USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > Town of Lynnfield, Essex County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, annual report 1949-1960 > Part 54
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IN TRIBUTE
Edward Harney was born in Denver, Colorado and lived in Lynn- field for sixteen years. He was a special policeman and was appointed by the Board of Selectmen in 1950 as special agent for the Board of Health (cess pool permits) and in 1952 was ap- pointed plumbing inspector by the Board of Health. Mr. Harney was a retired Master plumber. He died October 23, 1956 after a long illness .
Chilton Mason Hastings was born in Canaan, Maine and moved to Lynnfield as a child. In 1941, he married the former Lois Haywood and they had three children, Susan, Jayneand Luther. On December 27, 1944, Chick was made an intermittent on the Lynnfield Police force, and on August 27, 1945, he was a regular patrolman. The Board of Selectmen appointed him Sergeant on July 2, 1956. He was responsible for the training of the auxiliary police. Chick died on November 1, 1956 of a heart attack.
Donald Frank Newhall was born in Peabody and had lived in Lynnfield until his death in an accident, while on vacation, in Arkron, Ohio on July 17, 1956. Don was an election officer in Precinct 2 for three years, a special policeman from 1952. He ran for selectman in 1952 and 1953. He was a moth department employee in 1953 and in 1954 he became Tree Warden and served for three years. In 1956 he became Park and Cemetery Commissioner. Don was one of the five originators of the Lynn- field Little League and was manager of the Dodgers for three years and a member of the governing board. He served for three years on an L. C.I. in the Navy and was a member of the American Legion, the Lynnfield Masons, and a charter member of the Lions Club.
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TOWN OFFICERS
SELECTMEN, BOARD OF HEALTH AND BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
Arthur S. Tewksbury, Jr. Stanley E. Flagg Mason J. Condon
Manton P. Spear
Term expires 1957 Term expires 1958
Term expires 1959 Term expires 1959
TOWN PLANNING BOARD
John E. Harriss
Term expires 1957
Richard L. Hobbs
Term expires 1957
Franklin R. D'Entremont
Term expires 1958
Colby L. Burbank, Jr.
Term expires 1959
Calvin Osberg
Term expires 1961
TOWN ACCOUNTANT
Theodore Palizzolo Term expires 1957
TOWN CLERK
Harry W. Higgins
Tenure 1957
TOWN TREASURER
Harry W. Higgins
Term expires 1957
TAX COLLECTOR
Clifford C. Ham
Term expires 1958
MODERATOR
Gordon H. Millar
Term expires 1957
Stanley E. Flagg
Term expires 1957
Kenneth A. Worthen
Term expires 1958
Stanley G. Thwing
Term expires 1959
TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
Rudolf P. Schlenker Pauline Chadwell James Y. Lake
Term expires 1957 Term expires 19 58
Term expires 1959
PARK AND CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS
Chester R. Melanson
Term expires 1956 Term expires 1957
Donald F. Newhall
Term expires 1957
James V. Thompson John B. Rodgers
Term expires 19 59
CONSTABLES
Charles V. Sweetser Allison G. Tedford
Term expires 1957
Term expires 1957
TREE WARDEN
Donald F. Newhall
Gustav H. Koch
Term expires 1957 Term expires 1957
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Winsor H. Beebe Willis P. Burbank Robert W. Davis Charles W. Kessler Bessie L. Sinish
Term expires 1957
Term expires 1958
Term expires 1958
Term expires 1959
Term expires 1959
ROAD COMMISSIONER
James C. Fletcher Term expires 1957
REGISTRATION OF VOTERS Joseph Donovan Ernest Bonah Harry W. Higgins, Clerk William Murphy
HEALTH DIRECTOR George Robinson, M.D.
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE AGENT Wesley W. Munroe
POLICE CHIEF William Foley
FIRE CHIEF Carl E. Davis
BUILDING INSPECTOR Howard S. Armerding
BOARD OF APPEALS
Members Glen R. Smith Hubert G. Wall Eliot K. Grant
Alternate Members Augustus S. True Malcolm V. Smith Theodore N. Ferren
FINANCE COMMITTEE James Melanson, Chairman Russell P. Kumph Henry T. Wrobel Ralph A. Rae Richard L. Fite, Jr., Secretary Harold R. Hawkes Arthur A. Barton Edward R. Marston John A. Valkevich
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Minot H. Carter
Term expires 1958
ASSESSORS
Report of SELECTMEN
The year 1956 was again a very busy one for your Board of Selectmen. With Lynnfield's population approaching 7000 per- sons and its continued rapid growth, the Selectmen's duties and responsibilities have become arduous and time-consuming.
