Petitions - City of Somerville

Thursday, March..6. 1930
fie protection; to the natural increase in salaries; and to the abolition of
house. duty,
The increase of salaries for school teachers is due to the
natural increases under the merit system and to the opening of the new Grimmons
School at Ten Hills. The amount actually expended for teachers salaries
in"l929 was $1,015,962.46. This year $1,083. 502. will be required. The Mayor
has no jurisdiction over this expenditure and this amount must be provided
under our State Law.
The slight increase in the cost of operating the Library Department
is caused chiefly by the opening of the libraries on Sunday by recent
executive order. The results already achieved more than justifies this
additional expenditure as it enables citizens of the city to use our own libraries
instead of being compelled to use the libraries of adjacent cities.
Tiie increase in the cost of the Recreation Commission is because
the appropriation has been enlarged from $13,000. to $25,000. This
will enable the Recreation Commission to place the playground system on a
year round basis with complete supervision. This additional appropriation is
made necessary because Somerville is the most densely populated city in America,
having 110,000 people crowded into an area of 4.2 square miles. Being a
gateway city, it has a corresponding traffic congestion. In fact outside
of four or five points in Boston, the heaviest traffic in New England occurs
at Washington street and the Northern Artery where from 40,000 to 60,000 cars
pass per day by actual computation.
These facts tend to increase the danger to the children of
Somerville. The streets are too dangerous to play in, and I urgently recommend
that this item for the protection of children and for their recreation
be adopted as recommended. This is the first step toward making the playgrounds
of Somerville the finest in the country.
The appropriation for Celebrations has been increased from
$3,500. to $9,000. because this year there will be an unusual number of observances.
Besides the fourth of July Celebration, there will be the Tercentenary
Celebration; the National Convention of the American Legion which is
to be held in Boston; and George Dilboy Day. x
Somerville f s historic past calls for a proper observance of the
Three Hundredth Anniversary of the founding of Civil Government in America.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has given authority to the cities and towns
to properly observe this great occasion.
The Governor, last week, signed the bill which authorizes a
city to appropriate money for the American Legion Convention.
The dedication of the statue to George Dilboy in Somerville
will take place in August. Tho National Hellenic Societies v/ill hold their
Convention here. General Pershing rated George Dilboy as one of the ten
greatest heroes of the World War. As he lived. here in Somerville and brought
immortal glory to our city, it is proper that' we should make this occasion
the greatest in the history of Somerville.
Under the Executive Department, I have included the appropriation
of $5000.00 for a municipal and industrial survey of Somerville which
your Honorable Board has already approved. This survey is being done in a
thorough and businesslike manner and the facts and data gathered will undoubtedly
be of immense value in planning for the future of Somerville, and
correcting the delinquencies and deficiencies that now exist.
The proper administration of the city's business required the
installation of a switchboard so that the citizens and city departments may
have modern telephone service. The great waste of time experienced in the
past will be eliminated and there will be a consequent reduction in the telephone
bill. This increased service will require operators and this item has
been included under the Executive Department.
The City Charter provides that the Mayor may have the accounts
of any department audited. Acting under this authority, I have engaged a
prominent firm of Accountants to audit the books of all departments for the
last six years. I felt this was necessary to protect department heads and
also because the outgoing City Auditor absolutely refused to give the present
City Auditor any help, advise or assistance. In fact, he refused to even talk
with him about any phase of the city's business or accounts. The sum of
$9000.00 is provided for this audit.
item covering Pensions has been increased from $58,000
to $65,000. chiefly because of the retirement of the Fire Chief and Police
Chief. This item will increase from year to year and there is no way it con
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