USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1951 > Part 13
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SELECTMEN'S DEPARTMENT
At the request of the Board of Selectmen, layout plans were made for the following streets: Dale Street, Dennison Avenue, Wal- nut Road, Lewis Road Extension, Blaney Circle, Pine Hill Road and Reid Terrace.
An investigation of the embankment of Elmwood Road and the sidewalk of Hardy Road at the southeast intersection was made and a report sent to the Board recommending step and sidewalk repair.
A pencil tracing of the Bates Road and Phillips Park area was made and submitted at a hearing.
An estimate of cost was made for fencing in Foster's Pond at Windsor Avenue and the work was completed by the Park De- partment.
Estimates were made for the 1951 Sidewalk Program. I am very sorry to state that this program was not completed because of pressure of work upon the Department.
SANITARY SEWERS
New sanitary sewers are being constructed in the following streets : Pleasant Street, Lewis Road, Alden Road and Shelton Road. These sewers will not be completed until 1952 because of the late letting of the contracts.
The sewers laid in 1950 were computed for final cost; Record Plans have been made of the same and the necessary computation for assessment recorded.
The Salem Street and Mountwood Road sewer trenches were resurfaced and placed in good condition.
The two culverts on Fisherman's Beach have been rebuilt after several setbacks by tides, etc., the contract has not been closed how- ever because of some cleaning up to be done in the Spring of 1952.
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The Engineering services required by the Sewer Department included preliminary surveys, completion of preliminary plans, estimate of quantities, the cost of construction, preparation of speci- fications, designation of lines and grades in the field, supervision of construction, preparation of final plans, computation of final quan- tities and cost, computation for assessments; record plans and descrip- tions of necessary easements for these sewers were completed.
The drainage situation at the New Ocean House property is of a serious nature. All the land in the New Ocean House area of this drainage has settled to the extent that the culvert constructed by the town in 1916 has collapsed in several places.
In order to correct this situation it will be necessary to drive piles in order to hold the grades of the culverts, which will have to be rebuilt.
This department has made an extensive study of the location; borings and grades have been taken and plans to remedy conditions here are being made as fast as is possible to do so.
BOARD OF HEALTH
At the request of the Health Officer we have assisted him at various times in locating cesspools and septic tanks in areas where there are no sanitary sewers.
Estimates of sanitary sewers have also been given in order for the Board of Health to place a sanitary sewer program before the Town Meeting.
ASSESSORS' DEPARTMENT
As real estate transfers and land development plans became available corrections were made on all plans of the Assessors' De- partment. As there has been an increase in land development and building, these plans will not be complete until early 1952. This work included a study of over four hundred abstracts and several land development plans and Land Court plans.
PARK DEPARTMENT
Lines and grades were given at Phillips Park Playground for grading a practice football field.
Designing a Centennial Parking Stamp for the beach parking area was completed late in 1951.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Traffic surveys and studies were made for the Police Depart- ment on Humphrey Street near Phillips Street and at the inter- section of Banks and Devens Roads.
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: Drainage on Atlantic Avenue near Charles Road and Brown Road. Resurfacing Forest Avenue from Magnolia Road to Walnut Road, and Dale Street from Humphrey Street to Sumner Street. Sidewalks and Curbing: Huron Street, Superior Street, Cherry Street, Magnolia Road, and Puritan Road. Computation and assessments of 1950 sidewalks and curbing.
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CIVIL DEFENSE
An Organization Chart for Civil Defense was drawn up for the former defense director - Mr. Harold Walker.
WATER DEPARTMENT
The Engineering services required by the Water Department included preliminary surveys, preliminary plans, estimates of ledge excavation, final location survey and plans. Water pipe locations in the field were made for the following streets: Muriel Road, Charlotte Road, Shelton Road, Stanley Road, Standpipe Road, Plymouth Avenue Extension, Cutting Road, Cliff Road, Dukes Street, Laurel Road, Nan- tucket Avenue, Young Avenue, Sherwood Road, Linden Avenue, and Shepard Avenue.
