Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1952, Part 1

Author: Middleboro (Mass.)
Publication date: 1952
Publisher: s.n.
Number of Pages: 182


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TOWN OF MIDDLEBOROUGH


ANNUAL REPORT


1952


LE


ORO


OUTH AS:


UNTY MASS


JGH *


INCORPORATED


INCORPORATED A. D. 1669


MIDDLEBOROUGH FIRE ALARM BOXES


14


Permanent Men


16 Engine No. 4


21 North Main - Near Public Library


23 Peirce - School


24 Sproat - Pearl


25 North Main - Barrows


26 North - Myrtle


27 East Main- Star Avenue


28 Montello - North


29 Shaw Home - Wareham


31 Centre - Pearl


32 Centre - School


34 Centre - Main


35 Benton - Wareham


36 Wareham - Barden Hill Road


37 Benton - Rock


38 Wareham - Acorn


42 South Main - Courtland


43 South Main - Rock


44 Court End Ave. - Alden


45 South Main - Grove


46 West - Hillside Ave.


47 Elm - Grove


48 Oak - Southwick


51 Centre - Carey


52 Pearl - High


53 Centre - Oak


54 Everett Square


55 Vine - near Lumber Yard


56 Centre - Lovell


57 Everett - Frank


58 Cambridge - Frank


59 Sumner Ave. - Bartlett


62 Forest - Arch


63 Oak - Frank


64 Oak - North


65 North - Nemasket


71 Everett - Keith


72 Railroad Station


73 Archer Court


81 Town Hall


82 Bates School


83 Union Street School


84 School Street School


85 Forest Street School


86 West Side School


87 Memorial High School


121 Lakeville State Sanitorium


131 Plymouth Shoe Company


141 Geo. E. Keith Company


146 Grove - near Japan Works


151 Warren Avenue


212 NO SCHOOL


213 Squad Call Engine No. 2


251 Barnett Nursing Home


313 Squad Call Engine No. 3


333 Squad Call Engine No. 1


351 Dean-Morris Shoe Co.


413 Engines No. 1 and No. 3


451 Shadow Lawn Nursing Home


531 St. Luke's Hospital


581 Alberts Shoe Company


666 American Legion


7777 Civil Defense 6 Single Blows at 30 Second Intervals, Warden Call 2-2-2-2 Boy Scout Assembly


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


TOWN OF MIDDLEBOROUGH Massachusetts


LEE


O.


JUTH


Py


T


PLYMOUT


NTY MASS


M


GH


INCORPORATED


AD.1665


For the Year Ending December 31 1952


ORGANIZATION CHART


TOWN OF MIDDLEBOROUGH


ELECTORATE


Housing Authority


Planning Board


Finance Committee


Treas. and Collector


SELECTMEN


Assessors


Moderator


School Com.


TOWN MANAGER


Town Counsel


Town Clerk and Acct.


Park Comm


Tree Warden


Forest Warden


Insp. Wires


Dog Officer


Fire Dept.


Police Dept.


Registrars of Voters


Library Trustees


Sealer Wts and Meas.


Water Dept.


Gas and Elec. Dept.


Welfare Dept.


Highway Dept.


Health Dept.


Civil Defense


Sewer


Insp. Plumbing


Rubbish and Garbage


Clinics


Insp. Animals Slaughtering Milk


MIDDLEBOROUGH


MASSACHUSETTS


GENERAL INFORMATION AND FIGURES ABOUT THE TOWN


Elevation - 100 feet above sea level Settled - 1660


855 acres


Cranberry


Incorporated as a Town - 1669 Population 1950 Census - 10,164 bogo Valuation (exclusive of automobiles) - $10,696,895.00 Tax Rate - $62.00 per thousand


Area - 68.1 square miles Number of Dwellings - 2,682 Number of Manufactures - 15 Miles of Street - 149


