USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Hamilton > Town of Hamilton Annual Report 1950 > Part 6
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1. If the Town desires, the present Honor Roll of World War I Vet- erans be relocated on the wall opposite the Main Library, and a new Honor Roll be erected in its place listing the names of all residents who served their Country in World War II, with special recognition given those who gave their lives for their Country. This suggestion being made because of the great amount of space necessary to include all eligible names and have the Honor Roll placed in a suitable position within the town hall.
2. If the proposal of the School Building Committee, to build a new gymnasium, is accepted. this new wing should be dedicated as a permanent memorial to those of Hamilton who gave their livese in World War II.
3. In addition, at some more favorable time in the future, and in conjunction with the Town Survey Committee's recommendations, a cen- trally located library should be erected, consolidating the present facilities and dedicated to the Veterans of the Town.
Respectfully submitted.
BENJAMIN G. ROBERTSON, Chairman JOHN H. HARTNETT, JR. PHILIP HOPKINS JOHN H. OSTROM DANTON W. SAWYER
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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, qualified to vote in election and Town affairs to meet in the Town Hall in said Town on Monday, the fifth day of March, nineteen hundred and fifty-one (March 5, 1951), 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 your ballots for :
Moderator for one year.
Town Clerk for one year.
Three Selectmen for one year.
Treasurer for one year.
Tax Collector for one year.
One Assessor for three years.
One Assessor for one year (vacancy).
One Highway Surveyor for one year.
One Tree Warden for one year.
One member of the School Committee for three years.
One member of the School Committee for two years (vacancy ).
One Library Trustee for three years.
One Park Commissioner for three years.
One Cemetery Commissioner for three years.
One Water Commissioner for three years.
One member of the Planning Board for five years.
And vote on the following Question :-
Shall an act passed by the General Court in the year nineteen bonded and fifty-one, entitled, "An Act providing tenure of office for L' D.
Thompson, incumbent of the office of highway surveyor of th of Hamilton" be accepted ?
YES 1
No
The above named officers and question to !e 1.1 je on Tuesday, the thirteenth day of March. 1951 'Mich 10 The
polls will be opened at 5:45 o'clock 1. M. and 1.K
P. M.
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Article 2. To choose and appoint all other Town Officers in such manner as the Town may determine.
Article 3. To hear the reports of the Town Officers and of the Finance and Advisory Committee and all other committees and take any action thereon.
Article 4. To raise and appropriate money for Schools. Highways, and all other Town expenses and determine the manner of expending the same.
Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for Chapter 90 Maintenance or take any action thereon.
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account a sum of money for Chapter 90 Highway Construction on Essex Street, or take any action thereon.
Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account a sum of money for the purpose of building hot-top sidewalks on certain streets of the Town. the work to be done under the direction and supervision of the Highway Sur- veyor, or take any action thereon relative thereto.
Article 8. To see if the Town will vote to transfer the sum of $6,000.00 from the Overlay Reserve Account to the Reserve Fund, or take any other action thereon relative thereto.
Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to transfer the balance of $965.37 in the Surplus War Bonus Funds Account, and raise and appro- priate $19,034.16 for the payment of Maturing Debt during the year 1951, or take any action thereon relative thereto.
Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to transfer the sum of $1,800.00 from the Cemetery Sale of Lots and Graves Fund to the Ceme- tery Account for the purpose of making improvements to the Town Ceme- tery, the work to be done under the direction and supervision of the Ceme- tery Commissioners, or take any action thereon relative thereto.
Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to construct and originally equip and furnish a new elementary school building with grades kinder- garten through the sixth grade and to construct an addition to and recon- structions of the existing high school building and originally equip and furnish said additions and reconstructed areas, and raise and appropriate a sum of money for the foregoing purposes and to determine the manner in which the appropriation is to be raised, whether by taxation or borrow- ing, by transfer of available funds or otherwise; or to do or act in any manner relevant thereto.
