USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Hamilton > Town of Hamilton Annual Report 1949 > Part 4
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Proposed physical changes at both the Branch and Main Libraries, which are likely to become actualities within the next few months, should focus greater interest on library activities, as well as making both rooms more attractive to the citizens. Funds are being requested for urgently needed painting and renovation of the South Hamilton Branch, with the expense held to a strict minimum. The Trustees are in accord with the projected moving of the Main Library at Town Hall into the adjacent street floor recreation room because of the increased space, so desperately needed, that it will provide. In this connection Miss Alice M. Cahill, General Secretary of the State Division of Libraries has been in Hamilton for consultation with the Trustees.
December first of 1949 marked thirty years in point of service of both of Hamilton's librarians, Mrs. Lydia L. Haraden and Mrs. Alvin L. Perley, and the Trustees are pleased to take this opportunity to call their distinguished service to the attention of the townspeople. Both veterans are, happily, in excellent health, and actively carrying on their duties. In addition, it should be noted that Mrs. Haraden, having met the stipulated requirements, has recently been notified by the Division of Public Libraries of the State Department of Education that she is entitled to apply for the Certificate of Professional Librarian. The certification is already in pro- cess and Mrs. Haraden is herewith congratulated on attaining such pro- fessional rank.
Respectfully submitted, BEATRICE B. HOLMES SARAH H. TRUSSELL JOHN NEARY
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THE LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
To the Trustees of the Public Library :
Herewith is presented the fifty-seventh annual report.
Circulation of books for 1949 was 13,683; at the Branch Library 9,893 ; at the Main Library 3,790. This represents a decline at the former of 1,732, at the latter of 85, or a total loss in 1949 of 1,817, as against the circulation of the previous year.
Circulation of periodicals showed an increase over 1948, with a total of 1,498 ; for the Branch Library 564; for the Main Library 934.
Total circulation for 1949 was 15,181, as follows: 10,457 Branch Library, 4,724 Main Library.
Respectfully submitted,
LYDIA L. HARADEN, Librarian.
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REPORT OF SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS
To the Citizens of the Town of Hamilton :
The report of the Highway Department for the year ending December 31, 1949 is respectfully submitted.
The Highway Department has applied approximately 14,000 gallons of asphalt to the streets in 1949. This was covered with pea-stone and rolled. Broken shoulders and holes were filled as usual with a patching mixture.
The gravel roads had their regular attention of graveling and scrap- ing.
Roadsides were raked and broomed, catch-basins cleaned, outlets into which street drainage enters were cared for and guardrails were painted in our early Spring cleaning.
Naples Rd. and Howard St. from the Wenham line to Naples Rd. were excavated, drainage installed, and refilled with from 12 to 18 inches of gravel. This makes them passable until an appropriation is allowed to bring them to grade and oil.
The sidewalk on Asbury St. was completed from Park St. to Main St. Also the Park St. sidewalk was finished and the sidewalk on Maple St. was carried almost to Hatfield Rd. and it is planned to complete this in 1950.
Another section of Highland St. was sealed with asphalt, covered with pea-stone and rolled; the painting of guardrails finished and a catch-basin installed across from Dodge St. under Chapter 90 Maintenance.
In closing I wish to thank the Town officials, all other departments and the citizens of the Town for their co-operation.
Respectfully submitted, LELAND D. THOMPSON, Surveyor of Highways.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN OF HAMILTON PLANNING BOARD
The Planning Board has conducted a survey of the serious parking problem existing in down town South Hamilton. A careful study was made regarding the advisability of surfacing the area owned by the Town between the firehouse and Railroad Avenue, and combining this with an adjacent, privately owned, area, which was generously made available to the Town. It did seem, however, that with the limited space owned by the Town, and inasmuch as the privately owned space would not always be available to Town's people wishing to park their cars off the street, that other measures should be tried first, requiring less cost. As a result, and at the suggestion and with the backing of the Chamber of Commerce, the Planning Board met with the Board of Selectmen in the early part of December, and made the following recommendations :
1. That Railroad Avenue be made a one-way street between Main Street and Willow Street. The direction of the one way street however, to be at the discretion of the Board of Selectmen.