Municipally Owned - Water, Sewer, Gas, Electric Light Plants Motorized Police and Fire Departments Schools in Class A Municipally Owned - Swimming poll, tennis courts, playgrounds


PRINCIPAL INDUSTRIES


Fire Apparatus


Photo Finishers


Varnishes


Shoes


Calendars


Drug Sundries


Grain Elevator


Brass Goods


and thirty other products


THE CENTER OF THE CRANBERRY INDUSTRY LOCATED


35 Miles from Boston 22 Miles from New Bedford 30 Miles from Providence, R. I. On Route 44 to Plymouth and Route 28 to Cape Cod On Route 79 to Fall River and Route 18 to New Bedford On Route 44 to Taunton and Providence, R. I.


RAILROAD CENTER


Direct Rail Connections with


Cape Cod Boston


Brockton


Direct Bus Connections with


Boston


Brockton


Providence


Fall River Bridgewater


New Bedford


Plymouth


Taunton


Carver


4


ANNUAL REPORT


WHERE TO CALL FOR SERVICE


Fire


250


Police


264


Ambulance


264


Aid to Dependent Children


Welfare Department 1027


Animal Inspection


Inspector of Animals 779


Bills and Accounts


Town Accountant


780


Birth Certificates


Town Clerk


780


Burial Permits


Health Officer or Town Manager 470


928


Business Certificates


Town Clerk


780


Civil Defense


Town House


373


Civil Defense


Playground


1200


Death Certificates


Town Clerk


780


Dog Licenses


Town Clerk


780


Elections


Town Clerk


780


Employment


Town Manager


928


Entertainment Licenses


Town Clerk


780


Fishing and Hunting Licenses


Town Clerk


780


Fuel Oil Storage


Fire Department


250


Garbage Collection


Health Department


470


Health


Health Department


470


Library


Middleborough Public Library


613


Licenses


Town Clerk


780


Light and Power


Municipal Gas & Electric


1371


Light and Power Bills


Municipal Gas & Electric


Department


1371


Marriage Certificates


Town Clerk


780


Milk Inspection


Milk Inspector


779


Old Age Assistance


Welfare Department


1027


Playground


Town Manager


928


Plumbing Permits


Plumbing Inspector


470


Purchasing


Town Manager


928


Schools


School Department


81


Selectmen


Town Manager


928


Sewer Permits and Sewer Bills


Town Manager


928


Slaughtering Inspection


Inspector of Slaughtering


779


Veterans' Benefits


Agent


245


Street Maintenance


Highway Yard


724-W


Tax Assessments


Assessors


766-W


Tax Collections


Tax Collector


766-M


Trees


Tree Warden


724-W


U. S. Selective Service


Town House


956


Voting and Registration


Registrars


780


Water


Water Department


90


Water Bills


Water Department


90


Weigths and Measures


Sealer of Weigths and Measures


90


Welfare


Welfare Department


1027


Wiring Permits


Inspector of Wiring 818


Town Manager's Office 928


1


Department


5


ANNUAL REPORT


PUBLIC OFFICIALS 1952


Board of Selectmen


Ralph W. Maddigan, Chairman Rhodolphus P. Alger William J. MacDougall John A. Washburn Paul T. Anderson


Town Manager Roger W. Macdonald


School Committee


Miriam Campbell Joseph F. Riley Lorenzo Wood, Chairman Horace K. Atkins George A. Shurtleff, Jr. ยท C. Trafton Mendall


Term Expires 1953 Term Expires 1953


Term Expires 1954 Term Expires 1954


Term Expires 1955


Term Expires 1955


Superintendent of Schools J. Stearns Cushing


Planning Board


Joseph C. Kunces, Secretary C. Trafton Mendall, Chairman Stanley F. Alger, Jr. John J. Kendall


Assessors


Lloyd Sturgis James E. Houlihan, Chairman Theodore F. Deane


Housing Authority


Allan Hale, Chairman Adnah Harlow Doris Stetson Edward J. Morrissey, State Appointee Ford Campbell