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
At the request of the Superintendent of Schools two tracings were made of the area in the vicinity of the Stanley School.
At the new Clarke School the sanitary and drainage connec- tions were checked and approved by the Plumbing Inspector.
TOWN COUNSEL
Engineering advice has been given the Town Counsel regarding the Zoning and Planning Board Plans.
Land Court plans were drawn up for the extension of Bates Road across land owned by Mrs. Ross.
Computations and plans were made of land off Essex Street for the purpose of conveying land, taken at the 1951 Town Meeting for Cemetery purposes.
A description of the forty foot strip of land adjacent to the standpipe, was given for the purpose of clearing the title.
BUILDING INSPECTOR
Engineering advice has been given the Building Inspector dur- ing the year, regarding Zoning and Planning Board Plans, where specific setback and areas are in question for building purposes.
A plan showing the sub-division of Residential and Business Zones on Paradise Road near Franklin Avenue was made for the purpose of setting new construction lines.
STREET LINES, ETC.
At the request of citizens concerned, surveys were made and grades given on the following streets of the town: Cherry Street, Norfolk Avenue, Gale Road and Rockyledge Road.
Stone Bounds, for the purpose of holding street lines, were set on Dale Street, Forest Avenue, Cherry Street, Phillips Avenue and several bounds were reset when construction of new homes had moved the same.
TOWN CLERK
A design was made for the Town Clerk for a Centennial Stamp to be used on the postage machine.
PLANNING BOARD
Engineering advice has been given the Planning Board in the past year regarding the many sub-divisions of land which have been presented during the year. In some cases computations were nec-
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WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL FUND
1951]
essary and pencil sketches were made of areas where there were questions of zoning.
TOWN MAPS
Many requests have been made for town maps by citizens, business houses, boy scouts, girl scouts, government agents, and many others. Over five hundred maps have been given out this year and our supply has been exhausted. The Master Plan will be brought up to date and a new centennial edition will be printed in 1952.
PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT
This department functioned with a Chief Engineer, Assistant Engineer, Transitman for six months and a Rodman-Inspector. We have worked out a system with Northeastern University to obtain some of their students to work for the department. The department. still needs a permanent transitman and draftsman but we are un- able to obtain the same due to the higher rate of compensation paid by the Federal Government and industry. Experienced men are im- possible to get. Many surveys have been made and plans for these surveys are in the making as fast as we can possibly get them out.
In closing, I wish to thank all the various 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 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
The Board of Trustees of the Swampscott World War II Mem- orial Fund, submits its second annual report.
The outstanding event of the year was the awarding of the first Scholarship from the Fund.
After the Trustees decided that there would be one Scholarship awarded, in the amount of $250, the Scholarship Committee was organized, as provided by paragraph 6 of the Statement of Quali- fications and Procedure. Mrs. Madeline M. Clark, represented the School Committee. Mr. James H. Dunn is a member of the Commit- tee by virtue of his position of Principal of Swampscott High School. Ernest Manchin represented the Trustees of the Fund.
The Scholarship Committee met at the Assessor's Office in the Administration Building. Joseph Eigner, the highest ranking student of the Graduating Class, was selected to receive the Scholarship. Rowe Austin was chosen as first alternate and Alfred Duratti as second alternate.
The award was made to Joseph Eigner at the Graduation Ex- ercises, at Swampscott High School, June 8, 1951, by Ernest Manchin, preceded by the following address :
"Thank you, Principal Dunn. Students of the 1951 graduating class. Reverend Clergy, Ladies and Gentlemen. As this is the first
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year that an award is being made from the Swampscott World War II Memorial Fund, you may be interested in a few words about the Fund.
The Memorial Fund was created in March, 1950, through the efforts of Swampscott Veterans of World War II, who felt they wanted a Perpetual Memorial which would be practical and offer inspiring objectives. The fact that a scholarship is being awarded tonight is evidence of the practical aspects of the Memorial. As for the inspiring objectives it is hoped that the recipients of the scholar- ships from year to year will catch the true spirit of the Memorial which is to do good for others.
