Town of Lynnfield, Essex County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, annual report 1949-1960, Part 69

Author: Lynnfield (Mass.)
Publication date: 1949-1960
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 846


USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > Town of Lynnfield, Essex County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, annual report 1949-1960 > Part 69


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96


LY 4-5544


Center School


LY 4-4422


Junior-Senior High School


LY 4-4000


South School


LY 2-2957


Summer Street School


LY 4-4500


TAX COLLECTOR


LY 4-4035


TOWN HALL


LY 4-3128


VETERANS' SERVICE


LY 4-3133


WATER


Lynnfield Water District


LY 8-4223


Lynnfield Center Water District LY 4-3901


FOR ALL OTHER TOWN DEPARTMENTS


CALL TOWN HALL LY 4-3128


NN


EL


1782


A DISTRICT 17


A TOWN I


1814


MAS


MEETING HOUSE BUILT 1714


TS


LYNNFIELD


1958


ANNUAL TOWN REPORT


Town of Lynnfield Essex County Commonwealth of Massachusetts


annual report for the year ending December 31, 1958


The object of government is the welfare of the people. The material progress and prosperity of a nation are de- sirable chiefly so far as they lead to the moral and material welfare of all good citizens.


Theodore Roosevelt


Population (est.) 7,000


Registered Voters 4081


The Massachusetts Selectmen's Association PRESENTS


Second Prize IN THE SECOND POPULATION GROUP


)


To the Town of


LYNNFIELD


In Recognition of the Excellence of its TOWN REPORT For the Year 1957


AND in witness thereof has caused its seal and the signatures of its President and Secretary to be affixed hereto at Lenox on the Tenth day of October, nineteen hundred and fifty-eight.


Raymond In Trudel PRESIDENT


Richard AText SECRETARY


COOKAT


- 2 -


Highlights of the Year


Instituted driver-training program in the schools


Established first aid courses for fire and police personnel


Won second place in Massachusetts Town Report contest


Changed precinct lines of Precincts One and Two


Adopted uniform traffic rules for town Eliminated hazardous buildings in town Two members of Police Department sent to State Police Training School


Adopted new wage scale for employees in town


Lowered water level at Reedy Meadow


Established safety regulations for Pillings Pond


New Post Office erected at the Centre


South Lynnfield Water District joined the Metropolitan District Commission and built new pump- ing station and standpipe


Center Water Department construction started on gravel packed well and new standpipe


Plans presented for new Fire and Police Station building


Town By-laws codified


Appointed Wage Study Advisory Committee


Appointed Capital Outlay Committee


Expanded fire alarm signal system


Started construction on new Huckleberry Hill School


Instituted complete varsity athletic program


Appointed part-time sanitarian under Board of Health


Voted fluoridation for Center Water District


A Forward Look


To send a policeman each year to the F.B.I. School establish increased parking facilities at the High School eliminate traffic bottleneck at the junction of Routes 1 and 128 establish shopping area at Post Office Square in South Lynnfield complete construction of the Huckleberry Hill School build new Fire and Police Department building construct an addition to Centre Library purchase future school site continue the extension of Civilian Defense program purchase new fire equipment continue paving of roads in town cemeteries expand park and playground facilities replace South Fire Station building


-. 3 -


A rule we live by -- get someone to read something about which we ourselves are excited. The Town Report Committee


Table of Contents


Page


Page


Town Officers 5


Civilian Defense


53


Board of Selectmen


7


Fire Department


55


Appointments made by Board of Selectmen 10


Wire Inspector 55


Town Clerk 13


Fire Alarm System 56


Election of Town Officers 13


13


Board of Public Welfare


58


Result of State Election


16


Police Department


59


Action taken at Town Meetings


19


Building Inspector


61


Appropriation to be raised in Tax Levy . 28


Animal Inspector


61


Transfers of Money Voted 30


Safety Committee


62


Town Treasurer 31


33


Dog Officer


62


Board of Assessors. 34


Veterans Services


62


Town Accountant. 37


Board of Appeals


63


Balance Sheet


Municipal Building Committee


65


Trust and Investment Account. 38


Lynnfield Water District.


69


Debt Account. 38


Library History .


