USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1959 > Part 7
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1. The State Housing Board approved of the Superior Street site for a Golden Age Program.
2. The Board of Appeals approved of rezoning the above site for mul- tiple dwellings.
3. The Authority and the State Housing Board entered into a contract for Financial Assistance for $440,000 on a 1 year temporary financing. After Project is completed the Authority will go into permanent financing over a 40 year period for a sum that will equal the Development Cost.
4. The Authority selected John J. Mahoney, Salem, Massachusetts, as Architect for the Project. Mr. Mahoney had previous experience in designing similar developments in Salem, Marblehead and Newburyport.
5. Immediately upon receipt of the check in the amount of $440,000 it was deposited and $400,000 was invested in short term U. S. Treasury Notes.
6. After numerous meetings with the State Housing Board and Archi- tect and relating correspondence, the State Housing Board approved of the Final Plans for 40 units with Office Building in its letter dated December 21, 1959.
7. At a Special Meeting held on December 21, 1959 the Authority voted to advertise for bids and open bids of sub-contractors on January 19 and open bids of general contractors on January 26, 1960.
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Tenants Accounts Receivable
Town of Swampscott
Following are some of the features of the Golden Age Development:
1. Access road to project from Superior Street with turn-around space at innermost portions.
2. Emergency vehicle access path to buildings which will not reach across road.
3. Parking for 16 cars.
4. Asphalt paved walks, drying yards and recreational areas.
5. Provisions for new planting and foliage as well as grass areas.
6. Each building shall include individual boiler rooms with gas boilers and hot water heaters, fireproof stairhalls; woodframe construction with brick veneer exterior walls; complete fire detection, emergency lighting and emergency call systems.
7. Each living unit shall include 525 square feet of floor space, separate living room, bedroom with closet, kitchen and bath; living and bedroom shall have oak strip hardwood flooring; kitchen and bathrooms shall have vinyl asbestos tile flooring, bathroom walls shall be of cement plaster and ceramic tile, master television antenna system outlet, fire detectors in bedroom, liv- ing room and kitchen, automatic door release which unlocks front door when unit emergency call devices are tipped, modern kitchens shall be equipped with double sink, gas range, electric refrigerator, and range hood and fan units, bathrooms shall be furnished with linen closet, lavatory, water closet and tub with shower curtain unit with accessories to include medicine cab- inets, soap holders, grab bars, coat hooks and tissue holders.
8. There will be six buildings in all; four six-unit buildings with two units over four; one eight-unit building with four units over four; and one eight-unit building with four units over four. The Office will be located at one end of the first floor.
Due to the limited area the proposed Community Building was eliminated from the present Contract.
Previous experience in other projects already built indicates that it will take approximately 7 months before buildings will be ready for occupancy, barring unforeseen developments.
The Eligibility Requirements for the Elderly Housing Program are as follows:
1. A person must be 65 years of age or over (single individuals living alone or couples are eligible).
2. A person must be a citizen of the United States (except an alien who has served in the armed forces of the United States and who has been hon- orably discharged and provided application has been made for citizenship and aliens eligible to receive Old Age Assistance).
3. A person must be of low income. In general the annual income of a single individual not to exceed $2500 and the annual income of a couple not to exceed $3000.
4. A person must be in need of good housing. Dwellings for two persons may be occupied by the following combinations :-
a. married couple
b. two men or two women
c. a brother and sister
d. in some instances an elderly tenant (65 years or over) and a non-elderly person provided that person is necessary for the physical well being of the elderly person in the low income group.
Average rent and including heat (possibly utilities) $47-$50 per month, depending on final Development Costs.
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1959 Annual Report
With the razing of the Old Town Hall the Authority found its-self with- out a business office. The Board of Public Works invited the Authority to share its office until suitable quarters were found and/or an office building erected. The Authority accepted the invitation for which it is grateful to the Board.
The Authority would like to extend its appreciation to the Upper Swamp- scott Improvement Association, Board of Selectmen, Board of Public Works and its Supt., Board of Appeals, Planning Board, Plumbing, Building and Wiring Inspectors, Town Engineer, Chief of Fire Department, staff of the State Housing Board, other Town Departments, Mr. and Mrs. Donald L. Saw- yer and Violet M. Loyte who granted Options for Real Estate; and to Ethel S. Austin for granting a release to allow the Authority to build on land for- merly donated to the Town for Park purposes.
Without the assistance of the foregoing mentioned the Golden Age Hous- ing Program would not have been possible. The Authority, the Elderly Citi- zens as well as the townspeople are truly indebted to these people.
