for 1950 being 7283 lin. ft. or 1.38 miles,
The following new roads were checked for line and grade, and compared with the planning board plans, and a letter sent to the Water and Sewerage Board as to the findings on the same: Nason Road extension, Laurel Road, Alden Road, Swampscott Avenue, Stanley Road, Pine Hill Road, Linden Avenue extension, Walnut Road, Young Avenue, and Lewis Road.
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
At the request of the Superintendent of Schools an estimate of the cost of resurfacing the parking area at the High School was made.
The committee on new schools made several requests for plans of different lots to be studied as possible school sites, and they are listed as follows: Plans and descriptions of the Chick property ad- jacent to the Hadley School, Phillips Park area, Tedesco Club area, land between Walker Road and Paradise Road opposite Franklin Avenue, and Rowe Farm. At the Clarke School a contour survey was made of the entire location beginning June 12, 1950 and finished plans were submitted to the Committee on new schools July 20, 1950.
TOWN COUNSEL
Surveys and computations were made for land takings at the Clarke School and a plan and description for recording the same. Another description was given for land takings for a new road from Plymouth Avenue to the standpipe location as voted at the annual town meeting.
Engineering advice has been given the Town Counsel from time to time regarding Zoning and Planning Board Plans.
BOARD OF APPEALS
The Engineering Department was called into the Court Case of Forbes vs. Town of Swampscott to testify as to the widths of streets in the vicinity of Marshall and Humphrey Streets.
BUILDING INSPECTOR
The Building Inspector made one request for the location of a building at No. 161 Bradlee Avenue.
In addition to the work requested by the several departments, estimates for Chapter 90 work were made, and Humphrey Street was resurfaced from the Lynn line to the Fish House. Surveys were made and stone bounds set on Blodgett Avenue, Alden Road and Forest Avenue.
Many requests have been made for town maps by citizens of the town, business houses, boy scouts, girl scouts and many others. Over five hundred maps have been given out this year. The Master Plan will be brought up to date again in 1951 and new maps ordered.
PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT
This department functioned with a Chief Engineer, Assistant Engineer, Transitman and Rodman-Inspector.
The department is in need of more personnel and equipment if it is to function as in the past, due to the increased areas being de- veloped and the need for reconnaissance surveys for sanitary sewers, drains and water mains, we find that the work required for 1950 has not been completed and cannot be completed without additional help.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
The department is still in need of more steel filing cabinets, a new transit, two new levelling rods, steel tapes and field equipment. This equipment should be purchased in 1951.
In closing, I wish to thank all the different departments for their cooperation during the past year, without which we could not have accomplished the large program we have had this year.
Respectfully submitted,
HOWARD L. HAMILL, Town Engineer.
Swampscott World War II Memorial Fund FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
The Board of Trustees of the Swampscott World War II Mem- orial Fund submits this, its first annual report. The principal respon- sibility of the Trustees, which has been accomplished, was to organize all matters so that the objective of the Memorial which is to award scholarships, will be realized in June 1951 and thereafter.
It was necessary to secure a special Act of the Legislature to establish this Memorial Fund and it seems not only desirable but necessary to quote the Act in its entirety. The Act follows:
"Chapter 119, Commonwealth of Massachusetts . . In the Year One Thouand Nine Hundred and Forty-nine AN ACT authorizing the Town of Swampscott to Provide a Scholarship Fund for Grad- uates of the High School of said Town.
"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as fol- lows: SECTION 1. The town of Swampscott is hereby authorized to raise and appropriate the sum of ten thousand dollars to provide a scholarship fund the income of which may be used for higher edu- cation of graduates of the high school of said town living therein, and said fund shall be dedicated as a memorial to veterans of World War II. SECTION 2. Said town is hereby further authorized to provide, by vote of the town, for the election by the voters of the appointment by its selectmen of a board of trustees, consisting of such number of members as the town shall by vote determine, to administer said fund, which shall be held in the custody of the town treasurer, together with any contributions thereto from private , sources, which contributions the town, or said trustees in its behalf, may from time to time receive. The town by vote may fix the terms of office of said trustees, and make other provisions in respect to the administering of said fund not inconsistent with the provisions of this act. SECTION 3. Action taken under authority of this act at the annual town meeting in the current year shall be as effective as though it had been in full force and effect on the date of which the warrant for said meeting was posted. SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage." The act was passed in both houses of the Legislature on March 29, 1949 and signed by Governor Dever on April 4, 1949.
