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