USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Hamilton > Town of Hamilton Annual Report 1954 > Part 6
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Of a kind and pleasant nature, his presence will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
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REPORT OF THE DENTAL CLINIC
To the members of the Hamilton Board of Health :
GENTLEMEN :
I herewith submit my report of the Dental Clinic for the year of 1954.
Amalgams
384
Cements
29
Copper cements
15
Linings
21
Extractions
Temporary
36
Permanent
3
Novocain
46
X-rays
8
Cleanings
67
Root treatments
Fluorine treatments
4
Certificates
36
Examinations
No. operations
612
No. children
542
No. hours
174
My report for the year does not compare with that of previous years because of my absence from the office for two months. It was most un- fortunate for the children for they are in dire need of dentistry. In fact I can honestly say that in all my years of doing clinic work, I have never seen a greater need for dental work. I hope that in the very near future we will be enjoying the benefits of water fluoridation. It has been proven throughout the country that it has been a great help in reducing dental decay.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN KING, D.M.D.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Hamilton:
The following report covers the activities of the Board of Health during the year ending December 31, 1954.
During the year routine rubbish collections were maintained with very satisfactory results. The truck being used for this purpose is now thirteen years old, was used by the Highway department for eight years prior to being used for rubbish collections. This truck has served its usefulness and is expensive to maintain. We recommend that a new chassis and cab
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be purchased in 1955, and that the present body be mounted on the new chassis.
In accordance with rules and regulations adopted last year, all new sewage disposal systems must be inspected and comply with such regula- tions. Such inspections have been carried out by Philip S. Plummer and have proven very effective.
A chest x-ray program for persons over fifteen years of age was car- ried on during March. It was very gratifying to the Board to learn that a large percentage of the population took advantage of this service.
A preliminary survey of Miles River is being conducted by the State Department of Public Works, Division of Waterways, to determine the feasibility of dredging the river and its effect on the immediate water table. The survey has not been completed, therefore, no statistics are available at this time.
Due to the unsatisfactory manner in which garbage has been collected by contractors, the Board deemed it advisable to discontinue letting the work out on contract, and to employ local men to collect with town equip- ment. The town at a special town meeting held in December voted to buy a truck for this purpose. The work will be started when the existing con- tract expires in January, 1955. The Board firmly believes that a more satisfactory job will be done in this manner.
The Dental Clinic has continued to be conducted by Dr. John King, assisted by Miss Florence Stobbart, School Nurse. Due to the increased school population, attendance at the Clinic was restricted to children in the first three grades of school. Dr. King's report of the activities of the Dental Clinic may be found elsewhere in the town report.
The following is a list of communicable diseases reported during the year :
Anterior Poliomyelitis 2 Measles 16
Chicken Pox
58
Mumps 21
German Measles 5 Whooping Cough 14
The Board expresses its appreciation to Charles F. Poole, Highway Surveyor, for his excellent cooperation at all times, especially his super- vision and loaning of men and equipment for rubbish collection. Appre- ciation is extended to all who have assisted the Board in any way during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
EVERETT F. HALEY EDWARD A. DeWITT LAWRENCE R. STONE
Board of Health
82
REPORT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
To the Board of Selectmen:
I herewith submit my report of the activities of the Police Depart- ment for the year ending December 31, 1954.
Total Arrests 50
Male
48 Female 2
CLASSIFICATION OF CRIMES
Assault
1 School Problem 1
Drunkenness
12 Breaking and Entering 5
Larceny
6 Abuse of female child 1
Lewd and Lascivious
2 Operating without license 4
Vagrancy
1 Operating under influence 2
Arson
1 Driving to endanger 4
Idle and Disorderly Conduct
1 Stop sign
1
Stolen Car
1 Neglect to minor children
1
Disturbing the Peace
1
DISPOSITION OF CASES
Fined
22 Probation 6
Sentenced
10
Released (Drunk) 12
SUMMONS SERVED
For local department 9 For out of town police 40
AUTOMOBILE REGULATIONS
Licenses revoked by Registrar 22
Registrations revoked by Registrar
Automobile transfers
234
MISCELLANEOUS
Ambulance runs to hospitals and physicians 104
Dangerous wires reported 30
Street lights reported out
78
Street obstructions reported
12
Accidents investigated
27
Assistance to out of town police
68
The two-way radio installed in the Cruiser during 1953 continues to be a valuable asset to the department. In many emergencies it has been possible to contact the officer on duty in various sections of town, thereby making it possible to render immediate service.
83
The Cruiser-Ambulance is now on its third year of use and is begin- ning to require more and more repairs. This machine has had consider- able use and should be replaced in 1955.
I express my sincere appreciation to the Beverly Police Department for its cooperation in handling calls for our two-way radio, the local Tele- phone Operators for their endless cooperation which far exceeds their cus- tomary duties, and all townspeople and officials who have assisted the de- partment during the past year.
