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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1945 ADVISORY REPORTPlease Preserve This Report for Use ar tim Town Meeting TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER Report of the Advisory Board MARCH 17, 1945 To T~E CITIZENS Or NO~T~I ANDOVE~: Your Advisory Board presents herewith its Annual Report. Last year we voted at the Annual Town Meeting under Article 5, commonly known as the budget, and $13,540 for other special articles in the warrant, making a total of $431,788 voted at town meeting. This year the appropriations recom- mended By the Finance Committee for the budget are 8437,509.7~, or nearly $~0,000 greater, and the special articles in tile warrant would call for .an additional $90,000 if all were to be voted favor- ably. Several articles have been transferred from "Special Articles" to the appropriations for the departments, where they belong, so thc total recommended swells the budget to more than $~50,000.--by far the largest on record. The tax rate will be raised so much that it is doubtful if any appropriation can be made for the purchase of defense bonds for the benefit of returning veterans, as proposed in Article 35. The town employee who is trying to pay his food costs, in addi- tion to the huge increase in all living.costs, including the burden of withholding taxes and all the various levies of sta~ and town levels of government, has reason to be discouraged if he has a growing family. Accordingly we have tried to give him a ray of sunshine by recommending increases ia town wages and salaries, to compensate for tJ~e increase in everything he must buy. We recommend an increase in all town wages of 15% above those received after the increase granted in 194g. In other words, an increase of about 71~% is to be added this year to the inerease of 7~/~% last year. This answers the question of whether the increase of last year is to be continued. It is; and an additional 7~% is to be added this year. Where last year the limit of the increase was $100.00, this has been eliminated and a 15% increase over 1948 has been substituted. Another exception is where in- creases have been made by heads of departments this year. No further increases can be granted hi such eases unless they come within the 15%. Wc believe that the public employees should receive a living wage. As we pointed out last year, for the most part North Andover's town salary aud wage lists are basically sound and adequate for normal times like those that preceded the present war, and which will again prevail after the war is over. SCHOOL DEPARTMENT INCREASES In spitc of the increase in their appropriation of over $30,000 in the last five years, mostly for salaries, the school department this year is asking for $15,000 more in their appropriation, aa~d in addition has five special articles in the warrant which would add up to several thousa~d dollars more. In Article ~, three proposals are made by the school depart- men[. The most expcnsive one proposes to expend $20,000 for plans and specifications for a new high school; the second proposal is similar, but plans to spend $14,000 for an addition to the high school; and the least expensive proposition is to have, a survey conducted by one or more qualified persons regarding the ueeds of the town for new school buiMings or additions to the school buildings. This survey would cost 8~,000. As we point out in the last part of the comment uuder the Article ~, we are recommend- lng the adoption of Section C, provided a committee is appointed by the moderator to include the School Committee, the Post-War Planning Committee, and five reputable citizens of the town including one from each precinct. On the first proposal, we can only repeat the recommendation we made last year on the then proposal to appropriate $1~,000 for plans and specifications for an addition to the high school. It is still the judgment of the Advisory Board that a sum spent on plans alone would be unwise for the following reasons: (l) They ~night be discarded if a new building were dccided on; (~) They may be greatly modified to fit the type of addition decided on; or (3) A building to fit the plans lnight be erectcd to avoid losing the money already spent for preliminary drawings, even though the town would prefer a differcnt type of structarc. A building in a different location, nearer the center oi the town, ~night in the ~uture be more satisfacto~. GENERAL COMMENTS in order to keep wage iucreases as uniform as possiblc, it is reccnnnended that the cost-of-living bonus granted last year be abohshcd, and an increase of 15% over ~he 1943 basic wages and salaries be granted, plus certain merit increases. Thc Board of Selectmen early in 1944 granted increascs to the firemen and police~nen, which was not consistcnt with the 7~% cest-ofdiviug bonus recommended by the Advisory Committee and which was voted on at thc Annual Meeting. We feel that the 10% wage increase asked ~or under Articles a6 and 27 in the wan.ant should receive unfavorable action and the reco~nmenda- [ions of the proposed budget providing for increases up to 15% over the 1943 wage schedule bc approved in their place; and that the abolishment of the cost-of-living bonus be retroactive to December $1, 1944, and the 15% increase be