Because of the fine job being done by your capable elected officials, appointees and committee members, Lynnfield is still an outstanding Community, which continues to attract home- owning families at a rapid rate .
However, because of the tremendous load being placed on our municipal facilities and services as a result of these circum- stances, we all face our most serious and challenging problem - that of financing the increasing costs of the facilities and services.
Basically, these fall into five categories - Education, Pro- tection, Highways, General Government and Health and Welfare.
To provide these in an adequate and well balanced manner for the next few years without substantially increasing the tax rate appears to be an impossibility .
Your Selectmen feel that every citizen should be made aware of this situation, which is inherent, also, to many other fast- growing communities. Simply expressed, this problem resolves itself in this fashion. If we desire adequate facilities, we must be prepared to pay for them. If we desire to retard our tax rate increase, we must be prepared to accept limited facilities .
Of the five categories involved, those of Education, High- ways and General Government are essentially the responsibility of other governmental units. The categories of Protection and Welfare are basically the responsibility of the Board of Select- men, which is also your Board of Public Welfare. The Welfare phase of the Selectmen's work is very ably administered by our Director of Social Services, Mr. Wesley W. Munroe, and the budget for this activity is pretty well determined by State and Federal requirements and the case load handled in any given year .
The Protection category consists largely of our Police-and Fire Department facilities, and an appraisal of these follows:
POLICE DEPARTMENT - Under the General Laws of the Commonwealth, the Board of Selectmen act in the capacity of Police Commissioners, bearing the responsibility for the police protection of the Town. The Board in turn appoints a Chief as head of the department and who, as such, is responsible to the Selectmen.
Early in March of this year, your Board of Selectmen undertook an extensive survey of the Lynnfield Police Department, the first such study by a Board of Selectmen in recent years. It was felt that the problem was of such great importance that it should not be delegated to a study committee, but deserved the attention of the full Board. Although many hours were devoted to this appraisal of the department, we are of the opinion that they were well spent. As a result of this undertaking, the Board pro-
mulgated the first set of rules for the operation of the department, instituted a planned program of operation and expansion, with the objective of providing sufficient protection for the inhabitants of the Town. We have accordingly provided an amount in our 1957 budget for two additional patrolmen, which should bring the department to a minimum desirable strength. The Board, recognizing the need for leadership at all times, this year ap- pointed two additional sergeants from the top of the Civil Ser- vice list, one of whom, Sergeant Chilton Hastings, we regret to report, passed away last November. That position has since been re-allocated to captain, and the Division of Civil Service has notified the Board that an examination will be held early in 1957.
Most cities and towns maintain an average of one police officer for each five hundred inhabitants. Lynnfield's population is fast approaching seven thousand, which would indicate that four- teen men should be on the department. We hope, with the two additional men that have been requested to bring the depart- ment up to this strength, which irregardless of population is con- sidered to be the minimum basic effective police unit, and despite a further population trend, this should satisfy the minimum needs of Lynnfield for the next five years.
The Board has also, after a careful study, set up a new salary scale for the Police Department, which is distributed over a four year period. It is with a great deal of pleasure we note that this plan has received the approval of several neighboring cities and towns and has become known as "The Lynnfield Plan". We feel that it would be unreasonable to expect desirable young talent to join a police force at less compensation than they would re- ceive from jobs in private employment, or in similar jobs in other cities, towns, or for the Commonwealth. Even now it is encouraging to note the rise in department morale, from the newest partolman to the Chief at the prospect of better wages. Barring any serious inflation, this salary schedule should be adequate for at least the next five years. We feel that it would be un-realistic to plan beyond this period.
Lynnfield was among the first towns in the country to purchase station wagon cruisers, which have since proved their worth many times .
The Board, with the cooperation of the Finance Committee, is planning for a new police and fire station, which is to be con- structed in 1959. A stabilization fund has been established for this project, and as a result, no bond issue at that time should be necessary with the resulting savings to the Town in interest charges.