BALANCE SHEET - DECEMBER 31, 1959 Elderly Housing Project 667-1 ASSETS
Development Fund Investments
$ 42,492.01 400,000.00
Development Costs
(4,845.66)
Total Assets LIABILITIES
$ 437,646.35
Notes Authorized
440,000.00 3,347.67
Accrued Interest on Notes
Less: Expenses
Payroll Executive
$ 300.00
Legal Services & Expenses
415.00
Fiscal & Other Fees
190.77
Bond Counsel & Opinion
95.55
Fees under Contract
4500.00
Appraisal Fees
200.00
(5,701.32)
Total Liabilities
$ 437,646.35
Collector of Taxes
Daniel W. Wormwood, Jr., Collector of Taxes in account with the Town of Swampscott-1959
DR.
Real Estate
$2,153.526.47
Sewer Assessments
10,118.35
Sidewalk Assessments
431.91
Water Liens
5,426.04
Committed Interest
1,147.13
Personal Property
151,760.33
Poll
8,192.00
Excise
288,071.07
Water Rates
94,976.90
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Town of Swampscott
Water Services
14,441.88
Water Rent
1,500.00
Sale of Material
277.07
Unapportioned Sidewalk Assessments
2,210.71
Unapportioned Sewer Assessments
4,542.24
Departmental Accounts Receivable
11,590.38
Estate of Deceased Persons
653.20
Apportioned Sewers Paid in Advance
3,501.16
Refunds
18,004.98
$2,770.371.82
CR.
Cash Paid on Real Estate
$2,055,611.12
Cash Paid on Sewer Assessments
5,889.60
Cash Paid on Sidewalk Assessments
378.68
Cash Paid on Water Liens
4,669.81
Cash Paid on Committed Interest
985.99
Cash Paid on Personal Property
142,586.78
Cash Paid on Poll
7,064.00
Cash Paid on Excise
264,331.59
Cash Paid on Water Rates
88,098.60
Cash Paid on Water Services
12,235.51
Cash Paid on Water Rent
1,500.00
Cash Paid on Sale of Materials
277.07
Cash Paid on Unapportioned Sidewalk Assessments
2,281.63
Cash Paid on Unapportioned Sewer Assessments
268.88
Cash Paid on Departmental Accounts Receivable
7,494.63
Cash Paid on Apportioned Sewers in Advance
3,501.16
Abatements on Real Estate
40,012.77
Abatements on Sewer Assessments
1,055.49
Abatements on Committed Interest
54.22
Abatements on Personal Property
5,809.80
Abatements on Poll
1,098.00
Abatements on Excise
19,169.79
Abatements on Water Rates
76.20
Abatements on Unapportioned Sewer Assessments
385.19
Abatements on Departmental Accounts Receivable
165.00
Uncollected Real Estate
66,148.91
Uncollected Sewer Assessments
3,173.26
Uncollected Sidewalk Assessments
53.23
Uncollected Water Liens
756.23
Uncollected Committed Interest
106.92
Uncollected Personal Property
3,915.75
Uncollected Poll
52.00
Uncollected Excise
13,665.63
Uncollected Water Rates
6,802.10
Uncollected Water Services
2,224.16
Uncollected Unapportioned Sewer Assessments
3,888.17
Uncollected Departmental Accounts Receivable
3,930.75
Uncollected Estates of Deceased Persons
653.20
$2,770,371.82
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1959 Annual Report
Building Code Advisory Board
John F. Milo, Chairman
Raymond O. Doane Edwin A. Fuller
Donald C. Goss Edward Weinshanker
During the past year cases were brought before the Board and notices of the decisions were filed in the office of the Town Clerk.
Inspector of Wires
Fred D. Sargent, Inspector of Wires
I herewith submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1959. This report covers the period from January 1, 1959 to December 31, 1959.
Month
Permits Issued
Fees Collected
January
27
$ 36.00
February
31
48.75
March
28
25.00
April
39
58.50
May
28
29.50
June
42
59.25
July
36
108.50
August
36
59.00
September
36
50.25
October
38
64.00
November
26
22.00
December
37
66.00
Total
404
$626.75
Frequent inspections are made of electrical installations in new buildings and of changes made in old work. Work performed is in accordance with the requirements of the Massachusetts State Code.