retroactive to January 1, 1945. Cn Article 25, we have recommended that the $50 increase bc added to the call firemen, which incrcase should be retroactive to JanuaW 1, 1945. This is provided for in the recommendations for the fire department budget. Due to the tremendous increase of work in the Treasurer's Department--due to the withholding taxes, retirement fund, and Blue Cross deductions--we feel that an increase in 1945 is in the nature of a wage adjustment. There is a 8700 increase in the appropriation of the Board Assessors for 1945. This is to provide for trachlgs, etc. The present tracings are quite dog-eared and in very bad shape. The increase in the appropriation of the Collector of Taxes is due to an sxldition to provide for Tax Title Foreclosure Expenses, which is recommended by the state department, as these expenses are incurred before the t~wn actually forecloses. The amount of the bill received from the Essex County Hospital for the year is The amount certified to the Board by the Commissioner of Insurance for the Pension Fund is $7,606. SNOW REMOVAL 'fhere is an actual figure to be used for snow removal which will be It resented from the floor at the town meeting. This is due to the emergency on account of the February storm which required extra appropriations, and all bills have not been received as yet. On Page 1~0 of the 1944 Town Repo~, the sai~y of the Chid of the Fire Departmen~ is reported as 8~,184 as Chauffeur; $464.95 as Chief and Engineer; and on Page 1~4, $110 as forest fire warden. On Page 1~5 he is reported as ~celving $6.19 as wages. This adds up ~ toLal wages o[ $~,765.14. The Chief of Police, on the o~her hand, is reported as receNing a salary of $~600 for the year. In Andover and Methuen, both Chiefs receive $55 a we&, we are informed, and it would seem only fair to give the Chief of Police the same sMa~ as the Chief of the Fire Department. He will be raised 851.90 under the budget figttresi which does not seem enough distinetiou between the common policeman and the Chief. We would recommend that $150 be added to the salary of the Chief of Police, as printed in the appropriation in Item 14, of Article 5. We have held many hearings and conferred with town officers, state officials, and with many individuals, and we wish to extend our thanks to all who have been of assistance, particularly to the town officers and department heads for their cooperation and hdp. Respectfully submitted, H~aY BLACk, Chairman B. A~v~ Jou~ T. HAROLD HOLT S. Fo~sgs Roc~wz~, Ca~LeS H. Advisory Board Recommendations ARTICLE ~. To elect all other officers not law required by to be elected by ballot. Recommended that this be referred to the Selectmen for action. ~o ARTICLE 3. To see if the town will vote to accept the report f receipts and expenditures as presented by the Selectmen and Auditor. Recommended that the Report be accepted. ARTICLE 4. To see what action the town will faker,s to its unexpended appropriations. Recommended that all unexpended appropriations be returned to the Treasury, with the exception of $4~_8,~5~' appropriated for Rationing Board Expenses; $9,000 re- appropriated March 13, 1943, for a 750 gallon pump and combination fire fighting true~; $69.93 appropriated June 19, 1944, at a apeciai town meeting, for renewal of the fire alarm systenf; $645.01 appropriated in the 1944 warrant for extension of the Massachusetts Avenue sewer; $2,342.55 appropriated in the 1943 warrant for the purposes of the North Andover Committee on Public Safety; and $990.00 appropriated in the 1944 warrant for extending thc water system on Glcnwood St. ARTICLE 5. To see what action the town will take as to the recommendations of the finance committee. Refer to Pages 6-10. Recommended that each item be considered separately. ARTICLE 6. To see if the town will vote to authorize thc Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial ycar beginning January 1, 1946 and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accord- ance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws. Favorable action recommended. ARTICLE 7. To consider the report of all special committees. Recommended that all reports of special committees be heard. ARTICLE 8. To see what action the town will take in regard tx> appointing a committee to take care of the public parks and triangles of the town. Petition of the Board of Selectmen Recommended that the members of the Board of Public Works act as a committee to care for thc public parks and triangles. /' ARTICLE 9. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500) for the purpose of taking the Decennial Census of 194.5 as required by law. Petition of the Board of Selectmen Favorable action, recommended. ARTICLE 10. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of Two Hundred Dollars ($¢00) for the purpose of repairing or replacing street sign s throughout the town. Petition of the Board of Selectmen Favorable action recon,mended. We further recommend that in the future this be included in the Street Depart- ment's Budget when necessary. ARTICLE 11. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro~ priate the sum of Four Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($450) to paint the bleachers at Grogan's Field. Petition of the Board of Selectmen Favorable action recommended. ARTICLE lC. