USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Hamilton > Town of Hamilton Annual Report 1941 > Part 4
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1,553 42
Highway Fund
8,815 78
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
7,600 00
Licenses
1,170 00
Fines
25 00
Grants and Gifts
800 00
Special Assessments-Moth Private
1,200 00
Protection of Persons and Property
75 00
Highways
50 00
Charities (other than federal grants for aid to dependent children) 2,500 00
Old Age Assistance (other than federal grants)
5,000 00
Soldiers' Benefits
290 00
Schools
1,600 00
Libraries
5 00
Public Service Enterprises
(such as Water Dept., etc.)
5,000 00
Cemeteries (other than trust funds and sale of lots)
$450 00
Interest : on Taxes and Assessments
700 00
Total estimated receipts
53,016 27
Overestimates of previous year to be used as available funds :
State Parks
$11 07
Amounts to be taken from available funds :
Excess and deficiency 6,000 00
Overlay reserve 1,000 00 7,011 07
Total estimated receipts and available funds
$60,027 34
46
Net amount to be raised by taxation on Polls and Property Number of Polls 704 at $2.00 each
$132,300 44
$1,408 00
Total valuation at tax rate of $23.40 : Personal Property $544,639 00 $12,744 55
Real Estate
$5,049,055 00
$118,147 89
Total Taxes Levied on Polls and Property $132,300 44
Not entering into the determination of the tax rate: Betterment and special assessments : Moth $1,289 56
Total Amount of all Taxes on Polls and Property and Assess- ments Committed to the Collector to Date of Fixing Tax Rate $133,590 00
RECAPITULATION OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE
Assessed in the Town of Hamilton for the year 1941 Number of cars 1247 Total valuation of cars $342,550 00 Total Motor Vehicle Excise committed $10,134 18
To the Taxpayers of Hamilton:
The 1942 tax rate on motor vehicles is $36.46 per thousand. This is a decrease of thirty-four cents per thousand over the 1941 rate.
When you sell or transfer a car a return of proof of sale must be made to the Assessors before any abatement can be made. This form can be obtained from the dealer.
Applications for abatement of any kind of tax will not be accepted by the Board unless filed within the time provided by law and on a form approved by the Commissioner of Corporations and Taxation.
This year an assessors' planning project of all real estate in Hamilton by the W. P. A. is in progress. The Assessors trust that all real estate owners will cooperate.
PLEASE READ ALL PRINTING ON YOUR TAX BILL
Respectfully submitted,
JESSE S. MANN ROBERT H. CHITTICK, JR. DONALD G. TRUSSELL
47
In Memoriam
Arthur William Chandler, son of William D. and Rua A. Chandler, was born in Hamilton on October 2, 1859, and died on March 31, 1941. He was a trustee of the Public Library for a quarter of a century, just preceding his death, and for many years had been active in town affairs. He had also been chairman of the Republican town committee for a number of years and had declined the Republican nomination for the Legislature owing to pressure of private business. When in the mood he used to relate many amusing anecdotes of the way caucuses and elections were conducted in the days of the different colored ballots before the adoption of the Australian ballot. Of a sunny disposition and always thoughtful of others he will be remembered by those with whom he was identified in local affairs.
BG
48
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON H. M. C. S. "HAMILTON"
Following the action of the Special Town Meeting a committee was appointed by the Moderator to handle matters in connection with the naming of a Canadian destroyer after the Town of Hamilton. The committee is composed of Edgar D. Andrews, chairman, Mrs. Helen M. Danforth, secretary, and Raymond C. Wass.
Early in January the committee addressed the Commander of H. M. C. S. "Hamilton" offering to do anything possible to make the hours pleasanter for the men under his command.
Shortly after Lieut. Commander Clark of H. M. C. S. "Hamilton" acknowl- edged the recognition of your committee and expressed the determination to finish, with us, the job upon which we are now both embarked. Your committee now awaits further information from Lieut. Commander Clark as to some specific manner in which it may be of service to his men.
Respectfully submitted,
EDGAR D. ANDREWS, Chairman HELEN M. DANFORTH, Secretary RAYMOND C. WASS
REPORT OF THE HAMILTON COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY
To the Citizens of the Town of Hamilton:
This Committee was organized at the request of Governor Saltonstall in 1940. At that time he suggested that the personnel of the Committee should include representatives of Town officials, the American Legion, Civic and Labor organizations. Instructions were issued to organize, to remain calm, not to create any hysteria, and to await further orders. Up until about six months ago, there was hardly a plan for civilian defense-so it is therefore appropriate at this time to review what has happened regarding matters which concern all of us so deeply.
