USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1953 > Part 2
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12
1953 Annual Report
Town Clerk
MALCOLM F. MACLEAN, JR., Town Clerk
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING Tuesday, January 20, 1953
Article 1. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate an addi- tional sum of money to supplement the appropriation made under Article 18 of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting of 1952 for the purpose of acquiring land and constructing and originally equipping an addition to the Stanley School and appropriate the necessary money therefor from the tax levy of the current year by transferring from available funds, by borrowing or otherwise, or take any action relative thereto.
Petitioned for by the Stanley School Building Committee.
Voted: Article 1. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town raise and appropriate an additional sum of One Hundred Twenty Thousand ($120,000) Dollars to supplement the appropriation made un- der Article 18 of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting of 1952 for the pur- pose of acquiring land and constructing and originally equipping an addition to the Stanley School, and to meet said appropriation, that Ten Thousand ($10,000) Dollars be appropriated from available revenue funds and that the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be authorized to borrow a sum not to exceed the remainder, viz., One Hundred Ten Thousand ($110,000) Dollars; and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor, payable in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44 of the General Laws (Ter. Ed.) so that the whole loan shall be paid in not more than twenty years from the date of the issuance of the first bond or note or such earlier date as the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Select- men, may determine. Unanimous.
TOWN WARRANT Monday, March 16, 1953
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 Collector of Taxes for three (3) years.
To choose a Town Treasurer for three (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 two members of the School Committee for three (3) years.
To choose one member of the School Committee for one (1) year.
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 Public Welfare for three (3) years.
13
Town of Swampscott
To choose one member of the Board of Public Welfare for two (2) years. To chose one member of the Board of Public Welfare for one (1) year.
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.
To choose one member of the Board of Commissioners of Trust Funds for three (3) years.
To choose one member of the Swampscott Housing Authority for five (5) years. To choose eighteen (18) representative Town Meeting Members in each Precinct for three (3) years.
To choose eighteen (18) representative Town Meeting Members in each Precinct for two (2) years.
To choose eighteen (18) representative Town Meeting Members in each Precinct for one (1) year.
And to vote on the following questions:
QUESTION 1
Shall an act passed by the General Court in the year 1951, en- titled, "An Act Establishing a Town Manager Form of Government for the Town of Swampscott" be accepted by this town?
YES
NO
QUESTION 2
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
Article 2. To hear and act on the reports of town officials, boards, and com- mittees. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 3. To see if the town will vote to accept the report of the committee appointed under Article 19 of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting of 1952 and authorize and direct the Selectmen to petition the Legislature to enact appro- priate legislation to establish a Public Works Department in the Town of Swamp- scott. Sponsored by the Committee Appointed to Study a Public Works Department in the Town of Swampscott.
Article 4. To see if the town will vote to accept the progress report of the committee appointed under Article 42 of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting of 1952 to investigate wage scales and job classifications for all town em- ployees and continue the said committee in office and appropriate the necessary money therefor or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Wage Scale Committee.
Article 5. 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 antici- pation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1954, and to issue a note or notes therefor, 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 Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen and Town Treasurer.
14
1953 Annual Report
Article 6. To see what action the town will take in relation to the recom- mendations calling for the appropriation or expenditure 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 what action the town will take relative to increasing the wages of all town employees and appropriate the necessary money therefor or take any action relative thereto. Petitioned for by the Town Employees' Wage Com- mittee. John G. McLearn, Chairman.
Article 8. To see what action the town will take in relation to the appro- priation of money for departmental and other expenses for the year 1953. Spon- sored by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 9. 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 10. 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 11. 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, 1953 and remaining unpaid at the time of the closing of the town's books for the year 1952 according to the records of the Town Accountant. Spon- sored by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 12. 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 Assessors in reduction of the tax levy, or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 13. To see if the town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for the proper observance of the Fourth of July or take any action relative thereto. Spon- sored by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 14. To see if the town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for the proper observance of Memorial Day or take any action relative thereto. Spon- sored by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 15. To see if the town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for the proper observance of Armistice Day or take any action relative thereto. Spon- sored by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 16. To see if the town will vote to establish a citizens' committee to study the needs and plans for future school development in Swampscott as pro- posed by the School Committee, consisting of the School Committee, the Superin- tendent of Schools, the principal of the high school, the principal of the junior high school, one member of the Board of Selectmen, one member of the Planning Board, the Town Engineer, one member of the 'Taxpayers' Association, one member of the clergy, one member of the League of Women Voters, one member of the
15
Town of Swampscott
Parent-Teachers' Association Council, one Town Meeting member from each pre- cinct, the said committee to report to the next annual or any special town meeting, and appropriate the necessary money therefor or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the School Committee.