70


Recapitulation of Debt Account 38


School Committee


74


Analysis of Accounts


39


Superintendent of Schools


75


Receipts


41


Town Report Committee


79


Expenditures


43


Jury List


79


Report of State Director of Accounts


48


Marriages


82


Planning Board 50


Births


83


Park and Cemetery Commission 50


Deaths 86


Health Officer. 51


Comparison of Local Taxes 33


Board of Health 52


Licenses issued by Board of Selectmen ... 48


Road Commissioner. 52


Hunting, Fishing and Sporting Licenses Issued 48


Tree and Moth Department 53


Sealer of Weights and Measures. 53


Summary of 1908 Town Report -Center Spread


CREDITS: Cover - Edward S. (Ted) Averell, Jr .; Photography - Mel Goodwin; Pictures for Fifty Year Insert - Mrs. John A. Maturo, Mrs. Kenneth A. Worthen and Mrs. Edward S. Averell; Print- ing - Lorell, Inc., Boston.


- 4 -


Plumbing and Cesspool Inspector


62


Collector of Taxes


Library Trustees 56


Result of State Primary


Town Officers


ELECTED


Selectmen and Board of Public Welfare


Mason J. Condon Term expires 1959


Ross F. Coon ... Term expires 1960


Proctor A. Coffin Term expires 1961


Board of Health


Manton P. Spear Term expires 1959


Harold D. Aldrich. Term expires 1960,


George S. Robinson, M.D. .. Term expires 1961


Town Clerk


Harry W. Higgins ..


Tenure


Town Treasurer


Harry W. Higgins. Term expires 1960


Tax Collector


Clifford C. Ham Term expires 1961


Moderator


John H. Kimball Term expires 1959


Assessors


Stanley G. Thwing. Term expires 1959


Stanley E. Flagg Term expires 1960


Kenneth A. Worthen Term expires 1961


Trustees of Public Library


James Y. Lake Term expires 1959


Rudolph P. Schlenker Term expires 1960


Pauline S. Chadwell Term expires 1961


Park and Cemetery Commissioners


John B. Rodgers Term expires 1959


Minot H. Carter Term expires 1960


James V. Thompson Term expires 1961


Constables


Charles V. Sweetser Term expires 1959 Allison G. Tedford. Term expires 1959


Tree Warden


Gustav H. Koch


Term expires 1959


School Committee


Charles W. Kessler. Term expires 1959


Bessie L. Sinish Term expires 1959


Louis D. Savage, M.D. Term expires 1960


George Beasley


Term expires 1961


Carl F. Van Bennekom Term expires 1961


Planning Board


Colby L. Burbank, Jr Term expires 1959


Alexander Simpson, Jr.


Term expires 1960


Calvin J. Osberg.


Term expires 1961


James E. Bagley, Jr.


Term expires 1962


Richard R. Wolsey


Term expires 1963


Road Commissioner


James C. Fletcher. ... Term expires 1959


APPOINTED


Town Accountant


Theodore C. Palizzolo ...... Term expires 1960


Town Counsel


Ralph G. Howland.


...


... Term expires 1959


Clerk of Board of Selectmen


Robert W. Peabody. . Term expires 1959


Board of Registrars


Joseph A. Donovan Term expires 1959


William B. Murphy Term expires 1960 Ernest J. Bonah, Jr. Term expires 1961 Harry W. Higgins Clerk


Board of Appeals Members


Theodore N. Ferren. Term expires 1959 Hubert G. Wall Term expires 1960


Glen R. Smith


Term expires 1961


Alternate Members


Augustus S. True


Term expires 1959 Malcolm V. Smith .. Term expires 1960


Gene V. Santeusanio


Term expires 1961


- 5 -


Finance Committee


Edward R. Marston. Term expires 1959


James W. Melanson Term expires 1959


John A. Valkevich Term expires 1959


James W. Babcock Term expires 1960


Nelson B. Cutler, Jr. Term expires 1960


Richard L. Fite, Jr. Term expires 1960


Arthur A. Barton Term expires 1961


Robert H. Jacobson Term expires 1961


William E. Lee Term expires 1961


Health Agent George S. Robinson, M.D. .. Term expires 1959


Public Welfare Agent Wesley W. Munroe


Police Chief


William E. Foley


Fire Chief


Carl E. Davis


Building Inspector Howard S. Armerding. ...... Term expires 1959


Plumbing Inspector Forrest W. Howard. Term expires 1959


Wire Inspector


James V. Thompson .......... Term expires 1959


Cesspool Inspector Forrest W. Howard. Term expires 1959


Civil Defense Director Mason J. Condon Term expires 1959


Sealer of Weights & Measures Gustav H. Koch Term expires 1959


Moth Department Supt. Gustav H. Koch. .. Term expires 1959


Soldiers Relief Agent Burton B. Cogswell .. Term expires 1959


Veterans Benefit Agent


Burton B. Cogswell.


