USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1955 > Part 4
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Voted: Article 31. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town accept as a gift two lots of land for park purposes owned by Ethel Austin located on Superior Street and shown as Lots 32 and 36, Plate 3 of the Assessors Plans.
Voted: To dispense with the reading of Article 32.
33
Town of Swampscott
Voted: Article 32. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted : Article 33. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town replace or rebuild the existing drain running from land of the Temple Israel of Swampscott and Marblehead Inc. and across land of Frederick R. Bogardus and Anne Bogardus and across other land to a drain on Atlantic Avenue and that the Water and Sewer Board be authorized to take any necessary easement or easements therefor by eminent domain or otherwise and that the sum of $2,500.00 be appropriated for the purposes of the Town's share of the work and that the sum of $1.00 be appropriated for the easement. For: 222; Against: 6.
Voted: Article 34. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 35. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 36. That the Town grant an increase in annual salary to the members of the Police Department, effective as of January 1, 1955, equal to ten (10%) per cent and appropriate the necessary money therefor. For: 119; Against: 112.
Voted: To reconsider Article 34.
Voted : Article 34. That each full time permanent employee, excluding Fire, School and Police Departments, be granted a raise of $156.00 and that the necessary money be appropriated. For: 123; Against: 112.
Voted: To reconsider Article 35.
Voted: Article 35. That the Town grant a ten (10%) percent increase to permanent members of the Fire Department commencing January 1, 1955 and appropriate the necessary money therefor.
Voted: Article 37. That the Town approve the purchase of motor vehicle liability and property damage insurance for motor vehicles which are operated by the members of the Police Department and appropriate the sum of $875.00 therefor. For: 117; Against: 60.
Voted: To recess for ten minutes at 10:40 P.M. The meeting was called to order at 10:50 P.M., the necessary quorum being present (214).
Voted: Article 38. That the Town amend Article 9-A of the Town By- Laws by striking out said article as it now appears and substituting the following:
"That hours of duty of the permanent members of the uniformed fire fighting force in the Town of Swampscott other than hours during which such members may be summoned and kept on duty because of fire or conflagration shall not exceed an average of 56 hours per week over a nine week period."
Voted: To adjourn until Monday, April 4, 1955 at 7:45 P.M. at the Senior High School Hall.
34
1955 Annual Report
RECOUNT OF VOTES
In accordance with petitions filed with the Town Clerk for a Recount of votes cast for Selectmen at the Town Election held March 21, 1955, said recount was held on Saturday Morning, April 2, 1955 at 9:00 A.M. by the Board of Registrars assisted by the following tellers :
John Cameron
Harry Cahoon
Frank Melvin
Ida G. Ingalls
Richard Chambers
Lucille V. Duggan
Clementine L. Emery
Caroline G. Carls
Lucie McDonald
Bessie F. Maguire
Esther F. Philbin
William S. Weber
Lois Munsey
SELECTMEN
Precinct
1
2
3
4
5
6
Total
Champion
265
218
220
194
206
192
1295
Hempel
360
390
350
296
312
301
2009
V. P. O'Brien
228
242
242
240
224
239
1415
Lindsey
379
395
388
333
334
326
2155
L. H. O'Brien
323
261
254
197
202
106
1343
Blanks
278
255
253
216
267
276
1545
Original Vote
Recount Vote
Champion
1294
1295
Hempel
2010
2009
V. P. O'Brien
1408
1415
Lindsey
2145
2155
L. H. O'Brien
1350
1343
Blanks
1555
1545
ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Monday, April 4, 1955
In accordance with the adjournment of Tuesday, March 29, 1955, the Town Meeting Members were called to order at 7:55 P.M., the necessary quorum being present (213).
Town Meeting Members were sworn in by the Town Clerk, Malcolm F. MacLean, Jr.
Voted: Article 39. That the Highway Department be instructed to clean the Civil War Monument and the World War I Boulder.
Voted :
Article 40. That this article be laid on the table.
Voted :
Article 41. That this article be laid on the table. For: 134; Against : 72.
Voted : Article 41. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 43. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town extend the sewers in any or all of the following streets: Banks Terrace, Pleasant Street, and Essex Street and install a relief sewer system at the junction of Grant and Farragut Roads and that the sum of $48,700.00 be appropria- ted therefor under Article 86 of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting of 1955.