Finance Committee


Kenneth B. Keedwell Charles P. Washburn Arnold Thomas


Arthur C. Saccocia Kenneth E. Atwood


Frederick W. daCosta


James J. Mahoney, Chairman


Term Expires 1953


Term Expires 1954


Term Expires 1956 Term Expires 1957


Term Expires 1953


Term Expires 1954 Term Expires 1955


Term Expires 1953


Term Expires 1954


Term Expires 1955


Term Expires 1956 Term Expires 1957


Term Expires 1953 Term Expires 1953 Term Expires 1954 Term Expires 1954


Term Expires 1955


Term Expires 1955 Term Expires 1955


Term Expires 1953


Term Expires 1953


Term Expires 1954 Term Expirse 1954 Term Expires 1955


6


ANNUAL REPORT


Measurers of Wood, Bark and Lumber


Ernest S. Pratt Ernest Standish


Gilbert M. Simmons Alfred B. DesRosiers


Trustees of the Public Library


3)


Myra S. Shaw Ernest E. Thomas William J. MacDougall Joseph Riley Thomas H. Kelly


Term Expires 1953 Term Expires 1953 Term Expires 1954 Term Expires 1954


M. Ethel Washburn


Term Expires 1954


Term Expires 1955


Helen N. Whitcomb Theodore N. Wood, President


Term Expires 1955


Thomas Weston


Term Expires 1955


Park Commissioners


Ralph B. Mendall Bartleft H. Harrison William N. Sheehy


Term Expires 1953


Term Expires 1953 Term Expires 1953


Superintendent of Park Joseph C. Kunces


Registrars of Voters


1 George E. Gove William P. Scanlon, Chairman Sarah A. Sheehy


Term Expires 1953 Term Expires 1954 Term Expires 1955


Constables


Charles H. Rogers v


Fence Viewers


Sheldon L. Phinney


Leo A. Quindley Public Weighers


Ernest S. Pratt Nellie Kelley John Dutra Alfred Gomes


Wilfred Bois


Albert Soule Arthur Gallagher John Callan Francis Borsari Robert LaCombe


Moderator


Town Clerk Waldo S. Thomas


Clarence L. Shaw


Romeo Millette


Antone Freitas Winifred S. Carver Russell Buck Henry P. Smith


Howard Lincoln Bettina Eaton Charles S. Carver Chester Camandona John Washburn Laurentino Leitos


Term Expires 1953


Fletcher Clark, Jr.


Term Expires 1953


7


ANNUAL REPORT


Town Accountant


Waldo S. Thomas


Term Expires 1953


Treasurer and Collector


Chester L. Shaw


Term Expires 1954


Town Counsel


Allan Hale


Term Expires 1953


Welfare Agent Edwin O. Wilson


Trustee M.L.H.P. Luxury Fund Edwin O. Wilson


Mgr. Gas & Electric Dept. Stephen Horbal


Health Dentist Dr. Louis H. Fuller


Chief, Fire Department Bertram Tripp


Chief, Police Department Charles H. Rogers


Civil Defense Kenneth Keedwell


Veteran's Service Agent Louis A. Cole


.Moth Superintendent Louis Forney


Superintendent of Streets Louis Forney


Forest Warden Bertram Tripp


Tree Warden


Inspector of Wires L


Louis Forney


Emilio N. Niro


Sealer of Weights & Measures Lloyd E. Banks


i Inspector of Animals, Milk, Slaughtering John Rebell


Inspector of Plumbing Harry Rowe


i Dog Officer Arthur F. Benson


Burial Agent Louis A. Cole


Keeper of Lock-up Charles H. Rogers


Agent for Care of Veterans' Graves Louis-A Cole / Loman


Field Driver and Pound Keeper


Charles H. Rogers


Agent of Liquor Establishments to Represent the Board Charles H. Rogers


Health Officers


Bertram N. Cameron Miriam Campbell


8


ANNUAL REPORT


REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen


Middleborough, Massachusetts


Gentlemen:


I herewith present the annual report of the Town Manager for the year ending December 31, 1952.


