USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1931-1933 > Part 11
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Voted, That the Town do authorize and instruct the Se- lectmen to make mutual conveyances with the Minot Village Associates, of the premises known as the Minot Parking Space, adjoining Minot Post Office, and as described in a deed from said Minot Village Associates dated Feb. 16, 1921 and recorded with Plymouth Registry of Deeds, Book 1402, pages 458-9, and by later confirmatory deed, to the end that said premises may be held by the Town for the benefit of its inhabitants and that the Selectmen shall take such other legal steps as will con- serve the interests of its inhabitants in the use of said premises.
Special Town Meeting, November 6, 1931.
Meeting called to order by Town Clerk who read the warrant.
Moderator: William J. Roberts.
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Report of Town Clerk-Town Meetings
Tellers appointed by Moderator: Joseph O. Severance, Jr., Philip S. Bailey, William F. Smith, Henry A. Litchfield, Fred- eric R. Chase and Harold W. Cole.
ARTICLE 1
Will the Town appropriate a sum of money from the cash reimbursements received on account of Shore Protection, the same to be used for the eradication of mosquitoes and to be expended under the provisions of Chapter 252 of the General Laws, as amended by Chapter 457, Acts of 1923, and subse- quent amendments, especially Chapter 268 of the Acts of 1929, or act thereon? Selectmen.
Vote, That the sum of $4,000 received from cash reim- bursements for Shore Protection be appropriated for the eradi- cation of mosquitoes to be expended under the provisoins of Chapter 252 of the General Laws as amended by Chapter 457 of Acts of 1923, and subsequent amendments especially Chap- ter 288, Acts of 1929.
Vote, Yes, 84. No, 1.
ARTICLE 2
Will the Town vote to close the Special Account author- ized under Article 55 of the Annual Town Meeting of March 3, 1930, whereby the sum of $3,750 was raised for widening cer- tain parts of Jericho Road, and appropriate the same for the improvement of the roadsides of the Town, said money to be expended under a Committee composed of the Highway Sur- veyor, Tree Warden, and the members of the Board of Select- men, at a wage rate of fifty cents per hour, or act thereon? Selectmen.
Voted, For improvement of the roadsides of the Town and other Town property.
Yes, 90. No, 2.
ARTICLE 3
Will the Town raise and appropriate the sum of one hun- dred twenty-five thousand ($125,000) dollars for the further development and extension of its water system, and determine
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Report of Town Clerk-Special Town Meeting
the way and manner any sum or sums appropriated hereunder shall be raised, or take any action thereon? Water Commis- sioners.
Voted, To indefinitely postpone.
ARTICLE 4
Will the Town allow the Scituate Historical Society to erect on the grounds of the Cudworth House, home of said Society at the Civic Center, an old barn, said building to be used as a repository of such implements of Colonial Days as may from time to time be acquired, said construction and location to be subject to the approval of the Selectmen and without expense to the Town? Scituate Historical Society.
Voted, Yes.
ATTEST-William M. Wade, Town Clerk.
229
Report of Water Department
REPORT OF SELECTMEN on the ACQUISITION OF THE WATER SUPPLY
August 19, 1931 Submitted in Accordance With Vote of Said Meeting.
Perhaps a report from the Selectmen of the procedure in the matter of acquiring the water plant is more or less superfluous in as much as we have endeavored to keep the Town appraised of what was being accomplished through the medium of the local press and we believe you are quite familiar with these details.
The vote of the Town on June 29th, constituted a legal taking of all of the properties and franchise of the Scituate Water Company. Attorney's for the Company studied very closely all of the acts of the Town or its representatives in con- nection with the June 29th meeting, from the form of the war- rant calling for the meeting through the various motions made thereat and the vote and manner of its taking and tabulation and the records thereof, even to the return of the warrant by the constable, in the hope of finding some technical requirement that had not been complied with or error made, but their study of these proceedings convinced them that the Town had legally and unquestionably taken the plant. The matter of cost was then the paramount issue and inasmuch as their interpretations of various sections of clause seven of the Franchise differed from those of Town Counsel Marr and Mr. MeArthur of Scovell, Wellington and Company, Accountant for the Town, there ap- peared to be a very considerable difference in the amount they felt they should receive and that the Selectmen felt they should pay. In order to clarify this situation it was decided that ac-
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Report of Water Department
countant's for both parties should start at the beginning and check together cost items, accruing interest charges, and earn- ings and to try to reach agreement or if necessary reasonable compromises on such items as were met with where opinions differed. This program was followed and we believe with very satisfactory results so far as the Town was concerned, as the final settlment after all adjustments had been made as of 3rd day of the present month a net price was arrived at of $742,123.48. This sum was less than $4,000.00 in excess of the Scovell, Well- ington figures as of Dec. 31st, 1930.
