USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1956 > Part 7
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Salem Five Cents Savings Bank
$ 4,748.92
Salem Savings Banks 5,333.90
Provident Institution for Savings
100.28
$10,183.10
The total of the scholarships awarded to date is $1600.00.
The two meetings of the Trustees were held at the New Ocean House, on the invitation of Colonel Kennedy who is a trustee of the Fund. At the annual meeting, Ernest Manchin was elected Chairman and Philip H. Stafford was elected Secretary, of the Board for the coming year.
The Swampscott World War II Memorial Fund welcomes gifts and bequests. It is suggested that those contemplating gifts or bequests, confer with any Trustee of the Fund. A letter received from the U. S. Treasury Department, states: "Contri- butions made to the Fund are deductible by the donors in computing their taxable net income, etc."
71
Town of Swampscott
Board of Public Works
HAROLD C. HUDSON, Chairman PAUL A. POLISSON, Superintendent
ALFRED N. FRAZIER ROGER A. WILLIAMS, JR.
The Board of Public Works herewith submits its First Annual Report to the citizens of the Town of Swampscott for the year 1956.
From January 1, 1956 to March 19, 1956 (date of Annual Town Election) the various divisions of the Public Works Department functioned under the different Boards and Commissions. Immediately after the vote of the Annual Town Election a new Board of Public Works was established consolidating the following service divisions into a Department of Public Works :- Engineering, Cemetery, Highway, Park, Sewer and Water.
The Annual Town Meeting of March 27, 1956 voted Civil Service status for all the divisions of Public Works.
One of the first functions of the newly created Board of Public Works was to prepare and draft the necessary qualifications for a Superintendent of Public Works, who would administer and coordinate the various divisions into a Department of Public Works. The Board advertised in the Boston papers and in Public Works magazines. Numerous applications were received, the most qualified applicants were interviewed, and the Board voted unanimously to appoint Paul A. Polisson as the Superintendent of Public Works for a period of one year.
Cemetery Division: During the year the working force of this division was reduced from five to four employees, and with assistance from other divisions the Cemetery will be maintained and developed in an excellent manner.
ELGIN
Public Works Dept. New 1957 Elgin Street King Sweeper
72
1956 Annual Report
Public Works Dept. New 1957 Caterpillar Motor Grader
Section C was enlarged and opened for one, two, and three grave lots in December. This Section was started in 1955 and completed December 15, 1956. There were 98 funerals, and all receipts of interments, sale of lots, liners and oundations were turned over to the Town Treasurer.
For 1957 it is planned to remove the crushed stone from the roads in the Cemetery and replace with bituminous concrete, at an estimated cost of $5,000.00 ubject to approval of the 1957 Annual Town Meeting. This will improve the ppearance and reduce maintenance cost on roads.
Engineering Division: Engineering services furnished by this division for the ear of 1956 includes surveys, computation, record plans, cost estimates, assessment quantities, designs for construction projects, alignment of house numbers, preparation f contracts, including specifications and drawings, description of properties and asements, and furnishing of information and engineering data to private engineers, urveyors, attorneys and other persons.
The apportionment of these engineering services is shown in the following able:
Department
Man Hours
Per Cent
Assessors
1004
10.887
* Engineering
3434
37.237
Finance Committee
89
0.965
Health
9
0.098
Highway Department
666
7.222
Park Division
84
0.911
Planning Board
22
0.238
Private Citizens
100
1.084
Selectmen
677
7.341
Sewer Division
1704
18.478
Town Counsel
81
0.878
Water Division
692
7.504
Cemetery Division
660
7.157
Total
9222
100.00
*Includes administration, clerical work, and work not chargeable to a particular epartment or individual, e.g., keeping Town Map up to date.
73
Town of Swampscott
The various divisions which require the services of this division usually mention in their respective reports a detail of the projects requiring such services ; therefore, no listing of specific projects is included herein. The work load on the division continues to increase.