Board of Assessors
Anthony F. Pierre, Chairman Thomas F. Collins, Secretary Ernest Manchin
The Board of Assessors submit all figures used to determine the Tax Rate for 1959 at $69.00 per thousand:
VALUATIONS
Real Estate Personal
$ 31,187,175.00 $ 2,198,425.00
Total
33,385,600.00
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Town of Swampscott
APPROPRIATIONS and ASSESSMENTS
State County Town
$ 66,014.84 158,794.06 3,002,545.60
Total
$3,227,354.50
ESTIMATED RECEIPTS and AVAILABLE FUNDS
Taxation on Property and Polls
$ 2,311,796.41
Taxation on Motor Vehicles
Receipts from State
226,226.98
Receipts from County
Receipts from Metropolitan Parks
2,964.96
Receipts from Town
233,129.19
Available Funds
182,108.37
Total
$3,227,354.50
TABLE OF AGGREGATES
Number of Persons, Partnerships & Corporations assessed
3904
Number of Polls
4096
Number of Dwellings
3445
Value of Land
Value of Buildings
$ 7,499,175.00 23,688,000.00
MOTOR VEHICLES and TRAILERS ASSESSED (not figured in the tax rate) Number of Cars assessed 6366
Valuation of Cars assessed
$ 5,210,040.00
289,176.97
Excise Tax
Public Library
TRUSTEES George W. Howe, Chairman Andrew R. Linscott Ruth M. Barry, Secretary STAFF (December 31, 1959) Edith N. Snow, Librarian Elizabeth W. Forbes, Children's Librarian Ruth E. Pollard, Reference Librarian Theresa F. Kenneally, General Library Assistant Louise E. Gagnon, General Library Assistant Jane Pinard, Library Secretary Marguerite W. Condon, Part-Time Assistant Angelo M. Losano, Custodian Anthony DiPietro, Jr., Night Custodian
Popular new feature of the year was National Library Week, a citizens' movement which enjoys country-wide publicity through cooperation of press,
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271,128.59
1959 Annual Report
radio and television. Sparked locally by Mr. Harold P. Willett, an active com- mittee planned programs which were well attended and are still mentioned. The auditorium made an excellent center. The Committee: Richard B. John- son, Chairman; Richard Chambers, Miss Mary A. Clapp, Mrs. Ralph L. Day, Mrs. Joseph Gorfinkle, Charles A. Hird, Miss Mary Koen, Mrs. William H. McCarty, Jr., Harold Norton, Mrs. H. Graham Pope, Harold I. Power, Morton Sheinman, Harold P. Willett.
Events included a talk on rockets, local history pictures, an art show and painting demonstration, panel on "what books your children are required to read," essay and bookplate contests, and a Sea Scout exhibition.
Other friendly services during the year were: volunteer storytelling by Miss Olive Jakes, exchange teacher from England; loans of original draw- ings by Dorothy Lathrop, from Mrs. Helen (Fay) Juneman of Stockbridge, Mass .; from Mrs. Joseph Gorfinkle, the artists's sketches for the illustrations in her book, "Bianca", of which she has given the Library an autographed copy. Mrs. Ernestine Beyer read her own entertaining verses for a Children's Book Week program; Mrs. Frederick Gardner reads to younger children every second week, freeing Mrs. Forbes to tell stories to the older group which has asked for them. To these is added the resource of the Blanche E. Doyle Fund, which, by membership in the Toy Cupboard Theatre of Lancaster, provided a marionette show as Reading Club reward and an exhibit of toys and books of earlier times for the lobby case.
Circulation has remained constant in the adult department-a small loss in fiction being balanced by a gain in non-fiction; less circulation of maga- zines in both departments may indicate more "serious" use, less aimless page- turning. Fewer pictures were borrowed; the collection needs some consistent work done on it, which we hope to do in the summer. The use of phonograph records was less than at any time in the last 5 years. It may be that so small and basic a collection has served its purpose and we should consider putting the 100 dollars per year to another use.
"In the air", i.e., discussed at all gatherings of librarians, is the question of how to improve services by cooperation, since more money is increasingly hard to secure. Larger units of service are to be found in states where coun- ties are more prominent and powerful than in New England. Metropolitan Boston Library Planning Council was formed last spring to study the ques- tions common to all towns and cities near Boston. Under pressure from its City Council, Boston, last year, introduced a bill in the General Court to tax neighboring libraries definite amounts for use of the Boston Public Library by their citizens. Inter-library loans from that Library to towns within 30 miles have not been possible for several years. The defeat of the bill gave op- portunity for surrounding libraries to begin to study ways and means more aggressively. Meetings for the discussion of projects have been held month- ly since August-a stimulating process. We are aware that even high school students have great mobility-ours go to other towns, and others come here. All these relations should be re-studied and reviewed, to see if we are keeping up with the times, getting the most for our money (which is not a concern of the times in general!) and spending energies most wisely.
