USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1958-1960 > Part 8
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I extend my thanks to all Officers and Committees, and to the Citizens of the Town for their continued co-operation.
Respectfully submitted, BARTHOLOMEW A. CURRAN,
Chief.
117
FOREST FIRE WARDEN'S REPORT
REPORT OF THE FOREST FIRE WARDEN
Board of Selectmen
Scituate, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The Forest Fire Department answered to 99 forest and grass fires during the past year. The forest fire truck was also used in pumping out 130 flooded cellars and 26 other calls in various cate- gories. The apparatus was used approximately 170 hours in burn- ing over grass and meadows as a preventative measure.
With the opening of the new fire station at the centre it would seem advisable to replace the present 1930 forest fire truck with a new piece of apparatus. There will appear, in the warrant for the town meeting, an article providing for such a replacement.
The co-operation of the citizens and the various town officers and committees is very much appreciated by the department.
Respectfully submitted,
BARTHOLOMEW A. CURRAN,
Forest Warden.
118
BUILDING COMMISSIONER'S REPORT
REPORT OF THE BUILDING COMMISSIONER
Honorable Board of Selectmen
Scituate, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
One hundred eighty nine (189) Building Permits were issued during the year 1958. Of these eighty six (86) were for new homes.
The estimated value for all permits was one million seven hundred fifty one thousand eight hundred and eighty four dollars ($1,751,884.00).
All buildings have been inspected as required by the Town By-Laws, and Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
All Appeal Board meetings were attended.
Numerous alleged violations of the Zoning By-Laws were in- vestigated, most of which were satisfactorily disposed of.
At this time, I would like to thank the various departments for co-operation and assistance that has been given me in the perform- ance of these duties.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD M. SEXTON,
Building Inspector.
119
BUILDING BOARD OF APPEALS REPORT
REPORT OF THE BUILDING BOARD OF APPEALS
Honorable Board of Selectmen
Scituate, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
During the year 1958, one meeting of the Building Board of Appeals was held. It was a unanimous decision of the Board to allow Johns Mansville strongboard one half inch thick to be used as sheathing on sidewalls.
Respectfully submitted, PHILIP S. BAILEY, Chairman GEORGE JACOBSEN JOHN DEAN A. RALPH GORDON, Alternate
120
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS REPORT
REPORT OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
January 7, 1959
Board of Selectmen Scituate, Mass.
Re: Report of the Zoning Board of Appeals for the year 1958
Gentlemen:
During 1958 the Zoning Board of Appeals received and heard 17 applications for zoning variances from petitioners because they did not come within the requirements of the Zoning By-Laws (one more was received and withdrawn by the applicant before hearing). Fees totaling $288 were received from these applicants.
Seven public hearings were held and the following decisions rendered:
11 variances were granted (some with restrictions)
3 variances were denied
3 petitions are pending - awaiting further information requested of the petitioners
1 petition was withdrawn before hearing
Copies of all decisions are on file in the office of the Town Clerk.
In addition to these 18 applications, the Board held prelimi- nary hearings before the regular hearings, interpreting the Zoning By-Laws to persons interested in obtaining information on Zoning By-Laws from the Board.
In all cases before a decision was made the Board viewed the premises. There have been no legal appeals from decisions of the Board during the year 1958.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT C. HAUFLER, Chairman ROBERT M. ALEXANDER DWIGHT L. AGNEW, SR. PAUL J. SULLIVAN, Alternate
121
TOWN COUNSEL'S REPORT
REPORT OF THE TOWN COUNSEL
To the Board of Selectmen:
The activity of the Town Counsel in 1958 included regular attendance at the weekly meetings of the Selectmen, and furnishing sundry legal advice and opinions to other officers, boards and com- mittees, including the Board of Welfare, Personnel Board, Ad- visory Committee, Marine Advisory Committee, Planning Board and Building Inspector. The principal legal questions concerned the meaning of the Group Insurance Law, the power of harbor masters (which was the subject of an extensive opinion letter to the Marine Advisory Committee as well as major litigation), application of the Zoning By-law in specific cases and the effect of the new "Open Meeting Law" (which was the subject of a 5-page opinion sent to all affected boards and committees). Other work concerned the drafting and filing of the instruments necessary to effect the vari- ous purchases and taking of land voted in the 1958 Town Meeting.