Respectfully submitted, EDWARD FREDERICK Chief of Police
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS
To the Citizens of the Town of Hamilton:
Pursuant to the provisions of the Protective (Zoning) By-Law adopt- ed in March, 1954, the Board of Selectmen appointed the undersigned to be the original members of the Board of Appeals, and appointed F. Harlan Clock to be the associate member. Organization took place in April, 1954, with George G. Beckett as Chairman and John F. Neary as Clerk.
During the year 1954 three matters officially brought before the Board were decided after the required public hearings. Two were requests for permits to convert existing residences into two-family dwellings. The third was a request for a variance from the location requirements of the By-Law, arising as an appeal from a decision of the Building Inspector. Two cases are pending at this writing; one, another two-family house case and the other a variance petition involving interpretation of the area and frontage requirements of the By-Law. Several property owners have con- sulted members concerning the Board's jurisdiction, policies or procedure.
Since both zoning and appeal boards are new in Hamilton, a brief resume of the Board's jurisdiction and operation may be in order. The Board is not an enforcement agency. Its function under the zoning law is to give relief from the requirements of the By-Law in three classes of cases if it decides relief should be given in a particular instance. One such class covers the granting of a special permit for any of the five pur- poses listed in Section IV (8) of the Protective By-Law. Such permits must be obtained from the Board before the Building Inspector can issue his building permit. Conditions may be imposed by the Board. The other two classes of cases for relief are set forth in the General Laws. The first provides for appeals from decisions of the Building Inspector, for example to correct an alleged error on his part. The second covers requests for a variance, by appeal or directly by petition to the Board, from the literal terms of the By-Law.
84
It must be remembered that not every request to the Board for relief will succeed. The controlling law of the Commonwealth, to which the By-Law refers, lays down very strict rules limiting the granting of vari- ances, in effect providing that a petitioner must prove both the hardship involved to himself and the further facts that the requested relief will not be contrary to the spirit of the By-Law or have any substantial adverse effect upon the community or neighborhood. These rules have been upheld by many decisions of the Supreme Judicial Court. Their effect is in- creased by the statutory requirement that the Board can give relief only if its decision is unanimous.
From the foregoing it appears that one who seeks relief from the Board should be prepared to present all the facts at the hearing together with the best reasons available in favor of his request, including his inter- pretation of its effect upon the neighborhood. The Supreme Court has held that the fact that one will otherwise lose a profit is no reason for granting a variance. Neither is it sufficient to claim that no abutters object. The Board is required by law to notify all interested parties and the members naturally want to know how the abutters and others interested feel about the question at issue. The final decision, however, will be that of your Board and not that of the abutters.
The Board expects to issue rules of procedure governing its hearings, and blank forms for the assistance of applicants who desire a hearing. In view of the informal nature of most hearings held before the Board it is proposed that the forms to be used shall require the applicants to state all pertinent information under oath. This matter will become more im- portant as time goes on, especially with reference to situations existing at the time of adoption of the By-Law.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE G. BECKETT ELMER H. SMITH JOHN F. NEARY
Board of Appeals
85
REPORT OF THE TREE WARDEN
To the Citizens of the Town of Hamilton:
I herewith submit a report of the Tree and Moth Departments for the year 1954.
The customary spraying and the trimming of dead wood as a means of suppressing the various bugs and diseases that attack shade trees was carried on during the year. Trees infected with dutch elm disease were removed and burned.
New Maple trees were purchased and set out on streets without shade trees. Brush and undergrowth has been trimmed along the sides of various streets. The continued assistance of the Highway Department in this work during the winter months has been very helpful.
Work during the last four months of the year was confined exclusively to the removal and trimming of trees damaged by the hurricane. The assistance by all town departments in hurricane work was very helpful.
I express my appreciation to all town departments and to all others who have assisted me in any way during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
RUDOLPH H. HARADEN
Tree Warden
86
WARRANT FOR THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
ESSEX, ss. To the Constable 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 HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM in said Town on Monday, the seventh day of March, nineteen hundred and fifty-five (March 7, 1955) 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 two years.
One Tree Warden for one year.
One Highway Surveyor for one year.
One member of the School Committee for three years.
One Library Trustee for three years.
One Water Commissioner for three years.
One Cemetery Commissioner for three years.
One Park Commissioner for three years.
One member of the Planning Board for five years.
The above named officers to be voted for on one ballot on Tuesday, the fifteenth day of March, 1955, (March 15, 1955) in the HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM. The polls will be opened at 8:00 o'clock A.M. and will close at 8:00 o'clock P.M.
Article 2. To choose and appoint all other Town Officers in such manner as the Town may determine. passer
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 or relative thereto.