35
Town of Swampscott
Voted: Article 44. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town lay a drain in Erie Street and that the sum of $750.00 be appropriated therefor under Article 86 of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting of 1955.
Voted: Article 45. That the Town repair chimney at Sewer Pumping Station and appropriate $1,600.00 therefor.
Voted: Article 46. To accept the report of the Finance Committee, as amended, and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town authorize the Water & Sewerage Board to lay water mains not less than six inches in diameter in any or all of the following streets: Elwin Road, Sampson Avenue, Fisher Avenue and Nichols Street under the provisions of Section 25, Chapter 82 of the General Laws, and that the Board of Selectmen be authorized to purchase or take by eminent domain the easements necessary therefor, on condition that the abutters sign the necessary waivers, and that the sum of $24,700.00 be appropriated therefor to be raised as follows:
That $10,000.00 be appropriated from the tax levy and $14,700.00 from the unexpended balance of the appropriation under Article 22 of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting of 1953. For: 129; Against: 79.
Voted: Article 47. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 48. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 49. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Board of Selectmen be authorized to settle the personal injury of Joseph P. Hines and that the sum of $2,800.00 be appropriated therefor.
Voted: To reconsider Article 6. For 144; Against : 45.
Voted: Article 6. School Department Item 204: Secretarial $9,834.00 Item 207: Janitors 59,184.00 Item 208: Health 4,056.00
Voted: Article 50. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 51. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town lay out a new portion of the cemetery and that the sum of $5,000.00 be appropriated from the Cemetery Lots Fund.
Voted: Article 52. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
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1955 Annual Report
Voted: Article 53. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 54. That the Town amend Chapter 2B of the By-Laws by inserting therein the following Section 6A:
"Upon the request of ten or more town meeting members, a roll call vote shall be taken on any motion properly before the Town Meeting."
Voted: Article 55. That the Town declare that a substantial shortage of rental housing accommodations exisits in the Town of Swampscott and that the control of rents therein is necessary in the public interest, and that the Town of Swampscott accept the provisions of Chapter 225 of the Acts of 1955 entitled "An Act Relative to Rent Control," and that the sum of $1,100.00 be appropriated therefor.
Voted: Article 56. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town resurface Banks Circle and Banks Court and that the sum of $2,400.00 be appropriated therefor.
Voted: Article 57. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town resurface Porter Court and that the sum of $1,350.00 be appropriated therefor.
Voted: Article 58. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town resurface Shepard Road and that the sum of $3,800.00 be appropriated therefor.
Voted: Article 59. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 60. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 61. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 62. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
The the Town resurface, install necessary catch basins and curbstones on the accepted portion of Harrison Avenue and that the sum of $1,800.00 be appropriated therefor.
37
Town of Swampscott
Voted: Article 63. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town rescind its acceptance of portions of Eureka Avenue which were accepted by the Town in 1902 and 1905 and that Eureka Avenue from Jessie Street to Archer Street be accepted as a public way as laid out by the Selectmen in ac- cordance with plans drawn by Howard L. Hamill, Town Engineer on condition that all abutters sign the necessary waivers and that the sum of $800.00 be appropriated therefor. Planning Board concurs.
Voted: Article 64. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town accept Young Avenue as a public way as laid out by the Selectmen in accordance with the plans drawn by Howard L. Hamill, Town Engi- neer on condition that all abutters sign the necessary waivers and that the sum of $750.00 be appropriated therefor. Planning Board concurs.
Voted: That Articles 65, 66 and 67 be considered together.
Voted : To dispense with the reading of these articles.
Voted: Articles 65, 66 and 67. To accept the report of the Finance Com- mittee and adopt their recommendations as follows :
That action on these articles be indefinitely postponed. Planning Board concurs.
Voted: Article 68. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town accept Worcester Avenue from the accepted portion to Hamp- shire Street as a public way as laid out by the Selectmen in accordance with the plans drawn by Howard L. Hamill, Town Engineer on conditions that all abutters sign the necessary waivers and that the sum of $2,300.00 be appropriated therefor. Planning Board concurs.
Voted: Article 69. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town accept Smith Lane as a public way as laid out by the Selectmen in accordance with plans drawn by Howard L. Hamill, Town Engineer on condition that all abutters sign the necessary waivers and that the proper easements be obtained and that the sum of $950.00 be appropriated therefor. Planning Board concurs.
