Town annual report of Swampscott 1960, Part 10

Author: Swampscott, Massachusetts
Publication date: 1960
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 130


USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1960 > Part 10


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$5,409.73


6,212.22


Provident Institution for Savings


115.51


Total Balance


$11,737.46


The Swampscott World War II Memorial Fund welcomes gifts and be- quests. It is suggested that those contemplating gifts or bequests, confer with any Trustee of the Fund. Contributions made to the Fund are deductible by the donors in computing their taxable net income.


102


1960 Annual Report


Police Department


Francis P. Wall, Chief


PERSONNEL


Officer Joseph A. McHugh attended and graduated from the Massachu- setts State Police School. The training of this officer will prove to be bene- ficial both to the officer and to the department.


AUXILIARY POLICE


The Auxiliary Police under the direction of the Captain John P. Costin has been active during the year in assisting the regular force in many functions. This force is ready for immedate service at any time.


ARRESTS


On warrant


15


Without warrant


41


Summonsed to appear in Court 20


Witness summonses served


21


Notice to Parents


5


Warrants served for other Police Departments


4


Summonses to appear in Court served for other Police Departm'ts 236


OFFENCES CHARGED


Assault and battery


5


Breaking and entering and larceny in nighttime


6


Breaking and entering in nighttime with intent to commit a misdemeanor 3


Breaking and entering in nighttime with intent. to commit rape


1


Delivering alcoholic beverages to a minor


1


Drunkenness


33


Larceny


13


Possession of short lobsters


1


Receiving stolen property


1


Violation of conditions of probation


1


Wilful and malicious damage of property


1


1960 cases continued to 1961


Breaking and entering and larceny in nighttime


1


Non-support


1


Offences charged in 1959


False alarm of fire 1 Larceny 3


Motor Vehicle Laws:


Attaching registration plates to motor vehicle assigned by Registry to another vehicle


1


103


Town, of Swampscott


Going away without making self known, after


knowingly causing injury to property Operating after revocation of license


5


Operating so as to endanger 1


Operating under the influence of liquor


8


Operating motor vehicle after suspension of license 2


Operating motor vehicle not being insured as required by law 1


Operating motor vehicle not registered by law 1


Operating motor vehicle without a license


1


Operating motor vehicle without having license in possession 1


Using motor vehicle without authority


8


DISPOSITION OF CASES


Dismissed


13


Essex County Training School


2


Filed


9


Fined


39


Found not guilty


4


Held for Grand Jury


1


Probation


2


Released (Drunkenness, first offence)


11


Restitution


3


Sentenced to House of Correction


10


Sentenced to House of Correction, suspended


3


Turned over to Military Authorities


1


Cases continued to 1960


Fined


1


Dismissed


3


Cases continued to 1961


2


1959 Cases disposed of Fined


1


Dismissed


3


MISCELLANEOUS


Accidents:


Automobile accidents reported and investigated


126


Fatalities


0


Accidents involving personal injuries


97


Property damage only


29


Person injuries :


Pedestrians injured


5


Bicyclists


3


Operators and passengers


156


104


3


1960 Annual Report


Ambulance Service:


To accidents


30


To false alarms


32


To fires


52


Persons conveyed to Hospitals


213


Persons conveyed from Hospital to Home


57


Persons conveyed from Hospital to Nursing Home


16


Persons conveyed to Nursing Home


12


Persons conveyed from Nursing Home to Home


4


Persons conveyed from Nursing Home to another Nursing Home 2


Persons conveyed from Nursing Home to Hospital 10


Persons conveyed from Doctor's Office to Hospital 3


Person conveyed from Home to another Home


1


Person conveyed from Hospital to New Ocean House


1


Person conveyed from School to Home


1


Motor Patrol Service:


Assistance given to sick and injured persons 53


Fersons conveyed to Hospital 58


Persons conveyed from Hospital to Home


7


Persons conveyed from Nursing Home to another Nursing Home 2


Persons conveyed from Nursing Home to Home 3


Persons conveyed from Doctor's Office to Home 2


Persons conveyed from Nursing Home to Hospital


2


Auto Theft


14


Breaking and entering cases investigated


46


Complaints investigated


1001


Doors and windows found open


141


Duty calls made by patrolmen from police boxes


49,084


Gas leaks reported


2


Larceny reports $50 and over investigated


27


Larceny reports under $50 investigated


83


Licenses issued:


Bicycle licenses


155


Pistol permits


47


Lights in vacant buildings investigated


36


Manhole covers reported loose


3


Messages delivered for other Police Departments, etc.


140


Motor Vehicle Moving Violations:


Reported to Registrar of Motor Vehicles


82


Warnings 111


105


Town of Swampscott


Parking Violations:


Motor Vehicles tagged


4,336


Notice of violation of parking rules served


639


Persons reported missing and located


52


Residences temporarily closed and special attention given


425


Sale or transfer of motor vehicle notices filed


307


Sale of second-hand motor vehicle notices filed


93


Street lamps reported out


109


Street and sidewalk defects reported


23


Trees reported down


26


Trench cave-in reported


2


Water leaks reported


11


Windows reported broken and cases investigated


81


Wire reported defective


22


DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT


The equipment of this department is regularly inspected and tested and no effort is spared to have it ready for instant use at all times.