We feel that we must in fairness say that in these negotia- tions both the Accountants of the Scituate Water Company and Mr. Barstow of the firm of Storey, Thorndyke, Palmer & Dodge, attorneys for the Water Company were most honorable and fair, and this spirit on their part was particularly advantageous to the Town, and in all probability saved serious litigation and expense.
The matter of arranging for the bond issue required a very considerable amount of preparation and care and we feel was most efficiently handled by your Town Treasurer, Mr. Smith.
We feel that full recognition of the co-operation of two of our summer residents, members of the North Scituate Beach Im- provement Association should be recorded in this report. These gentlemen, Mr. Frederick A. Carroll and Mr. Daniel Tyler, Jr., through their executive position and influence in the National Shawmut Bank of Boston enabled the Town to realize from the sale of these Bonds to their institution an extremely favorable bid. In fact the bid received from the Shawmut Corporation resulted in a saving to the Town over the period of the issue of over $30,000.00 as compared with the best offer from any other source. The acquisition of the Water Plant by the Town re- quired that as soon as possible Commissioners should be elected and this was accomplished by the election of July 29th. In the interim between June 29 and this date it was necessary that the Selectmen arrange for the continuance of operation of the New Water Department and to provide for this an arrange- ment was made with the Scituate Water Company whereby they
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Report of Water Department
were employed to continue service to the consumers until close of business on July 31st at which time your newly elected Board of Water Commissioners took full control.
We feel that the Town is to be congratulated in the per- sonnel of its Board of Commissioners and will realize that their task is and will be difficult and their responsibility great, es- pecially in this formative period of the establishment of this new and important department of the Town. We hope that each and every citizen of the Town as well as those who though not citizens are taxpayers and water consumers will co-operate in making this venture, a successful and profitable one. Already even those who were conscientiously opposed to the purchase of the plant have shown a fine spirit of loyalty and civic spirit in ac- ceptance of the Town's decree and are ready and willing to co- operate and boost the new enterprise. This Board wishes to ex- press its sincere appreciation of the staunch support of our fellow citizens in every effort in which we have participated in these proceedings and bespeak the same support for your Board of Water Commissioners.
W. IRVING LINCOLN, WILLIAM W. WADE, JAMES W. TURNER, Chairman. Selectmen of Scituate.
232
Report of Water Department
REPORT OF SCITUATE WATER DEPARTMENT
First Statement by the Water Commissioners of the Town of Scituate, presented at the special meeting held August nineteenth, nineteen thirty-one
While appreciating the honor conferred upon the commis- sioners by election to the Water Board we realize the respon- sibility which rests upon us to improve and administer this de- partment which so vitally affects the future growth of the town and the health and happiness of all its inhabitants.
It is now three weeks since the commissioners were elected, and is too soon to say what shall be done, but we want you to know our first impressions of the plant, and what in general will be needed in the future by way of improvements and addi- tions.
We are agreed that the Company-meaning all those who have served us in the past-have endeavored to do so in the best manner possible, with of course a desire to get as large a return from the investment as they could. They began with 41 drilled wells in the Beaver Dam Valley, but soon found it neces- sary to dig a huge well to include the Beaver Dam Spring in the supply. There are those who said this spring alone would supply the whole town, yet with the spring the whole valley produced but 214,000 gallons per day, and we need five times this amount.
After much investigation the Old Oaken Bucket Pond at Greenbush was developed as a supply, and in order to protect it against contamination hundreds of acres of land were taken extending up into Norwell. Another pumping station was erected at the pond and means provided to remove the color from
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Report of Water Department
the water. This treatment was perfected only by the installation of an elaborate system of wells, tanks and filter beds. This answered for a time, but two dilemmas presented themselves. The supply was inadequate and the treatment of the water for color did not correct its tendency to rust the pipes thus causing trouble for the user. Studies were made extending over a period of more than a year, and a formula developed which not only removed the color but counteracted the acid condition; so we have water not only colorless but neutral in its action on the pipes. Incidentally this later method brought a saving of $1,800 per year in the cost of chemicals alone. This method is still in use and samples of water are taken at frequent in- tervals during the day and the treatment varied to keep it standard at all times. Samples are also taken by the State De- partment of Health every month to detect and forestall any pos- sibility of contamination. No one has cause to fear that the water is impure or in any way injurious.
