USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Hamilton > Town of Hamilton Annual Report 1925 > Part 4
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If we are to prevent further increases in expenses and taxes, we must pursue a policy of conservatism, which means not the reduction of standards, but the regulation and reduction of the scale and scope of work of the various departments.
Good roads. schools. buildings, fire departments, police de- partments, parks, etc., are not only desirable but necessary, but they must be good enough to meet the needs of the community- if they are below standard they are a menace : likewise if they are above local needs they are an equal menace. for they become an extravagance and a burden rather than an asset.
That is the danger every family. or business. or town, or government faces-namely, over-expansion, seeking to do a little more than it can afford or actually needs to do, and the prosperous family. or business, or town, or government is the one which com- fortably and judiciously lives within its actual requirements and not beyond its actual needs.
109
REPORT OF FINANCE AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE
For this reason and on this basis we have made our recom- mendation-cuts in places, increases in others, basing our de- cision on needs, realizing that readjustments cannot be accom- plished in one year, and that further readjustments should follow as conditions allow.
A hundred dollars here and a hundred more there when you are voting seems a matter scarcely worth considering, but when you realize there are some fifty items to be voted on, it soon adds up to considerable amounts and may mean a matter of a dollar or more on or off the taxes.
On all the small cuts or increases we have facts or figures to show their justification and will present them to you in town meeting if the issue is raised on the major appropriations, namely :
(1) Schools,
(4) Lights,
(2) Highways,
(5) Moth Department,
(3) Snow,
(6) Maturing Debts,
we shall report on briefly below.
(1) Schools: We again praise them for their co-operation and expect to see them with an unexpended balance at the close of the year.
(2) Highways: A year ago we said in the report :
"Highways. Your committee believes as a matter of policy that the Highway Department should, together with the Select- men, determine the work to be done on highways.
"We believe that each year a definite fixed sum should be appropriated :
(1) For new macadam roads;
(2) For general maintenance of highways;
(3) For sidewalks;
(4) For special urgent needs.
"We believe that the town has wasted far too much money on patchwork in the past, and only by adopting a definite annual
110
HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
policy can the town hope to see a general improvement of its high- ways."
On this basis we have recommended :
(1) For new roads (see Article No. 10) $10,000 00
(2) For general maintenance 16,500 00
We have suggested increasing the salary of surveyor to $1,500.00 (from $1,200.00 in 1925 and $800.00 in 1924), and believe $15,000.00 is enough to spend on maintenance and patch- work, as it was in 1923 and 1924. As we build permanent roads, our maintenance will decrease and the more we spend on mainte- nance and patching the less we have for permanent roads.
Main Street is mostly State road. Essex Street, our other main artery, is to be, we hope, completed. We must strive each year to make a piece of our other roads permanent-obviously they can be narrower, and lighter of construction to carry the load.
(3) Under Sidewalks we have allowed $500.00 to take care of the Article 7, but this does not mean that the surveyor will not improve other walks under "General Maintenance."
(4) Under Urgent Needs, we have allotted $3,000.00 for extra oil and steam roller work, also $4,000.00 to cover Articles 6, 8 and 9, which we believe the surveyor can and should do most economically and efficiently in connection with the general super- vision of the highways.
This is a total of $34.000.00 for highways in 1926 as against $35,000.00 in 1925.
(3) Snow: There are several elements to consider in this connection. Storms cannot be estimated, but efficiency of opera- tion and scope of the work have much bearing on the expense. We question the advisability of depending on our "town" truck. Its maintenance has proven costly. We question the actual need of the extent of snow carted away. We urge that a committee be appointed to serve gratuitously to study in detail the snow prob-
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REPORT OF FINANCE AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE
lem-as to equipment to be hired or bought, etc., and to report to the Selectmen their findings by July 1, 1926.
(4) Street Lights: The cost has increased from $6,500.00 in 1923 to $7,800.00 asked for in 1926. This is due to "all night lights" which was voted in 1925 and increased costs and added lights. We hope the number of lights will not increase and that petitioners will bear in mind that each light (extra) costs $24.50 per annum at present rates.
(5) Moth Department: The scope of this work is indefinite and variable and to a large measure results obtained are dependent on the manner in which the money is expended. The State author- ities report our section in good condition and we hope to see economies in this department.
(6) Maturing Debts: We have $5,500.00 coming due this year, which would ordinarily come out of taxes and mean $1.00 on the tax. Our surplus account is $20,600, large enough in this instance and year to take care of this amount, and we recommend that it be paid out of surplus, reducing our surplus to its normal average of $15,000.00.