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Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire on behalf of the town by purchase or eminent domain under Chapter 79, Mass. General Laws (Ter. Ed.) or otherwise for school purposes the fee in the following described lands and property :
Beginning at a point in the Easterly line of a public way or highway known as Asbury Street in range with the South face of a stone wall (shown on the plan hereinafter referred to) about one hundred and forty-three feet (143 ft.) South of a stone monument at Garfield Avenue (as shown on County of Essex Engineers' Office Record Num- ber 2605) of the Southerly line of Garfield Avenue; thence running N 55° 18' 30" E through land supposed to belong to Katherine W. McKean four hundred fifty-six feet (456 ft.) more or less to a point in range with another stone wall shown on said plan, which wall bears S 32° 31' 31" E on the Easterly side of land supposed to belong to John R. and Anna L. Mann ; thence running S 32° 31' 31" E through said land of McKean, two hundred sixty-three and seventy-five hun- dredths feet (263.75 ft.) to a stone bound, thence running in a South- easterly direction by the Easterly line of land supposed to belong to said John R. and Anna L. Mann, five hundred seventy-five and ten one hundredths feet (575.10 ft.) to a point at the Southeasterly line of said land supposed to belong to said John R. and Anna L. Mann : thence running Southwesterly by the Southeasterly line of said land supposed to belong to John R. and Anna L. Mann four hundred sev- enty and eighty-one hundredths feet (470.81 ft.), more or less. to a point; thence running N 76° 3' 30" W through land supposed to belong to John R. and Anna L. Mann four hundred and two (402.) feet, more or less to the Easterly line of said public way or highway known as Asbury Street; thence running in a general Northerly di- rection along said Easterly line to the point of beginning. Part of the above described parcel is a portion of a tract of land supposed to belong to John R. and Anna L. Mann and part of the above des- cribed parcel is a portion of a tract of land supposed to belong to Katherine W. McKean. The foregoing courses are magnetic as of February 23, 1951. The approximate boundaries of the above des- cribed land are shown on a plan on file with the Town Clerk of Ham- ilton entitled "Plan of Land for New Elementary School Site in the Town of Hamilton, Mass. Anderson-Nichols & Company, Engineers, 53 State Street, Boston, Mass. Scale : 1"-60'-0" February 23, 1951." and to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the foregoing purpose and to determine the manner in which the appropriation is to be raised, whether by taxation or borrowing, by transfer of available funds or other- wise; or to do or act in any manner relevant thereto.
Article 13. To see if the Town will vote to effect certain necessary repairs and improvements to the High School including the installation of a new oil burner and to transfer the sum of $8,700. therefor from the Excess and Deficiency Account, or take any action thereon relative thereto.
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Article 14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to provide additional water supply on School Street. East Hamilton, by erecting a pump house containing original pump and pump- ing station equipment, laying about 850 feet of eight inch water mains to connect with existing mains on School Street, to construct gravel pack wells, provide for engineering fees, etc., and determine how the money shall be raised. by borrowing or otherwise, the work to be done under the direction and supervision of the board of water commissioners, or take any other action thereon relative thereto.
Article 15. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to acquire by purchase or take by eminent domain under Chapter 19 of the General Laws (Terc. Ed.) a certain parcel of land on the southerly side of School Street, East Hamilton, to properly protect the town's water supply and system, and determine how the money shall be raised, by borrowing or otherwise. said parcel being the property of Ralph C. Berry et ux of East Hamilton, and bounded and described as follows : Northerly by School Street about 1,000 feet ; Southerly by land of Knowl- ton. formerly of Boston and Maine Railroad about 1180 feet; Westerly and Northwesterly by land of Knowlton about 480 feet, containing about six acres. as shown on a plan by Charles H. Morse and Son on file in the office of the town clerk, or take any action thereon relative thereto.
Article 16. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to acquire by purchase or take by eminent domain under Chapter 79 of the General Laws (Terc. Ed.) a certain parcel of swamp land located on the southerly side of the abandoned right of way of the Boston and Maine Railroad (now of Knowlton) between Bridge Street and School Street, East Hamilton to properly protect the town's water supply and system, and determine how the money shall be raised, by borrowing or otherwise, said parcel being the property of Robert H. Chittick, et al of Hamilton, bounded and described as follows: Northerly by abandoned Bos- ton and Maine Railroad right of way about 740 feet; Easterly by land of Chittick about 300 feet; Southerly by land of Chittick about 660 feet; Westerly by land now or formerly of Chittick about 330 feet, containing about 234 acres, as shown on a plan by Charles H. Morse and Son on file in the office of the town clerk, or take any other action thereon relative thereto.
Article 17. To see if the Town will vote to accept the gift to the Town by the French Government of two Road Markers commemorating the March of General George S. Patton. Jr.'s Third Army from the Beach- head at Normandy, France, to Berlin, Germany, and that a committee of three, including the Chairman of the Park Commissioners and the Com- mander of Augustus Peabody Gardner Post American Legion, be appointed to erect said Markers on the General George S. Patton, Jr. playground and recreation center. and raise and appropriate a sum of money therefor, or take any action thereon relative thereto.
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Article 18. To see if the Town will vote that the terms laborers, workmen and mechanics as used in sections sixty-eight to seventy-five in- clusive of chapter 152 of the General Laws, relative to workmen's compen- sation, shall include all employees of the town regardless of the nature of their work, except members of the police or fire force, as provided for by section 69 of chapter 152 and amendments thereto, or take any action thereon relative thereto.
