USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1955-1957 > Part 8
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January 12, 1956
During the year 1955 the Building Board of Appeals held ten (10) public hearings on appeals from rulings of the Building Com- missioner.
119
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS REPORT
Ten (10) variances were granted; two (2) denied; and one decision was held in abeyance pending the receipt of further in- formation from the petitioner.
Respectfully submitted,
PHILIP S. BAILEY, Chairman, GEORGE E. JACOBSSEN JOHN E. DEAN
REPORT OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
January 12, 1956
Board of Selectmen, Scituate, Mass.
Gentlemen:
Your Zoning Board of Appeals held five (5) Public Hearings in 1955 at which petitions for variances were heard.
Nine applications for variance were received. Of these, two variances were granted; two refused; two were withdrawn; one is pending; and on two of the applications a hearing was not held until January 5, 1956.
There were six preliminary hearings on proposed applications for variance.
Respectfully submitted, ROBERT C. HAUFLER,
Chairman LELAND TOWLE FLOYD L. ROBBINS ROBERT M. ALEXANDER, Alternate
120
TOWN COUNSEL'S REPORT
REPORT OF THE TOWN COUNSEL
Litigation involving the Town continues to increase.
Under Article 43 of the Warrant for the Town Meeting of March 7, 1955 the Town voted to purchase for $15,000, or take by eminent domain a parcel of land on Tilden Road, containing ap- proximately eleven acres, to be used as the site for a new school. As negotiations with the owner had not resulted in effecting the purchase of this land, the title was examined and the land was taken by eminent domain. Thereafter the owner's attorney indi- cated that the owner would accept the amount which the Town had voted and a deed was drawn up and sent to the owner's attorney for execution. It is expected that the deed will be executed and recorded prior to the publication of this report.
The petition for a writ of mandamus to compel the Selectmen to accept an application of an inn for a liquor license is still pend- ing and will probably be argued on the merits before the Supreme Judicial Court at the March sitting. Inasmuch as in any event the whole proceeding will doubtless wind up in a refusal of the license it would seem that this appeal to the Supreme Court is utterly futile.
At the direction of the Selectmen, a town official, who had been sued for libel, was defended. A demurrer was filed to the plaintiff's declaration, that is to say, it was contended therein that, as a matter of law, the declaration set forth no legal cause of action. A brief was prepared and filed and after a hearing before a judge of the Superior Court, the demurrer was sustained. The plaintiff thereupon moved to amend his declaration. This motion was con- tested, and another brief was prepared and filed. After hearing this motion was also denied. The plaintiff then appealed to the Supreme Judicial Court. Still another brief was prepared and filed. The case was argued before the Supreme Court in March. The Court did not hand down its decision until the fall and it then dismissed the appeal, which of course means that this litigation is completely at an end.
Quite a number of suits have been brought for the Welfare Department, and the Bureau of Old Age Assistance, both to enforce liens on real estate (which are required by statute if the circum-
121
WIRE INSPECTOR'S REPORT
stances warrant), and to collect from estates amounts not covered by liens. A number of these cases have been concluded, either by settlement or payment in full. Other cases are pending.
This report is intended only to cover the highlights, so to speak, and it does not purport to include a detailed account of all the litigation in which the Town was involved.
As is to be assumed, advice and opinions were given on many occasions and on various matters to the Selectmen and to the heads of many of the Town departments, and various types of legal documents were prepared.
As in the past years most of the meetings of the Board of Select- men have been attended.
Respectfully submitted, ALFRED C. BLAKE, Town Counsel.
REPORT OF THE WIRE INSPECTOR
January 10, 1956
Board of Selectmen, Scituate, Mass.
Gentlemen:
During the year 1955 a total of 734 permits for electrical work were issued, also 478 approval certificates were issued to the Brock- ton Edison Company, and 42 to the Plymouth County Electric Co.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank the electrical con- tractors and building contractors for their co-operation in maintain- ing a high class of wiring in Scituate buildings.
A few changes are contemplated in Requirements for the new year, one being a schedule of Fees to be charged for wiring permits.