The Board of Public Works is endeavoring to fill the position of Transitman in the Engineering Division, which at present is vacant. This will be of great assistance to this division in keeping a complete survey party in the field.
Highway Division: During the year the working force of this division was reduced by two men. The following streets were constructed with bituminous con- crete, in accordance with votes of previous Town Meetings: Erie Street, Banks Court, Banks Circle, Porter Court, Eastman Avenue, Eureka Avenue, Worcester Avenue, and Young Avenue.
Storm drains were constructed on Banks Court, Erie Street and Young Avenue, in accordance with votes of previous Town Meetings.
Under the Continuous Sidewalk Act, new sidewalks and granite curbs were constructed on streets voted by the Board of Selectmen as follows: Blodgett Avenue, Eastman Avenue, Humphrey Street, - from Dale Street to Dennison Avenue.
Under General Maintenance all catch basins in the Town were cleaned; and all operations pertaining to streets and sidewalks, i.e., sweeping, patching, plowing, sanding, etc., were carried out by this division. Preston and Whales Beaches were cleaned daily during the Summer months. Personnel from this division work for the Swampscott Health Department on Poison Ivy and Mosquito Control.
Reconstruction of both Bituminous Concrete and Portland Cement Concrete sidewalks were accomplished in many sections of the Town.
Park Division: Immediately as the new department was forming, snow storms allowed us to cooperate with snow removal. At that time we were not set up to plow on the highways, so that the work was entirely snow removal.
As Spring came along, a giant pile of loam faced us at the rear of the Library with the request to spread and grade and later landscape the new addition. This was done in conjunction with the routine Spring cleanup work.
The tulip beds were not outstanding, due to children jumping through the beds to the extent that we were forced to plant pansies.
Tree planting was carried on with approximately 800 trees planted. Considera- tion was given as to specie and location, as well as the design of the house. Paul Scarlet hawthornes, modesta ash, hop-horn beam, red leaf maple, sugar maple, up- right maple, and the augustine ascending elm, were used.
Public Works Dept. New Equipment 4 F600 Ford Dump Trucks 1 F800 Ford Dump Truck
74
1956 Annual Report
Public Works Dept. - Two 1957 4-wheel drive Jeeps One 1957 F600 Ford Dump Truck One 1957 F700 Platform Dump Truck
İ
The eighteen memorial trees lost in the hurricane and the construction of the Library addition, were replaced.
The spraying program was carried on for the control of the elm bark beetle, canker worms, leaf aphids, and Japanese beetles. We are pleased to state that there seems to be less infestation of the Japanese beetles, which we feel is due to the fine cooperation of the various garden clubs and the combined efforts of entire neighbor- hoods.
The Dutch elm disease continues its ravages and as yet no control has been found. It is believed that it will continue until all elms have been destroyed.
The Leroy Austin playground was graded, swings and chute erected and a chain link fence placed, in accordance with the vote of the Annual Town Meeting.
The recreation project continued to be successful at all parks under the direction of Mr. Richard Stevenson of the High School faculty. The results of this and the very fine program of the Little League and Babe Ruth League should bring future results at the High School level. Because of extended organized athletic programs a shortage of Playing Fields exists, and a study will be made on this subject.
The High School and school athletic teams reached a population of over 330 participants at Phillips Park. Not only have the fields become too small but the ocker building built for 80 is now servicing that number .
The school spirit has reached an all time high, which is reflected by the number of fans attending the various outdoor sports. The shortage of Bleachers is causing in inconvenience to the public attending the games. The Booster Club bought, and his department erected a fine electric score board. The new press booth was built on the westerly side of the field.
Jackson Park was the summer home of the Greater Lynn Camp Fire Girls' Day Camp, and it is very heartening to see the many girls participating in organized ctivities throughout the wooded areas. The Life Guards at Fisherman's Beach gave one morning a week to these girls in swimming and life saving lessons. Various church groups are now using the Park for day camps of week duration or daily events.