87
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 Highway Construction on Linden Street, or take any action thereon or relative thereto. Maurera
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of making alterations and repairs in the Clerk's Office in the town hall, or take any action thereon or relative thereto.
Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to purchase a new Cruiser- Ambulance for the use of the Police Department, provide for the turning in of the present vehicle toward the purchase price thereof, and raise and appropriate a sum of money therefor, or take any action thereon or relative thereto. Carried
Article 8. To see if the Town will vote to purchase a truck chassis and cab for use in collecting rubbish in town and provide for the mounting of the rubbish body now owned and used by the town on such chassis, and raise and appropriate a sum of money therefor, or take any action thereon or relative thereto. creed
Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to purchase a new Fire Truck with a mechanical ladder and other fire fighting equipment and raise and appropriate a sum of money therefor, or take any action thereon or relative thereto.
Carried
Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of shingling and repairing the roof of the Adelaide Dodge Walsh School now used as headquarters for the Ameri- can Legion, or take any action thereon or relative thereto. Carried
Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate. a sum of money to install a water pipe line from Sagamore Street to the town dump, or take any action thereon or relative thereto.
Unc
Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of draining the area of the General George S. Patton, Jr. Park and Playground, and to acquire or enter into any necessary rights of way or agreements in connection therewith, or take any action thereon or relative thereto.
88
Article 13. To see if the Town will vote to transfer the sum of $1,000.00 from the Cemetery Sale of Lots Fund to the Cemetery Account for the purpose of making improvements to the Town Cemetery, or take any action thereon or relative thereto.
Article 14. To see if the Town will vote to accept a layout of the relocation of a portion of Cutler Road by the Selectmen as shown on a plan on file with the town clerk, and raise and appropriate a sum of money for the relocation and rebuilding of said street in accordance with such plan, or take any action thereon or relative thereto.
Article 15. To see if the Town will vote to extend the water mains on Lake Drive approximately 1056 feet and raise and appropriate the sum of $3200.00 therefor, or take any action thereon or relative thereto, as petitioned for by James L. DeAngelis and others.
2 yes
Article 16. To see if the Town will vote to authorize and approve the Board of Assessors to use available funds or "free cash" in an amount not to exceed the sum of $35,000.00 in determining the tax rate for the year 1955, or take any action thereon or relative thereto.
Article 17. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Moderator to appoint a committee of five registered voters of the town for the purpose of investigating and studying the advisability of the fluoridation of the town water system, such committee to make its report with recommenda- tions at the next annual town meeting, and raise and appropriate the sum of $100.00 for the expenses of the committee, or take any action thereon or relative thereto.
Article 18. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to appoint a committee of five registered voters of the town to study and investigate possible ways and means of improving the electrical service in the town, and to consider among other things the feasibility of a municipal owned electrical generating plant and system of distribution ; the feasibility of underground wires; methods to prevent disruption of electrical service over unwarranted periods of time, such committee to report its recommendations with necessary drafts or articles to carry out the same at the annual town meeting for 1956, and to raise and appro- priate the sum of $500.00 for the expenses of the committee, or take any action thereon or relative thereto, as petitioned for by Harold A. Daley and others.
Article 19. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Moderator to appoint a committee of five registered voters of the town for the purpose of investigating and studying the feasibility of providing a building for quarters of the fire and police departments, said Committee to report with recommendations at the next annual town meeting, or take any action thereon or relative thereto, as petitioned for by Lawrence Lamson and others.
ye
89
Article 20. To see if the Town will vote to adopt the following Build- ing By-laws and Wiring By-laws, or take any action thereon or relative thereto.
BUILDING BY-LAWS OF THE TOWN OF HAMILTON
TITLE
This By-Law shall be known and cited as the Building By-Law of the Town of Hamilton as provided under Chapter 143, Section 3, of the Gen- eral Laws.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this By-Law is to provide minimum standards and requirements for safe and stable designs, methods of construction and uses of materials in buildings and structures hereafter erected, altered, moved, or converted to other uses within the limits of the Town of Hamil- ton.
The provisions of this By-Law shall be supplementary to any and all state laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts relating to buildings.
SCOPE
New buildings and structures hereafter erected in the Town of Hamil- ton shall conform to all the requirements of this By-Law.
Existing Buildings need not conform to the requirements of this By- Law except that all ordinary masonry construction buildings and all frame buildings hereafter built or altered in which the lower stories or portions thereof are used for business, and the stories above for residence purposes shall have partitions and ceilings separating the business portion from the residence portions covered with metal lath and plaster or other equivalent fire-retardent material.