Since then, a complete plan has been made and put into effect. Much progress has been achieved, but the more we have learned, the more fully we realize how much remains to be done.
In order to facilitate the work of the larger Committee, it was considered advisable to form a smaller, more flexible Executive Committee. This Com- mittee has met at frequent intervals and has transacted such routine business as could be handled without the necessity of calling together the larger Committee. From time to time, the Executive Committee has reported back to the larger group, and its action has been ratified by the whole Committee.
One of our first assignments was to divide the Town into five districts. Fortunately, a W. P. A. white-collar project had recently completed a survey map of the Town which saved the cost of this expensive task. We have maps showing every building, number of residents if occupied, emergency supplies of water, hydrants, and other important information for each dis- trict. Each district is in charge of a Deputy Warden.
Last May, the State conducted its first Air Raid Warden's school in
49
Boston. Two of our members attended this course and received certificates entitling them to act as instructors in local communities.
During the summer, the Committee sponsored the collection of old aluminum. Under the leadership of Mrs. C. Donald Woodman, the Committee made an excellent showing.
Hamilton enjoys the distinction of having more of its residents enrolled in First Aid classes than any other community its size. Credit for this dis- tinction belongs to George Gibney Haraden, who has achieved great success as an instructor.
In the early part of November, the Wenham and Hamilton Committees: sponsored a mass meeting at the High School. As a result of this meeting, plans were made to conduct our first A. R. P. school for Air Raid Wardens, and others who desired to attend the course. In this undertaking we were joined by the Civilian Defense Committees of Wenham, Essex, and Topsfield. The first two sessions were held prior to the outbreak of the war, and the attendance was one hundred each night. After the Pearl Harbor incident, the attendance averaged over 350 for the remaining seven sessions. As a result of this large class, we were enabled to have the best instructors from the State A. R. P. school. Approximately one hundred of our people have successfully passed the examination and are now taking their first Aid Course.
The Fire and Police Departments have organized their auxiliary mem- bers, and the Chiefs of each department are now conducting a course of instruction for their men.
Many of our women are taking courses in Canteen and Mobile units, under the direction of the Chairman of the Women's Division, Mrs. Sybil Wolcott.
One of the most important pieces of work undertaken in connection with the defense program has been that of the airplane observation post which is under the direction of A. P. Gardner Post, American Legion, super- vised by the United States Army. Your committee undertook to furnish a suitable shelter for this post and to properly equip the location with such safeguards as were necessary. To the work of maintaining a twenty-four hour watch both Legionnaires and residents are conscientiously devoting many hours of their time.
At the present time, there are over four hundred of our residents identi- fied with Civilian Defense. Many more will be needed, in order to have "three shifts" of trained men and women. The general public needs far more information and education for the problems of traffic, the prepara- tions for blackouts, and for the many other problems which are ahead of us.
The Report Center, which is the vital spot if trouble should come, is located at the Town Hall. With the assistance of the detachment of troops stationed there, this important post is manned twenty-four hours a day.
The response of our people has been most encouraging. Much credit goes to many of them who have so generously given their time and energy in assisting your Committee.
We recommend your favorable consideration on Article 4 in the Town Warrant, to make this Committee a Town Committee.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN H. PERKINS
Chairman
50
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
To the Citizens of the Town of Hamilton:
We submit herewith our annual report for the year 1941.
Due to the National Emergency, our W. P. A. rolls have been substan- tially reduced during the past year. However, several projects were carried on, a full report of which will be found in the W. P. A. Coordinator's report.
Under the supervision of the State and County about one half-mile of permanent construction was built on Asbury Street. We had hoped to com- plete this street to the Topsfield line this year but the State has now with- drawn its offer of assistance. We therefore are not asking for any appro- priation for this work this year.
Accompanied by the Boards of Selectmen of Wenham, Essex, and Man- chester, we complied with the statutory requirement of perambulating the town lines.