RECOMMENDATIONS


I recommend that the Town purchase two patrol cars to replace two 1960 Chevrolets.


I recommend that the Town purchase two motorcycles to replace one 1958 and one 1959 Harley-Davidson Motorcycles.


APPRECIATION


I wish to express my sincere apprecation to the Board of Selectmen, to the members of my department, to the officers and members of the Auxiliary Police, to the traffic Policewomen, to all Town departments and to all others who have co-operated with me during the year.


Dog Officer


John J. Mattera, Dog Officer


I herewith submit my Annual Report covering the year 1960.


Five hundred dogs licensed and one kennel, making a total of five hundred and four dogs.


Six-hundred complaints or requests for assistance were made, all of which were acted upon, and in most cases settled to the mutual satisfaction of all concerned.


I wish to thank the Board of Selectmen and all who have co-operated with me during the year.


106


1960 Annual Report


In Memoriam


ARTHUR L. BURT Citizens' Traffic Safety Committee 1959-1960 Died September 11, 1960


THOMAS W. DUNCAN Town Meeting Member Housing Authority Member Planning Board 1937-1944 Hadley School Building Committee Died April 6, 1960


STUART P. ELLIS Park Commissioner 1914-1934 Died June 22, 1960


HOWARD L. HAMILL Public Works Engineering Department 1924-1958 Died October 8, 1960


GERTRUDE L. HAMMOND


School Department


1926-1930


1950-1960


Died February 11, 1960


HAROLD M. KING Planning Board 1948-1960 Died February 29, 1960


HARRY M. SHANNAHAN Finance Committee 1943-1945 Memorial Day Committee Died August 9, 1960


JAMES WARNOCK Fire Department 1897-1939 Died August 25, 1960


107


Town of Swampscott


General Information


Swampscott was incorporated as a Town on May 21, 1852.


Situation: About 15 miles northeast of Boston.


Population: 13,294.


Area: 3.05 square miles.


Assessed Valuation: $34,104,950.00.


Tax Rate: $68.00.


Form of Government: Representative Town Meeting (accepted May 17, 1927. First Meeting held February 27, 1928).


Governing body of Town: Board of Selectmen.


Administration Building: 22 Monument Avenue.


Senators in Congress: Leverett Saltonstall and John F. Kennedy.


State Senator: Charles V. Hogan of Lynn (1st Essex District).


Representative in Congress: William H. Bates of Salem (6th Congress- ional District).


Representatives in General Court: George B. Thomson of Swampscott; Auville W. Putnam of Marblehead; and Thomas M. Newth of Swampscott (14th Essex District).


Member of Governor's Council: John Joseph Buckley of Essex (5th Dis- trict).


Qualifications of Voters: Must be 21 years of age, born in United States or fully naturalized; a resident of Massachusetts one year and Swampscott six months. Registration Monday through Friday, 9-12 A.M., 1-5 P.M. Special sessions held preceding elections.


WHERE TO VOTE:


Precinct 1-Machon School on Burpee Road.


Precinct 2-Clarke School on Norfolk Avenue side adjoining Abbott Park.


Precinct 3-Central Fire Station, Burrill Street.


Precinct 4-Hadley School on Redington Street.


Precinct 5-Essex Oil Filling Station, 638 Humphrey Street,


Precinct 6-Phillips Beach Fire Engine House, Phillips Avenue.


Tax Bills: Due and payable on or before October 1. Law provides for ad- dition of interest from October 1 on bills unpaid after November 1. Poll and motor excise taxes are payable 30 days and water bills are payable 60 days from date of issue.


108


1960 Annual Report


For Your Convenience


AMBULANCE


LYnn 5-1111


EMERGENCY NUMBERS


CIVIL DEFENSE LYnn 8-9622


FIRE LYnn 5-4050


POLICE


LYnn 5-1111


Information on:


Call:


At:


Assessments


Assessors


LYnn 5-1644


Bicycle Licenses


Police


LYnn 5-1111


Bills and Accounts


Town Accountant


LYnn 5-1648


Birth Certificates


Town Clerk


LYnn 5-1743


Building Permits


Building Inspector


LYnn 3-4538


Cemetery


Cemetery Superintendent


LYnn 3-4369


Death Certificates


Town Clerk


LYnn 5-1743


Dog Licenses


Town Clerk


LYnn 5-1743


Dogs-Lost and Found


Dog Officer


LYnn 8-6369


Draft Board


Draft Board No. 68


LYnn 8-9144


Elections


Elections and Registrations


LYnn 3-1873


Engineering


Town Engineer


LYnn 2-1696


Entertainment Licenses


Selectmen


LYnn 5-1645


Fire Permits


Fire Department


LYnn 5-4050


Fishing and Hunting Licenses


Town Clerk


LYnn 5-1743


Garbage Collection


Health Department


LYnn 5-1643


Library


Public Library


LYnn 3-8380


Lights, Street


Selectmen


LYnn 5-1645


Marriage Certificates


Town Clerk


LYnn 5-1743


Milk Inspection


Health Department


LYnn 5-1643


Mortgages, Personal Property


Town Clerk


LYnn 5-1743


Old Age Assistance


Old Age Assistance


LYnn 8-4400


Parks and Playgrounds


Public Works


LYnn 5-1647


Plumbing Permits


Plumbing Inspector


LYnn 5-1643


Resident Listing


Elections and Registrations


LYnn 3-1873


Rubbish Collection


Health Department


LYnn 5-1643


Schools


School Department


LYnn 2-2067


Sewers


Public Works


LYnn 5-1647


Streets


Public Works


LYnn 5-1547


Tax Collections


Tax Collector


LYnn 5-1646


Trees


Public Works


LYnn 5-1647


Veterans' Benefits


Veterans' Service Department LYnn 3-4313


Elections and Registrations LYnn 3-1873


Voting Registration Water


Public Works LYnn 5-1647


Weights and Measures


Sealer LYnn 5-4764


Welfare


Welfare Department LYnn 8-4400


Wire Inspector LYnn 3-4538


Wiring Permits Zoning


Building Inspector


LYnn 3-4538


109


Town of Swampscott


Central Fire Station Building Committee


George J. Burke, Chairman


J. Dane Chandler Chester E. Bond


The new Central Fire Station has been completed within the funds pro- vided by the Town Meeting members.


A tabulation of the Architect's fees and other costs will be made as soon as the Contractor completes all final adjustments, which he is presently making.


In any event, the Construction Costs, the Architect's. Fees and all other costs will be within the funds and there will be a return to the Town of un- expended monies all within the $200,000. appropriation. It therefore now be- comes obvious that the savings contemplated by the Board of Selectmen and the Building Committee has been effected; at considerably less than the estim- ate of about $330,000.


Town Counsel


Richard Coughlin, Esq.


The customary routine and special duties of Town Counsel required attend- ance to weekly meetings of the Board of Selectmen and Public Works Depart- ment. The Board of Selectmen, the Board of Public Works, and the School Department perform the major functions in administration of our municipal government and necessarily require preparation and execution of contracts and a variety of other legal documents to which the Law Department must give special attention.


During the year 1960 the office of Town Counsel prepared the warrants and articles for insertion in the Town Meeting. It assisted the Election Com- missioners in preparation of the warrants and balloting for the Presidential State and Town Elections. Throughout the year it has been necessary to at- tend meetings of the other Boards and Departments such as the Board of Health, the Planning Board, Board of Assessors, and Board of Appeals.


The marked incidence in applications for variances brought about by the expanding residential community has required more frequent attendance to the Board of Appeals public hearings and the incident of need for legal assist- ance to this very busy Board.


Efforts of the Transportation Study Committee appointed by the Board of Selectmen focused attention on the growing transportation problem in this State and particularly to the inhabitants of the Town of Swampscott who were affected by the Boston and Maine abandonment of service on the Swampscott- Marblehead Branch. The Board of Selectmen instructed and I represented the Town of Swampscott at all hearings before the Department of Public Utilities both at Salem and those conducted at the State House in Boston. Twenty-two days of trial were involved. It resulted in a joint appeal taken by the Towns of Swampscott and Marblehead to the Supreme Judicial Court. We were joined in our action by appeals from several other communities, arguments were pre- sented, and the matter was referred to the full Court. The Department of Public Utilities in its approval of discontinuance of this form of transportation was upheld by the Court. The efforts of the Transportation Committee, how- ever, survived and are the basis for further study and recommendations from the Governor for solution to the transportation problem which still confronts all municipalities having commuting problems.


110


1960 Annual Report


The Law Department continues to handle personal injury and property damage claims brought against the Town as the result of defects in the public ways. These invariably involve law suits. During the year 1960 a serious per- sonal injury claim against the Town was resolved after trial was commenced in the Essex Superior Court. The plaintiff, a widow of advanced years, sus- tained a permanent partial disability involving fracture of the arm and shoul- der. This matter was settled for the sum of $3200.


There are appeals to the Appellate Tax Board for refusal of the Board of Assessors to grant applications for abatements. To date the Board of Assess- ors have been sustained although there are several cases pending in certain instances.


In summary, the function of the Law Department continues to be in de- mand by the various departments for advice for assistance in preparation of documents and contracts, for defense of law actions, to handle claims, and render opinion on legal - administrative matters. In order to best serve the Town in the administration of its governmental functions the work load bears a direct relationship to the services required by the inhabitants - public works, recreational, educational, shore reservations, general improvements, including storm drains, sewers, maintenance of brooks, snow removal, which the Town takes pride in, require direct and indirect services by the departments and in- evitably increases the work load of the Law Department.


Memoranda :


111


Town of Swampscott


Memoranda :


112


TOWN PIER - SWAMPSCOTT


A.D.


SETTLED


1629


A.D. 1852


ATE


AS


SWAMPS


SWAMPSCOTT PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1996 00132 3171





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