During the annual events of fireworks, it is estimated that as high as 10,000 people visit the area to enjoy the fine displays.
Abbott Park is undergoing a face lifting by reloaming, grading and in the ›pring will be reseeded. The drain was installed as another Public Works project. The flagpole was cut off and reset, as the base was rotted.
75
Town of Swampscott
Sewer Division: Sewer extensions were completed in 1956 in Sargent Road, Pleasant Street, Banks Terrace, Oakledge Road and Essex Street, and a Relief in the Sewer System was installed at the junction of Grant and Farragut Roads, in accord- ance with the votes of Town Meetings.
In accordance with the vote of the Town Meeting of March 27, 1956, Sewers were voted for Sargent Road, Walnut Road, Commonwealth Terrace, Swampscott Avenue and the Greenway. During 1956, Swampscott Avenue and the Greenway sewer extensions were completed. The remainder of streets voted will be constructed in 1957 when plans and specifications are completed. A Drain was installed from Humphrey Street across private properties to Atlantic Avenue in accordance with vote of Town Meeting.
Stacey Brook, which has an outlet on the beach, was tested and found to be polluted. This necessitated the installation of a Chlorinator. The City of Lynn and the Town of Swampscott on a cooperative basis assumed the costs of operating this Chlorinator for treating the effluent in Stacey Brook. The Chlorinator of Stacey Brook reduced to a minimum the pollution, which allowed the Board of Health to open the beach for bathing purposes.
The following work was completed in 1956:
(a) New Particular Sewers Laid and Inspected 51
(b) Particular Sewers Rodded and Cleaned 210
(c) Main Sewers Rodded and Cleaned 160
(d) Sand Catcher Pans Replaced in Manholes 36
(e) Loose Manhole Covers Sealed 22
(f) Sewage Pumping for 1956 Approximately 582,000,000 Gallons There are approximately 36 miles of sewer mains in the Town.
Water Division: The following work has been accomplished by this division: SERVICES:
52 New Services have been installed
27 Services renewed completely
13 Services renewed from main to sidewalk
3 Services renewed from sidewalk to meter
39 Service leaks repaired
41 Services cleaned out Numerous services boxes have been dug and repaired
2 Frozen services thawed out
Public Works Dept. Four New 1957 Oliver Sidewalk Tractors with Plows
76
1956 Annual Report
Public Works Dept. New 1957 Beach Wagon and Two New 1957 Jeeps next to it.
METERS:
31 Obsolete meters have been replaced with new ones
43 Meters have been cleaned, tested and repaired
125 Meters leaks have been repaired in the field
216 Meters turned on
165 Meters turned off
77 New meters installed
MAINS:
Installed in the following streets:
Young Avenue tied into Crosman Avenue
213 ft. 6" c.i. pipe 204 ft. 6" c.i. pipe
Worcester Avenue tied into Hampshire Street
Extended Lewis Road
87 ft. 6" c.i. pipe
Laid overflow line for Standpipe
231 ft. 6" c.i. pipe
Robin Lane
320 ft. 4" c.i. pipe
Swampscott Avenue tied into Paradise Road
297 ft. 6" c.i. pipe
Redington Street from Humphrey Street to Blaney Street
326 ft. 10" c.i. pipe
Brown Road tied into Longley Avenue
150 ft. 6" c.i. pipe
Private Line to Davenport - 2 Salem Street
1192 ft. 6" c.i. pipe
Elwin Road from Foster Road to Windsor Avenue
750 ft. 6" c.i. pipe
Paradise Road to "A" Street of the H. H. Lebel Development
43 ft. 8" c.i. pipe
Strasnick Terrace off Puritan Road
336 ft. 4" c.i. pipe
2 Breaks in large mains were repaired.
HYDRANTS:
Flushed in Spring, also flushed, inspected and winterized in the late Fall.