Article 19. To see if the Town will vote to appoint a committee to procure and erect in the town hall a suitable permanent Honor Roll commemorating the services of those from Hamilton who served in World War 2, with special recognition given those who gave their lives for their Country. and provide for the re-location in the town hall of the World War 1 Honor Roll, and raise and appropriate or transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account a sum of money therefor, or take any action there- on relative thereto.
Article 20. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Moderator to appoint a committee of five registered voters of the town to investigate and study the provisions of Chapter 662 of the Acts of 1949, being an act relative to the organization of union health departments, and determine the desirability of Hamilton joining with one or more other towns to form a union health department, the committee to report at the next annual town meeting, or take any action thereon relative thereto.
Article 21. To see if the Town will vote to accept Chapter 820 of the Acts and Resolves of 1950, being an act "providing for an increase in the annual amounts of certain pensions, retirement allowances, annuities and other benefits payable by the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions to certain former employees and persons claiming under them," or take any action thereon relative thereto.
Article 22. To see if the Town will vote to authorize a revision of the present By-laws of the town, the work to be done under the direction and supervision of the Selectmen, to report at the next annual town meet- ing or take any action thereon relative thereto.
Article 23. To see if the Town will vote to accept the extension of Lake Drive, so-called, as a public town way, as shown on a plan on file in the office of the Town Clerk, entitled "Plan of Lake Drive for Acceptance December 13. 1948, Charles H. Morse & Son, Engineers," or take any action thereon relative thereto, as petitioned for by Phillips Brackett and others.
Article 24. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account a sum of money for the building and maintenance of gravel and secondary roads, the work to be done under the direction and supervision of the Highway Surveyor, or take any action thereon relative thereto.
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Article 25. To see if the Town will vote to build, grade, drain and oil Forest Street and raise and appropriate or transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account a sum of money therefor, the work to be done under the direction and supervision of the Highway Surveyor, or take any action thereon relative thereto, as petitioned for by David L. Luce and others.
Article 26. To see if the Town will vote to grade. oil and drain Nor- man Road, so called, and raise and appropriate or transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account a sum of money therefor, the work to be done under the direction and supervision of the Highway Surveyor, or take any action thereon relative thereto, as petitioned for by W. Whitney Lundgren and others.
Article 27. To see if the Town will vote to grade, drain and oil Naples Road, so called, and raise and appropriate or transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account a sum of money therefor, the work to be done under the direction and supervision of the Highway Surveyor, or take any action thereon relative thereto, as petitioned for by William M. Foley and others.
Article 28. To see if the Town will vote to build, grade, drain and oil Howard Street, so called, from the Hamilton-Wenham town boundary line for a distance of 600 feet, and raise and appropriate or transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account a sum of money therefor, the work to be done under the direction and supervision of the Highway Surveyor, or take any action thereon relative thereto, as petitioned for by Leonard R. Heurlin and others.
Article 29. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account a sum of money for the purpose of purchasing and laying water mains, acquiring necessary water department equipment including hydrants and attachments therefor to extend the town water system on accepted streets. the work to be done under the direction and supervision of the Board of Water Commissioners, or take any action thereon relative thereto.
Article 30. To see if the Town will vote to install water mains on Essex Street beginning at the end of the existing water mains near the corner of Miles River Road and extending along Essex Street to connect with the existing mains on Essex Street near the corner of Chebacco Road, and raise and appropriate or transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account a sum of money therefor, or take any action thereon relative thereto, as petitioned for by John H. Horn and others.
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Article 31. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account a sum of money for the purpose of purchasing and laying water mains of not less than six inches but less than sixteen inches in diameter on Lincoln Avenue from the end of existing mains to the end of Lincoln Avenue as accepted by the town as a public way at the annual town meeting held March 6, 1950, a distance of approximately 550 feet, and acquiring necessary water department equipment including hydrants and attachments therefor, or take any action thereon relative thereto, as petitioned for by Albert D. Coonrod and others.
Article 32. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account a sum of money for the purpose of purchasing and laying water mains of not less than six inches but less than sixteen inches in diameter on Highland Street from the end of the existing main to the Hamilton-Ipswich town boundary line, and acquiring necessary water department equipment including hydrants and attachments therefor, or take any action thereon relative thereto, as peti- tioned for by John Beveridge and others.
Article 33. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account a sum of money for the purpose of purchasing and laying water mains of not less than six inches but less than sixteen inches in diameter on Lake Drive, so called. as shown on plan on file in the office of the Town Clerk, entitled "Plan of Lake Drive for Acceptance, December 13, 1948, Charles H. Morse & Son. Engineers," and acquiring necessary water department equipment includ- ing hydrants and attachments therefor, or take any action thereon relative thereto, as petitioned for by Phillips Brackett and others.