Voted : Article 70. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed. Planning Board concurs.
Voted: Article 71. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town accept Swampscott Avenue from Paradise Road to Walker Road as a public way as laid out by the Selectmen in accordance with plans drawn by Howard L. Hamill, Town Engineer on condition that all abutters sign the necessary waivers and appropriate the sum of $3,250.00 therefor. Planning Board concurs.
Voted: Article 72. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
38
1955 Annual Report
Voted: Article 73. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town rescind so much of the vote under Article 36 of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting of 1954 that calls for the borrowing of a sum not to exceed seventy thousand ($70,000.00) dollars and the issue of notes or bonds therefor. Unanimous.
Voted: Article 74. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town construct and originally equip and furnish an addition to the Public Library on land adjacent to the present library according to plans and speci- fications prepared by Arland A. Dirlam; that the said construction be carried on by the committee appointed by the Moderator under Article 36 of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting of 1954; that the said committee shall have the power to enter into contracts for the construction of said addition to the Public Library and to do all things necessary to construct, equip and furnish said addition to the Public Library and that the sum of one hundred and five thousand ($105,000.00) dollars be appropriated therefor to be raised as follows:
That ten thousand ($10,000.00) dollars be raised and appropriated from the tax levy of the current year and that the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, be authorized to borrow a sum not to exceed the remainder, viz., ninety-five thousand ($95,000.00) dollars and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor payable in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44 of the General Laws so that the whole loan shall be paid in not more than twenty (20) 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 Selectmen, shall determine. Unanimous.
Voted: Article 75. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 76. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 77. That the Town adopt a new building by-law as printed in a pamphlet entitled, "Town of Swampscott, Massachusetts, Building By-Law, Prepared for Submission to the 1955 Town Meeting for Approval, dated March, 1955, as amended", containing eighteen pages copies of which have been mailed to all Town Meeting Members and have been posted in each precinct of the Town, and that, upon approval of the said Building By-Laws by the Attorney General and posting a copy thereof in one or more public places in each precinct of the Town as provided by General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 32, all by-laws inconsistent therewith are hereby repealed. Unanimous.
Voted: Article 78. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town adopt the following By-Law: The Board of Appeals, appointed under the provisions of General Laws, Chapter 40A, Section 14, shall also act as the Board of Appeals under the Subdivision Control Law as provided by General Laws, Chapter 41, Section 81Z.
39
Town of Swampscott
Voted: Article 79. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town adopt the following amendments to the Wire Inspection By- Laws by adding thereto the following section :
Section. 7. Whoever violates any provisions of this By-Law shall be liable to a fine of not more than twenty dollars for each violation.
Voted: Article 80. To accept the report of the Planning Board and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 81. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town 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.
Voted: Article 82. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town transfer to the Excess and Deficiency Account, the following unexpended balances as shown on the Town Accountant's books as of December 31, 1954:
1. Town Hall Repairs $1,757.95
2. Duke Street 1,186.54
3. Shelton Road 1,067.69
4. Charlotte Road 1,144.62
5. Highway Truck 8.60
$5,165.40
Voted: Article 83. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: Article 84. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town appropriate the sum of $100.00 for the purpose of this article.
Voted: Article 85. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed. Planning Board concurs.
Voted: Article 86. To accept the report of the Finance Committee as amended, and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the Town carry out the construction of sewers and drains under Articles 33, 43 and 44 and that the sum of $51,950.00 be appropriated therefor and to be raised as follows:
That $11,950.00 be raised and appropriated from the tax levy for the current year and that the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, be authorized to borrow a sum not to exceed the remainder, viz., $40,000.00 and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor payable in accordance with the provisions
40
1955 Annual Report
of Chapter 44 of the General Laws so that the whole loan shall be paid in not more than twenty (20) years from the date of issuance of the first bond or note or such earlier date as the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, may determine. Unanimous.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING Monday, June 27, 1955
Article 1. To hear and act on the report of the Swampscott High School Building Committee appointed under Article 7 of the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting of June 22, 1954.
Sponsored by the Swampscott High School Building Committee.
Article 2. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to purchase or take by right of eminent domain for public school purposes the land hereinafter described and raise and appropriate the necessary money therefor from available funds, by borrowing or otherwise, or take any action relative thereto.