2. That parking be permitted on one side of Railroad Avenue, pre- ferably on the side opposite the majority of the business establishments. This would permit truck deliveries to be made to the majority of the stores without greatly impeding traffic.
3. That lines be drawn on the street and curbing which would require diagonal parking, thus providing for the maximum number of cars at any time.
4. That the one hour parking limit now in effect be continued and that the Police Department enforce this law.
5. That the Police Department be encouraged to enforce all traffic and parking regulations, so that this measure is given the fullest oppor- tunity of helping the situation.
The Planning Board investigated very carefully the advisability of adopting an official Town Map. After considerable study it was un- animously agreed that the cost involved. compared with the advantages to be gained, was far out of proportion, and the project was turned down.
The Board has kept and will continue to keep in close touch with the State Planning Board, and as any constructive ideas develop they will be passed along as suggestions to the proper Town officials.
Again we should like to thank the organizations in the Town, as well as individuals who have cooperated with constructive suggestions and offers, and we trust that they will continue their helpfulness.
Respectfully submitted, HAMILTON PLANNING BOARD
RICHARD SMITH
FRANCIS MOYNIHAN KEITH LANDER STANDISH BRADFORD (resigned December, 1949) JOHN R. HOLLISTER
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REPORT OF THE TOWN STUDY COMMITTEE
The Hamilton Town Study Committee was appointed by the Modera- tor to "investigate and study the services rendered to the people by the several Departments and Commissions of the Town, for the purpose of de- termining what, if any, economics in operation or administration can be effected by consolidation or otherwise without impairing such services." (Unanimous vote of the 1949 Town Meeting, Article 28).
The Committee fully appreciated the gravity of such an order. Num- erous suggestions have been made regarding phases of the Town's admin- istration which could be changed for the better. and these suggestions served a double purpose. They clearly illustrated some of the more glaring problems in the Town. but more important, they convinced the Committee that to change one practice would affect others. Anything but an ex- haustive investigation and study would produce hasty recommendations, prematurely arrived at and of very doubtful value to the Town. Therefore, there was but one course open to the Committee. It must first answer the question : what is the government of Hamilton in law and in practice ? Only then could it examine what recommendations should be made.
The Committee could find no report or other comprehensive paper that afforded even a rough outline of the Town's government. Nor could it locate any directives and regulations which might indicate the proper operating procedure for the various departments and commissions. Were it not for the untiring assistance of the Town Clerk it is extremely doubt- ful whether or not the various Town officials could ascertain just what their responsibilities are and just what new laws affect them.
It was. therefore. obvious that the primary step to be taken would be a study of the Town's government in all its phases. a task never before undertaken.
The Committee appreciated that for itself to conduct such a study would be impracticable and inadvisable. To perform the work intelligently and in the best interests of the Town, the services of Adams. Howard and Greeley. City Planning Consultants were secured. Professors Frederick J. Adams and Burnham Kelly of M. I. T. undertook the work with the Committee. These gentlemen were familiar with towns similar to Ham- ilton. with the situations peculiar to such towns and. indeed through their previous work, were familiar with phases of our town itself.
Reviewing the task with the Committee. the consultants undertook to act as the investigating arm of the Committee; to submit their findings to the Committee for evaluation in the light of local conditions; to conduct a survey and study of the Town generally within the existing time and budget limitations; to survey the laws affecting the Town government; to interview the several officials concerned ascertaining their functions in practice. their problems and their suggestions; and submit a report to the Committee which could be summarized and made a part of the Town Re- ports for 1949.
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As the consultants developed their study it became apparent to the Committee that any recommendations for immediate action as suggested would be premature and unfair to all concerned. Each problem is com- plicated by its relations to other problems, practices and laws. All of the offices, departments and commissions are in a sense interdependent. On the basis of a comprehensive investigation, only, will the Town be able to work out a program of lasting benefit and one which may be instituted step by step as the occasion arises.
Your Committee wishes to bring the following general observations to the attention of the Town as an illustration of the problems which be- come apparent in preliminary study but cannot be solved conclusively by piecemeal or unstudied action.