The past year has brought about the fruition of the long-sought play- ground. In the acquirement of some 15 acres of the Myopia Schooling Field Trust Field. The first work on the matter has been devoted to the opening of a skating rink, a very striking picture of which was published recently in a local paper. We hope that this coming year many improvements and additions thereto will be made in the form of equipment and layout. This, of course, will be done slowly as it is a large subject and extreme care will be necessary in making permanent layouts.
A situation which the Board has never been called upon to deal with before has been brought about by the assignment of a group of soldiers. They have been quartered at the Town Hall and we have opened the build- ing and have done our best to make them as comfortable as possible. The public has received them gladly and all have cooperated in making their stay as pleasant as possible. It has tended to bring the war home to the townspeople more acutely than anything else that could have happened.
We recommend and approve the article calling for the purchase of a new fire pumping and ladder truck. Feeling that it can no longer be delayed and that it is absolutely necessary this year from a fire protection stand- point.
The Board recommends your favorable consideration of the article which calls for a by-law regulating the acceptance of streets by the Town. This by-law places the responsibility on the petitioners of having all proposed streets in proper condition, thereby eliminating considerable expenditure to town after acceptance. This article has the approval of the Attorney General.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD A. DEWITT JOHN H. PERKINS LAWRENCE R. STONE
SKATING AREA IN THE NEW RECREATIONAL FIELD, HAMILTON
52
WARRANT FOR THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
ESSEX, ss. To either of the Constables of the Town of Hamilton:
GREETINGS :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Hamilton, quali- fied to vote in election and Town affairs to meet in the Town Hall in said Town on Monday, the second day of March, nineteen hundred and forty-two (March 2, 1942), at seven-thirty o'clock in the evening (7.30 P. M.) then and there to act on the following articles, viz.
ARTICLE 1. "To bring in your ballots for :
Moderator for one year.
Town Clerk for one year.
Three Selectmen for one year.
Three Overseers of Public Welfare for one year.
Treasurer for one year.
Tax Collector for one year.
One Surveyor of Highways for one year.
Tree Warden for one year.
Three Constables for one year.
One Assessor for three years.
One member of the School Committee for three years.
One Library Trustee for three years.
One Cemetery Commissioner for three years.
One Park Commissioner for three years.
One Water Commissioner for three years.
One Member of Planning Board for five years.
One Member of Planning Board for four years.
One Member of Planning Board for three years.
One Member of Planning Board for two years. One Member of Planning Board for one year.
The above named officers to be voted for on one ballot on Tuesday, the tenth day of March, 1942 (March 10, 1942). The polls will be opened at 5.45 o'clock A. M., and may be closed at 4.00 o'clock P. M."
ARTICLE 2. "To choose and appoint all other Town Officers in such man- ner as the Town shall determine."
ARTICLE 3. "To hear the report of the Town Officers and of the Finance and Advisory Committee and all other committees and take any action thereon."
ARTICLE 4. "To see if the Town will vote to have the Defense Committee of 1941 act as a Town Defense Committee or take any action thereon."
53
ARTICLE 5. "To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,800.00 for the preservation of health and protection of persons and property ; to purchase equipment, uniforms and supplies for auxiliary fire and police departments, air-raid wardens, first aid rescue squads and other essential units of defense; to provide for the training of its citizens in first aid and other matters essential to civilian defense; and to provide for such other means as may be necessary in the national emergency for the pro- tection of the people and property in the Town, or take any action thereon."
ARTICLE 6. "To raise and appropriate money for the Schools, Highways and all other expenses and determine the manner of expending same."
ARTICLE 7. "To see if the Town will vote, subject to the approval of the Commissioner of Corporations and Taxation, to transfer the sum of $7,000.00 from the Excess and Deficiency Fund to the Selectmen's Unemployment Ac- count, to be expended for work to be done on the Highways, the Cemetery, the Moth Suppression Department, the Parks, Fire Protection, the Water Supply System, municipal buildings, and other municipal works projects in conjunction with the Federal Government, and for materials and implements, to provide work for the needy unemployed of the Town, or take action thereon."
ARTICLE 8. "To see if the Town will vote, subject to the approval of the Commissioner of Corporations and Taxation, to transfer the sum of $4,000.00 from the Excess and Deficiency Fund to Maturing Debt, or take any action thereon."
ARTICLE 9. "To see if the Town will vote, subject to the approval of the Commissioner of Corporations and Taxation, to transfer the sum of $500.00 from the Overlay Surplus to the State Guard Reserve, or take any action thereon."