Term expires 1959


Sanitarian


Robert W. Rimbach.


Term expires 1959


Inspector of Animals


Gustav H. Koch.


Term expires 1959


Dog Officer


Antonio I. Procurot


.Term expires 1959


Walter M. Riggs


Patrolman Walter M. Riggs of the Police Department who retired on December 31st of this year after more than thirty years in the service of the town, has spent twenty-seven of them with the Police Department and three with the Park and Highway Departments .


Born in Lynn on December 31, 1893, he moved with his family to Somersworth, New Hampshire, later moving to Dover in the same state. In 1911 he returned to Massa- chusetts to make his home in Lynnfield . "Riggsy", as he is affectionately called by both young and old alike, entered the Army in 1917, and upon his discharge worked at several jobs before accepting an appoint- ment with the Police Department. He has the distinction of working under three Police Chiefs, and is the first member of the Lynn- field Police Department to be retired.


- 6 -


Board of Selectmen


The Board of Selectmen feel that our re- port to the town should be more than a col- umn of mere statistics. We think that it should be a statement of the town's position and activities during the past year; an analy- sis of where we have been, what we have done and a prognosis of where we are head- ed.


In these critical times when expansion is inevitable, careful planning is a necessity and it is therefore imperative that we look into the future and prepare ourselves for the certainties that are to come if we are to maintain our position in a rapidly expanding community of municipalities.


We have had an extremely active year and feel a great sense of accomplishment in our endeavors. Perhaps in several instances precedents have been broken and new ones set, but there is an old saying that, "it is better to use tradition as a guide post than a hitching post."


The Board has made several major recom- mendations for the future of the town. This is in keeping with a policy of sound plan- ning and of coordinating our expected growth with the ability to shoulder the necessary resultant financial burden over a period of years without jeopardizing our basic economy.


The year 1958 has been a year of firsts in Lynnfield; almost the beginning of another new era for our town.


For the first time, the Board of Select- men sought and received competitive bids for the printing of the 1957 Annual Town Report. We feel that the low bid of the Buck Printing Company of Boston resulted in a savings of several hundred dollars to the town. Not only did we do well financially in this mat- ter but the Board of Selectmen received on behalf of the town at the annual meeting of Massachusetts Selectmen on October 10, 1958, an award for second place in the Mass- achusetts Town Report contest in recogni- tion of the excellency of our 1957 Town Re- port. We publicly convey to the Town Re- port Committee our most sincere thanks for their efforts.


Another first was the establishment of first aid courses that were conducted for fif- teen weeks on Monday and Thursday eve- nings for all of our public safety department


employees, (police, auxiliary police, fire and auxiliary fire personnel).


Your Board voiced its opposition to a pro- posal of the State for extensive improvements to the Saugus River in Lynnfield since it would place an unduly heavy financial bur- den on our limited revenue, especially since towns other than Lynnfield would receive the greatest benefit from the proposal. It was felt by this Board that such a project should be done by the Commonwealth and financed in like manner. It does not appear to differ from other projects of a similar nature that are undertaken and financed on a state wide basis for other sections of Massachusetts. As the result of this objection the proposal was not favorably acted upon by the state legislature.


Acting upon the recommendations of a committee appointed by the Selectmen, the Annual Town Meeting voted to authorize the Board of Selectmen to change the precinct line between Precinct 1 and 2. It was our opinion that this would provide a more near- ly equal division of the voters in each pre- cinct.


---


=


Proctor A. Coffin, Ross F. Coon, Mason J. Condon


As the result of a meeting with officials of the Registry of Motor Vehicles, the Mass- achusetts Department of Public Works, the Chief of Police, Highway Commissioner, and the Selectmen, the Board adopted uniform traffic rules for the town in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 85, Section 2 of the General Laws. This is the first time that a Board of Selectmen has consolidated all rules and regulations concerning traffic into a uniform regulation. They supersede any previous rules or by -laws on the subject. Copies are available at the office of the Town Clerk for those interested.


- 7 -.


Acting under the authority vested by Chap- ter 214 of the Acts of 1957, the Board caused certain structures to be placed in safe con- dition and others that represented both a safety and fire hazard to be torn down. In other communities, buildings of this sort have been the scene of accidents and death, parti- cularly for small children


Recognizing the need for a well-trained and organized police force, the Board sent two members of the Police Department to the State Police Training School this year and intends to continue this policy in 1959. We also hope to send a member to the F.B.I. Academy in Washington in 1959. Proper police training is most important here in Lynnfield due to its critical geographical location, comparatively large area, and small police force. Therefore, we intend to de- velop an efficient, effective, and well equip- ped police organization.