122
TOWN TREASURER'S REPORT
A detail report showing how the permits were classified for the year ending December 31, 1955 follows:
New houses
188
Old houses wired
1
Additional wiring
134
Remodel service
46
Change to 3 wire
46
Re-wire building
7
Electric ranges
184
Water Heaters
125
Oil burners
227
Refrigerators
125
Clothes dryers
70
Clothes washers
6
Dish washers
4
Motors
9
Temporary service
67
Re-locate appliances
7
Gas boiler controls
15
Air conditioning
3
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN H. REMICK, Wire Inspector.
REPORT OF THE TOWN TREASURER
Receipts
Receipts for the year 1955
$2,662,445.29
Cash on hand, January 1, 1955
282,558.50
$2,945,003.79
Expenditures
As per Warrants of Selectmen
$2,766,890.67
Balance on hand, Dec. 31, 1955 178,113.12
$2,945,003.79
Respectfully submitted,
PAUL A. REYNOLDS,
Treasurer.
123
SEWERAGE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE REPORT
REPORT OF THE SEWERAGE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
December 31, 1955
To the Citizens of Scituate:
This Committee was appointed by the Town in 1952 to in- vestigate the needs of Scituate for a system of Sewerage and given the sum of $500.00 for purposes of investigation.
We employed as consulting engineer, Metcalf & Eddy, who prepared a report. This report contained a preliminary survey which convinced the Committee of the need for sewerage works. We, therefore, came before you at a later date asking that the sum of $6000.00 be raised so that a more definite study could be made by the engineers and that the Committee be continued. Our request was granted and the engineers were told to proceed with the de- tailed survey.
There are fifteen copies of this report containing 26 pages tell- ing of the general conditions to be encountered, which determines the type and location of treatment plants and type of sewers to be used in the several areas, whether forced mains or gravity. It tells of the topography of the Town showing the approximate 17 square miles and 11,000 acre territory with about 8500 acres, which are available for building purposes, and running from sea level to 120 feet elevation.
There are tables showing past figures and future estimates of the probable increase in population in the next 35 years. One para- graph of the report covers the very apparent need of sewers and the locations where the situation is most critical. Another section covers the basis of design which determines the pipe sizes in accordance with the rate of flow. Since the cost of pumping and treating sewage is directly affected by the quantity of sewage entering the system, the engineers have recommended and designed the system to carry sewage only and not storm water. The maximum rate of sewage flow is assumed as 200 gallons per capital per day and the tributary population is based on the figured density of population per acre rather than on the present count.
The areas eventually served by sewers in the Town would be served by two sewage treatment plants, one near Kent Street and Driftway, which will serve the following sewer districts: "The Har-
124
SEWERAGE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE REPORT
bor," "Sand Hills," "Shore Acres," "Mann Hill" and "Herring Brook." The other, located near the junction of Border Street and Gannett Road, would serve: "The Minot," "Musquashcut" and "Gulf" districts. These districts are described in detail.
An outline specification of the treatment plants describing the facilities necessary to the proper treatment is incorporated in the report.
The engineers have presented a suggested program of construc- tion in four stages and covering a twenty year period.
The first stage would include the construction of the initial por- tion of the North River treatment plant; the Kent and Front Street sewer to Beaver Dam Road; and the lateral sewers for the harbor area.
The second stage would extend the main sewer along Hatherly Road to Jericho and Hatherly to its intersection with Scituate Ave- nue. Construct the Sand Hills pumping station, force main and Sand Hills connecting sewers.
The third stage would construct the Brook Street, First Parish Road and lateral sewers.
The fourth stage would construct pumping stations and sewers to serve First, Second and Third Cliffs and pumping stations and sewers in the Shore Acres and Mann Hill districts.
The design for further development is included in the report and the order in which the various portions are sewered would be determined by the Commissioners, in accordance with the necessity, the public demand and the appropriations having been made by the Town.
There are graphs and figures showing the cost of construction at present day prices so that the cost of any portion of the system may be estimated.
Accompanying the written report is a map of the Town show- ing the ultimate plan of the complete sewerage system with sewers in the most critical areas shown in various colors, which may indicate certain areas to be constructed in a certain period of time.
There are also sixteen maps showing the profile of the main sewers which indicate slopes and elevations.
The Committee feels that our engineers have done an excellent piece of work from beginning to end and are pleased to present this layout for the future development of the Sewerage System in the Town.