The construction of Plymouth Street to Route 28 was completed this year. This work from Everett Street has been carried on for the past few years and now this highway has been straightened, widened, and drainage installed.


Under this same program, a section of Purchase Street was black- topped and preliminary work done widening and installing culverts and removing brush and debris to the Carver Line.


Under Chapter 90 Maintenance, Wareham, Plymouth, Thompson and Taunton Street were surface treated.


General maintenance work in the Highway Department was carried out on several streets in the Town where needed. Lincoln Street was widened and asphalt applied. The streets in the Williams Development, where houses have been constructed, were graded, gravel placed thereon, and asphalt surface applied. The Pearl Street Parking area was shaped and surface treated with asphalt.


Insect and Pest Control


Work has been carried on during the year cutting out the dead wood on elm trees under state advice. To date we have sent several samples to the Laboratory at Amherst and no positive fungus of the Dutch Elm Disease has been found in Middleborough.


Traps for gypsy moth were set out under state supervision and combed every ten days for specimens. No signs of gypsy moth were found. ..


Water


The installation of new services and replacement of old continued about the same as in previous years. The wells at the Rock still furnish the same fine quality of water; and in spite of the long drought, the Town was not affected, and it was not necessary to curtail the use of water.


9


ANNUAL REPORT


Sewer


Good results are being obtained from the treatment of sewage at the sewage treatment plant. Analyses from the State show that the effluent into the river to be satisfactory.


For the first year, sewer rental bills were sent out to those using the sewer. This charge off-sets the cost of maintenance of the treat- ment plant.


I am referring you to the reports of the Town Departments for information regarding their activities for the year which are listed in this report.


I wish to extend my thanks and appreciation for the fine coopera- tion extended by the Board of Selectmen and the Departments of the Town in the accomplishments of the year's work.


ROGER W. MACDONALD Town Manager.


10


ANNUAL REPORT


General Government


REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK


ANNUAL TOWN MEETING January 21, 1952 with its adjournments


Article 1: To choose all necessary town officers, the following officers to be voted on one ballot, viz: A Moderator for one year; one Selectman for three years; two members of the School Committee for three years; one member of the Board of Assessors for three years; one Treasurer and Collector of Taxes for two years; one member of the Middleborough Housing Authority for five years; three members of the Finance Committee for three years; one member of the Planning Board for four years; one member of the Planning Board for five years. The polls will be open at 12 o'clock noon for vote on the foregoing article and will not be closed before 8 o'clock P.M.


Meeting called to order at 11:45 A.M. in Precinct 1 by Robert West, in Precinct 2 by Elisha H. Shaw, and in Precinct 3 by Harlas L. Cushman.


The polls were declared open at 12 noon.


The following election officers were sworn in:


Precinct 1 - Robert C. West, Georgiana M. Townsend, Leila M. Allan, Ruth E. Caswell, Doris M. Thorson, Mildred C. Teeling, Stella R. Fickert, Inez M. Chandler, and Joseph D'Elia served as Police Officer.


Precinct 2 - Elisha H. Shaw, Laura Norris, Gertrude B. Martin, Esther M. Robidoux, Annie C. Healey, Alice Sylvia, John W. Touhy, Jacob A. Swift, Mary E. Kelley, Elizabeth Devlin, Harriet B. Sylvester, Lillian C. Raymond, Helen N. Hoye, Bertha I. Dunham, Louise Cashon, and Charles H. Rogers served as Police Officer.


Precinct 3 - Harlas L. Cushman, Perley Perham, Ellen C. Gallagher, James A. Brennan, Viola Cushman, Euphemia Lincoln, Harold Williams, Walter H. Gillis, Patrick McMahon served as Police Officer.