Still the supply at the pond was not keeping pace with the demand. After extensive studies the Webster Meadow, so called was purchased to provide additional supply, and here 29 six-inch wells were drilled, seventeen of these being connected with a pump delivering the water into a huge well at the Green- bush station from which it was re-pumped into the mains.
Although the twelve remaining wells have never been con- nected up, the "Communities" company felt it better to try for a sufficient supply in not more than three wells, and accord- ingly contracted for a million gallons per day capacity from three 30" wells, intending to discard the twelve 6" wells already drilled. The contract for these wells has not been completed, but two of them give 432,000 gallons per day. Each of these is pro- vided with a Centrifugal Electric pump, and is now is use. Whether the third well should be completed is a matter not de- cided. If the three wells fall short of the million gallons per day the contract price will be adjusted on the million gallon basis. We will give special consideration to the idle wells to deter- mine whether the most economical supply of water cannot be ob-
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Report of Water Department
tained from these, and the isolated 30" wells be retained as an additional supply for emergencies.
Be that as it may, the Webster Meadow supply will be con- nected directly into the mains without re-pumping by the Green- bush plant.
So far as the pumping outfit is concerned, it seems adequate for years to come. The Beaver Dam Station is ready for in- stant operation and is provided with oil burning engines. This fuel is delivered through a pipe from the tank near the Scitu- ate Station without expense of transportation. The pump at the Beaver Dam station is electrically operated.
The main plant at the pond is provided with pumps for oil and others for electric operation. These are so arranged that either system of pumping may be used should one or the other become incapacitated. The station is most substantial in con- struction and the grounds have been well kept. On the whole we have a very satisfactory unit for the treatment of water should the need continue.
There are three electrically operated pumps at the Webster Meadow. There is need of perfecting the Distribution System. To facilitate the work and determine where extensions and equalizing mains should be laid a plan is being prepared which will show the pressure at each hydrant and the effort will be made to give proper fire service in all parts of the town. At present this service is about 50% efficient.
Among the most needed of these extensions is a new main to carry water directly from Greenbush to Scituate Harbor, and another from the Stand pipe to the existing main at junction of Central and Maple streets to give better service in the west part of the town. Other small extensions will be made immedi- ately, using materials on hand and will produce revenue from the start. The program to be eventually worked out will in- clude 13,090 ft. of 6" main and 15,650 ft. of 8" main. These will be installed as rapidly as possible, and in the order of importance. Eventually an additional standpipe will be needed.
Matters of administration will require attention. The elimination of the Cohasset company from the office and the
235
Report of Water Department
. collection of all accounts by the Town Collector will relieve the department of one clerk. The accounting which was formerly made under direction of the Department of Public Utilities was a most intricate system and while some of the details will be carried on to assist us in closer estimates of cost and opera- tion the system required by the State Division of Accounts will be used, and is much simpler. Conference has been had with a Supervisor from that Division, and the new books are being prepared and will probably be delivered this week.
The commissioners have for better service divided the work under three heads; Mr. Bailey looking after Administration, Mr. Vines after Production, and Mr. Webster after Distribu- tion. Each will study his department and attend to its routine matters, bringing particular problems for action by the full board, which will meet weekly. So far as the public is con- cerned all matters will be taken up with the Superintendent, who will have the carrying out of all the policies of the Com- missioners.
Under Town ownership the Department handles no money. All our problems of production and distribution end when we send out the bills to customers. The customers pay the town collector. All our responsibility for the payment of bills for material and labor ceases when the bills are approved and sent to the Town Accountant, just as all other bills are sent and paid by the Treasurer on orders of the Selectmen.
The rate to be paid for water is up to the Commissioners. "Ah, there's the rub!"
Inasmuch as many customers paid their bills at the begin- ning of the year and others have paid since that time, no changes in rates can be made during the remaining four months of the year. We have decided, however, that for the present the installation of meters will be optional with the customers.
During the coming months we will make a careful study of the whole matter of rates and report our findings. A town with so large a proportion of summer customers has a problem quite different from the manufacturing town with a compact population and constant water demand.
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Report of Water Department
It is certain the customers will have to pay the cost of the water delivered. It is only fair that those who use or waste most should pay more than those who use a moderate amount and waste none. How to determine the just amount for each to pay is a question to which the commissioners pledge their utmost endeavor.
If everyone by wasting uses twice the amount of water neces- sary then double the water necessary must be pumped, with double the cost, and double the rate to the consumer; while if everyone uses only the amount needed the wasteful rate will be cut in half, with better service and greater satisfaction to all. We trust each one will realize he is a partner in the new enter- prise, and by willing co-operation bring about the best possible service at the least possible cost.
The needs of the department for the balance of the year, estimated as carefully as possible, appear for your action in the articles which follow in the warrant, and we bespeak your care- ful consideration.