1. Purchasing is now divided among many departments with limited opportunity for real efficiency and economy.
2. There is no set of rules or standards regarding wages, salaries, vacations, or personnel problems in general.
3. The uncontrolled development of land may result in excessive ex- penditures for municipal services. Provisions for long-range physical and financial planning will reduce the likelihood of ex- treme variations in the tax rate.
4. The Town Hall contains only a part of the Town offices and is poorly arranged for the execution of business by citizens and offi- cials alike.
5. The Assessors must now operate without such aids as a complete valuation map of the Town, a standardized valuation system, or a system of building permits.
6. The many independent offices are widely separated and require separate clerical and bookkeeping work, separate labor forces, and separate equipment. The larger ones inevitably bear the brunt of economy moves. There is inevitable waste in the use of men and equipment, and some of the key employees, in fear of the future are interested in the security of civil service.
7. Decisions are required regarding the standards of service to be furnished by the Town-to what extent, if any, should Police and Fire protection, road service, education, and recreation be ex- panded ?
8. In many towns, an effort is made to put special services on a self-supporting basis. Should this be true for Hamilton in regard to water service, new land and street development, sidewalk ex- tension and repair, and the like ?
9. Many of the present devoted Town Officials are hard pressed to finish their constantly growing load of work. As the Town grows, as new laws require additional functions, more bookkeeping, and heavier responsibilities, the present government will be over- strained and expensive measures required. How can this best be forestalled by intelligent advance planning ?
In view of the factors indicated in the above report, the nature of the task, the length of time necessary for proper study and the lasting benefits to all concerned with Hamilton and its future, the Committee unanimously
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RECOMMENDS :
that the present survey for which essential ground work has been laid, be continued through 1950;
that the present Committee be re-appointed or a new one similarly constituted be appointed by the Moderator ;
that the present consultants be retained by the Committee ;
and that the Committee bring before the 1951 Town Meeting, a full, detailed report showing the structure of the Town government, the laws and by-laws pertaining thereto and a plan indicating the most effective and efficient government for Hamilton which can be instituted as the occasion or necessity arises over a period of years.
Such a Report, your Committee believes, would serve as a general guide in future Town government, a reference book for the Town officials and citizens alike, and a textbook for our students in the Hamilton schools.
Respectfully submitted :
Richard Preston, Chairman
Finlay MacDonald, Vice-Chairman John Garland. Secretary-Treasurer Frank Buzzell
John Hollister
Ernest F. Stockwell
Edward DeWitt, ex-officio
Frederic Winthrop. ex-officio
Signed Richard Preston, Chairman for the Committee
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REPORT OF THE BUILDING SURVEY COMMITTEE
At the Annual Town Meeting of 1949 the town voted to establish a committee to investigate the school building needs of the town and to em- ploy professional assistance for the task. Accordingly, the committee con- sidered its first task to be the selection of one of the several recommended groups of educational experts to make a complete survey of factors enter- ing into the present and future school housing problems of the Town. Since our neighboring town of Wenham had also authorized such a survey and since many of the factors such as birth rates. population trends, area industrial and commercial development, improved road networks, and so on affected both towns, it was considered practical and economical to com- mission the same group to do both towns. Therefore. the Hamilton Build- ing Survey Committee met several times with its Wenham counterpart. and eventually both towns employed the Educational Service Associates. under the leadership of Prof. Walter F. Bogner, to make the required surveys.
The Building Survey Committee. however. did not feel that contract- ing for the survey was their only duty to the Town. The members were aware of the movement in this area toward the consideration of the estab- lishment of a regional high school, and of the steps already taken by the School Committee to investigate the possibilities offered by this project for the betterment of Hamilton's educational offerings to its children. They therefore participated actively in cooperative studies with groups from Manchester. Wenham and Topsfield in studying educational, administra- tive, financial and legal aspects of the regional school problem. These studies culminated in a Joint Report of the four towns which unanimously endorsed a regional high school for this area. A quorum of the Hamilton Building Survey Committee participated in this vote, stipulating, how- ever, that its approval was tentative prior to a report from Educational Service Associates.