While there were a number of legal actions pending the major litigation concerned the assessment of damages for the taking of Egypt Beach and the cases arising out of the placing of a floating marina in Scituate Harbor. The Egypt Beach trial lasted four days, at the conclusion of which the jury returned a verdict of $7,000 (in the face of the petitioner's evidence that the property was worth $52,000). Upon the motion of the petitioner, the presiding justice ordered a new trial unless the Town would accept an addition to the verdict of $5,000. In consideration of the fact that the low jury verdict was in part a result of the unsightly condition of the prem- ises resulting from the severe April storm, the cost of a new trial and the risk that another jury would be more free-handed, it was deemed advisable to accept the additional $5,000, making the total award $12,000.
The hearing of evidence before a master on the marina cases consumed one and one-half days of trial, which included a Satur- day session lasting to 5 p.m. In addition there have been six addi- tional hearings on matters of law and procedure, two in Plymouth, two in Brockton, and two in the Superior Court in Boston. The decision was adverse to the Town and was stated in terms which denied the Harbor Master the power to regulate any floats in the
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TOWN COUNSEL'S REPORT
harbor, whether placed in the form of a marina or not. This raised such a serious question of law that the case has been appealed and is now pending in the Supreme Judicial Court.
Other pending cases during the year were as follows:
Kaplan v. Inhabs. of Scituate
Land damage. Settled
Mckenzie et al v. Inhabs. of Scituate Land damages. Discontinued by plaintiffs
Kilgore v. Inhabs. of Scituate
Land damages. Pending
Callahan News Service v. Town of Scituate Claim for defect in highway filed. No court action
In addition to official advice I have also attempted to assist civic groups such as the League of Women Voters and the Scituate Youth Center in legal matters directly concerning the Town. The other Town officials have been extremely helpful and co-operative.
Respectfully submitted, WALTER JAY SKINNER
123
WIRE INSPECTOR'S REPORT
REPORT OF THE WIRE INSPECTOR
Board of Selectmen
Scituate, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
Permits issued during the year 1958 were as follows: Electrical wiring - 559, Approval certificates to the Brockton Edison Com- pany - 314, to the Plymouth County Electric Company - 31.
Fees collected and credited to the Town amounted to $929.00.
During the week ending February 15, 1958, "National Elec- trical Week" was again observed in Scituate. Sixth grade school pupils were given the Home inspection form "Electricity in your Home" for checking the adequacy and safety of home wiring sys- tems. Prizes were given for the best essays on electrical subjects.
Co-operation by Electrical Contractors and Builders in main- taining safe and adequate wiring has been excellent.
Electrical permits as issued during 1958 are classified as follows:
New Houses (Domestic)
100
New Houses (Commercial)
6
Additional wiring
160
Remodel service
79
Change from 2 to 3 wire
30
Houses rewired
9
Electric Ranges
120
Electric water heaters
64
Oil Burners
116
Refrigerators
102
Electric Dryers
75
Clothes Washers
48
Dish Washers 28
Disposals
5
Motors, total HP
36
124
TOWN TREASURER'S REPORT
Temporary Services
43
Relocate appliances
3
Air conditioning
9
Gas Burner controls
24
Respectfully submitted, JOHN H. REMICK,
Wire Inspector.
REPORT OF THE TOWN TREASURER
Cash on hand January 1, 1958 $ 309,420.30
Total Receipts for 1958 4,535,974.26
$4,845,394.56
Expenditures
Expenditures as per warrants of Selectmen
$4,340,702.50
Balance on hand December 31, 1958 504,692.06
$4,845,394.56
Respectfully submitted,
PAUL A. REYNOLDS,
Treasurer.
125
PLANNING BOARD REPORT
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
During 1958 The Planning Board approved new subdivisions totalling 145 house lots which compares with 81 last year and 60 in 1956. There were also approved a number of lots which did not require Planning Board action under the Subdivision Control Law.