Article 17. To see if the town will vote to amend the Plumbing By-Laws of the Town of Swampscott by striking out all the provisions of the existing Plumbing By-Laws and amendments thereto now in force and effect, and adopt in their place a new Plumbing By-Law as prepared by the committee appointed by vote under Article 30 of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting of 1951. Sponsored by the Committee Appointed to Study, Revise and Submit a New Plumbing Code.
Article 18. To see if the town will vote to accept the provisions of General Laws, Chapter 41, Section 111G (Chapter 488 of the Acts of 1952) which pro- vides as follows:
"In any city or town in which the provisions of section one hundred and eleven apply and which accepts this section, in the manner hereinafter provided, any employee thereof who has worked continuously for five years but less than ten years shall be granted an annual vacation of three weeks without loss of pay, and any employee thereof who has worked continuously for ten years or more shall be granted an annual vacation of four weeks without loss of pay." Petitioned for by the Town Employees' Wage Committee, John G. McLearn, Chairman.
Article 19. To see if the town will vote to authorize and direct the Modera- tor to appoint a committee to study the advisability of erecting an addition to the Public Library and appropriate the necessary money therefor or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Board of Library Trustees.
Article 20. To see if the town will vote to amend the zoning by-laws of the Town of Swampscott so that the property on Paradise Road, also known as State Road, being Lot 76-A, Plate 14, Assessors' Plans, and that portion of Lot 76, Plate 14, said Assessors' Plans, which consists of the floor of the old quarry, so-called, as set forth on said Assessors' Plans, except that part already zoned Business B-1 by action of the Annual Town Meeting of 1948, Article 38, may be changed from its present Residential zone to Business B-1, or take any other action relative there- to. Petitioned for by Harold F. Carlson, et al.
Article 21. To see if the town will vote to re-zone the premises numbered 35 New Ocean Street, known as Plate 1 Lot 4, Assessors' Plans, from Residence A-3 District to Business B-1 District or take any action relative thereto. Petitioned for by James J. McCarriston, et al.
Article 22. To see if the town will vote to authorize the laying of water mains on Foster Road and on Windsor Avenue, pursuant to the provisions of Section 25, Chapter 82 (Ter. Ed.) of the General Laws and authorize the Board of Selectmen or the Water and Sewerage Board to take the necessary steps therefor ; and to appropriate the necessary money therefor from available funds, by borrowing or otherwise, or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Upper Swamp- scott Improvement Association. Frederick N. Balsor, President.
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1953 Annual Report
Article 23. To see if the town will vote to discontinue, and deed back to the respective abutters, that portion of Cedar Hill Terrace, formerly used as a turning circle for said Terrace, before Bay View Drive was developed, as shown on a plan drawn by Howard L. Hamill, Town Engineer, dated January, 1953. Petitioned for by Marion G. Coughlin, et al.
Article 24. To see if the town will vote to accept Chapter 147, Section 17A of the General Laws, as inserted by Chapter 268, Acts of 1952, which provides that police officers shall be given additional days off if required to work on certain days of the year, or shall be entitled to additional days' pay in lieu thereof. Peti- tioned for by Edward P. Carroll, et al.
Article 25. To see if the town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of placing lights and other decorations on Humphrey Street during the 1953 Christmas season or take any action relative thereto. Petitioned for by the Swampscott Business Men's Association, Carl R. Perry, Secretary.
Article 26. To see if the town will vote to purchase an automobile to be used as a patrol car for the Police Department and appropriate the necessary money therefor or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen and Chief of Police.
Article 27. To see if the town will vote to carry on a sidewalk construction program under the provisions of General Laws, Chapter 83, Sections 25 and 26, and appropriate the necessary money therefor or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 28. To see if the town will vote to appropriate a sum of money to be used in conjunction with money appropriated by the Commonwealth of Massa- chusettts and the County of Essex for the repair or construction of highways as provided by Chapter 90 of the General Laws. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 29. To see if the town will vote to re-build Puritan Road, from the Northwest end of Woodbine Avenue, 700 lin. ft. easterly more or less, and appro- priate the necessary money therefor by borrowing or otherwise, or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 30. To see if the town will vote to accept Brown Road from Atlantic Avenue to Longley Avenue as a public way as laid out by the Selectmen in accor- dance with the plans drawn by Howard L. Hamill, Town Engineer, on condition that all abutters sign the necessary waivers, and to purchase or take by eminent domain a strip of land approximately twenty feet in length and forty feet wide located in the southerly end of said Brown Road. Petitioned for by Charlotte Rogers et al.