Lynnfield's Police Department now has a plan which indicates where we are going during the next five years. Outside of the School Department, it is probably the only agency within the Town that will be able to indicate it's position at some specific time in the future, and where our growth is so great, our source of revenue so limited, it is indeed very important that we should have definite ideas on our position some years hence .
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FIRE DEPARTMENT - Lynnfield's Fire Department consists entirely of call men. The four pieces of apparatus are housed in two stations, one of which - the Old Meeting House on the Common, is entirely inadequate. The time is fast approaching when at least one new fire station must be built in order to pro- vide adequate fire protection facilities.
While the record and performance of our call Fire Department is an excellent one, it is recognized that there is an element of calculated risk in providing fire protection for a town of Lynn- field's present size on a call basis .
It is the intention of your Board to ask for authority at the Annual Town Meeting in March to appoint a committee to make a study of the problem of housing for our Fire Department, Police De- partment and Town Offices. It is hoped that approximately three years from now, by utilizing funds now building up in the Stabili- zation Fund, we will be able to provide new housing for both our Fire Department and Police Department .
When such housing becomes a reality, it is felt that the addition of some permanent firemen will be a necessity .
Lynnfield's Civil Defense Organization is now nearly fully activated and is operating in a most efficient manner under the leadership of our Civil Defense Director, J. Bart Conners. The Auxiliary Police and Fire Departments, whose members are un- paid volunteers who have received extensive training, are render- ing invaluable service to our Town as adjuncts to our Police and Fire Department .
The largest number of voters in the Town's history turned out at the Annual Town Meeting in March to consider the question of whether or not to rezone land adjoining Route 128 for In- dustrial Development. The proposal to do this, which requires a two-thirds vote, was defeated by 35 votes. 592 persons favored this proposal and 348 opposed it .
At this meeting, by unanimous vote, the High School Building Committee was authorized to build the so-called High School Wing to the present Junior High School. Funds totaling $1, 100, 000. 00 for this purpose were authorized by appropriation, transfer and the issuance of bonds.
Only one Special Town Meeting was called by the Selectmen during 1956. This was held on May 28th for the primary purpose of considering acquisition of land for school purposes. At this meeting the Town authorized the Selectmen to acquire land ad- jacent to the Glen Meadow Area for school purposes. Con- siderable legal and engineering work has been necessary to determine whether or not a good and marketable title could be secured. At year's end the Board has been advised by our Town Counsel that it now appears that this can be done, and action will be taken shortly to acquire this land for the Town.
Several advisory committees functioned during the year, and your Selectmen wish to point out to our citizens that substantial contributions have been made to the Town by the civic-minded people who accept appointments to these committees. Space in this annual report does not permit publication of all these reports in detail . A summary follows of the activities of these committees.
The Fire Department Study Committee submitted its final
report and was discharged by request of its members. The Select- men and the Fire Chief have considered the recommendations of this Committee. Some of them are being carried out, while others are being postponed awaiting further developments, such as the recommendations of the proposed Municipal Building Study Committee .
The Elementary School Plant Planning Committee submitted a report in the Fall requesting a Special Town Meeting in Decem- ber for the purpose of authorizing an Elementary School Building Committee to begin work on a program designed to have a new elementary school ready for use in the Fall of 1959. In an effort to avoida Special Town Meeting, this committee and the Select- men met and agreed that this matter could be held over until the March, 1957 Town Meeting.
The Park and Playground Committee has investigated and is currently preparing it's recommendations on the use of the so- called Reforestation Lot 128 located off Pillings Pond Road. This land was deeded to the Town by the State in February for the sum of one dollar.
The Summer Street School Building Committee provided the Town with an attractive and efficiently laid-out elementary school located on a beautiful site off Summer Street. This school was accepted by the Board of Selectmen for the Town and turned over to the School Committee in September, during which month the first classes convened. This committee has now nearly com- pleted the many final details required by the State School Building Assistance Commission, and will be discharged shortly .
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The High School Building Committee is currently engaged in the construction of the High School Wing to the present Junior High School on Main Street. The work is progressing in a most satisfactory manner. It is planned to have this building occupied in the Fall of 1958, however, there is a possibility it may be ready for use before that time .
The Future School Site Acquisition Committee is hard at work on the many details involved in locating and conducting preliminary negotations on suitable future school sites. Details are nearly complete on one site, and it is expected that the Town will be asked cometime during 1957 to consider the ac- quisition of this site.