ARTICLE 10. "To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $8,400.00 to purchase and acquire a combination ladder, truck and pumper piece of fire apparatus for the use of the Fire Department, or take any action thereon."
ARTICLE 11. "To see if the Town will vote to accept Gifford Road, so called, as per plan on file at the Town Clerk's office, or take any action thereon, as petitioned for by Ethel M. Feindle and others."
ARTICLE 12. "To see if the Town will vote to adopt the following by-law," "No new street shall be accepted by the Town unless the owners of the land over which the street is to be laid out shall remove the turf from the entire length of the proposed street and to such width of said proposed street as shall be determined by the Board of Selecetmen and shall also remove the loam and replace it with gravel for such depth as the Selectmen shall deem it necessary."
"A plan of the proposed street shall be attached to the petition for the layout."
54
"Whenever the Selectmen shall deem it necessary, the owners of the land over which the street is to be laid out shall provide an easement to the Town for the purpose of taking care of the drainage of said street, or take any action thereon."
ARTICLE 13. "To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $783.56 for the payment of unpaid bills of the School Department for the year 1941, due to insufficiency of appropriation, as provided for by Chap- ter 179 of Acts of 1941."
ARTICLE 14. "To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to sell, after first giving notice of the time and place of sale by posting such notice of sale in some convenient and public place in the Town fourteen days at least before the sale, property taken by the Town under Tax Title pro- cedure, provided that the Selectmen or whomsoever they may authorize to hold such public auction may reject any bid which they deem inadequate, or take action relative thereto."
ARTICLE 15. "To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treas- urer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1943, and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as maybe given for a shorter period than one year, in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws and Amend- ments thereto."
ARTICLE 16. "To see if the Town will authorize the Collector to use all means of collecting taxes which a Town Treasurer, when appointed Col- lector, may use agreeable to Chapter 41, Section 37, of the General Laws and amendments thereto."
ARTICLE 17. "To act on any other matter that may legally come before said meeting."
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies thereof, one at the Town Hall, and one at each of the three postoffices in said Town, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not and make due return of this Warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk at the time and place of holding said meeting.
Given under our hands this 26th day of January, A. D. 1942.
A true copy, Attest :
EDWARD A. DEWITT, JOHN H. PERKINS, LAWRENCE R. STONE, Selectmen of Hamilton.
A true copy, Attest :
GEORGE GIBNEY HARADEN,
Town Clerk.
REPORT
of the FINANCE
and
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE 1941
57
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FINANCE AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of the Town of Hamilton:
We recommend appropriations of $173,763.16 for the current year as contrasted with $164,359.28 appropriated for 1941. In 1941 $7,000 was taken from surplus funds and this year we recommend $11,500 from surplus funds. The increased amount of the current budget comes from a number of sources, to which we wish to call your attention, particularly to the following :
1. The principal increase is in the School Department, where the regular budget is up about $4,000 and the extras about $1,000. The increases in the regular budget result primarily from the withdrawal of Hamilton from the school union. We have now a full-time superintendent, an additional teacher, and a full-time clerk. The Finance Committee believes that the School De- partment has been substantially strengthened by this move, but it will be more expensive to the Town. In addition, many teachers in the Town may receive salary increases. The cost of supplies has advanced and there are other minor additions to the budget. In the extra items a substantial amount of painting is contemplated for the coming year. This year the total re- quirements for your schools is over $50,000. While the Finance Committee is wholeheartedly behind good schools for the children, there are a number of other services which the Town must render and a reasonable apportion- ment must be made among them. We feel that in the following year the school committee should make a decided effort to render the same services without an increased burden to the Town.
2. Small increases are provided for the Police and Fire Departments' regular budgets and a new piece of fire apparatus costing $8,400 is approved. In addition $1800 is recommended for the Civilian Defense Committee and $500 for Hamilton-Wenham State Guard Reserve unit. The Massachusetts program for civilian and military defense contemplates numerous activities, increased fire and police protection and reserve military units in every city and town. The Governor has stated that we should prepare for the worst although we hope for the best, and the Finance Committee believes that Hamilton should do its part.
3. In addition to the matters mentioned above, there are a number of other small increases, including some salary increases which the Finance Committee believes are in line with the additional work and the increased cost of living.