In summarizing: A reading of the table of our recommenda- tions does not tell the whole story of what the Finance Committee has done and is doing to keep appropriations within a reasonable limit. The fact that each department knows that all requests are carefully scrutinized, has brought about a situation where the de- partment heads pay greater attention to their budget request and we find, as a rule, they are anxious to co-operate for the benefit of the town. We wish to thank the department heads for their co- operation and particularly those who have aided us in our task, by voluntarily reducing the appropriation asked for.
You will note that our voted appropriations this year as
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HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
recommended by this committee total $140,480.00 as against. $133,645.00 in 1925.
By spreading Essex Street construction cost over a period of years, we may be able to hold the tax rate at its present level.
Attached to this report is a table of Town Appropriations and Expenses, also the requests for the year 1926 and recommendations of this Committee.
G. v. L. MEYER, Chairman, J. C. R. PEABODY, Vice-Chairman, L. A. HASKELL, Secretary, LESTER E. McGARRY, Wm. W. BANCROFT,
Finance Committee. Feb. 15, 1926.
TOWN APPROPRIATIONS AND EXPENSES
1923
1924 1924
1925 1925
1926 Recommended 1926 Req. Salary Sundry Total .. P.D.$10
Moderator
Finance Committee
Finance Committee
Accounting
1,100
1,300
1,289
1,300
1,288
1,200
100 450
1,300
Treasurer
900
900
911
900
861
900
750
150
900 Treasurer
Collector Assessors '
800
S00
772
800
763
900
600
300
900
Collector
*Binding Maps
Certification Notes Law
200
200
200
300
300
300
200
200
Law
Town Clerk
550
650
647
650
646
650
500
150
650
Town Clerk
Election Registration
750
1,000
952
700
525
1,000
..
..
Ins. 250
2,250
Town Hall
Police Department
1,500
2,200
2,096
2,200
2,200
2,100
Police Department
Fire Department-
Fire Department-
1. General
1. General
2. Medical Aid
2. Medical Aid
3. New Engine
3. New Engine
4. Hose and Repairs
4. Hose and Repairs
1,500
1,500 10,548
6,418
6,807
2,435
2,200
Total
Sealer
150
300
261
300
294
300
250
Sealer
Moth (Town Work) Special Refunded
1,004
1,200
1,500
1,500
Special Refunded
Total
4,700
4,700
4,699
4,700
4,679
4,500
4,500
Total
Tree Warden .
800
800
790
800
789
800
500
Tree Warden
Forest Warden
65
65
62
85
42
85
Forest Warden
Healtlı Department
1,000
1,600
1,990
1,800
1,447
1,800
100
1,800
Health Department
Inspector of Animals
75
75
12
75
58
75
60
Inspector of Animals
Snow
18,000
4,800
4,900
4,000
3,999
5,000 plus 15
10,000
Snow
Game Warden
10
10
10
15
10
10
15 Game Warden
Street Lights
6,500
6,500
6,500
7,500
7,201
7,800
7,800
Poor Department Street Lights
State Aid
300
300
156
300
228
300
300
State Aid
Soldiers' Relief
400
300
174
300
440
450
450
Soldiers' Relief
Public Library
2,500
4,000
4,400
2,650
2,550
2,400
2,400
Public Library
Parks
100
100
100
350
303
350
Parks
Fence, Winthrop Park
200
Fence, Winthrop Park
Memorial Day
200
200
211
250
245
250
250
Memorial Day
Town Reports
350
350
349
400
399
400
400
Town Reports
Town Clock
50
50
25
50
47
50
50
Town Clock
American Legion
250
250
250
250
250
250
250
American Legion
Boiler Insurance
70
50
37
125
103
75
75 -
Boiler Insurance
Cemetery
750
800
792
800
800
900
900
Cemetery
Highways-
Highways --
1. New Roads
9,000
(see Article 10)
1. New Roads
2. General Maintenance
15,000 11,200 19,000
1,500 15,000 16,500
2. General Maintenance
3. Sidewalks (Article 7)
930
500
500
3. Sidewalks (Article 7)
4. Special and Urgent Needs Town Warrant : (Articles 6, 8, 9)
800
3,000
3,000
4. Special
Town Warrant : (Articles 6, 8, 9)
Highways Total
15,000 15,800 19,700
Highways Total
Reserve
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
Interest
2,500
2,700
2,800
3,500
3,100
3,300
3,300
Maturing Debts
(To be taken from surplus and not from taxes) 5,500
Maturing Debts
School Department-
School Department-
1. Genera!
41,700 41,700 43,350
42,950
1. General
2. Ind. Tuition
450
450
450
2. Ind. Tuition
3. Extras
(Painting, Fire esc.)