The significance of this rapid increase in new home activity lies in the added pressure for more capital investment in schools, roads, sidewalks, water supply, and sewage disposal. At the same time there is a corresponding need for more police and fire protection, highway maintenance, and the like.
The Board's capital budget program which was developed in 1955 called for starting certain facilities at certain times with a view to spreading out the Town's borrowing such that the cost of principal and interest would remain relatively constant. The Wam- patuck School and the Municipal Buildings were built according to this plan. At the 1959 Town Meeting the School and Public Building Committee will ask for approximately $2,000,000 for a new 800 student senior high school and conversion of the old high school to junior high with the addition of 10 rooms. This is also according to the plan.
The capital budget further provided for starting the sewage system in 1961 and the next elementary school thereafter. If this schedule can be maintained, we reach a point by 1963 where pay- ments on account of principal will be about a million dollars every three years. It should never be necessary after that time to borrow more than a million dollars every three years so that we never need increase our total debt after about 1963. In fact, the Town, with careful control, should gradually reduce its debt from that point on.
During 1958 The Board, using half Town and half Federal funds, completed the Master Plan encompassing (a) an independent study of school needs; (b) a study of recreation and public open areas; (c) a study of streets and sidewalks; and (d) a study of the Scituate Harbor business center. The immediate practical appli- cations are these:
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PLANNING BOARD REPORT
1. The Town now has a coordinated plan for sidewalk con- struction indicating the order of importance of new walks. We shall ultimately have to build about 35 miles of sidewalk on exist- ing streets, and suitable sections will be recommended to the Town each year such that the cost is held under 50 cents on the tax rate. To help this situation further, The Board now requires that new subdivisions include sidewalks in the 10,000 and 20,000 sq. ft. zones at the expense of the developers.
2. The Town now has a complete study of the present road system with traffic counts and has a complete layout of what the street system should be in the future. New developments will be required to comply with this program as to street layout and will be required to put in a better quality pavement than has been the custom. Improvement of existing streets should follow this plan.
3. The Town has an exhaustive study of the Harbor business area pointing the way to solving the traffic and parking problem, increasing the business use of the area now zoned for business, and in the long run greatly increasing the value and consequently the tax revenue from this section. As a first step The Board will ask the 1959 Meeting for $2,400 for an engineering study of the first phase to determine actual costs.
At the 1959 Meeting The Board will also recommend convert- ing to Zone "C" an area of approximately 260 acres along the Driftway including the property of the Boston Sand & Gravel Com- pany. This land was earmarked for this purpose previously and is now actively recommended because substantial interests are pre- pared to invest up to a quarter of a million dollars there for boat storage and repair facilities.
Finally, The Board expresses its sincere appreciation to the many Town officials and boards who have, as always provided com- plete cooperation in completing these studies and making these recommendations.
Respectfully submitted,
LESTER J. GATES ROBERT F. HAYES MARK W. MURRILL EDWARD S. RAND, Chairman THOMAS F. WHITE
127
CIVIL DEFENSE AGENCY REPORT
REPORT OF THE CIVIL DEFENSE AGENCY
The Board of Selectmen
Scituate, Mass.
Gentlemen:
Since the undersigned assumed the position of Director of Civil Defense for the Town of Scituate in April 1958 the following activities have been accomplished:
a. A complete study of the Civil Defense Laws established by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
b. A complete study of the Civil Defense Administrative files of the town.
c. The examination and recording of all equipment and ma- terial of a non-expendable nature which has been purchased during the past years by the Town of Scituate, and the location of such equipment and material.
d. A study of the structure of the Town Government, its vari- ous departments and a terrain study of the Town of Scituate to determine the proper Civil Defense organization necessary to give maximum assistance to the residents of Scituate in the event of an Emergency.
e. The participation of the Scituate Control Center during a two-day National Alert Test on May 6 and 7.
f. The participation in discussions and talks to organized groups throughout Scituate in an endeavor to arouse interest and secure volunteer personnel for the Civil Defense Program.
g. The placing of the Civil Defense organization on a stand- by alert basis during "Hurricane Daisy" alert in August.
h. Working with Civil Defense Personnel from Plymouth Coun- ty in manning a Civil Defense exhibition booth at the Brockton Fair.
i. The purchasing of U. S. Government surplus property items at the Taunton warehouses at savings of over four thousand dollars.
j. The participation in meetings with Civil Defense personnel from Sector, Area and State Headquarters on an average of two meetings a month.