Article 31. To see if the town will vote to accept Alden Road as a public way as laid out by the Selectmen in accordance with the plans drawn by Howard L. Hamill, Town Engineer, on condition that all abutters sign the necessary waivers. Petitioned for by Sadie Cohen et al.
Article 32. To see if the town will vote to accept Muriel Road as a public way as laid out by the Selectmen in accordance with the plans drawn by Howard L. Hamill, Town Engineer, on condition that all abutters sign the necessary waivers. Petitioned for by Charles S. Feldman et al.
17
Town of Swampscott
Article 33. To see if the town will vote to accept Pine Hill Road as a public way as laid out by the Selectmen in accordance with the plans drawn by Howard L. Hamill, Town Engineer, on condition that all abutters sign the necessary waivers. Petitioned for by Albert G. Doane et al.
Article 34. To see if the town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for the necessary repair and construction work on the various Parks or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Board of Park Commissioners.
Article 35. To see if the town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for the purchase of a power lawn mower to replace the one now in use or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Board of Park Commissioners.
Article 36. To see if the town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for the purchase of seed, loam, and fertilizer, or take any action relative thereto. Spon- sored by the Board of Park Commissioners.
Article 37. To see if the town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for the continuance of the summer recreational project or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Board of Park Commissioners.
Article 38. To see if the town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for the painting of existing galvanized fences or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Board of Park Commissioners.
Article 39. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Surveyor of High- ways to purchase a three-ton truck and sell or trade a 1940 White truck, for the use of the Highway Department, and appropriate the necessary money therefor or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Surveyor of Highways.
Article 40. To see if the town will vote to complete the resurfacing of Blodgett Avenue for a distance of 700 lin. ft. and appropriate the necessary money therefor or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen and Surveyor of Highways.
Article 41. To see if the town will vote to purchase a small portable com- pressor with accessories for the Cemetery Department and appropriate the necessary money therefor or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Superintendent of Cemetery.
Article 42. To see if the town will vote to repair the walls of the tomb and also the stone wall west of the Andrews Memorial Chapel at the Cemetery and appropriate the necessary money therefor or take any action relative thereto. Spon- sored by the Superintendent of Cemetery.
Article 43. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Moderator to ap- point a committee of five to investigate and study the methods and problems rela- tive to maintaining departmental accounts with a view to standardization of de- partmental accounting, budget reports and budgets. Sponsored by the Finance Committee.
Article 44. To see if the town will vote to lay a drain from Bay View Drive to Cedar Hill Terrace through an easement now owned by the Town and appro- priate the necessary money therefor or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Water and Sewerage Board.
18
1953 Annual Report
Article 45. To see if the town will vote to lay a drain and necessary catch basins in Winshaw Road and appropriate the necessary money therefor or take any action relative thereto. Petitioned for by Mary M. Hutchinson, et al.
Article 46. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Water and Sewerage Board to establish the hydrant rental charge to the Fire Department at the rate of $10.00 per hydrant per year and appropriate the necessary money therefor or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Water and Sewerage Board.
Article 47. To see if the town will vote to purchase a new pick-up truck for the Sewer Department and authorize the said department to trade or sell the present 1947 half-ton Chevrolet pick-up truck and appropriate the necessary money therefor or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Water and Sewerage Board.
Article 48. To see if the town will vote to make a long-range study of future trunk line sewer extensions in the Little's Point and Standpipe area of the Town of Swampscott and appropriate the necessary money therefor or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Planning Board.
Article 49. To see if the town will vote to accept Chapter 624 of the Acts of 1952, providing increases for certain pensioners. Sponsored by the Contributory Retirement Board.
Article 50. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to purchase or take by eminent domain the necessary land adjoining Jessie Street, namely a part of lot number 36 on the Assessors' Plans Plate 7 and being lot numbered 6 Tid Street, for the purpose of widening Jessie Street to remove a traffic hazard at that point; and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to widen said Jessie Street at the aforesaid part of said Jessie Street, and appropriate the nec- essary money therefor, or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Upper Swampscott Improvement Association, Frederick N. Balsor, President.
Article 51. To see if the town will vote to authorize and direct the Board of Park Commissioners to prepare a long-range plan for the development of a portion of the land located at the end of Plymouth Avenue accepted as a gift from Louis Gutterman and the Homesites Realty Company under the vote under Article 17 of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting of 1951 and appropriate the necessary money therefor or take any action relative thereto. Petitioned for by Edward S. Underwood et al.