Said land to be taken for the said purpose is bounded and described as follows:
A certain parcel of land located on the Southwesterly side of Salem Street in Swampscott, Massachusetts and being shown on "Plan of Land in Swampscott, Mass." dated April 15, 1955 drawn by Whitman & Howard, Civil Engineers, and bounded and described as follows:
NORTHEASTERLY, by Salem Street, 980 feet;
SOUTHERLY, 395 feet and SOUTHWESTERLY, 645.88 feet by land of Davenport;
SOUTHWESTERLY again, 159.23 feet and NORTHWESTERLY, 393.48 feet and 391.48 feet by land of the Tedesco Country Club.
Containing 11.64 acres according to said plan.
Sponsored by the School Committee and the Swampscott High School Building Committee.
Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to construct and originally equip a new high school on the land described in Article 2 and raise and appropriate the necessary money therefor from available funds by borrowing or otherwise or take any action relative thereto.
Sponsored by the School Committee and the Swampscott High School Building Committee.
Article 4. To hear and act on the Report of the Hadley School Building Committee.
Sponsored by the Hadley School Building Committee.
Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to remodel, reconstruct and make extraordinary repairs to the Hadley School and appropriate the necessary money therefor from available funds by borrowing or otherwise or take any action relative thereto.
Sponsored by the School Committee and the Hadley School Building Com- mittee.
41
Town of Swampscott
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to purchase or take by eminent domain for school purposes the land hereinafter described and appropriate the necessary money therefor from available funds by borrowing or otherwise or take any action relative thereto.
The said land to be taken for such purpose is described as follows:
Plate 2, Lots 23, 23A, 24 and 25 of the Assessors Plans of the Town of Swampscott containing 33,285 square feet of land more or less.
Sponsored by the Hadley School Building Committee.
Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to purchase or take by eminent domain for school purposes the land hereinafter described and appropriate the necessary money therefor from available funds by borrowing or otherwise or take any action relative thereto.
Said land to be taken is described as follows:
Lots 1, 2, 3, 23, 23A, 24, 25 and 29 on Plate 2 of the Assessors Plans of the Town of Swampscott containing 124,990 square feet of land more or less.
Inserted by the Board of Selectmen as a result of the report of the Hadley School Building Committee.
Article 8. To see if the Town will vote to construct and originally equip a new junior high school on the land described in Article 7 and raise and appropriate the necessary money therefor from available funds by borrowing or otherwise or take any action relative thereto.
Inserted by the Board of Selectmen as a result of the report of the Hadley School Building Committee.
Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to settle the claim for land damages arising out of the taking of a lot of land on The Greenway owned by Albert D. Stone for park purposes and appropriate the sum of $450.00 therefor or take any action relative thereto.
Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for the purchase of uniforms and the payment of wages for special policewomen to be employed for traffic duty at the various schools of the Town or take any action relative thereto.
Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen and the Chief of Police.
Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the money to make necessary repairs to the Central Fire Station or take any action relative thereto.
Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen and the Chief of the Fire Department.
Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Moderator to appoint a committee to study the question of a site for and the construction and equipping of a new central fire station to replace the Central Fire Station on New Ocean Street and appropriate the necessary money therefor or take any action rela- tive thereto.
Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen and the Chief of the Fire Department.
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1955 Annual Report
Article 13. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to make necessary repairs to the house and garage on Capen Road now used for cemetery purposes and appropriate the necessary money therefor or take any action relative thereto.
Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen and the Superintendent of the Cemetery.
Article 14. To see if the Town will vote to amend Chapter VII, Section 6 of the By-Laws providing for an engineering department by striking out said Chap- ter VII, Section 6 and substituting therefor the following:
"Chapter VII, Section 6. The Board of Public Works shall annually appoint an engineer and such assistants as it may deem necessary and fix their compensation. The Town Engineer shall have charge of all engineering pertaining to the town and no person employed in said Department shall engage in engineering work on his private account without permission in writing from the Board of Public Works. The Town Engineer shall have charge of and shall preserve, arrange and index all plans, surveys, field notes, records, documents and all other informa- tion relating to the engineering work of the town so that the same may be readily accessible for public use. No water pipes shall be laid in any public way or in any way the plan of which has been approved by the Board of Survey and the Planning Board except in accordance with plans on file in the office of the Town Engineer.
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