3,300
400
(Roof) 400
3. Extras
4. Insurance
300
2,500*
1,100
4. Insurance
Total Schools
47,260 44,654 45,384 45,750 45,745 46,600*
44,900
Total Schools
GRAND TOTALS
$124,180
GRAND TOTALS
ARTICLES IN TOWN WARRANT INVOLVING MONEY TO BE VOTED ON
Article 5.
Two Fire Cisterns
$3,000
Contract
$3,000 Article 5
66
6.
($4,500 has been included in
2,000 }
6
7. 1
the Highway Appropriation
500
see Highways
66
8
9.
9, specially)
500
9
10.
Essex Street
10,000
Contract
10,000
10
11.
Town Hall. Water Supply
800
Contract
800
11
12.
Town Hall, Painting and Sheds
800
Contract
800
12
13,
Town Hall, Land
1,000
1,000
13
14.
Central Park
500
(Not urgent)
14
15.
Street Light
(Street Light Contract)
16
=
17.
Engine House Alteration
700
Contract
700
17
18.
Land of F. H. Prince
Approved
18
19.
Routine Vote
Approved
19
Grand Total Spent as per Votes 1925
$133,645
$140,480 Grand Total to be Voted. Appropriated 1926 as recommended.
7
Moderator
$50
$50
$30
$50
$20
25
25
25
4
Selectmen
1,100
1,100
1,008
1,100
1,095
.. 1,300 1,400
2,500 P.D. 5
*150
1,650 15
Certification Notes
20
20
12
20
12
20
. .
. .
900
Election Registration
Town Hall
1,700
2,000
1,989
2,000
Ins.
477
1,250
3,000
3,000
Moth (Town Work)
Poor Department
4,000
4,000
3,357
4,000
2,110
4,000
100
4,000
540
1,568
2,213
1,400
2,000
1,992
2,000
1,997
1,994 2,193
2,370
2,271
2,258
1,250
1,250
Total
..
8.
for these Articles 6, 7, 8,
1,500
66
66
60
15
16.
Street Light
35,300 27,500
24,000
Reserve Interest
3,900
2,400
4,000
350 200
65
6,500
2,400
850
.. 1,300 Accounting Selectmen
Voted Voted Spent Voted Spent
66
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF HAMILTON
FOR THE YEAR
1925
EX. HA
MILTON
, HA
TTS.
INCOR
1793
21
SALEM, MASS .: NEWCOMB & GAUSS, PRINTERS 1926
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of the Town of Hamilton:
The School Committee presents herewith its annual report, to- gether with those of the Superintendent and several special teachers, for the year ending December 31. 1925.
GENERAL.
The general work of the department has proceeded in a normal manner throughout the year, due to the very efficient guidance of the Superintendent and High School Principal. The details of management and the change in teachers are fully covered in the report of the Superintendent, Principal of the High School, and the special teachers, to which your attention is particularly directed.
REDUCED COST OF OPERATION.
The year just closed is the first full year in which the work has been concentrated in the South and East Schools. The supe- rior educational results of this policy have been so manifest that no one would think of returning to the old plan. The financial saving. shown by the figures below, speak for themselves, and this notwithstanding the fact that the Committee has met the needed increases in teachers' salaries and made necessary additions to the equipment of the schools.
General expenses of the schools in 1923. .$44,901 07
General expenses of the schools in 1924. 44,658 1%
General expenses of the schools in 1925. 41,978 19 Special appropriations vary so from year to year that they have not been included in these figures.
1
2
HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
THE IMPROVED TRANSPORTATION SERVICE.
The almost ideal transportation service made possible by your special appropriation of 1925. has entirely justified the increased cost. Mr. Mann and Mr. Lamson have both provided good, safe, enclosed and heated busses; and the drivers are all anyone could ask for. The cost of this improved service is made a part of the regular budget this year.
PAINTING
The special appropriation for painting was well and econom- ically spent.
The work included painting the outside of the South School and two annexes, painting some rooms inside, and refinishing a number of desks; also the outside trimmings and some inside work at the East School.
FIRE ESCAPE
The special appropriation for fire escape enabled us to meet the requirements of the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety. The work was well done and to the satisfaction of the Inspector and Committee.