The Water Supply Committee has submitted a very complete and comprehensive final report, and has been discharged. This report points out the fact that an additional source of water for the Center Water District may have to be found within the next few years if the Town continues it's present rate of growth, and that a consolidation of the Town's two Water Districts would more efficiently serve the Town's needs. The Selectmen plan to confer early next year with the Commissioners of both Water Districts on these recommendations .
The Insurance Needs Committee has made a study of the com- plex matter of Town insurance and continues toact in an advisory capacity to the Selectmen. It is felt that with the assistance of this Committee your Board will be better equipped to administer this important phase of the Town's business .
The Committee for Commercial Development spearheaded
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the action which resulted in the Town's considering the Industrial Development proposal at the Annual Town Meeting. Although favorable action on this rezoning article was recommended by this Committee, the Selectmen, the Planning Board and the Finance Committee, it was defeated. At year's end this com- mittee recommended that in it's opinion this matter should not be placed on the warrant for the 1957 meeting unless immediate public opinion should dictate otherwise. Your Selectmen con- curred with this recommendation.
The activities of the Electric Rate Study Committee have been well covered in the Press. This committee has done a tre- mendous amount of work in the highly specialized field of electric rates, and has prepared a vast amount of data with which the Committee, the Town Counsel and the Selectmen are presently protesting to the Department of Public Utilities the increase in rates put into effect by the Reading Municipal Light Department on September 1st.
Again, the Town received an award from the Massachusetts Selectmens Association for the excellence of its 1955 Town Report. The capable and experienced members of this Com- mittee deserve special commendation for this accomplishment in presenting to our Townspeople an interesting and comprehensive report of the Town's affairs .
Our By-law Codifying Committee is completing the complex and time-consuming task that its name implies. Sometime early in 1957 the Town By-laws will be available in a printed and up-to-date form.
Plans to provide additional offices in the Town Hall had to be postponed until next year because all bids for this project exceeded the funds appropriated. Adequate funds are being re- quested in the 1957 budget in order to provide much needed facilities for Civil Defense Headquarters and the Harold P. Peabody Memorial, which, under the capable direction of Mrs. Norma Mckillop, renders a valuable service in providing sick room equipment, at no charge, for citizens of our Town.
In January, your Board of Selectmen acting as the Local Licensing Authority, received two applications for retail package goods liquor stores proposed for locations in the Center. These two applications were denied. Two all-alcoholic common victualer licenses were granted, one to Colonial and one to Goodwins, both of which previously held all-alcoholic club licenses. An all-alcoholic club license was also granted in April to the Wakefield Elks Club on Bay State Road.
Acceptance of streets as public ways continues to be a pro- blem. Unfortunately, considerable work must be done by abut- butors on a street presented for acceptance by the Town. The detail necessary before the Town can act to accept a street re- quires a lot of time and effort, and those desirous of having their street accepted should consult the Town Counsel well in advance of Town Meetings. It has become necessary for the Board of Selectmen to require that all these details be completed prior to the "closing of warrants for Town Meetings".
The entire Town was saddened by the untimely deaths during the year of Donald F. Newhall our Tree Warden, Moth Super- intendent and Park Commissioner, and Sergeant Chilton M.
Hastings of our Police Department. "Donny" and "Chick" as they were affectionally known throughout the Town left with Us a record of public service that will be long remembered.
The passing of Edward Harney, our Plumbing Inspector, and Edward M. Fletcher, father of Road Commissioner James C. Fletcher, and a well known resident for many years, saddened the hearts of all who know them. They also will be long remem- bered for their contributions to our Town.
Space does not permit us to deal at length with all the events concerning our activities during the year. However, we do feel the following worthy of brief mention:
New polling places were established in September through the cooperation of the School Committee. The Summer Street School for precinct one and the South School for precinct two. These seem to have met with the complete approval of the voters.
State Police Barracks on Route One were placed in op- eration in December. This should materially aid in controling the dangerous and troublesome traffic problem on our two major highways .
The beautiful new Church Edifice of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish was dedicated by Archbishop Richard J. Cushing in the Fall. Your three Selectmen were honored to attend these impressive ceremonies and con- gratulate the Reverend John J. Linnehan and his Parish- isoners for this accomplishment. This is indeed a for- ward step in strengthening the spiritual life of our com- munity.