Although this is a Veterans Memorial, all benefits from it will go to students of Swampscott, forever. There can be no greater objective for a student than to strive to improve his mind and capacity to do better work. It is hoped that the recipient of this scholarship will be inspired to devote some of his time and energy toward making our community, our country and the World, a better place in which to live. National and World problems have become personal problems and we must try to solve them intelligently.
This Memorial Fund is dedicated to Swampscott Veterans of World War II but more particularly to honor the 50 young Swamp- scott men who made the supreme sacrifice.
"In a sense, too, the Memorial pays tribute to our schools and teachers for in a small measure it offers some assistance in the work they are doing.
The Fund is not very large but as additional contributions are received to increase it, there will be more scholarship money avail- able. This past year contributions were received from the Joseph L. Stevens Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Leon E. Abbott Post, American Legion and two individuals. Mr. Benjamin Goldberg who is Secretary of the Trustees, in addition to a money contribution, donated a record book, which is inscribed with the name of the Fund on the front cover, and on the back cover is inscribed the source of the inspiration for the Fund which is, 'It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work . - Lincoln.
Now on behalf of the Trustees of the Swampscott World War II Memorial Fund and as directed by the Scholarship Committee, it gives me a great deal of pleasure to award the First Memorial Schol- arship to Joseph Eigner."
The Financial report of the Fund follows:
Salem Five Cent Savings Bank :
Balance January 1, 1951
Interest received
$5,160.83 128.33
$5,289.16
Withdrawn for Scholarship
250.00
Balance December 31, 1951
$ 5,039.16
Provident Institution for Saving: Balance January 1, 1951
$5,020.83 126.29
Interest received
Balance December 31, 1951
5,147.12
Total Balance in the Fund as of December 31, 1951
$10,186.28
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WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL FUND
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The above figures were secured from the Town Treasurer who, under the law, is the custodian of the Fund.
During the year the Trustees held three meetings which are summarized below.
The terms of office of the Trustees were arranged so that the terms of two Trustees expired in September 1951, two others will expire in September 1952 and the terms of the other three will expire in September 1953. As the original terms expire, the terms for appointment or re-appointment will run for a term of three years. The purpose for this arrangement was to make certain that there would be experienced Trustees in office at all times.
At all meetings held during the year, the subject of investing some portion of the Fund in order to secure greater returns was considered. Professional advice was voluntarily offered. Investigations were made by Trustees. The subject is still being studied, for although larger returns are very desirable, it is of greater importance to make certain that the Fund be protected from shrinking in size. Rather, every effort should be made to increase the principal of the Fund.
A letter received from the office of the Commissioner of In- ternal Revenue, U. S. Treasury Department, dated March 29, 1951, stated that the income of the Fund is not taxable and contributions made to the Fund are deductible by donors, in computing their tax- able net income. If anyone is interested in making contributions to the Fund, please contact any of the Trustees.
The annual meeting was held September 9, 1951 at the New Ocean House, at the kind invitation of Mr. Clement E. Kennedy. Ernest Manchin was elected Chairman and Benjamin Goldberg was elected Secretary, for the coming year, expiring September 1952.
Mr. Philip H. Stafford and Mr. John R. Cooper were re-appointed Trustees for a term of three years, expiring September 1954.
Action on plans to raise money for the Fund was postponed.
Mr. Albert F. Pashby reported progress and at a later meeting reported that a bill was filed in the State Legislature seeking an enabling act to amend Chapter 119 of 1949, as approved by a rote of the Trustees in the meeting held December 6, 1950, as follows:
"Authorizing the Town of Swampscott to provide a Scholarship Fund for High School Graduates residing therein.
Chapter 119 of the acts of 1949 is hereby amended by strik- ing out section 1 and inserting in place therof the following: Section 1. The Town of Swampscott is hereby authorized to raise and ap- propriate 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."