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of One Hundred and Sixty Dollars ($160) to replank the worn parts of the bleachers at Grogan's Field. Petition of the Board of Selectmen Favorable action recommended. fi ARTICLE 18. To see if the town will vote to accept the follow- lug streets, which have been adjudicated by the Board of Select- men anfl~ are ~aow ready for aeeeptance by the Town: School Street; ~-~¥~i~ Street from Francis Street to Belmont Street; Mablin~-~ for a distm~ce of one hundred (100) feet in a westerly direction from the intersection of Railroad Avenue. Petition of the Board of Selectmen Favorable action recommended provided the Selectmen can inform the meeting that the streets are in readiness be accepted by the town. ARTICLE 14. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of Fifty-Four Dollars and Sixty-Seven cents ($54.67) for the payment of miscellaneous bills contractett in 1944 for Grogan's Field Playground. Petition of the Board of Selectmen Favorable action recommended. ARTICLE 15. To see if ttie town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of Three Hundred Dollars ($$00) for the purpose of a transcription of the Birth Records of the Town from the year 1916 through the year 194l. Petition of Joseph A. Duncan Favorable action recommended. ARTICLE 16. To see if the 'town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to appoint a town accountant in accordance with Sec- 55, Chapter 41, General Laws; to abolish the office of town tion auditor, or take any action relati~-e thereto. Petition of James W. Elliott, Town Auditor Favorable action recommended. AI~TICLE 17. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate Seven Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($7,600) to clean and cement line water mains in thc water works system. Petition of the Board of Public Works The Pitometer Company, after testing the llne, reported that the capacify of the 6'~ main in Great Pond Road has been reduced over 50 per cent by age, and that capacity could bc restored to that of nearly new pipe by cleaning and cement lining. The old main has lasted 45 years and this job should last indefinitely. Favorable action ~ecommended. ' ARTICLE 18. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) to put in a drain on Lyman Road, beginning at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue.. Petition of Joseph J. Sambata.r_9_anakot~aers v//t ARTICLI~ 19. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate he sum of Three Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ($8,800) to purchase a Mack Dump Truck complete. Petition of Highway Su~'e~or Favorable action recommended. It is further recom- mended that the sum received from the old truck be turned into the town treasury. ARTICLE ~0. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($~,000~ for maintenance on any street in Town under Chapter 90 of the General Laws. said money to be used in conjunction with any money which may be allotted by the State or County, or both. for this purpose; or to take any other action in relation thereto. Petition of the Highway Surveyor Favorable action is recommended if the project is ap- proved by the State. Many streets in town need repairing. ARTICLE '21, To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of Eight Hundred Dollars ($800) to install a new surface drain and t~wo eatehbasins on .academy Road. Petition of the Highway Surveyor The improvement does not require the construction of catchbasins, according to authorities~ and is simply a matter of improved housekeeping. Referred to the Highway Surveyor for attention out of his appropriation, and we recommend that this article be stricken from the warrant. sidewalk project he given a favorable place on the list, and we regret that the heavy &pprepriatlons at this meeting make new construction inadvisable. ARTICLE 33. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate a sufficient sum of money to construct a sidewalk on Sutton Street, starting from High Street and going northerly on the right hand side o Sutton Street to meet the other s~dewalk. Petition of William J. Dryden and others Recommend that this Article be stricken from the war- rant. AR'I ICLE $4. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate a sufficient sum of money to construct a Tarvia Sidewalk on 5lay Strcet; the same to extend from Paradis's Garage to the end of said street. The cost for the above to be estimated by the Highway Surveyor. Petition of Ferdinand O. Kruger and others Recommend that this Article be stricken from the war- rant. ARTICLE 85. To see if the Town will vote to raisc and appro- priate, or transfer from available funds in thc treasury, a sum of money for the pm'chase of war bonds or other bonds that arc legal investments for savings banks, for a post war rehabilitation fund, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 5, Acts of 1943. Petition o~ the Board of Selectmen .' Recommend that the Town appropriate the sum of $50,000, or any part thereof, from available funds in the treasury, for the purchase of defense bonds, War bonds, or other bonds issued by the federal other governlnent, or bonds which are legal investments for savings banks, in order to establish a post war rehabili ration fund as provided by Chapter 5, Acts or 1943. 14