The Town received last year and will receive this year out of the State gasoline tax fund over $9,000, which is almost two dollars on the tax rate. It is unlikely that we shall receive anything like as much as this in 1943. Furthermore, there may be other reductions in town receipts, such as the Town's share of the automobile excise tax and the income tax. It has been estimated that the towns of Massachusetts will be burdened with an average $4 increase in their tax rate in 1943.
The Town has had six consecutive tax reductions and we understand there is only one other town in the State with this record. It is hoped that with the careful and efficient management which the officials of this Town are rendering we will be able to continue without either lowering the services
58
rendered or incurring a sharp increase in the tax rate. The Finance Com- mittee believes that this is possible in view of the extraordinary cooperation which exists between some of the Town Officials and the desire to do their part during this emergency.
The comparison of appropriations for 1941 and the recommendations for 1942 is as follows :
1941 Appropriation
Recommendation
Selectmen, salaries
$ 850 00
$ 1,000 00 21has
expenses
350 00
550 00
Unemployment Fund (carried over) additional
(1,444 11)
(1,731 18)
11,000 00
7,000 00
Accounting
1,375 00
1,475 00
Treasurer, salary expenses
500 00
500 00
Tax Collector, salary
1,000 00
1,000 00
expenses
460 00
485 00
Assessors, salaries
800 00
800 00
Expenses
1,000 00
1,000 00
Other Finance Accounts
25 00
25 00
Law
500 00
600 00
Election and Registration
800 00
1,300 00
Town Hall
2,400 00
3,000 00
Police
3,000 00
3,200 00
Fire
2,800 00
3,000 00~
Fire, special
300 00
8,400 00
Moth, Town
2,300 00
2,500 00
private
1,300 00
1,300 00
Tree Warden
900 00
900 00
Forest Fire Warden
75 00
5 00
Sealer
300 00
300 00
Health
2,700 00
2,700 00
Inspector of Animals
75 00
75 00
Highways, salaries
1,800 00
1,800 00
expenses
11,200 00
10,875 00
truck
650 00°
Chapter 90, construction maintenance
1,000 00
0
Snow
5,000 00
4,675 00
Street lighting
7,000 00
7,200 00
Public Welfare
10,700 00
8,200 00
Soldiers' Relief
1,200 00
500 00
State and Military Aid
300 00
200 00
Old Age, assistance
11,500 00
11,500 00
Administration
500 00
500 00
Aid to Dependent Children, assistance .. administration
1,200 00
1,400 00
25 00
25 00
$25,-
New truck
550 00
550 00
expenses
150 00
150 00
Town Clerk, salary
800 00
800 00
1942
3,125 00
0
59
1941 Appropriation
1942 Recommendation
School
43,554 49*
47,521 97%
vocational
400 00
400 00
cafeteria
1,500 00
2,000 00
Educational trips
50 00
50 00
Painting
300 00
1,033 00
Desks, chairs, tables and benches
96 00
116 51
Music and records
61 00
Projecting screen and shade
112 50
Encyclopedia
80 00
71 12
Repairs to roof, High and Lamson schools
300 00
Screens and shades
200 00
Gymnasium equipment
50 00
Washing walls, Lamson
125 00
Overdraft 1941
783 56
Public Library
2,400 00
2,400 00
American Legion
325 00
300 00
Boiler insurance
70 00
150 00
Insurance Fund
975 00
1,000 00
Reserve Fund
2,000 00
2,000 00
Memorial Day
250 00
250 00
Parks
325 00
450 00
Town Clock
50 00
50 00
Town Reports
600 00
500 00
Water Department
3,585 00
expenses
3,152 00
installations
1,700 00
Cemetery
1,450 00
1,450 00
Interest
3,125 00
3,500 00
Maturing debt
11,890 29
12,000 00
Civilian Defense
1,800 00
State Guard Reserve
500 00
$164,359 28
$173,763 16
* Exclusive of dog tax.
** Transferred from P. W. A. balance.
It is recommended that the receipts from the dog tax in 1942 be trans- ferred to the School Department.
Articles 6, 7, 8, 9 of the Warrant suggest the transfer of $11,000 from the excess and deficiency fund, $7,000 to the Unemployed Fund, $2,000 to Reserve Fund, and $2,000 to Maturing Debt and $500 from the Overlay Fund to the State Guard Reserve Unit. We favor these transfers.
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