INSURANCE.
At the suggestion of the Finance Committee we are trying to arrange the insurance so that a portion of the premiums will come due each year, instead of practically all of them coming due every third year as at present.
We expect to be able to do this, but are unable at present to give the citizens definite information.
3
SCHOOL REPORT
SOUTH SCHOOL ROOF.
The tin roof of the South School has been repaired several times in the past few years, and we have decided to ask for a special appropriation of $400 this year. to enable us to have a tar and gravel roof applied.
The above material would give us a surface guaranteed for twenty years. and we feel that it would be a good investment for the Town.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The School Committee makes the following recommendations :
1. That the sum of $43,350 be appropriated for the support of the public schools for the ensuing year.
2. That the sum of $450 be appropriated for Industrial School Tuition for the ensuing year.
3. That the sum of $400 be appropriated for a new tar and gravel roof for the South School building.
4. That the sum of $240 be appropriated to take care of the dental work of the school from September to December of the ensuing year: this being at the rate of $600 per year, which is being borne by the Red Cross up to the close of school in June.
5. That the sum of be appropriated for School House Insurance for the ensuing year.
Respectfully submitted.
ROBERT ROBERTSON. JR .. ADELAIDE D. WALSH. ALEXANDER H. SPROUL. School Committee.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
To the School Committee :
MADAM AND GENTLEMEN : I am submitting my third annual report as superintendent of your schools.
HEALTH
This topic is of sufficient importance to be given first place in any report having to do with the education of children. The health program in our schools is of the best. The school physician and nurse very methodically carry on the necessary examinations to determine the exact physical condition of every child. Indi- vidual treatment is given or recommended in so far as is justi- fiable, then the case is taken to the parent with a request that the family physician be consulted. The program for this work is preventive and remedial health work but the most important is the real program of health education, for thereby is laid the important foundation for future citizenship-a healthy body.
DENTAL CLINIC
Under the Nurse's Report will be found the record of Dental work as carried out in the schools.
A letter from Mr. Houston A. Thomas, Chairman of the Hamilton-Wenham branch, American Red Cross, has the follow- ing to say in regard to the continued aid from the local Red Cross branch.
We should continue this as a part of our regular school work or otherwise employ a Dental Hygienist. In either case we should have the necessary money at our disposal to carry on the work.
5
6
HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
Mr. J. D. Whittier
Superintendent of Schools
South Hamilton. Mass.
DEAR MR. WHITTIER: In answer to your letter of August 25th I will say, that the Executive Committee of the Hamilton-Wenham Branch. American Red Cross. has voted to continue the Dental Clinic on the same terms and conditions for one more year.
The Committee, however. have instructed me to say that. owing to diminishing funds and practically no income, it will probably be impossible to continue the clinic after this year.
The local branch of the Red Cross has carried on this work in Hamilton and Wenham because it believed it to be of great benefit to the children in the schools and an education to the parents and Town Authorities in this branch of Public Health. In many other towns in this and other states. the authorities have continued a Dental Clinic. out of school appropriations. after the Red Cross had been forced. from lack of funds. to give it up.
It is earnestly hoped that the experience gained in the past few years will convince the Town Authorities of the great value of a Dental Clinic for School Children and that they will be willing to carry on the good work.
Yours very truly. HOUSTON A. THOMAS. Chairman. Hamilton-Wenham Branch American Red Cross.
September 1. 1925.
The local Red Cross Chapter has rendered a distinct service in financing the dental clinic work for the towns of Hamilton and Wenham. In view of the fact that this organization finds it financially impossible to continue its assistance the town should show its appreciation of the services rendered by making the nec- essary appropriation in its regular school budget to continue the work as previously carried on or to carry on similar work which will give the desired results.
-
SCHOOL REPORT
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
If the prescribed school work is to be accomplished by the pupil it is necessary that he be regular in attendance to profit by the instruction given. In order that the teachers may meet the requirements of their work they should not be expected to do review work for the reason that some one has been absent from classes. During the past year every teacher has endeavored to secure as high a per cent of attendance in her school as possible.
As a result of these efforts the "Monthly Reports to the Super- intendent" show that. with exceptions of rooms affected by pupils having contagious or infectious diseases, there were but a few cases in which the per cent of the attendance in any room fell below ninety. The median per cent of attendance from January to December has been ninety-four, which is one per cent higher than the State median of a year ago. Since September of this present school year an average per cent of attendance of ninety- six has been maintained. If there is neither an epidemic nor severe weather during the next few months we should be able to maintain this present high standard.