1 New Hydrant was installed in Elwin Road
1 New Hydrant was installed (private) on Line to Davenport Est.
6 Hydrants were repaired
1 Hydrant relocated
4 Hydrants broken by automobiles had to be replaced with new ones. DRAINS:
Installed 12" R. C. pipe drain for standpipe overflow 158 ft. Installed 6" C. I. pipe drain in Abbott Park 136 ft.
Assisted in construction of a 12" R. C. pipe drain at Administration Building grounds 423 ft.
Assistance was given this Spring in plowing snow, snow removal and clearing of catch basins.
77
Town of Swampscott
Service boxes and gate boxes were located and brought to grade in all streets where road, sidewalk or sewer construction was going on.
All excavations made by this division have been brought to grade and tar patched or concrete replaced.
Hydrants in use December 31, 1956
356
Gates in use December 31, 1956
732
Services in use December 31, 1956
3679
Size
Wrought Iron
Cast Iron
Cement Lined
Brass
Total
114"
303
303 ft.
11%"
80
438
518 ft.
4,067
1,365
2,839
8,271 ft.
5,150
5,150 ft.
6"
153,468
153,468 ft.
11,894
11,894 ft.
10"
26,719
26,719 ft.
12"
14,604
14,604 ft.
14"
4,812
4,812 ft.
16"
1,502
1,502 ft.
4,067
218,149
1,748
3,277
227,241 ft.
Total miles of water mains - 43,038.
It is with sorrow and regret that we record the death of Mr. Albert Loyte, our Meter Reader. Mr. Loyte was a loyal and conscientious employee, and the division feels his passing greatly.
On Tuesday, February 28, 1956 a disastrous train wreck occurred near Essex Street, and all personnel of the Public Works Department assisted in the numerous chores necessitated by such an incident.
With the acceptance of Public Works by the Town of Swampscott, all personnel in the Service Divisions can be temporarily transferred so that major Public Works projects can be undertaken by force account rather than by outside contracts. With the cooperation of personnel and equipment from several divisions, the Administra- tion Building Drain was installed for approximately $1200.00, instead of a contract for $2700.00,-also the Abbott Park grading and drain for approximately $4000.00. instead of $5000.00. The controversial Essex Street was paved under Chapter 90 in three days, and for 1957 a section of Humphrey Street, (from the Fish House towards Atlantic Avenue) will be resurfaced under Chapter 90. Under the Acts of 1956, Chapter 718, Puritan Road will be reconstructed in short sections, with minimum inconvenience to the abutters and users of Puritan Road.
A program of replacing damaged bituminous concrete sidewalks will be started in 1957, and if voted by the Town Meeting approximately 144,000 square yards of Town streets will be seal coated with bituminous asphalt, and covered with peastone to give the streets a good appearance and smoother riding surface.
The following Public Works projects were completed in 1956: Cemetery House Repairs, enlarging Section C in the Cemetery, Fish House repairs and painting, Leroy Austin Park, Phillips Park grading, Park Bleachers, Abbott Park grading and drain, Administration Building drain.
Sidewalks: Eastman Avenue, Blodgett Avenue and Humphrey Street.
Street Construction: Eastman Avenue, Young Avenue, Banks Court, Banks Circle, Eureka Avenue, Porter Court and Worcester Avenue.
Water Mains: Foster Dam Section - Elwin Street.
Sewers: Oakledge Road, Essex Street, The Greenway and Swampscott Avenue.