The result of the vote was as follows:


Pct. 1


Pct. 2


Pct. 3


Total


Moderator


Fletcher Clark, Jr.


107


1151


132


1390


C. Trafton Mendall


0


1


0


1


Blanks


11


173


15


199


118


1325


147


1590


11


ANNUAL REPORT


Pct. 1 Pct. 2


Pct. 3


Total


Treasurer & Collector


106


1172


133


1411


Chester L. Shaw Blanks


12


153


14


179


118


1325


147


1590


Selectmen


Paul T. Anderson


48


692


87


827


Harrison P. Holbrook


4


32


1


37


Ralph E. Nourse Blanks


2


29


5


36


118


1325


147


1590


School Committee


C. Trafton Mendall


55


609


72


736


George A. Shurtleff, Jr.


69


714


71


854


Louise C. Walker


41


467


60


568


Thomas Weston


39


520


57


616


Winifred S. Carver


1


0


0


1


Blanks


31


340


34


405


236


2650


294


3180


Housing Authority


Ford Campbell


85


1006


111


1202


Walter A. Casey Blanks


33


318


36


387


118


1325


147


1590


Assessor


Percy F. Churbuck


35


311


42


388


Theodore V. Deane


75


948


99


1122


Blanks


8


66


6


80


118


1325


147


1590


Planning Board 4 yrs.


Stanley F. Alger, Jr.


96


1100


127


1323


Herbert Thompson Blanks


0


1


0


1


22


224


20


266


118


1325


147


1590


Planning Board 5 yrs.


John J. Kendall Everett J. McManus


85


990


118


1193


0


2


0


2


Edmund R. Yarusites


0


1


0


1


Blanks


33


332


29


394


118


1325


147


1590


0


1


0


1


1


64


572


54


690


12


ANNUAL REPORT


Pct. 1 Pct. 2


Pct. 3


Total


Planning Board 3 yrs.


Moushah Krikorian


1


2


0


3


Paul Anderson


0


1


0


1


Russell Seaver


0


1


0


1


Norman W. Linsday


0


1


0


1


Robert F. Howes


0


1


0


1


Henry B. Burkland


0


1


0


1


Elmer A. Sisson


0


1


0


1


Stephen Pawlak


0


1


0


1


Ralph C. Morse


0


3


0


3


Edgar M. Blais


0


1


0


1


Blanks


117


1312


147


1576


118


1325


147


1590


Finance Committee


Kenneth E. Atwood


98


1117


125


1340


Frederick W. daCosta


84


1024


112


1220


James J. Mahoney


88


1027


111


1226


Arthur N. O'Toole


0


1


0


1


Blanks


84


806


93


983


354


3975


341


4770


The result of the vote was read at 10:30 P.M.


Article 2: To raise such sums of money by tax or otherwise as may be necessary to defray the expense of the Town for the current year, to appropriate the same and act anything in relation to the assessment and collection of taxes for the year.


Article 2: Voted the following appropriations:


General Government


Assessors


$6,414.47


Election and Registration


3,279.20


Finance Committee


300.00


Law Department


961.20


Moderator


50.00


Board of Selectmen


1,758.00


Clerk and Accountant


6,209.80


Town Hall


7,296.00


Town Manager


9,395.00


Treasurer and Collector


12,016.22


Total General Government


$47,679.89


Protection of Persons and Property


. Dog Officer


$716.00


Fire Department


53,649.91


Forest Fire


1,500.00


Inspector of Wires


801.08


Insect and Pest Control


5,082.00


Police Department


37,702.06


13


ANNUAL REPORT


Sealer of Weights and Measures Tree Warden


1,403.90 850.00


Total Protection of Persons and Property


101,704.95


Health and Sanitation


Health Department


$20,818.32


Total Health and Sanitation


20,818.32


Highway Department


Highway Department


58,250.00


Total Highway


58,250.00


Public Welfare


Aid to Dependent Children


$38,686.00


Old Age Assistance


181,700.00


Disability Assistance


22,800.00


Welfare


30,630.00


Infirmary


21,684.03


Total Public Welfare


295,500.03


Veterans' Benefits


1


Veterans' Benefits


$17,120.34


Total Veterans' Benefits


17,120.34


School and Library


School Department Library


$403,947.61 14,373.75


Total School and Library


418,321.36


Unclassified


Unclassified


$17,125.59


Total Unclassified


17,125.59


Pensions


Pensions


$15,403.50


Total Pensions


15,403.50


Water Department


Water Department


$50,375.00


Total Water Department


50,375.00


Park Department Park Department


$3,241.50


Total Park Department


3,241.50


,


4


14


ANNUAL REPORT


Interest on Municipal Indebtedness


Interest


$12,552.50


Total Interest on Municipal Indebtedness 12,552.50


Municipal Indebtedness


Municipal Indebtedness $64,000.00


Total Municipal Indebtedness 64,000.00


Reserve Fund


Reserve Fund 10,000.00


Total appropriation under Article 2 $1,132,092.98


An amendment was passed under the Infirmary Account changing the Bonus figure from $200. to $257.65.


An amendment was passed under the Police Department by adding an item of $200. for ambulance service.


An amendment was passed under the School Department changing the salary of the superintendent from $5,600. to $5,300.


It was voted that the sum of $5,000. be transferred from the Gas and Electric Dept. as provided in Article 6, for the use of the Assessors in fixing the tax rate.


It was voted to transfer $50,000. from Free Cash for the use of the Assessors in fixing the tax rate, and that the balance of the budget be raised by taxation.


Article 3: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year begin- ning January 1, 1952, 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 less than one year in accord with Section 17, Chapter 44 of the General Laws.


Voted to adopt.


Article 4: To hear the report of any committees or officers of the Town, to appoint any committee or take any action relative thereto.


Lewis Harding presented the following report for the committee ap- pointed to study the town charter:


Committee to Study Town Charter


Following our appointment at the last annual meeting your com- mittee has held many meetings, has considered the charters of several towns operating under a town manager, has consulted with several officials and civic minded citizens, and as a result wishes to report the following suggestions and amendments. In offering these we have en- deavored to relieve the Selectmen from some of the arduous details of their work, which unintentionally have grown up through the years.


15


ANNUAL REPORT


We have endeavored to place more specific responsibility to produce a charter more suited to modern requirements. We have endeavored to protect more fully the interests of the taxpayer, especially by our recom- mendation of a change in the date of the deliberative town meeting. This gives a longer period for the preparation and consideration of the budget. Other recommended changes will result in direct or indirect protection of the taxpayers' interest.


Your Committee would also like to suggest for your further con- sideration and investigation the following:


Some kind of a zoning law should be considered to prevent at once a further decline in the valuation of real estate in those sections consid- ered as residential.


Investigation of the representative form of town meeting should be made at once, in order that the rights of all voters may be impartially protected.


We recommend the immediate appointment of committees to report upon these town matters.


Proposed Amendments to Charter


Section 1 .- Amend so it shall read as follows-


Section 1. The annual town meeting of the Town of Middleborough shall be held on the third Monday of January. All matters to be con- sidered at the annual town meeting other than the election of town officers, the question of granting licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors, and such other questions as may legally appear on the printed ballot, shall be considered at ani adjournment thereof, to be held on the second Monday of March next, at half past seven o'clock in the evening, and to adjournments thereof if required for the completion of business.