A list of donors of books, periodicals and phonograph records, with sta- tistics of use will be found on the Bulletin Board at the Library.
Board of Appeals
C. Glover Bowes, Chairman
Eustis B. Grimes T. Paul Corcoran, Jr.
Associate Members
John S. McKenney Warren C. Hutchins
The Board of Appeals of the Town of Swampscott herewith submits its
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Town of Swampscott
Annual Report for the year 1959. The Board heard 40 cases, of which 17 were for Variances, 20 for Use and Business Permits, 2 on signs.
We wish to thank the Library and School Departments for their co-oper- ation. Also the Plumbing Inspector, the Health Officer, the Town Counsel, and Mr. Harold King of the Planning Board for their help and co-operation.
Hadley School Building Committee
Lillian White
Burt Harding
George Knowlton Thomas Duncan Roger Skinner, Chairman
The remodeling repairing and reconstructing of the Hadley School Build- ing for elementary school purposes has been completed. This work was auth- orized by the Special Town Meeting of June 27, 1955 which voted the sum of $169,024 for these purposes.
The four year delay in completing the work was due to the continued oc- cupancy by the junior high school of part of the Hadley School Building. As soon as September 1959 was agreed upon as the date of the junior high school's removal to a new building the Hadley School Building Committee was also able to plan the completion of its work for September 1959.
The Committee is pleased that it was able to keep within the original appropriation of $169,024. All the work originally planned could not be com- pleted because building costs of course, increased between 1955 when the ap- propriation was voted and 1959 when much of the work was performed; also because unsuspected structural defects were discovered in the main building that had to be corrected at extra cost. Nevertheless the Committee is satisfied with the work that has been done and with the pleasure that has been express- ed by the school officials, teachers and the P.T.A.
None of the items that were omitted are urgent at this time. Some of them, however, may have to be taken care of within the next five to ten years. These items indicate; the replacement of the boilers in the main building; the replacement of the unit ventilators in the annex and rebuilding of the chim- ney on the roof of the main building. The Committee also recommends that fire escapes be erected to the third floor if and when the classrooms on that floor are again used regularly. Provisions for these items should, the com- mittee feels, be provided for in the School Departments maintenance budget. Also omitted for lack of funds were the redecoration of the unused classrooms on the third floor and the domestic science room in the basement. The Com- mittee also did not have any money to spend for furniture to replace some junior high school furniture that was removed.
A last recommendation of the Committee is that playground and parking space should be provided at the Hadley School to give its pupils and teachers facilities comparable to those of the other elementary schools in the town.
No Committee is self-sufficient but depends on the cooperation of many people. This committee was particularly fortunate in its selection of James H. Ritchie and Associates as its architect. Their patience and cooperation went far beyond the printed contract. The Hadley School Building Committee is also grateful for the cooperation of the School Committee-when it seemed impossible to keep the contract within the appropriation balance. They made several practical and helpful suggestions and assumed the payment of several small items that otherwise would have been omitted. Special thanks are due
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1959 Annual Report
the Superintendent of Schools who, by request, met regularly with the Com- mittee and was of inestimable help in supplying essential information as well as practical solutions to many problems that arose.
School Department
SCHOOL COMMITTEE-1959
Term Expires 1962
Theodore C. Sargent, Chairman, 9 Clarke Road
W. H. Rothwell, 2nd, Vice-Chair., 11 Little's Point Rd. Term Expires 1961
Lillian I. White, 8 Phillips Avenue Term Expires 1960
George A. Chadwell, 96 Stetson Avenue Term Expires 1960
Walter H. Forbes, Jr., 28 Greenwood Terrace
Term Expires 1962
Regular meeting, second Thursday of each month. Public is welcome
Robert D. Forrest Philip A. Jenkin
Superintendent of Schools Administrative Assistant
The office of the Superintendent of Schools, located at 24 Redington Street, is open every week-day from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
School Principals
James H. Dunn, High School LYnn 2-2574
Keith L. Jordan, Alice Shaw Jr. High School LYnn 2-7540
Jane T. Rogers, Stanley School LYnn 2-1954
Esther K. Heikel, Machon School LYnn 2-5730
J. Richard Bath, Hadley School LYnn 3-7973
Madelaine M. Murphy, Clarke School
LYnn 8-2659
To the Citizens of Swampscott Ladies and Gentlemen:
The schools of Swampscott have ended 1959 in better condition than at any time within at least a decade. They are now in a position to move onward and keep pace with the very best in American education.