Respectfully submitted,
ERNEST MANCHIN, Chairman, BENJAMIN GOLDBERG, Secretary, CLEMENT E. KENNEDY, PHILIP H. STAFFORD, DAVID F. DOHERTY, JOHN R. COOPER, ALBERT F. PASHBY.
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[Dec: 31
Town Warrant' *alle 900
MONDAY, MARCH 17, 1952
Essex, ss.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Swampscott in said County :
GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are directed to notify the inhabitants of the Town of Swampscott quali- fied to vote in elections and in town affairs, to assemble in their re- spective precincts, in said Swampscott, to wit -
In Precinct One-Polling Place-Machon School on Burpee Road.
In Precinct Two-Polling Place-Phoenix Bowling Alleys, 217 Burrill Street.
In Precinct Three-Polling Place-Town Hall on Burrill Street ..
In Precinct Four-Polling Place-Clarke School on Norfolk Ave- nue side adjoining Abbott Park.
In Precinct Five-Polling Place-Odd Fellows Hall, 115 Elmwood Road.
In Precinct Six-Polling Place-Hadley School on Redington Street.
In Precinct Seven-Polling Place-Essex Oil Filling Station, 638 Humphrey Street.
In Precinct Eight-Polling Place-Phillips Beach Fire Engine House, Phillips Avenue.
On Monday, the seventeenth day of March, 1952, at seven (7) o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act on the following articles, viz:
At the close of the election the meeting will adjourn to Tuesday, the twenty-fifth day of March, 1952, at 7:45 P.M., at the Hadley Junior High School.
Article 1. To choose a Moderator for one (1) year.
To choose three members of the Board of Selectmen for one (1) year.
To choose a Town Clerk for (3) years.
To choose one member of the Water and Sewerage Board for three (3) years.
To choose one member of the Board of Assessors for three (3) years.
To choose one member of the Park Commission for three (3) years.
To choose one member of the School Committee for three (3) years.
To choose one member of the Board of Trustees of the Public Library for three (3) years.
To choose one member of the Board of Trustees of the Public Library for one (1) year.
To choose one member of the Board of Public Welfare for three (3) years.
To choose one member of the Board of Health for three (3) years.
To choose three constables for one (1) year.
To choose one member of the Planning Board for five (5) years.
1951 }{1
TOWN WARRANT
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... Tochoose one member of the Board of Commissioners of Esq wt Frust Funds for three (3) years. det ( Maurel grimmig ..
:: 4719 " To choose one member of the Swampscott Housing Authority '>for two "(2) years.
To choose one member of the Swampscott Housing Authority for one (1) year. i
To choose eight (8) representative Town Meeting Members in each precinct for three (3) years.
To choose one (1) representative Town Meeting Member in Precinct One for two (2) years.
To choose one (1) representative Town Meeting Member in Precinct Two for two (2) years.
To choose one (1) representative Town Meeting Member in Precinct Four for two (2) years.
To choose one (1) representative Town Meeting Member in Precinct Five for one (1) year.
To choose one (1) representative Town Meeting Member in Precinct Six for one (1) year.
To choose one (1) representative Town Meeting Member in Precinct Six for two (2) years.
To choose one (1) representative Town Meeting Member in Precinct Seven for one (1) year.
To choose one (1) representative Town Meeting Member in Precinct Eight for two (2) years.
And to vote on the following questions:
QUESTION 1
Shall the town vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 31 of the General Laws, therefor providing civil service for the non-elected official and the labor services of the Town of Swampscott?
YES
NO -
QUESTION 2
Shall an act passed by the General Court in the year 1951, entitled, "An Act Establishing a Town Manager Form of Government for the Town of Swamp- scott" be accepted by this town?
YES
NO
All to be voted by ballot.
Article 2. To hear and act on the reports of town officials boards, and committees. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 3. To hear and act on the report of the Committee appointed to plan for the Town's observance of the one hundredth anniversary of its incorporation and to appropriate money therefor or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Centennial Committee.