In 1958 the Board adopted a new wage scale as recommended by the Wage Study Committee and voted by the town meeting. Adequate compensation is one of the best incentives for increased production and ef- ficiency. If we expect to have top notch or- ganizations they must receive remuneration equal to that paid in other communities whose standards we hope to equal as a muni- cipality.


On April 3, 1958, Acting Civil Defense Director Flagg resigned and the Board wish- es to publicly thank him for his services. The Selectmen subsequently appointed Mason J. Condon as Director of Civil Defense, who agreed to serve without compensation. In most communities in the. absence of a Civil Defense Director, the Mayor or Chairman of the Board of Selectmen assumes the duties.


As the result of an excessively high wa- ter level in Reedy Meadow, Chairman Mason J. Condon, Town Counsel Ralph Howland, Road Commissioner Fletcher, and Mr. Theo- dore Ferren of Perry Avenue, met with Mayor Costin and Water Commissioner Callahan of Lynn. The efforts of the town officials were rewarded when Mayor Costin agreed to have Commissioner Callahan lower the water level by removing several stop planks at the dam.


The Board accepted the low bid of $1642.00 for a new ambulet cruiser submit- ted by the Gibbs Motor Company on April 24, 1958.


For several years the Board has been of


the opinion that it would be most economical to replace two police cruisers each year. An analysis of the large maintenance costs for the years 1957 and 1958 definitely support this theory, and accordingly, we have direct- ed the Chief of Police to include a sufficient amount of money in his budget for this pur- pose.


Acting under the authority of a special act of the legislature and in accordance with the standards established by the Department of Natural Resources and the State Depart- ment of Public Works, the Selectmen estab- lished certain rules and regulations for bath- ing and boating in Pillings Pond. Copies may be obtained at the office of the Town Clerk.


On May 22nd the Board accepted with deep regret the resignation of Joseph Camil- lieri as Chief of the Civil Defense Auxiliary Police Force. Mr. Camillieri has devoted many hours. to this group and deserves. much credit for its success. Deputy Chief Warren Chamberland was elevated to the position of Chief by the Board.


On June 28, 1958 a new post office was dedicated to the use of Lynnfield citizens. The Chairman of the Board represented the Selectmen at this significant occasion. It is expected that this building will provide the people of Lynnfield with additional modern and much needed facilities.


Eliot Grant, Chairman of the Board of Appeals, resigned on September 4, 1958. It was with sincere regrets that the Board re- luctantly accepted the resignation. Mr. Grant has served Lynnfield well, over a period of many years. The Board appointed Theodore Ferren, former chairman of the Planning Board and an alternate member of the Board of. Appeals, to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Grant's resignation; Gene Santeusanio was appointed as an alternate member.


The Board has long recognized the need of improving certain conditions in Pillings Pond. In these critical times it was not felt that the town could afford a large expendi- ture of this nature. A plea for assistance was made to the state. It was with a great deal of disappointment that we were informed on September 25th that due to the artificial nature of the Pond, the state could not clas- sify it as a Great Pond and therefore, could not grant any assistance to us in this matter.


For those who attend meetings at the


- 8 -


high school, the inadequacy of the parking facilities is obvious. The Board of Select- men sponsored an article in the special town meeting held on September 29th to acquire additional space to relieve this problem. It is expected that this will be completed some- time in 1959 after funds are appropriated for construction purposes.


The Selectmen perambulated the town boundary between Reading and Lynnfield with members of the Reading Board of Select- men on November 1, 1958.


The Board of Selectmen has taken active steps to oppose the extension of the Metro- politan Transit Authority into Lynnfield. Enactment of this proposal would result in a substantial deficit assessment to the town since the transportation system operates at a financial loss which is made up by the communities served. Based on the current available data, reliable sources have placed the cost of this deficit assessment at be- tween two and three dollars of the tax rate.


For many years now our town has been in a continual state of expansion. Many of our public services have been radically affected by this unmitigated growth, particularly our school system. Other services of the town have also felt the pangs of unnatural growth. Both water districts in the town have recent- ly appropriated money for capital improve - ments calculated to serve the town. The Post Office Department, within the past two years, has caused to be constructed two new post offices in Lynnfield. It has been gener- al knowledge, and certainly no secret, that our fire and police stations were inadequate many years ago and were in desperate need of replacement.