What has brought about this state of good health ? There were, as we see it, three main factors. Building programs, for one thing, gave us a new Junior High, a remodeled Hadley, and in consequence the first year in a long time free of the crippling effects of severe overcrowding. Further, a salary scale with an advantageous edge over those in many comparable towns brought some twenty teachers into our schools whose training, competence, and vigor reinforced the best of our traditionally good teaching. Finally, these two fac- tors together, good buildings and good teaching, stimulated developments in curriculum that generated in many areas an entirely new atmosphere of learn- ing.
We should regard all this not as an end, however, but as part of a con- tinuing process. The trend in curriculum development will grow in strength. That it may be most successful, we must provide at the High School space and equipment that do not now exist. We must also continue to attract tea- chers of the calibre of those who came to us last year.
Our High School is currently undergoing the critical evaluation required every ten years as a member of the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The results will appear in a report rating the High School for accreditation by the Association.
Thorough studies of elementary and junior high programs are underway. Enrichment of instruction by TV and other aids is bringing enthusiastic res- ponse. The Adult Education opportunities are expanding. A summer session
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Town of Swampscott
will offer special courses. The gifted child will have a chance to increase his knowledge. We urge you to read intensively the Superintendent's report about the many facets of Swampscott's educational planning and growth.
In these endeavors the help of citizens is indispensable. It is not enough that they exercise their right to approve or disapprove what school boards and educators propose. Townspeople are needed as co-workers in a great cause-to help define, plan, and interpret the role of schools in American so- ciety. Truly, education is now the all-important medium for national survival and progress.
We hope that citizens of Swampscott will know that they are welcome to attend our meetings. We urge that individually, as well as in groups similar to the newly organized Council for Public Schools, they join with us in ex- change of information and points of view.
Our aim can be for nothing short of genuine superiority. We must not only preserve the framework of free democratic education. We must also make it excellent in all its parts. We want our Swampscott schools to produce young men and women effectively trained and broadly educated in the most worth- while curriculum we can provide for them. It is a goal that demands the best from all of us.
Theodore C. Sargent, Chairman William H. Rothwell, 2nd, Vice Chairman Lillian I. White George A. Chadwell Walter H. Forbes, Jr.
To the Swampscott School Committee
Mrs. White and Gentlemen:
I submit herewith my annual report as your Superintendent of Schools for the year 1959.
The Concern is for Quality
In Swampscott and throughout our nation 1959 was a year of progress in education. The sharp criticisms which were hurled at the public schools in 1958 had their spurring effect. Even though we felt much of the criticism was as unfair as it was uninformed, we were nevertheless forced to take a long second look at our programs, to re-evaluate our aims, and to re-examine our philosophy. Only the extremely short-sighted could find no room for improve- ment.
While expressing confidence in the existing framework of public educa- tion in our nation, the American public and leading educators recognized the need for modernizing our curriculum, improving our teaching techniques, and raising our expectations of pupil accomplishments. Given a sense of direction by James B. Conant, the Rockefeller Report, and studies by many national organizations of professional groups, and abetted by financial assistance from the Federal government and national foundations, we moved ahead with the development of new programs which represented, without a doubt, a stiffen- ing of our educational spine.
Throughout the nation new courses of study have been written, or are in the process of being written, in physics, mathematics, biology, social studies, and modern foreign languages. Teachers in all parts of the country are being trained at special institutes and in college seminars to teach these new courses and to utilize the improved techniques.
It is also heartening that a surging of citizen interest has made itself felt in America's schools. President Stratton of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology writes in his annual report for 1959:
It would be false to conclude that a new awareness and under- standing have pervaded all segments of the American public. None-
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1959 Annual Report
theless, it is highly encouraging to observe in how many communities parents, school boards, and teachers have quietly and effectively joined forces to strengthen the quality of our schools, to give greater substance to the curricula, and to elevate the status of our teachers. Responsibility for the excellence of our schools and colleges falls di- rectly upon the American family. The attitudes of parents toward learning and scholarship, the values they place upon intellectual ach- ievement, and their willingness to make material sacrifices in support of their schools will largely determine the progress of education in this country.
I agree wholeheartedly with this view and therefore regard with hope and eager anticipation the recent formation of the Swampscott Council for Public Schools. I believe that such a group can become an effective expression of the community's own basic concern for quality. It can make an immeasur- able contribution in helping the School Committee and administration to main- tain working communication with what the people of Swampscott want for their schools-with what President Stratton describes as "private conviction and understanding."
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