Section 2 .- Amend so it shall read as follows-


Section 2. At each annual meeting following the acceptance of this act the voters shall elect by official ballot, in place of those Selectmen whose terms are about to expire, an equal number of Selectmen, each to serve for three years. The Selectmen shall serve until their successors are elected and have qualified. If, unless as the result of a recall election, a vacancy or vacancies shall occur in the membership of the Selectmen, the remaining members shall call a Special Town Meeting to fill the vacancy or vacancies for the unexpired term or terms, except that if such vacancy or vacancies occur less than three months prior to the annual meeting, and not less than three Selectmen remain in office, the same shall remain unfilled until such annual meeting. Any vacancy resulting from a recall election shall be filled as hereinafter provided in this act.


Section 3 .- Amend so it shall read as follows-


Section 3. Upon the election and qualification of the Selectmen as provided in section two, all the powers, rights, duties and liabilities con- ferred or imposed by law upon the Water Commissioners, Municipal Light Board, Board of Health and Auditors shall be transferred to and


16


ANNUAL REPORT


imposed upon the Selectmen and the offices of Water Commissioners, Municipal Light Board, Board of Health, and Auditors of the Town of Middleborough shall be abolished. The aforesaid transfer of rights, pow- ers, duties and liabilities shall not affect any liability incurred, contract made, fine, special assessment, rate, penalty, forfeiture or tax imposed before such transfer, nor any suit or other proceeding pending; and the Selectmen for all purposes whatsoever, shall be the lawful successors of the Boards and Offices whose powers are hereby transferred to them. The Selectmen so elected shall also act as Surveyors of Highways and Fish Wardens of the Town with all the powers and duties conferred or imposed by law upon Surveyors of Highways and Fish Wardens. The Selectmen shall also appoint such officers including Fence Viewers, Field Drivers, Surveyors of Wood and Lumber, Tree Warden and Constables, and such other officers as may be required by law and not otherwise pro- vided for hereinafter.


The Board of Selectmen of the Town of Middleborough shall consist of five members, one of whom shall act as Clerk of the Board, and shall keep records of all meetings and actions of the Board. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent the employment of clerical assistance by the Board or its Clerk.


The Board of Selectmen shall, in the performance 'of their duties, act as provided by statute and this charter.


Section 4 .- Amend so it shall read as follows-


Section 4. There shall be a Finance Committee, hereinafter and in sections five and six, called the Committee, consisting of seven persons. The Committee shall be appointed by the Moderator immediately upon his election and qualification and shall serve for a term of three years. Nothing in this provision shall be deemed to terminate the term of office of such members of the Committee as are now in office, but upon the expiration of the term of office to which they have been elected, no further election shall be held, but an appointment made as herein pro- vided. Any vacancy shall be filled by the Moderator within thirty days of notice of the vacancy.


The members of the Committee shall serve during the term for which they are appointed and until their successors are qualified. They shall be sworn to the faithful performance of their duties, shall serve without salaries and shall not hold any other town office or employment.


Section 5 .- Amend so it shall read as follows-


Section 5. The Finance Committee shall consider and advise as to all matters relating to proposed appropriations and the manner of raising the amounts appropriated, and shall report in writing at each town meeting on all articles in the warrant relating to the appropriation or borrowing of money or the indebtedness of the Town, with the exception of its action on the Annual Budget.


It shall submit to the Town at the annual town meeting a report showing appropriations recommended for each fund or department, the estimated income from all sources exclusive of taxes on property and poll taxes, the amount required to meet charges for interest and matur- ing indebtedness, and the estimated amount to be levied and raised by taxation to meet all expenses and liabilities of the Town. Said report shall be presented to the Board of Selectmen for its consideration on or


17


ANNUAL REPORT


before the 20th day of February in each year. Said report shall also be filed with the Town Clerk and made available to the public by publishing or otherwise, on or before the first Monday of March in each year. The Committee may make recommendations in writing at any time to the Town or to the Board of Selectmen, relating to the financial affairs of the Town. The validity of appropriations made by any town meeting shall not be affected by the failure of the Committee to report as herein provided.




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