Last Spring, Postal Authroities replaced the old Post Office on Salem Street with a very attractive Post Office building at the junction of Summer and Salem Streets. Carrier delivery service was also provided to the South Lynnfield area.
Banking facilities for South Lynnfield were provided with the opening of the Branch Bank of the Beverly Trust Com- pany on the Newburyport Turnpike, and the opening of the New Branch of the Wakefield Co-operative Bank at the Colonial Shopping Center provided expanded facili- ties in this area.
Passage of a bill by the Legislature which will give authority to the Town to exercise control over conditions on Pillings Pond was a forward step toward correcting this troublesome situation.
The expanded mosquito control program provided reason- ably successful, despite adverse weather conditions .
Activities of the Provisional League of Women Voters, Womens Clubs, Grange, and other Civic Groups aided materially in increased and informed interest and partici- pation in Town affairs and elections .
In concluding this report, your Selectmen wish to recognize the fact that several outstanding men have retired from public
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life, during the year. All of them deserve public recognition for their many years of public service .
Arthur W. Nelson - Chairman of the Board of Selectmen for eight years.
Allan H. Davis - Clerk of the Board of Selectmen for eight years .
Theodore N. Ferren - Chairman of the Planning Board and former member of the Finance Committee, with eleven years of service .
Ross F. Coon - Secretary and member of the Finance Committee for four years.
Your Selectmen wish to thank all the Town Officers, De- partment Heads, Committee Members and private citizens whose cooperation has made easier their complex duties. Also to the members of the Press, our appreciation for accurate and object- tive reporting of our many meetings and activities .
To the many new citizens of the Town who will be reading this report for the first time, we extend a warm welcome to our "Town of Homes". We feel that it has much to offer you and hope you will find happiness here. In return we trust you will take an interest in it's Government and acquaint yourself with it's problems .
The office of Selectmen probably is the oldest elective posi- tion in American Government. It developed spontaneously to fulfill a need for guidance and direction and to provide the early settlers with continuity in their civil affairs. Basically, the need still exists, and is the reason why the office still survives after an existence of 320 years.
Your Selectmen are aware of the trust and responsibility of the office. In Lynnfield, Selectmen serve because they con- sider it a civic duty and their decisions are made in the light of what best serves the entire Town. It is our earnest hope that Lynnfield's citizens will see to it that this is always so.
Respectfully submitted,
BOARD OF SELECTMEN Arthur S. Tewksbury, Jr., Chairman Stanley E. Flagg Mason J. Condon
Appointments made by Board of Selectmen in 1956
BOARD OF APPEALS Eliot K. Grant - 3 years
BOARD OF APPEALS - ALTERNATE
Augustus S. True - 3 years Theodore N. Ferren - to expire in 1958 William K. Widger - resigned 11/19/56 BOARD OF REGISTRARS William B. Murphy
BUILDING INSPECTOR Howard S. Armerding
BUILDING INSPECTOR - SUBSTITUTE Edward Harney, Jr. - deceased BOARD OF SELECTMEN - CLERK Allan H. Davis - resigned 11/30/56 Albert C. White, Jr. BOARD OF SELECTMEN - SUB-COMMITTE Arthur S. Tewksbury, Jr. - Fire Dept. and Civil Defense
Stanley E. Flagg
- Moth & Tree Dept . General Government, Assessors, Town Buildings
Mason J. Condon
- Police & Highway Departments
CIVIL DEFENSE
Director
Howard C. Johnson - resigned 1/19/56
J. Bart Conners - acting Director 2/20/56 - 4/19/56
J. Bart Conners - Director effective 4/20/56
Council
Council Clerk Mrs. W. Douglas Whitehouse
Police Chief Joseph D. Camillieri
Deputy Police
Chief Malcolm C. Eaton - resigned 4/9/56 Warren J. Chamberland
Ground Observer
Corps. Willis P. Burbank - resigned 4/9/56
Medical Officer Dr. Kenneth W. Sinish
- resigned 4/9/56 Dr. Thomas B. White
Transportation
James W. Melanson
- resigned 4/9/56
AUXILIARY FIRE DEPARTMENT Deputy Chief John A. Valkevich
Members: Peter R. Allen
Charles M. Kilgore (Pro. to Lt.)
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