125
PLANNING BOARD REPORT
We are inserting two articles in the warrant this year for your approval. The first authorizes the Committee to petition the Legisla- ture to allow the Town to borrow the sum of $1,125,000.00 outside the debt limit. The act will provide for the establishment of a Board of Sewer Commissioners and authorize them to perform their duties. This petition will be presented to the Legislature to be acted upon in 1957 and if passed, the Town may appropriate such sums of money as it sees fit within the amount to be used for the purpose.
The second article seeks to have this Committee continued and raise $1200.00 for the further work of the Committee.
It is our sincere wish that you vote favorably on the articles presented and thus provide, in the near future, the Health protection that the system will provide.
Respectfully submitted,
PHILIP S. BAILEY WILLIAM J. LUMBERT EDWARD S. RAND JOHN E. BAMBER WALTER J. BREEN
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
The Board of Selectmen Scituate, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
During 1955 The Planning Board formally approved eight sub- divisions of land for residential purposes. These provided for one hundred and ten house lots.
In the course of the year the Board, with the assistance of a number of interested townspeople, effected major revision of the previously proposed amendments to the Zoning By-Laws, and these amendments will be presented to the Town Meeting in 1956. The changes will bring our by-laws into line with those of other Massa- chusetts towns of comparable size giving Scituate a full set of workable rules to govern its future growth.
The program for 1956 has been established and will include
126
CIVIL DEFENSE AGENCY REPORT
bringing the town land-use map up to date, studying the popula- tion growth potential by districts, and examining in detail the whole matter of lot sizes. The present lot size regulations have been in effect long enough to permit an appraisal of the results.
Based on these studies will be consideration of the probable future pattern of school expansion, the recreational needs of the town on a long range basis, and provision for future major public ways.
The Board further plans to take an active part in setting up a long range program of capital expenditures for the town.
Respectfully submitted, EDWARD S. RAND, Chairman.
REPORT OF THE CIVIL DEFENSE AGENCY
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen:
Following is a report of the Civil Defense Agency of the Town of Scituate, setting forth the activities pursued during the year 1955. The early part of the year was devoted primarily to the development of a Civil Defense Organization. Considerable time and effort was spent on this work and the first of May found the project practically completed in the basic levels with about four hundred people en- rolled for emergency work. Particular effort was placed on com- munications as being the most necessary feature in an emergency. The Police and Fire Departments are equipped with two way radios on their cars and trucks, the W. R. Schultz Co. has volunteered the use of its cars, trucks and central station equipped with two way communication systems in case of disaster, and the Civil Defense Agency has two way mobile communicators, four of which were pur- chased by the Civil Defense Agency. The Amateur Club under Radio Officer Arthur Sylvester, has assumed the responsibility of maintaining these communicators and operating them in emer- gencies. Many of the members are using their own personal funds to purchase and build sets that will fit into the network being set up by the Mass. Civil Defense radio officers.
127
STATE AUDIT REPORT
Radio drills are carried on regularly by the C D A members con- tacting Sector controls and other towns, in the area. An amateur network is being set up and when complete it will be possible to put through emergency messages in case of disaster. Because of the fact that the Fire and Police radios will be jammed with messages, the C D A communications becomes a must, in case of emergency.
Negotiations have been carried on with Commander Holleman, Chmn. of the Scituate Red Cross Chapter and very satisfactory ar- rangements relative to cooperation in case of disaster have been reached; such that there will be no infringements of procedures or activities to be carried on during the period of emergency.
By courtesy of the Water Commissioners, the C D A has been very fortunate in having been granted the use of an excellent office in the Water Dept. Bldg. in Greenbush.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM RUMBERT, Director C. D. A.
REPORT OF THE STATE AUDIT
June 30,1955
To the Board of Selectmen
Mr. Richard Damon, Chairman Scituate, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
I submit herewith my report of an audit of the books and accounts of the Town of Scituate for the period from April 30, 1954 to March 19, 1955, made in accordance with the provisions of Chap- ter 44, General Laws. This is in the form of a report made to me by Mr. William Schwartz, Assistant Director of Accounts.
Very truly yours, HERMAN B. DINE, Director of Accounts.
128
STATE AUDIT REPORT
Mr. Herman B. Dine Director of Accounts Department of Corporations and Taxation State House, Boston
Sir:
In accordance with your instructions, I have made an audit of the books and accounts of the town of Scituate for the period from April 20, 1954, the date of the previous examination, to March 19, 1955, preparatory to the transfer of the books and accounts and of the cash and savings deposits to the newly elected treasurer, and submit the following report thereon:
The records of financial transactions of the several departments receiving or disbursing money for the town or committing bills for collection were examined and checked with the town accountant's and the town treasurer's records.