The work is new to the commissioners and the classifica- tions in the two systems of accounting are so different we trust the budget will be authorized as a whole, so that if certain items in our estimate overrun they may be offset by others falling short and still allow the whole work to be carried on within the total amount appropriated.
Respectfully Submitted,
FREDERIC T. BAILEY, D. A. VINES, STEPHEN C. WEBSTER, Water Commissioners.
August 19, 1931.
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Report of Water Department
TOWN OF SCITUATE
BUDGET OF THE WATER DEPARTMENT, AUG .- DEC.
Presented to the town for action August 19, 1931.
Operation
Maintenance
Power Source
$250
Purification
$500
150
Electric Pumping 2,250
200
Oil Pumping 2,650
150
Trans. and Distribution 1,600
1,015
Commercial
1,550
0
General Structures
0
100
$8,550
$1,865
Capital Expenditures
Well System, Balance of Contract
$6,589
Building and pump connections 1,000
6" line, Mann Lot Road, 1,100 feet southerly of Coun- try Way, Materials on Hand, labor only 770
8" line, 700 ft. Stockbridge Road, Materials on Hand, labor only 453
Engineering plans
500
Miscellaneous contingencies
2,000
$11,312
Administration
Salaries of Commissioners $1,000
Special Studies, by experts 1,273
$2,273
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Report of Water Department
Grand Totals
Operation
$8,550
Town Tax
$10,000
Maintenance
1,865
Capital
11,312
Administration
2,273
Town Tax
10,000
$34,000
239
Report of Town Clerk-Marriages
MARRIAGES- 1931
February 12, at Scituate, William F. Kane and Margaret J. White, both of Scituate, married by Patrick J. Buckley, Priest.
March 11, at Scituate, Tony Fernandes of Scituate and Francisca Lopez of Scituate, married by Allan D. Creelman, Clergyman.
April 2, at Roxbury, George W. Burke, Jr. of Scituate and Irma J. Champion of Scituate, married by Le Roy Ferguson, Clergyman.
April 9, at Scituate, Frank Fabello of Scituate and Althea Hutchinson of Hingham, married by Allan D. Creelman, Clergy- man.
April 19, at Quincy, Liba E. Litchfield of Scituate and Helen Shea of Quincy, married by W. T. O'Connor, Priest.
May 4, at Hingham, John McKinnon of Scituate and Fran- ces Fitzpatrick of Middlesboro, Kentucky, married by Cornelius Heyn, Clergyman.
May 19, at Scituate, Charles Willis Lane of Scituate and Evelyn Gifford of Scituate, married by Allan D. Creelman, Clergyman.
May 28, at Milford, Carl Winthrop Litchfield of Scituate and Catherine Patricia O'Reilly of Milford, married by Francis H. Mccullough, Priest.
June 3, at Scituate, Cornelius Jameson of Scituate and Vir- ginia Brown of Scituate, married by Warren H. Mitchell, Clergy- man.
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Report of Town Clerk-Marriages
June 7, at Rockland, William W. Ceppi of Scituate and Helen Louise Gardner of Hingham, married by L. K. Soule, Clergy- man.
June 10, at Cohasset, Robert Vinal Collier of Cohasset and Lauretta May Wolfe of Scituate, married by Charles C. Wilson, Clergyman.
June 17, at Quincy, Edward William Carson of Scituate and Mary Veronica Slaven of Quincy, married by Michael J. Owens, Priest.
June 17, at Scituate, Richard Halloran of South Weymouth and Anne Ward McGilvray of Scituate, married by Patrick J. Buckley, Priest.
June 20, at Cohasset, Walter Daniel Leighton and Elizabeth Frances Scannell, both of Scituate, married by Joseph P. Law- less, Priest.
June 20, at Cohasset, George R. Timpany of Scituate and Doris French of Cambridge, married by Charles C. Wilson, Clergyman.
June 29, at Cohasset, John C. Smith of Duxbury and Doro- thy B. Bailey of Scituate, married by Cornelius F. O'Leary, Priest.
July 4, at Scituate, Dominick Del Castello of Milford and Leona Anna Vollmer of Medway, married by Allan D. Creelman, Clergyman.
July 18, at Scituate, Winthrop Cushing Richmond of Scit- uate and Helen Wing Pettis of Scituate, married by Harris G. Hale, Clergyman.
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Report of Town Clerk-Marriages
July 23, at Boston, Arthur Mitchell Chase of Scituate and Hester Elizabeth Fish of Scituate, married by Otis W. Foye, Clergyman.