78
1956 Annual Report
At the Special Town Meeting held on October 16, 1956, the Board of Public Works requested $115,000.00 for the purchase of new equipment for the Public Works Department. With the assistance of the Finance Committee, The Board of Selectmen, Economy Planning Committee, and many other interested groups, the Town Meeting members gave the Board of Public Works a vote of confidence by voting the entire amount requested. The following equipment was purchased for $103,000.00, leaving a balance of $12,000.00 that was not borrowed by the Town Treasurer :
1-41/2 cu. yd. Dump Truck
5-3 cu. yd. Dump Trucks
1-Platform Dump Tree Truck
4-4 Wheel Drive - 1-Ton Jeep Trucks
1-Station Wagon
1-Elgin Street King Sweeper
1-75 H.P. Motor Grader
1-Sand & Salt Hopper Spreader
1-Catch Basin Cleaner (to be purchased)
1-1 cu. yd. Front End Loader 4-Sidewalk Tractors & Plows
The old equipment in the Public Works Department was traded in towards the purchase of the new equipment. In the month of December this new equipment was tested during the four snow storms, and the equipment and men did a remark- able job. All divisions of the Public Works Department were alerted for these four storms and they did an outstanding job. The new motor grader has not been delivered, but it will be used both for snow plowing and for street construction. The new Street Sweeper should sweep approximately 15 miles of streets per day. This will allow the department to sweep all the streets of the Town at least once a week.
The Public Works Board has standardized wages and overtime rates for all employees of the Public Works Department. The hours and work schedules were also standardized. All personnel have been notified that in case of emergencies, they all must be available for work with the division requiring their services.
The Board has set up a motor equipment repair shop, and it is planned to accomplish all repairs and maintenance on this equipment by our own personnel. This will reduce our equipment maintenance costs and prolong the life of our equipment. The Board is inserting an Article in the 1957 Annual Town Meeting for the establishment of an Equipment Replacement Fund, to be used in future years to replace equipment without floating large Bond Issues.
A survey is being made of the Town's Water Distribution System to eliminate dead-end water mains in the Town, and the Water Division plans to install sections of Cast Iron mains to eliminate these dead-ends, which cause dirty water and reduced pressure during the Summer months.
Due to the numerous trees in the Town, another piece of equipment should be purchased to pick up leaves from the street, and blow them into our dump trucks. This equipment will keep our streets cleaner and prevent drain plug-ups with a reduction in maintenance costs.
The Board of Public Works wishes to extend their thanks to the Finance Committee, the Board of Selectmen, the Economy Planning Committee, the Planning Board, the Board of Health, the Citizens of Swampscott, the supervisors and per- sonnel of the Public Works Department for the assistance and cooperation given to the department in making the first year under Public Works a success.
79
Town of Swampscott
Building Inspector
RAYMOND O. DOANE, Building Inspector
Dwellings
Permits
Estimated Cost
New
40
Alternations and Additions
35
$ 423,000.00 75,950.00
Private Garages New
47
78,400.00
Alterations and Additions
4
3,600.00
Miscellaneous
Church (Alteration)
1
25,000.00
Swimming Pool and Recreation Room
1
18,000.00
Fire Damage Repairs (2)
2
8,800.00
Lubritoriuni
1.
10,000.00
Bank (Alterations)
1.
7,500.00
Storage Shed
1
5,000.00
Office (Alteration)
1
4,000.00
Store (Alteration)
3
4,000.00
Demolish Dwellings
22
159
$ 663,250.00
Building Permits
$139.00
Permits to Shingle
54.00
$193.00
Number of Inspections (Buildings)
284.00
Number of Inspections (Shingling)
54.00
$338.00
Amount of Building Fees Collected
$679.00
Elevator Operator's Licenses Issued
New
5
5.00
Renewals
2
1.00
$685.00
Sealer of Weights and Measures
GEORGE A. HOLT, SR., Sealer
I hereby submit my annual report for the year ending December 31, 1956. This report covers the period from January 1, 1956 to December 31, 1956.
Scales Adjusted 22
Sealed
Not Sealed
Condemned 7
TRIAL RE-WEIGHINGS
Tested
Correct 932
Under 85
Over 225
1232
303 8
There were 1452 Inspections and 196 Tests made. Frequent inspections and reweighings are made throughout the year. Several new scales and weights anc measures have been purchased by various merchants throughout the Town.