The books and accounts in the town accountant's office were examined and checked in detail. The ledger accounts were analyzed and proved for the period of the audit. The recorded receipts were compared with the treasurer's books, while the payments were checked with the treasury warrants. The appropriations and trans- fers, as entered, were checked with the town clerk's record of town meeting votes and with the finance committee's record of transfers authorized from the reserve fund, and a balance sheet showing the financial condition of the town on March 19, 1955 was prepared and is appended to this report.
The books and accounts of the town treasurer were examined and checked in detail. The recorded receipts were analyzed and checked with the accountant's books, with the records of the several departments collecting money for the town, and with other sources from which money was paid into the town treasury, while the pay- ments were compared with the accountant's books and with the selectmen's warrants authorizing the disbursement of town funds.
The treasurer's cash balance on March 19. 1955 was proved by reconciliation of the bank balances with statements furnished by the banks in which town funds are deposited.
The recorded payments on account of maturing debt and in- terest were verified by comparison with the amounts falling due and with the cancelled securities and coupons on file. The outstanding coupons on March 19, 1955 were listed and reconciled with the balance in the coupon account as shown by a statement furnished by the depository.
129
STATE AUDIT REPORT
The savings bank books representing the investment of the trust and investment funds in the custody of the town treasurer were examined and listed. The income was proved and the amounts transferred to the town were compared with the treasurer's and the accountant's books.
The records of tax titles and tax possessions held by the town were examined and checked in detail. The amounts added to the tax title account were compared with the tax records, the reported redemptions and sales were checked with the treasurer's cash book, the foreclosures were verified, and the tax titles and tax possessions on hand were listed, proved with the accountant's ledger, and checked with the records at the Registry of Deeds.
The records of employees' payroll deductions on account of Federal taxes and retirement system membership were examined and checked, the payments to the proper agencies being verified.
The books and accounts of the town collector were examined and checked. The poll and property taxes, as well as motor vehicle and trailer excise, assessments, and water liens added to taxes, outstanding according to the previous examination, together with all subsequent commitment lists, were audited and proved. The collections were compared with the cash book entries and with the recorded payments to the town treasurer as shown by the treasurer's cash book. The abatements as entered on the commitment books were checked with the assessors' records of abatements granted, and the outstanding accounts were listed and reconciled with the re- spective ledger accounts.
The records of departmental and water accounts receivable were examined and checked. The reported payments to the town treasurer were compared with the treasurer's cash book, the abate- ments as recorded were checked with the departmental records of abatements granted, and the outstanding accounts were listed and reconciled with the controlling accounts in the town accountant's ledger.
The outstanding accounts were verified by mailing notices to a number of persons whose names appeared on the books as owing money to the town, the replies received thereto indicating that the accounts, as listed, are correct.
The records of street betterment assessments apportioned were examined. The amounts added to taxes were verified, while the assessments not due were listed and reconciled with the accountant's deferred revenue accounts.
130
STATE AUDIT REPORT
The financial records of the town clerk were checked. The records of dog and sporting licenses issued were examined, the payments to the town treasurer being checked with the treasurer's cash book and the payments to the State being compared with the receipts on file.
The records of departmental cash collections by the selectmen and by all other departments in which money was collected for the town were examined and checked. The recorded collections were compared with the payments to the town treasurer as shown by the treasurer's and the town accountant's books.
The surety bonds of the town treasurer, town collector, and others required to furnish a bond for the faithful performance of their duties were examined and found to be in proper form.
There are appended to this report, in addition to the balance sheet, tables showing reconciliations of the treasurer's and the town collector's cash, summaries of the tax, motor vehicle and trailer excise, assessment, tax title, tax possession, departmental and water accounts, as well as schedules showing the condition and transactions of the trust and investment funds.
For the cooperation received from all town officials while en- gaged in making the audit, I wish, on behalf of my assistants and for myself, to express appreciation.
Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM SCHWARTZ, Assistant Director of Accounts.
WS: ED
For complete details and figures consult Director of Accounts Audit on file at the Selectmen's officce.