July 26, at Scituate, Elmer Bradford Hollis of Scituate and Jeannette Nichols of Scituate, married by Allan D. Creelman, Clergyman.
August 1, at Scituate, Sewall Beverly Bogart, Jr. of San Matteo, California and Geraldine Wilder of Scituate, married by Robert Lewis Weis, Clergyman.
August 1, at Scituate, Austin Rice of Wakefield and Mary Emma Vinal of Wakefield, married by Allan D. Creelman, Clergyman.
August 18, at Providence, R. I., Thomas Edward Barry of Scituate and Winifred Irene Manning of Waltham, married by Charles R. Easton, Assoc., Jus. 6th Dis. Ct.
August 22, at Scituate, George S. Vinton of Scituate and Ruth H. Blanchard of South Weymouth, married by Warren H. Mitchell, Clergyman.
August 23, at Scituate, John Joseph Stewart of Scituate and Gertrude Jones of Scituate, married by Patrick J. Buckley, Priest.
August 29, at Scituate, Seaver Richmond Gilcreast of Methuen and Sarah Dawes Banks of Williamstown, married by J. Franklin Carter, Clergyman.
September 6, at Boston, John William Ford, of Scituate and Madeline Cecelia Clapp of Boston, married by Florence W. McCarthy, Priest.
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Report of Town Clerk-Marriages
September 8, at Hingham, Robert Morton Prouty of Scitu- ate and Charlotte Pope Chamberlin (Pope) of Hingham, mar- ried by Cornelius Heyn, Clergyman.
Sept. 27, at Boston, Philip Kallianiotes of Scituate and Mary Spileos (Andrelos) of Roxbury, married by Rev. Christ Nano- poules.
October 3, at Scituate, Harold Jacob Brigham of Dor- chester and Phillis Anne Burke of Scituate, married by Charles C. Wilson, Clergyman.
October 12, at Scituate, George Henry Dwight of Scituate and Priscilla Alden Dunbar of Scituate, married by Warren H. Mitchell, Clergyman.
October 12 at Cohasset, Neal Hamilton Fraser of Scituate and Dorothy Emma Marsh of Cohasset, married by Fred V. Stanley, Clergyman.
October 24, at Bar Harbor, Maine, Charles W. MacIntosh of Scituate and Blanche E. Haynes of Bar Harbor, Maine, mar- ried by J. Homer Nelson, Clergyman.
November 11, at Cohasset, Mass., Horace Woodley of Jamaica Plain, Mass., and Josephine M. Whalen of Scituate, married by Charles C. Wilson, Clergyman.
November 14, at Marshfield, Webster Colby Clark of Scitu- ate and Marjorie Eleanor Mattson of Hanson, married by Ed- mund Baker, Town Clerk and Justice of Peace.
November 14, at Putnam, Conn., Kendall Clark of Quincy and Edith Byron Colson of Scituate, married by Irving H. Miron, Justice of the Peace.
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Report of Town Clerk-Births
BIRTHS REGISTERED IN SCITUATE IN THE YEAR 1931
Date
Name
Name of Parents
Maiden Name of Mother
Jan. 6
Patricia Ann Keyes
Winsor W. and Evelyn A. Keyes
Jan.
7
Mary Loring Silva.
Frank and Helen G. Silva. .
Jan.
14
Leroy John Roderique .
John M. and Josephine G. Roderique .
Feb. 6
Russell Secor .
George J. and Helen J. Secor.
Feb. 7
Louis Emanuel Janard
Joseph A. and Helen Janard .
Feb.
9
Joseph Bonomi. .
Guisseppe and Gentitina Bonomi. James V. and Elsie V. Panetta.
Feb. Feb.
22
Marie Elizabeth Flemming . John Edward Bates.
William C. and Lena Bates. .
Mar. 9
Harold Morton Jenkins, Jr .. Leland Hill Towle. .
Leland and Bertha Towle. .
Apr. Apr. Apr.
6 10 10
Lila Fiesole Hall .
Elisha W. and Thalia Hall.
Apr.
12
Laura Cerilli
Joseph and Mary Cerilli. .
15
Edwin Veiga.
Evelino D. and Mary P. Viega.
19
Howard Anthony Cole
Howard H. and Margaret L. Cole
George F. and Margaret Warren
Apr. Apr. Apr. May May May May May May June June June June June June
14 23 24 29 31 2
2
Joseph. Duffey
John F. and Mary J. Duffey
Stig Arvid Rossby
Carl G. and Harriet M. Rossby
Hope Willard .
Warren W. and Grace M. Willard
Walter Daniel Dacey
Walter D. and Catherine Dacey
Mary Edith Dwight.
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