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CIVIL DEFENSE AGENCY REPORT
k. The attendance at the Radiological School conducted by Massachusetts Civil Defense Agency in Bridgewater has given Scitu- ate a qualified instructor in the field of fallout and the use of detec- tion instruments.
1. The attendance of communications personnel and the oper- ations of the communications net between Scituate and Sector 2B Headquarters during radio tests held bi-monthly.
m. Research and the formulating of an operations plan for the town of Scituate, known as "The Survival Plan". This plan super- ceding all other operations plans and established in compliance with Federal and State agencies. This plan is required under the Acts of Congress, August 1958 and known as Public Law 85-606 which amends the original Civil Defense Laws.
n. The reviewing of the "Survival Plan" with the Board of Selectmen prior to its being forwarded to State Civil Defense Head- quarters for approval.
0. The drafting of a budget for Civil Defense operations dur- ing the year 1959 and the submitting of same to the Board of Selectmen and the Advisory Board.
While the above activities have been accomplished, the apparent lack of interest in Civil Defense has caused its reorganization to remain at a virtual stand-still. The communications section is the only section which has sufficient volunteer personnel to enable it to function properly in time of emergency. Nearly all other po- sitions with the exception of Director, are on paper only.
With the re-establishment of Civil Defense Headquarters and Control Center in the new Town Hall upon its completion, and with adequate space provided for the establishing of training schools etc. for the various service sections, it is hoped that sufficient interest will be forthcoming by the citizens of Scituate which will establish a Civil Defense organization which will not only meet all the re- quirements required by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts but will also meet all the requirements in the protection of life and property of our citizens.
Respectfully submitted, ALLEN E. VON DETTE, Director.
129
REPORT OF PERSONNEL BOARD
REPORT OF THE PERSONNEL BOARD
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen Scituate, Massachusetts
Because of a request made in December 1957 by personnel of the Police and Fire Departments for an increase in wages, the Per- sonnel Board conducted a study of the wage position of all Town employees under the Board's jurisdiction. This study revealed that pay scales in Scituate were somewhat lower than other towns of comparable population, geography and economy. It was also found that the cost of living had increased more than 7% since the previous wage increase. Therefore, this Board sponsored and sup- ported an Article in the Warrant for the Town Meeting of March 5, 1958, calling for a pay increase of 5%, but not more than $250.00, for all employees in Schedules I, II and III of the Salary Plan. The Article passed by a 2 to 1 margin. It should be pointed out that this resulted in a total increase in wages and benefits of approximately 7% when considered in combination with the recently adopted Group Insurance Plan.
Article 52 of the 1958 Warrant was tabled and referred to the Personnel Board for study. This Article concerned the Park Com- missioners' request for vacation anl sick leave benefits even though, as elected officials, they were specifically excluded from the Classifi- cation and Salary Plan. After a thorough study of the subject, the Board decided to recommend to the March 1959 Town Meeting a modification of the Classification and Salary Plan to include va- cation, sick leave and certain other benefits to all elected officials who work full time for the Town of Scituate. At the present time this would include some of the Park Commissioners and the Tree Warden.
Respectfully submitted,
DAVID M. MISNER, Chairman W. STURGIS EVANS, Secretary BARBARA L. BECK ELLIOT C. LAIDLAW JOHN N. PHILIPS
130
STATE AUDIT REPORT
REPORT OF THE STATE AUDIT
August 21, 1958
To the Board of Selectmen Mr. G. Maxwell Shields, 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 September 1, 1956 to March 1, 1958, made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 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.