131
TOWN ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT
REPORT OF THE TOWN ACCOUNTANT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen:
As required by Chapter 44 of the General Laws, I herewith submit the Town Accountant's report for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1955.
In accordance with the vote under Article 42 of the Annual Town Meeting of March 7, 1955, the section showing the amounts paid and the persons to whom payments were made, has been deleted from the report. However, this information is available at the office of the Town Accountant.
The report consists of Section A, which details the various items of revenue received by the Town; Section B, in which all expenditures for the year are listed, and Section C which is com- prised of the various financial statements.
The whole hearted co-operation received from the Town De- partments is deeply appreciated.
Respectfully submitted,
PAUL F. SPENCER Town Accountant
RECONCILIATION OF CASH
Cash Balance, January 1, 1955
$ 282,558.50
Total Receipts - 1955 2,662,445.29
Total
$2,945,003.79
Total Payments - 1955 $2,766,890.67
Cash Balance, December 31,1955 178,113.12
Total
$2,945,003.79
132
TOWN ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT
SECTION A GENERAL REVENUE TAXES
Current Year:
Poll
$3,494.00
Personal
76,348.52
Real Estate
1,143,078.47
$1,222,920.99
Motor Vehicle Excise
99,437.03
-$1,322,358.02
Previous Years:
Poll
$258.00
Personal
5,194.48
Real Estate
50,046.07
$55,498.55
Motor Vehicle Excise
15,458.59
70,957.14
From the Commonwealth:
Income Tax
$28,938.26
Corporation Tax - Business
44,730.00
Meal Tax - Old Age Assistance
2,274.85
Pedlar's Licenses
55.00
U. S. Grant - Old Age Assistance - Assistance ..
41.285.95
U. S. Grant - Old Age Assistance - Administrative
2,859.11
U. S. Grant - Aid to Dependent Children - Assis- tance
7,536.96
U. S. Grant- Aid to Dependent Children - Ad- ministrative
1,714.67
U. S. Grant - Disability Assistance - Assistance
947.44
U. S. Grant - Disability Assistance - Admin- istrative
230.78
Smith Hughes and George Barden Funds
300.00
School Construction Grant
20,712.80
Vocational Education
4,025.39
SchoolTransportation
23.570.04
School Aid, Chapter 70, G. L.
42,362.42
221,543.67
Federal Grants:
Old Age and Survivor's Insurance
$945.60
Public Law 874, Chapter 621, Acts of 1953
5,110.40
U. S. Corps of Army Engineers - Flood Relief
5,500.00
11,556.00
133
TOWN ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT
From the County:
Dog Licenses
$1,092.07 274.00
Court Fines
1,366.07
Licenses and Permits
6,271.00
Special Assessments:
Apportioned Street Assessments Not Due
$424.80
Apportioned Street Assessments Added to Taxes
- 1953
7.75
Apportioned Street Assessments Added to Taxes - 1954 108.50
Apportioned Street Assessments Added to Taxes
- 1955
956.98
Moth 1953
6.00
Moth 1955
130.20
1,634.23
OTHER RECEIPTS
From the Commonwealth:
Chapter 90 Construction
$9,999.58
Disability Assistance - Assistance
2,279.11
Disability Assistance - Administrative
115.37
Aid to Dependent Children
8,091.09
Old Age Assistance
48,704.00
Temporary Aid and Transportation
68.88
Veterans' Benefits
1,714.64
Subsidy, Plymouth County Hospital
492.14
State Reimbursement - Clause 22, Exemptions
658.80
Control of Shellfish
2,000.00
Hurricane Relief Board - Reimbursements
32,340.45
Youth Service Board
37.68
106,501.74
From the County:
Chapter 90 Construction
4,999.79
Other Cities and Towns:
Old Age Assistance
$1,986.03
Public Welfare
30.06
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
Selectmen:
Advertising
$68.20
Telephone Commissioners - Town Pier
40.62
2,016.09
108.82
134
TOWN ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT
Treasurer:
Tax Titles Redeemed
$1,358.58
Court Costs
38.00
Certificate of Release
6.00
1,402.58
Collector:
Costs
$414.45
Certification Fees
642.00
1,056.45
Town Clerk:
Dog Licenses
2,054.60
Highway Department:
Rental of Equipment
154.64
Police Department:
Ambulance Rental
40.00
Scaler of Weights and Measures:
Scaler's Fees
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