An examination of the attendance reports reaching this office disclosed the fact that there were altogether too many tardy marks. Teachers were instructed to use every means possible to reduce the number of tardinesses. but as yet our results are not sufficiently satisfactory. Without doubt parents are unaware that our records show there have been four hundred seventy-three tardy marks re- corded against our pupils during the past year. This shows an average tardiness of more than one per child. When we consider that seventy-five per cent of our pupils are never tardy the above figures go to prove that an average of five or more tardy marks recorded against twenty-five per cent of the enrolment is unnec- essary. Parents will render a real service to the schools if they assist in requiring more punctual attendance on the part of their children.
8
HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
As an incentive to the children a "Perfect Attendance Cer- tificate" is awarded all pupils in June neither absent nor tardy for the year. One half day's absence or one tardy mark deprives the pupil of this honor. A list of those perfect in attendance for the school year 1924-25 is appended to this report.
HONOR ROLL
That greater interest may be created among pupils of grades seven. eight and throughout the high school an "Honor List" is prepared at the end of each two months. Pupils who receive A's and B's or 1's and ?'s are given a place on the list according to the per cent of A's or 1's received. The list is published in the papers as well as posted in the schools. There is a very noticeable effort on the part of many pupils to have their scholarship of such a high grade that they may win a place on the list and as near the head of the same as possible. The list of honor students from September to December, inclusive, is appended to this report. It is noticeable that several who did not secure a place on the Honor Roll at the end of October did get on the Roll in Decen- ber. The list is sure to change somewhat every ranking period and therefore should induce pupils to put forth every effort pos- sible for a place on the same.
HOME READING WITH SCHOOL CREDIT
This topic was treated at length in my last year's report. Our results from January to June were far from satisfactory due to the fact that pupils were unable to secure the necessary books. however. this difficulty has now been overcome and we find there are now ninety pupils doing the required reading. A complete list of those having received "Reading Certificates" last June is ap- pended to this report.
9
SCHOOL REPORT
PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT
School systems are rated as good or poor according to the professional fitness of the teachers in charge to do the required work. A teacher may be well trained and have had several years' successful teaching experience but unless professional study is car- ried on under able instructors said teachers soon find that they have not kept pace with the trend of modern education. They find that their work is the same from year to year with a result that they lose interest in their work from a professional stand- point. The pupils also lose interest because of the deadening in- struction and long for the day to come when they may leave school.
Due to several reasons not as many of our teachers have taken professional courses this year as formerly. The chief reason seems to have been that no courses which the teachers could take have been given in the immediate vicinity of Hamilton or that the courses given at the Universities did not appeal to them. It is fully expected that several will take courses at the Normal Schools or in Extension Classes during the next summer.
Those who have taken courses during the past year are here- with given :
Teacher Institution Attended Course
Mrs. Elizabeth H. Bush, Correspondence-Gregg Co., Gregg Short- hand.
Mrs. Hazel E. Ramer, University Extension, General Science.
Miss Bessie McRae, Correspondence-Gregg Co., Gregg Shorthand.
Mrs. Laura Boyd, University Extension, U. S. History,
Elementary English Miss Margaret Batchelder, University Extension, Problems in Education.
10
HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
EDUCATION WEEK
This week in November of every year has become a great national event. The observance of this week is looked forward to by parents, teachers and pupils. Except through the assemblies on the day observed in our schools teachers are expected to carry on the regular program of work with the exception of emphasizing one of the major subjects in order that the parents and others may become acquainted with the requirements in the several classes. A late afternoon and evening session for the Junior and Senior High Schools was maintained that parents might have an oppor- tunity to learn from personal observation the type of work the children are doing.
Because of the fact that Education Week comes early in the year, before pupils have accumulated much written work, parents were invited to the schools in the late spring that they might observe classroom work but more especially the written and art work done in the grades.
FIRE PREVENTION
Not a single month passes that we do not read in the daily press of a disastrous fire where a school building has been con- sumed in flames. If there is no loss of life and the property is insured there is immediate relief. otherwise the public generally gives considerable thought to the occurrence.
Thought after the loss of life or property is valueless unless it has to do with prevention of similar occurrences. There is con- siderable printed material available for instruction in fire pre- vention and other types of safety education. Much of this ma- terial has been placed in the hands of the teachers that they may instruct the pupils as to the unnecessary waste and suffering due to fires and thereby teach the pupils that they have a civic re- sponsibility in preventing the loss of life and property. The
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