At the Adjourned Annual Town Meeting, held on March 28, 1950 it was voted to approve the recommendation of the World War II Memorial Committee and establish the Memorial Fund.
On April 24, 1950 the Board of Selectmen appointed the Board of Trustees consisting of the following: Clement E. Kennedy,
137
WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL FUND
1950]
Philip H. Stafford, Benjamin Goldberg, John R. Cooper, David F. Doherty, Albert F. Pashby and Ernest Manchin.
The first meeting of the Board of Trustees was held on April 26, 1950 at the New Ocean House, at the kind invitation of Mr. Clement E. Kennedy, President. The Board elected Ernest Manchin, Chairman and Benjamin Goldberg, Secretary. It was voted that the name of the Fund would be, SWAMPSCOTT WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL FUND.
It was voted to request the Town Treasurer, who is the cus- todian of the fund, to deposit $5000 of the Fund in the Provident Institution for Saving, Boston, Mass., and the other $5000 be de- posited in the Salem Five Cents Savings Bank, Salem, Mass. These two banks were used because they were paying interest at the rate of 21/2 %. Time did not permit a thorough study to find absolutely safe investments which pay higher returns. This must be considered a permanent fund and the greatest care must be taken to protect its capital. As contributions are received the Trustees may decide to purchase good safe securities which will pay higher returns.
At subsequent meetings the following was accomplished.
The Board of Trustees accepted with thanks a leather bound book donated by Mr. Benjamin Goldberg. The book will contain the Secretary's reports. On the front cover inscribed in gold lettering is the name of the Memorial Fund. On the back cover is inscribed the source of the inspiration for the Memorial, "It is for us the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work - Lincoln".
An Agreement of Trust was drafted by a sub-committee, headed by Albert F. Pashby, and was adopted by the Board. The Agreement of Trust follows:
SWAMPSCOTT WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL FUND, AGREEMENT OF TRUST
"Whereas the Town of Swampscott, as an enduring expression of gratitude to those of her sons and daughters who served in the defense of the Republic during World War II, at the Adjourned Annual Town Meeting held on March 28, 1950 and acting by and through its town meeting members voted as follows: 'Voted Article 27. That the town raise and appropriate the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for a Scholarship Fund as a Memorial to the Vet- erans of World War II under the provisions of Chapter 119 of the Acts of 1949 and establish a Board of Trustees to be appointed by the Selectmen to administer said fund and establish rules and regu- lations covering the awarding of scholarships from the income of said fund. Unanimous.'; and
"Whereas the Board of Selectmen, pursuant to said vote, have appointed a Board of Trustees consisting of the following: John R. Cooper, David F. Doherty, Benjamin Goldberg, Clement E. Kennedy, Ernest Manchin, Albert F. Pashby, and Philip H. Stafford;
"NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed as follows: the trust fund shall be held, managed, invested and reinvested by the trustees afore- said, and by their successors, IN TRUST FOREVER, and the net income therefrom shall be accumulated and held and paid from time to time to that person or to those persons, who shall from time to time hereafter be awarded the SWAMPSCOTT WORLD WAR II MEM- ORIAL SCHOLARSHIP.
138
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
"Having performed their duties in accordance with the statutes of the Commonwealth and the decisions of its Supreme Judicial Court from time to time prevailing in relation to performance of said duties by trustees within said Commonwealth, the trustees hereunder shall have no further liability, nor shall any one or more of said trustees ever be liable for involuntary losses, or, if acting in good faith, for mistakes of judgment, or for the act of default of another.
"No trustee hereunder shall ever be required to furnish bond or sureties; nor receive any compensation for services hereunder.
"The Treasurer of the Town of Swampscott shall be the custodian of the trust fund.
"The trustees shall be seven (7) in number, may act by a ma- jority and may be of either sex. All trustees shall be residents of the Town of Swampscott. Of those trustees originally appointed, as here- inbefore designated, two shall serve for the term of one year from September 1, 1950, two for the term of two years from that date, and three for the term of three years from that date. Thereafter, as the term of any trustee expires his successor shall be appointed for the term of three years.