HBD: EM
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 September 1, 1956, the date of the previous examination, to March 1, 1958, the following report being submitted thereon:
The financial transactions, as recorded on the books of the several departments receiving or disbursing money for the town or committing bills for collection, were examined, checked, and veri- fied by comparison with the books of the accountant and the treas- urer.
131
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STATE AUDIT REPORT
The books and accounts in the office of the town accountant were examined and checked. The receipts, as recorded, were checked with the records of the departments making payments to the treasurer and with the treasurer's books, while the payments were checked with the treasury warrants signed by the selectmen and with the treasurer's cash book. The appropriations and trans- fers were checked with the town clerk's record of town meetings and with the authorizations of the advisory board for transfers from the reserve fund.
The accountant's ledgers were analyzed, the necessary adjust- ing entries resulting from the audit of the several departments were made, and a balance sheet, which is appended to this report, was prepared showing the financial condition of the town on Decem- ber 31, 1957.
The books and accounts of the town treasurer were examined and checked. The recorded receipts were compared with the sev- eral departmental records of payments to the treasurer, with other sources from which the town received money, and with the ac- countant's books, while the recorded payments were checked with the approved warrants authorizing the disbursements of town funds and with the accountant's books. The cash balance on March 1, 1958 was proved by verification of the cash and memoranda in the office and by reconciliation of the bank balances with statements furnished by the banks of deposit.
The transactions of the trust and investment funds in the custody of the town treasurer were verified, the savings bank books representing the investment of these funds being examined and listed.
The recorded payments on account of maturing debt and in- terest were checked with the amounts falling due and with the cancelled securities on file.
The records of payroll deductions for Federal taxes, county retirement system, and hospitalization and group insurance, were examined and checked, the payments to the proper agencies being verified.
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 collector's records, the reported redemptions of tax titles were checked with the treasurer's
132
STATE AUDIT REPORT
cash book, the foreclosures were verified, and the tax titles and tax possessions on hand were listed, reconciled with the accountant's ledger, and compared with the records at the Registry of Deeds.
The books and accounts of the town collector were examined and checked. The taxes, excise, assessments, and water liens outstand- ing at the time of the previous examination, as well as all subsequent commitments, were audited and verified. The recorded collections were compared with the payments to the treasurer, the recorded abatements were proved with the assessors' records of abatements granted, the transfers to the tax title account were checked with the records of tax titles held by the town, and the outstanding accounts were listed and reconciled with the accountant's ledger.
The commitments of departmental and water accounts re- ceivable were examined and checked. The recorded collections were proved with the payments to the treasurer, the abatements as recorded were compared with the departmental records of abate- ments granted, and the outstanding accounts were listed and recon- ciled with the controlling accounts kept by the town accountant.
The outstanding tax, excise, assessment, departmental, and water accounts were further 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 financial records of the town clerk were examined and checked. The collections on account of dog and sporting licenses, as well as of miscellaneous receipts, were verified and compared with the payments to the State and to the town treasurer.
The records of licenses and permits issued by the Selectmen, the building, wire, and plumbing and sewerage inspectors, as well as by the police and health departments, were checked, and the pay- ments to the treasurer were verified.
The surety bonds filed by the several town officials for the faithful performance of their duties were examined and found to be in proper form.
It is recommended that the amounts expended by the town for veterans' services be certified to the State promptly as required by Section 6, Chapter 115, General Laws, as amended, in order that the town may receive the reimbursements to which it is entitled.
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STATE AUDIT REPORT
The available records of departmental cash collections by the sealer of weights and measures, as well as by the school depart- ment, and by all other departments in which money was collected for the town, were examined and checked. The payments to the treas- urer were verified and the cash on hand in the several departments was proved by actual count.
There are appended to this report, in addition to the balance sheet, tables showing reconciliations of the treasurer's and the col- lector's cash, summaries of the tax, excise, assessment, tax title, tax possession, departmental, and water accounts, together with sched- ules showing the condition and transactions of the trust and in- vestment funds.
During the progress of the audit cooperation was received from all town officials, for which, on behalf of my assistants and for my- self, I wish to express appreciation.
Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM SCHWARTZ, Assistant Director of Accounts.
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