80
1956 Annual Report
The Planning Board
HAROLD M. KING, Chairman JAMES R. MADDOCK, Secretary
A. B. WAY, JR.
RALPH L. WILLIAMS
The Board held 14 meetings this year at which
18 plot plans were signed "Approval under sub-division control law not required"
2 plot plans were refused with suggestion that owners go to the Board of Appeals
6 preliminary plans of sub-divisions were discussed
3 Hearings on sub-divisions held and definite plans approved
2 Zoning changes discussed informally.
The Board appeared at nine meetings of the Board of Appeals and expressed their views on the subjects under discussion.
Two meetings of the State Federation of Planning Boards and two Region 5A meetings were attended.
The Board also had two meetings with the Finance Committee, one with the Board of Public Works and Board of Health and one with the Post Office Committee.
The Board arranged with the Board of Selectmen a set of regulations covering sale of Tax Title Land that will require purchasers to consolidate and redivide ub-standard lots into lots of legal size under the Zoning By-Law.
A report was made to the Town Meeting on the brooks and drains in the ownship and the ways in which surface drainage was handled.
A topographic map of the area between Puritan Road and Atlantic Avenue and he ocean from the New Ocean House to Palmer Pond was obtained and turned over o the Board of Public Works and Board of Health as a basis for the study of ewers to serve the area.
All requests for street acceptance which were made to the Annual Town Meeting were reviewed with the Town Engineer and the Board of Selectmen.
Large numbers of requests for information concerning zoning, planning, use of land, sub-divisions and replotting of lots have been answered or referred to the Boards having jurisdiction.
The death of Gordon L. Brown early in the year took from us a valued member of many years service. His loss has been keenly felt.
Contributory Retirement System
JOHN G. MCLEARN, Chairman HAROLD R. AUSTIN I. MURRAY ADAMS, Secretary
The assets of the system as of December 31, 1956 were $308,954.00, an increase of some $28,000.00 over 1955. Pension payments total $40,489.00, com- ared with $37,093.00 for 1955. This figure includes death benefits paid to widows hose husbands died as a result of injuries incurred in the line of duty.
Active members total 163; 1955 162. Pensioners 26; 1955 27.
There is on file in this office a financial statement which may be examined by hembers of the system.
81
Town of Swampscott
Board of Health
ROBERT C. THOMPSON, M.D., Chairman E. WALLACE DONALD ROBERT H. BESSOM, M.D. JOHN E. LAPLANTE, Health Officer
Swampscott experienced a marked increase in its death rate this year which was largely due to the train wreck in February that claimed 13 lives. Our rate rose from 10.3 to 11.4 deaths per 1,000 population. The leading cause of death continues to be diseases of the heart and circulatory system with 67 followed by 17 deaths from cancer and 16 deaths from diseases of the central nervous system. The average age of death was 66.6 years which is lower than the national average because of the train accident.
Swampscott birth reports totaled 163 through September 30th, 8 of which were premature.
Following is a list of communicable diseases reported during the past 3 years :
1956
1955
1954
Chicken Pox
54
207
216
Diphtheria
1
0
0
German Measles
56
8
6
Hepatitis (Infectious)
0)
0
3
Measles
5
222
162
Meningitis (Und.)
3
0
0)
Mumps
3
299
186
Poliomyelitis
0
16
5
Salmonellosis
4
5
1
Scarlet Fever
14
25
14
Tuberculosis
2
2
3
Whooping Cough
2
2
7
There was a marked decrease in the three common childhood diseases, chicken- pox, measles, and mumps and a moderate increase in german measles. One case of diphtheria in a young adult was reported which was the first case of this disease since 1946. It was most gratifying to note the absence of polio this year especially after polio vaccine was made available to everyone. In the age group of 0-30 years vaccine was supplied through Federal or State Funds and could be obtained through a Public Clinic or the family physician. Acceptance of the vaccine among children 15 years of age and younger was estimated at 94% however, a disappointingly small number of the older group received vaccine and it is hoped that these people will soon realize the value of polio immunity and take advantage of the vaccines benefits Present statistics indicate the vaccine is effective and that polio will soon be among the other conquered diseases.
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