"The trustees shall annually, in the month of September meet for the purpose of electing a chairman and a secretary from among their number, who shall serve until the election of their successors at the next annual meeting, and for the purpose of transacting whatever other business may properly come before the meeting.
"A trustee may resign office hereunder by a writing signed and delivered to the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Swampscott. If, because of death, resignation, termination of said residence or for any other reason a vacancy shall occur in the office of trustee prior to the normal expiration of his term as above provided, appointment of a successor trustee to serve until such expiration of term shall be made in writing by the said Board of Selectmen; and each successor trustee so appointed, and each successor trustee appointed by the said Board of Selectmen upon the normal expiration of any term of office, as hereinbefore provided, shall become and be a co-trustee hereunder upon written acceptance of said office.
"The trustees shall make an accounting, in each calendar year, of their doings as trustees hereunder for the preceding calendar year, and this accounting shall be delivered to the Board of Selectmen not less than forty-five (45) days before the Annual Town Meeting held in the year in which said accounting is delivered.
"The trustees are authorized and empowered to accept, or re- ject, and if they accept, to hold in trust hereunder as a part of the trust fund, any property which may hereafter be contributed to this trust fund from any source, public or private.
"The award of scholarships hereunder shall be made by the Scholarship Committee appointed and acting under the Statement of Qualifications and Procedure of even date hereto attached and hereby adopted, and as the same may from time to time be amended by the said trustees.
"This agreement of Trust may at any time be altered, amended, or revoked by an instrument in writing adopted and signed by a majority of the Board of Selectmen and a majority of the Board of Trustees which shall be attached hereto and become a part hereof.
"IN WITNESS WHEREOF the said Board of Selectmen of the Town of Swampscott, and the above-listed originally appointed Board
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WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL FUND
1950]
of Trustees, have hereunto set their hands and seal as of the 28th day of December 1950."
Philip H. Stafford was chairman of a subcommittee which drafted the Statement of Qualifications and Procedure for the Memorial. Mr. James H. Dunn, principal of the High School was asked for advice and his recommendations were included. The Statement follows:
"SWAMPSCOTT WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL FUND, STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS AND PROCEDURE
"The Board of Trustees of the Swampscott World War II Mem- orial Fund hereby prescribe the following qualifications and proce- dure with regard to the award of scholarships to be granted under authority of the vote on Article 27 of the Adjourned Annual Town Meeting held on March 28, 1950:
"1. Each Scholarship is to be awarded to a graduate of Swamp- scott High School who resides in the Town of Swampscott, with preference being given to those graduates who have resided in said Town for at least three years prior to such graduation, said award to be made to a member of the Senior Class in the year of his or her graduation.
"2. If in any year it is found that no graduate is qualified for award of the scholarship, the award may be omitted for that year. If the winner of a scholarship award should be prevented from using it because of illness, it may, at the discretion of the committee, be deferred for one year; or if called into the armed service, it may be deferred until the recipient is out of the service. Payment is to be made to the bursar of the school or college entered.
"3. The Basis for the award of the scholarships shall be the scholastic record, character and personality of each candidate. School citizenship and extra curricular activity participated in shall also be taken into account.
"4. Presentation of the award shall be made at a time and place and in a manner which will serve as a fitting expression of gratitude to those who served in defense of the Republic during the course of World War II.
"5. Award of the scholarships shall be made only to those grad- uates who will pursue a course of study leading to a Bachelor's degree at a school or college which is a member of, or approved by the Asso- ciation of American Universities or the American Association of Teachers Colleges.
"6. The determination of awards shall be made by a Scholarship Committee to consist of a member of the School Committee of the Town of Swampscott, the Principal of Swampscott High School, and a member of the aforesaid Board of Trustees, the committee to select its own chairman.
"Witness the hands and seals of the said Board of Trustees as of this 28th day of December 1950."
At the December 6, 1950 meeting of the Board it was voted to request the Town Counsel to proceed to have Chapter 119 of the Acts of 1949 amended so that SECTION 1 will read "The town of Swampscott is hereby authorized to raise and appropriate the sum of ten thousand dollars to provide a scholarship fund the income of which may be used for the higher education of high school graduates residing in said town, and said fund shall be dedicated as a memorial to veterans of World War II."
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