In accordance with the provisions of a vote of the last annual town meeting, the Selectmen appointed a Municipal Building Committee to prepare preliminary plans and specifications for a new fire and police sta- tion. This committee has submitted a report (which appears elsewhere in this report) in accordance with the provisions of the article recommending the construction of such a building in the area adjacent to the Town Hall. The Board of Selectmen feel that this report is of vital importance to the people of Lynnfield and have instructed the Town Report Committee to include it in this report. The Selectmen are in complete accord with the recommendations of the committee and urge their acceptance by the town. At this time we commend the Building Committee for their diligence and many untiring hours of


fine work.


Since no overall review of zoning has been made in over five years by any town body, the Board of Selectmen has made an honest appraisal of the present zoning of Lynnfield. On May 26th of this year a series of recommendations were made by the Select- men to the Planning Board, requesting that they review them, in an effort to bring the Master Plan of Development up to date. Ac- cordingly, the warrant for the annual 1959 town meeting contains several zoning arti- cles, the enactment of which by the town meeting, should prove to be of great benefit to the stable development of the town.


Generally speaking, the area of employee relations in cities and towns has remained unchanged over a long period of time. It has been the feeling of the Selectmen that the general public considers that those who work for the town are the town, and evaluate the community by the people in the town govern- ment that they meet. Human nature being what it is, it is therefore reasonable to as- sume that if the individuals who are employ- ed by the town are not happy, those with whom they come in contact with will not re- ceive a true picture of our government. The wages should be adequate, but to almost every employee the realization that he is being treated fairly is just as important as being well paid. He should also be provided with the necessary tools and space with which to efficiently perform his designated duties. This is true in both public and pri- vate employment, and it is something that you as wage earners as well as taxpayers should realize. As a result of these feelings the Board has taken steps to provide for these circumstances in the 1959 town war- rant.


With these and many other considerations in mind, the Selectmen have appointed an ad- visory committee of citizens to study the problem of employee - employer relationship in our town government. This committee has spent many hours studying the problem, mak- ing comparisons and evaluations in order to make sensible recommendations to the Se- lectmen. We feel that they have done an ex- cellent job, consistent with the best inter- ests of Lynnfield. Many of their recommenda- tions have been implemented by executive rulings by the Selectmen, others have been incorporated into the 1959 budget.


Over a period of several years town meet- ings have authorized the Selectmen to ap-


-9 -


point committees to investigate certain areas for recreation purposes. This year the Select- men appointed an advisory committee to study this problem in an area recommended by the Master Plan of Development for Lynnfield. In each and every instance certain restric- tions and impediments have been found that made acquisition of these sites an expen- sive and an ill-planned venture.


Recently, we felt that the matter was of such importance that it should be given our personal attention. After much study the Board has selected an area that is centrally located, geographically speaking, and is readily conducive to recreational develop- ment. It offers a site for a much-needed ball field and a swimming pool. Presently the land is being used as a golf course and by allowing most of it to remain in this use, a sufficient revenue can be realized so as to pay the cost of financing this purchase and in time the construction of a ball field and swimming pool for the town.


Article 16 of the warrant more fully de- scribes this proposal.


For some time the Selectmen have recog- nized that in the near future the town would face certain inevitable expenditures. The members of the Board have looked into this matter and have appointed as an advisory committee a group of three citizens to study the problem of establishing a capital outlay program.


Today, with rising costs, heavy capital requirements, and increasing tax rates, finan- cial planning through the use of capital budg- et programming is one of the most construc- tive ways by which a community can mini- mize its expenditures, maintain its credit rating, and work toward a "stable" tax rate, maximize tax dollar returns, establish a balance between pay-as-you-go and borrowing and get needed improvement projects com- pleted.


Specifically, a capital budget program is basically a process of good municipal government and administration in tying to- gether the physical needs of a community with its ability to pay for them.


It is a list of the needed municipal physi- cal improvements arranged in their order of need and spread over a period of years so that the total cost of the projects could be paid for with the least amount of discomfort and inconvenience.


The program should be thought of as part of an overall budgeting operation, and pri- marily that of providing for the non-recurring expenses of the community.


As your Board of Selectmen we hope to continue this committee from year to year, and although they have just begun to scratch the surface, it is expected that their future recommendations will be of great benefit to the town.


The Board is grateful and appreciative for the cooperation that we have received from all officials and citizens of the town with whom we have come in contact during the year.


MASON J. CONDON, Chairman ROSS F. COON PROCTOR A. COFFIN


APPOINTMENTS MADE BY THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN FOR 1958


BOARD OF APPEALS


3 years - Glen R. Smith, member




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.