In August Educational Service Associates presented the Preliminary Report on the regional school question which had been called for in the contract. This report examined the needs of the town on a secondary level in the light of: (1) data collected by them and then being processed on the population trends, financial situation. immediate and future school housing problems of the Town; (2) progress in the direction of regional school already evidenced by the Joint Report referred to above; (3) general considerations which have given rise to the national trend toward consolida- tion of high schools. together with facts which make the trend slow in coming to Massachusetts: (4) the effect of the expiration in 1951 of cur- rent legislation securing State aid to approved educational building pro- grams upon the timing of this project. In conclusion, the Preliminary Report endorsed the Joint Report, saying it merited the approval of the citizens of Hamilton, and urged that constructive steps be taken as rapidly as feasible to put a regional high school into operation.
Accordingly. the Building Survey Committee recommended to the Selectmen that an article be placed in the warrant of a special town meet-
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ing then being contemplated for the purpose of appointing a Regional School Planning Board to act with similar committees from neighboring towns under the provisions of sections 14a and 14b of Chap. 71 of the general laws, as amended in 1949, to study the advisability of a regional school for this area, to bring in recommendations, and if favorable, to draw up an agreement for such a school. The Town voted to set up such a committee at the Special Town Meeting held Nov. 8, 1949.
At a meeting of the Building Survey Committee held Dec. 15, the complete report of Educational Service Associates was presented and dis- cussed in detail by Messrs. Bogner, Morrill, Strawbridge, McMullen and Tilton, after which the Committee devoted itself to mastering the data contained therein. The completed Survey is so comprehensive that it would be impractical to attempt to reproduce it here. With the cooperation of the Hamilton and Wenham Chronicle, for which the Building Survey here wishes to express its gratitude, the complete report has been made available to interested citizens, and a Summary of Conclusions prepared by the Asso- ciates was printed by The Salem News and Beverly Times, and was dis- tributed widely in mimeographed form.
RECOMMENDATIONS :
As has been shown elsewhere, the recommendation, among others, of the Educational Service Associates is for the immediate construction of a wing of six kindergarten and primary classrooms onto the existing high school, and a modernization and remodelling of the high school to adapt it to the needs of the elementary grades. Even though the Building Survey Committee agree that the building and remodelling recommended for the elementary school is desirable, they feel that no action should be taken now. In their judgment the matter of paramount importance leading to the improvement and advancement of education in the Town of Hamilton at this time is Hamilton's participation in the regional school system as pro- posed in special article I of the Town Warrant; and the committee feel that this issue should not be confused for the people of the town by their being asked to vote on another school project. Consequently, the Building Survey Committee have not recommended that any construction for the elementary school be undertaken, even though the Lamson School is unsat- isfactory for the purpose at the moment.
The Educational Research Association in their preliminary and final reports back up the views of the Building Survey Committee, who in Octo- ber expressed their conviction of the desirability of a regional school district composed of Hamilton, Wenham. Topsfield and Manchester, by recommend- ing strongly in their final, as well as their preliminary, reports that Hamil- ton should participate in the formation of this larger school district.
The recommendation of the Building Survey Committee, therefore, is that the people of the Town of Hamilton vote to participate in the pro- posed regional school system composed of Hamilton, Wenham, Topsfield and Manchester.
FREDERIC WINTHROP, Chairman
EVERETT F. HALEY
MRS. GRACE B. LAMSON
ALLAN MACCURRACH
MRS. MADELINE L. RICKER
MRS. RUTH F. DONALDSON
ELWIN F. TOWNE
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REPORT OF THE HAMILTON COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT PLANNING BOARD
Pursuant to vote at the special meeting of the Town held November 8, the Moderator appointed Mrs. Ruth Donaldson, Mr. Gordon Love and Mr. Standish Bradford as a committee to serve with similar committees appointed by Manchester, Topsfield and Wenham on a Regional School Planning Board for the purpose of studying the advisability of establishing a Regional School in this area, of investigating its organization, operation and control, the construction and operating costs thereof and methods of financing, and finally of recommending the establishment of such a school should it seem advisable. If recommended an agreement was to be drawn up to be voted on by the towns at the annual election of officers. Other such committees were appointed, and met as a committee of the whole many times. As a result of such meetings, the committee of the whole have un- animously recommended a Regional School District for the four towns. Such recommendation is embodied in the formal report required by law and which accompanies this report. The Committee adopted and the chair- men of the town boards have signed Regional School Agreement which also accompanies this report.