Article .4. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time, in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1952, and to issue a note or notes there- for, payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year, in accordance with Sec- tion 17, Chapter 44, General Laws. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen and Town Treasurer.
Article 5. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from
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time to time, in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1953, and to issue a note or notes therefor, pay- able within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year, in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen and Town Treasurer.
Article 6. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recommendations calling for the appropriation or expenditures of money, and creation of a debt, or the disposition of town property, as set forth in the report of officers, boards or committees. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 7. To see if the town will vote to increase the salaries of all permanent employees of the various departments except em- ployees of the Police, Fire and School departments in the amount of $520 per year, and appropriate the necessary money therefor or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Employees' Wage Committee, John G. McLearn, Chairman.
Article 8. To see if the town will vote to grant an increase in annual salary to the members of the Police Department effective as of January 1, 1952 equal to 20% of their present annual salary and appropriate the necessary money therefor or take any action relative thereto. Petitioned for by Thomas F. Collins et al.
Article 9. To see if the town will vote to grant a 15% increase in salaries for the permanent members of the Fire Department retro- active to January 1, 1952 and appropriate the necessary money therefor or take any action relative thereto. Petitioned for by Roy F. Olson et al.
Article 10. To see what action the town will take in relation to the appropriation of money for departmental and other expenses, as listed in the budget in the Selectmen's report of the annual town report for the year 1951. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 11. To see what action the town will take in relation to salaries of elected town officials for the ensuing year. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 12. To see if the town will authorize the Board of Public Welfare to appoint one of its own members as agent and fix the salary of such appointee at $572.00 as provided by Chapter 41, Section 4A of the General Laws (Ter. Ed.) Sponsored by the Board of Public Welfare.
Article 13. To see if the town will authorize the Bureau of Old Age Assistance to appoint one of its own members as agent and fix the salary of such appointee at $3,028.00 as provided by Chapter 41, Section 4A of the General Laws (Ter. Ed.). Sponsored by the Bureau of Old Age Assistance.
Article 14. To see if the town will authorize the Board of Assessors, the Board of Park Commissioners and the Planning Board each, to appoint a member of such boards to act as secretary thereof and receive pay therefor, as provided by Chapter 41, Section 4A of the General Laws (Ter. Ed.). Sponsored by the Board of Assessors, the Board of Park Commissioners and the Planning Board.
Article 15. To see if the town will vote to appropriate a sum of money to the account of unpaid bills for the purpose of settling all bills contracted prior to January 1, 1952 and remaining unpaid at the time of the closing of the town's books for the year 1951 ac-
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cording to the records of the Town Accountant. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 16. To see if the town will vote to transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Fund of the town to the account of Current Revenue a sum of money to be used and applied by the Board of Asses- sors in reduction of the tax levy, or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 17. To see if the town will vote to appropriate an additional sum of money to be used with the monies appropriated under Article 4 of the Warrant of the Special Town Meeting of December 4, 1951 to carry out the purposes set forth in said Article 4 or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by Water and Sewer- age Board.
Article 18. To see if the town will vote to purchase or take by eminent domain land adjoining the Stanley School lot and on said land and on the Stanley School lot construct, originally equip and furnish an addition to the Stanley School, and appropriate the nec- essary money therefor by transferring from available funds, by bor- rowing or otherwise, or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the School Committee.
Article 19. To see if the town will vote to petition the legis- lature to enact appropriate legislation to establish a public works department in the Town of Swampscott. Petitioned for by Charles R. Sellman, Jr. et al.
Article 20. To see if the town will vote to adopt the following by-law:
Section 1. All regular employees of the Town of Swamp- scott, other than those appointed by the School Committee, shall be granted an annual vacation of not less than two weeks during each year of their first ten years of continuous employment, subject to the provisions of General Laws, Chapter 41, Section 111.
Section 2. All such regular employees, after ten years of continuous service, shall be granted an annual vacation of three weeks, subject to the provisions of General Laws, Chapter 41, Section 111.
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