Article 34. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1952, and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a shorter period than one year, in accordance with Section 17. Chapter 44, General Laws and Amend- ments thereto.
Article 35. 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, General Laws and Amendments thereto.
Article 36. To act on any other matter that may legally come before said meeting.
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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 post offices 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 of holding said meeting.
Given under our hands this 29th day of January, A. D. 1951.
LAWRENCE R. STONE EDWARD A. DEWITT EVERETT F. HALEY Selectmen of Hamilton.
A true copy, Attest :
FRANCIS H. WHIPPLE,
Town Clerk.
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REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FINANCE AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The year 1951 promises to be one in which more money will be taken from the taxpayer than has been taken in any other year. In the first place. the budget of the Federal Government, which has been swollen by several billion dollars due to the strained world situation and the conse- quent necessity to defend the western world, will take twenty-five per cent of the National income. On top of this, the State Government finds itself faced with the necessity of raising a budget many million dollars larger than the swollen one of 1950. Therefore, it is now more important than ever that the municipalities put their houses in order and perform only those services that are distinctly necessary to their needs. The Finance Committee have kept this constantly in mind while preparing the follow- ing regular budget for the people of the town. They have made their recommendations on the special Articles in the Warrant in like manner. They hope that the people of the town will realize the seriousness of the situation and will not vote recklessly at the town meeting to spend more money than is recommended.
The tax rate for 1950 was $38. per thousand. This year the assessed valuation of the town stands at approximately six and one quarter million dollars. Therefore, for every $6,250. that is spent the town must raise one dollar in taxes.
The following facts may be valuable to the citizens of the town in comparing last year's appropriation with this year's budget.
(1) We are informed by the Commissioner of Corporations and Taxation that the expected net revenue from the Commonwealth is to be approximately $13,000. less than that which we received in 1950. This means an increase in the tax rate of $2.00.
(2) If we vote for the regular budget as submitted the tax rate should increase 20¢.
(3) If we vote for the school and the plan for financing thereof as recommended by the Building Committee, there should be an increase of approximately $6.00 in the tax rate.
(4) If we vote only for those other special Articles recommended by the Finance Committee, there should be a saving in this section of $2.50 in the tax rate.
(5) Thus, if we follow the recommendations of the Finance Com- mittee. there should be a total increase in the tax rate for 1951 over 1950 of $5.70, giving us a tax rate for this year of approximately $43.70.
(6) If we vote in favor of all the special Articles for the extension of water mains and appropriate the necessary funds therefor. we shall have to collect $43,000. more in taxes, with a resultant increase in the tax rate of approximately $6.86 in addition to that recommended above.
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(?) If we vote in favor of all the special Articles for the building, grading and oiling of roads and appropriate the necessary funds, we shall have to collect $14,400. more in taxes and raise the tax rate approximately still another $2.00.
(8) Adding the increases of items 7 and 8 to the recommended in- creases, we should have a tax rate of over $52.75.
The total regular budget recommended to the town for 1951, exclusive of money for special articles in the Warrant, comes to $301,689.34 compared to $299,740.51 appropriated for the year 1950. This is an increase of $1,948.83.
This small figure does not reflect a fair comparison between this year's budget and that for 1950. In the 1950 budget there were included $7,000. for the cafeteria and $3,000. for the Reserve Fund. Due to a new account- ing procedure, the cafeteria item has been omitted from the budget, while the Reserve Fund this year should be created by transferring $6,000. to it from the Overlay Reserve Fund.
It will be noted that there is no appropriation for the American Legion this year. Since the first war, the town has made an appropriation for the benefit of the Legion. All members of the Finance Committee, with the exception of Mr. Lamson, who did not vote, believe there should be no appropriation included in the budget for the American Legion this year. In 1946 the town appropriated $10,000. to remodel and refurnish the Adelaide Dodge Walsh School in East Hamilton so that it might be a suitable home for the Legion. In 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1950 money was appropriated in varying amounts for the Legion. This money was spent primarily to heat and light the building. Four members of the Finance Committee are of the opinion that this is not a proper expenditure of the town funds. Indeed, there is considerable doubt as to the legality of the town's appropriating money for this purpose. The Finance Com- mittee feel that the only proper obligation of the town to the Legion Post is for the maintenance and protection of the Legion Quarters from the weather because the building they occupy is town property. This matter was taken up with the Legion officers before the Annual Town Meeting in 1950 and the attitude of the Finance Committee was explained to them at a meeting of the Legion subsequent to that. It was the understanding of the Finance Committee that the Legion would do its utmost to put its house in order, so that it might turn back to the town as much money as it could of the 1950 appropriation, and that the Legion understood that the Finance Committee would recommend no appropriation for 1951.
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