ARTICE 1. General Provisions
SECTION 1. The Board of Selectmen shall, in the month of April, appoint an Inspector of Buildings for the term of one year from the first day of May following, and until another is appointed in his stead; and may by appointment fill any vacancy in said office. He shall be either an architect, builder or civil engineer. He shall receive such salary as may be determined by the Board of Selectmen subject to the provisions of General Laws. If the Inspector shall have any interest in the doing of work, or the furnishing of materials for the construction, repair or altera- tion of any building in this town, or in the making of plans or specifications therefor, then the application shall be referred to the Board of Selectmen, who shall appoint a competent person to act as Inspector in his stead and may fix the compensation to be paid said person.
90
SECTION 2. No construction or alteration of a structure, building, or part thereof, shall be commenced until a description of the proposed work, together with plans if required, is filed with the Inspector of Build- ings, giving full information as to materials, cost, location, owner, architect and builder, and such other information as may be requested upon blanks prepared for the purpose and approved by the Selectmen, and a permit issued by the Building Inspector.
DUTIES OF THE INSPECTOR
SECTION 3. The Inspector shall keep a record of the business of the department, and submit to the Board of Selectmen an annual record of such business and such other reports as the Selectmen may require.
SECTION 4. The Inspector shall furnish the Board of Assessors with a record of all permits as granted, with data on cards as furnished by the Assessors, and when the building or buildings are completed shall place upon cards their outlines, with dimensions, area covered and cubical con- tents, together with any such data as may be required by said Board of Assessors.
SECTION 5 After a permit is issued and the work started, the fol- lowing inspections, at least, shall be made promptly by the Building In- spector upon notification by the builder or owner that the premises are ready for such inspection.
1. After excavation and before foundations or footings are installed.
2. After foundations or footings are in place, but before backfill.
3. Before sheathing, plastering or lathing in whole or part.
4. When all work is completed and building ready for occupancy.
The Inspector shall not approve the work until all requirements of these Laws have been complied with.
SECTION 6. He shall receive applications and issue permits for the erection and alteration of buildings, as hereinafter described and shall keep detailed and sufficient records of such applications and permits.
ARTICLE 2. Permits
SECTION 1. The owner, lessee or agent of either, or architect, builder or contractor for any building or structure to be demolished or moved shall make written application to the Inspector of such intended demolition or moving and obtain a permit.
SECTION 2. The Inspector of Buildings shall issue or deny a permit within fifteen days of the receipt of the application for the permit properly filled out. The permit is for immediate use upon a building or structure to be begun at once and pushed forward to completion within a reasonable time. The permit is void after ninety days unless the work, which it allows, is begun and may become void if at any time during construction the work is halted for a period of sixty days. The permit shall be kept upon the work and shall be shown, upon request to the Inspector of Build- ings, any Selectmen, or their Agent. Any building operation shall be carried on in conformity with the description of the work for which permit is issued. If changes are made, a new application shall be filed and approved before they are begun.
SECTION 3. Same as Section 2 of Article 1.
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ARTICLE 3. Exemptions
Subject to compliance with the structural requirements of this By-Law Articles No. 4 through No. 12.
Ordinary repairs of buildings or structures may be made without a permit from the Inspector, but such repairs shall not be construed to in- clude the cutting away of any stone or brick wall, or any portion thereof, the removal or cutting of any beam or support, or the removal, change or closing of any staircase, or any alteration made for the purpose of convert- ing into a dwelling, a building or structure constructed or previously used for a different purpose.
The following shall be excepted from the provisions of this Building Law :
1. Buildings owned or occupied by the United States or by the Com- monwealth of Massachusetts.
2. Bridges, quays and wharves.
3. Buildings less than seven feet in height, and eight feet in length and breadth measured to the extremes in all diameters provided that the location of such conform with the Zoning By-Law.
4. Temporary structures erected for storage or offices during con- struction operations provided such structures shall be removed at the completion of such operations.
5. Farm buildings not used for human occupancy situated not less than fifty feet from any other building.
6. Ordinary repairs and alterations of buildings but not including change in structural members of supports, means of egress or any- thing which would violate any provision of the Building Law.
. In case of buildings or structures of special or unusual character to the construction of which those Building Laws do not par- ticularly apply, the Inspector shall refer the question of approval of plans and specifications and the issuance of a permit to the Board of Appeals for determination.
8. Immediate emergency repairs.
ARTICLE 4. Garages
SECTION 1. All garages located beneath, or having a common wall with a dwelling shall be plastered with cement plaster on all walls and ceiling. Any doorway leading from such a garage into a dwelling shall be equipped with a self-closing door, frame and door on garage side to be metal covered.
SECTION 2. If the garage be placed nearer to the building than ten feet, the wall nearer to the principal building must be brick nogged, or built of fire proof material, and the ceiling built of fire-resisting material. If the garage is to be placed in the basement of the dwelling, or attached to it on either side, or built within five feet of it, then all sides shall be built of fireproof material and the ceilng as well.
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