Article 52. To see if the town will vote to rescind its acceptance of a gift of land from Louis Gutterman and the Homesites Realty Company under vote under Article 17 of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting of 1951. Spon- sored by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 53. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for the payment of premiums for group life insurance for its permanent employees as provided for by Chapter 239 of the Acts of 1952 or take any action relative thereto. Petitioned for by William R. Homan, et al.
Article 54. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to settle the land damage cases pending against the town for the taking of land
19
Town of Swampscott
for cemetery purposes under Article 24 of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting of 1952 and appropriate the necessary money therefor or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 55. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to settle the case pending against the town for the taking of land for the Stanley School addition and appropriate the necessary money therefor or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 56. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $231.65 to satisfy the outstanding 1950 real estate taxes on the property of Harold R. Fall taken by the town for school purposes under the provisions of Article 6 of the Special Town Meeting of May 16, 1950 or take any action relative thereto. Spon- sored by the Collector of Taxes.
Article 57. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to sell or otherwise dispose of Real Estate now or hereafter owned by the town and acquired through foreclosure or purchased under General Laws (Ter. Ed.), Chapter 60, as amended, for non-payment of taxes and appropriate a sum of money there- for, or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 58. To see what action the town will take on the matter of trans- ferring certain unexpended balances, as shown on the books of the Town Accoun- tant as of December 31, 1952, to the Excess and Deficiency Fund, or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 59. To appropriate and raise by borrowing or otherwise, under any general or special law which authorizes the town to raise money by borrowing or otherwise, such sum or sums of money as may be necessary for any or all of the purposes mentioned in the foregoing articles. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Monday, March 16, 1953
Precinct 1
754
Precinct 2
780
Precinct 3
735
Precinct 4
682
Precinct 5
783
Precinct 6
690
Total votes cast
4424
Precinct
1
2
3
4
5
6
Total
Moderator for 1 Year
C. Frank Hathaway (E)
496
450
416
372
359
215
2308
Richard B. Johnson
129
214
189
200
246
334
1312
Blanks
129
116
130
110
178
141
804
Selectmen for 1 Year
Frederick R. Champion (E)
388
311
290
307
318
338
1952
Frank A. Drinkwater
294
126
122
73
105
55
775
Bennett Gallo
129
45
41
35
72
28
350
George R. Hambrecht
30
65
36
20
24
16
191
Edward K. Hempel (E)
164
255
290
223
228
202
1362
Edward E. Jaffee
101
170
190
123
193
251
1028
Marion Doen Morse
166
206
219
238
270
215
1314
Lawson H. O'Brien
102
81
76
39
61
24
383
Vincent P. O'Brien (E)
247
310
274
348
337
299
1815
Albert F. Pashby
183
244
150
192
114
139
1022
Amos E. Russell
129
191
210
201
223
153
1107
Blanks
329
336
307
245
404
350
1971
20
1953 Annual Report
Precinct
1
2
3
4
5
6
Total
Collector of Taxes for 3 Years
Malcolm F. MacLean, Jr. (E) ..
617
617
584
566
616
577
3577
Blanks
137
163
151
116
167
113
847
Treasurer for 3 Years
Robert G. Byrne (E)
621
638
608
583
627
574
3651
Blanks
133
142
127
99
156
116
773
Water and Sewerage Commissioner for 3 Years
Alfred N. Frazier (E)
600
605
563
529
564
545
3406
Blanks
154
175
172
153
219
145
1018
Assessor for 3 Years
Thomas F. Collins (E)
260
267
253
196
206
241
1423
Edwin A. Fuller
215
183
199
192
231
170
1190
Ralph N. Murray
205
260
224
250
260
197
1396
Blanks
74
70
59
44
86
82
415
Board of Park Commissioners for 3 Years
Lewis H. Berry (E)
448
378
376
348
274
287
2111
Donald E. Costin
264
348
283
271
398
309
1873
Blanks
42
54
76
63
111
94
440
School Committee for 3 Years
Walter H. Forbes, Jr. (E)
554
601
564
532
547
504
3302
Theodore C. Sargent (E)
542
565
523
502
528
518
3178
Blanks
412
394
383
330
491
358
2368
School Committee for 1 Year
George A. Chadwell (E)
299
355
308
301
259
222
1744
Edward F. Flynn, Jr.
171
188
160
169
246
188
1122
Doris F. Humphrey
203
188
192
165
175
198
1121
Blanks
81
49
75
47
103
82
437
Trustee of Public Library for 3 Years
Nelson J. Darling, Jr. (E)
516
549
520
468
510
496
3059
Blanks
238
231
215
214
273
194
1365
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