In recommending participation in such a Regional School under the terms of the Agreement as proposed, your Committee has consequently examined the problems presented from the point of view of the Town of Hamilton. There are many factors to be considered. In fairness, we wish to mention those that are adverse as well as those which were per- suasive to us in reaching our final conclusion to recommend the Agreement.
On the adverse side it should be noted that entering into such an Agreement permits the Regional School Committee to assess the Town of Hamilton for its share of the original construction cost and its share of the operating cost for as long as the Agreement pertains. The Town of Hamilton has the protection of its representatives on the Committee and public information on the Regional School budget, but it has no recourse to modify the final allocation of costs. Capital outlay of the District is subject to veto by vote of any town. Further control is afforded the citizens thru an annual open meeting at the school at which the quality of the educational program offered by the Regional School is to be discussed. The Town may withdraw from the Agreement or the Agreement may be changed only by an amendment in which the other towns participate. The allocation of the operating expenses is on an actual per pupil basis. The allocation of the building costs are in accordance with the formula designed to distribute the costs more equitably than a strict per pupil basis. The "more equitable" feature takes into consideration faster growth by one town than another and provides some protection for a town which because of a large enrollment in earlier years provides excess space subsequently occupied by other towns having a greater increase after the school has been paid for to a substantial extent. In this connection it should be noted that
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under the law, the entire construction costs are pro-rated over a 20-year period, whereas the expectant life of the school may well be 40 or 50 years. There are other provisions of the Agreement which are not wholly satisfac- tory to the undersigned but which were acquiesced in as part of general over-all considerations necessary in reaching an agreement involving four committees with diverse problems.
On the other side of the picture, there are advantages to Hamilton in the Regional School as proposed, and it is submitted by the undersigned that these advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Firstly, it is believed that a Regional School will provide greater educational advantages to the children of Hamilton. This factor is alone sufficient to result in many people favoring a Regional School. However, your Committee has con- sidered it as only one factor and has attempted to assure itself that the price to be paid financially and otherwise is not too high. It is a serious step for a town to forego its autonomy in a matter which concerns the schooling of its children and which involves a cost of upwards of 40% of the town's budget. We feel, however. that the similarity of aims of the people of our neighboring towns is such that we may safely participate with them in an undertaking involving the education and health of our children. We were favorably impressed with the objectives and intelligent approach of the representatives of the other towns and believe that the same high quality of personnel may be expected to serve on the Regional School Committee. From the point of view of surrendering control of the purse strings. it should be noted that at present local school committees have already been granted by statute a similar power. It is true that the Hamilton School Committee is elected by Hamilton people and thus a con- trol is retained, whereas Hamilton will only elect one-quarter of the Regional School Committee. However, Hamilton will only pay its pro rata share, based on pupil attendance, of operating expenses. and although this should be no greater than the per pupil cost to Hamilton acting alone, it is felt that any likely increase will not be so much higher as not to be justified by the improvement in quality of the teaching. and thus benefit the children of Hamilton. With respect to the construction costs. the Committee has tested the formula included in paragraph 5 of the Agree- ment on various assumptions of population growths, and the undersigned are satisfied that these assumptions are reasonably representative, and that the formula works favorably to Hamilton, based on the more likely growth of populations in Hamilton and the other towns. Furthermore. in para- graph 14 of the Agreement there is a protection that the towns may con- tinue with the number of children in the school at the time it reaches capacity. This would mean that if Hamilton's growth stopped while others continued, Hamilton could continue to hold the number of pupils which occupied the school when it became full. There are many other matters which may be considered important and which could be included in this report. but its resulting length would impair its usefulness. and the Com- mittee is aware of the fact that the Parent-Teachers Association is to have a public hearing on the last Monday in February, with two speakers on each
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