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SACHUS
Annual Report
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
Town of Plymouth
PUBLIC MARY
PLYMOUTH, M
For Year Ending December 31,
1947
R 94448
Lithographed and Bound by THE LEYDEN PRESS Plymouth, Mass.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/annualreportoft1947unse_0
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Park Commissioners: Edward J. E. Hand, Chairman, John A. Siever, Arthur Sirrico.
Board of Health: Medora V. Eastwood, Chairman, Paul W. Bittinger, Herbert S. Maxwell.
Planning Board: Arthur E. Blackmer, George L. Gooding, Francis C. Holmes, Allen D. Russell, Amedeo V. Sgarzi.
Field Drivers & Fence Viewers: William LaRocque, Chester Torrance, Seth Wall.
Surveyor of Wood and Bark: Harold E. Giles.
Committee on Inland Fisheries: Frank L. Bailey, George L. Gooding, Howard M. Morton.
Committee on Town Forest: James A. White, John A. Kennedy, George L. Gooding.
Board of Registration: Enrico Ferrari, Walter R. Roberts, Joseph R. Stefani.
Committee on Sewers: Selectmen.
Sexton: Paul H. Ziegengeist.
Pound Keeper: Russell L. Dickson.
Sealer of Weights and Measures: Harold E. Giles.
Superintendent of Streets: Elmer C. Chandler.
Superintendent of Water Works: Theodore Brink. Beach Committee: Selectmen.
Collector of Water Rates: Harold W. Baker.
Harbor Master: Elmer P. Boutin.
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Members of Retirement Board: Russell P. Dearborn, Herbert K. Bartlett, Cora B. Grady.
Superintendent of Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cem- etery: Howard L. Priestley.
Superintendent of Chiltonville Cemetery: Charles B. Howland.
Superintendent of Manomet Cemetery: Gordon S. McCosh.
Superintendent of Infirmary: Russell L. Dickson.
Fire Commissioner: John J. Magee.
Town Engineer: Edward Chase.
Chief of Police: Russell P. Dearborn.
Tree Warden: John A. Kennedy.
Forest Warden: Everett B. Wood.
Local Moth Superintendent: John A. Kennedy.
Town Counsel: Amedeo V. Sgarzi.
Building Inspector: Thomas A. Bodell.
Dog Officer. James Raymond.
Inspector of Animals: Frederick Bradley.
Inspector of Slaughtering: Hillery J. Bergman.
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Under "Shellfish", Mr. Daniel Ellis moved to strike out the figure $1,855.00 for Salaries and $645.00 for Expenses and the motion was carried. It was then voted: That $455.00 be appropriated for Salaries and $10.14 for Ex- penses.
Mr. Haskell's motion, as amended, was then put before the meeting and carried.
Article Eight:
Voted: That a cost of living bonus of 15%, with a maximum of $200.00 be paid to all regular employees of the Town, except that those employees who receive a salary increase during 1947 shall receive as such bonus, only that amount which may be required to bring the amount of their increase up to the amount of the above mentioned bonus. For the purpose of this vote, step rate increases in the police and fire departments shall not be construed to be a salary increase. This bonus shall be paid in December 1947, and shall be based on 1947 sal -. aries, and in no case shall more than one bonus be paid to any one person, and that the Town appropriate the sum of $45,000.00 for this purpose.
Article Nine:
Voted: That an appropriation of $11,913.00 which shall include the dog tax of $1,776.12 be made in aid of the Plymouth Public Library.
Article Ten:
Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $3,860.00 to be expended by the Plymouth Public Library for the Loring Library.
Article Eleven:
Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $1,031.88 in aid of the Manomet Public Library.
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Article Twelve:
Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $450.00 for the observance of Memorial Day, said appro- priation to be spent under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Article Thirteen:
Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $1,200.00 for the annual observance of July 4th and that the sum of $150.00 of that amount be expended in said observance for the sponsoring of children's sports, the whole to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Article Fourteen:
Voted: That no action be taken under the Article fourteen.
Article Fifteen:
Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $600.00 for the observance of Armistice Day, to be ex- pended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Article Sixteen:
Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the observance of Thanksgiving Day, to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Article Seventeen:
Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $2,750.00 for the employment of one or more District Nurses, said appropriation to be expended under the di- rection of the Board of Selectmen.
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Article Twenty-nine:
Mr. Walter B. Haskell moved: That the Town appro- priate the sum of $500.00 to install shower cabinet, waste water drains, and hot water at the Nelson Street Camp Ground, said appropriation to be expended under the direction of the Park Commissioners, and that said ap- propriation be taken from the Excess and Deficiency Fund, if approved by the Commissioner of Taxation, otherwise from the tax levy, but the motion was lost.
Article Thirty:
Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $5,000.00 to be expended under the direction of the Park Commissioners for the purpose of erecting a building and installing suitable toilet facilities at the Standish Avenue playground, so-called, and substantially as shown in a plan prepared by Strickland & Strickland, Architects, entitled, "First Unit of Field House, Standish Avenue Playground", said money to be taken from the Excess and Deficiency Account provided said transfer is approved by the Commissioner of Taxation, otherwise said funds to come out of the next tax levy.
Article Thirty-one:
Voted: That the Town take no action under Article thirty-one.
Article Thirty-two:
Voted: That the Town take no action under Article thirty-two.
Article Thirty-three:
Mr. Walter B. Haskell moved: That the town author- ize and instruct all departments and their heads that, in the future, all regular jobs and positions to be filled in the various Town departments be advertised at least 15
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days prior to appointment, and that each person apply- ing for such jobs or positions must state in writing his or her qualifications, etc., to the department head or board where the vacancy exists, and in all cases, with all things considered on an equal basis, a veteran must be given first preference for said job or position. Under this motion any employment for a period of 90 days or less shall not be considered as a regular job or position.
Mr. George Haire moved: That action under this article be postponed, and the motion was carried.
Mr. Haskell's motion was then put before the meeting, and as amended, was carried.
Article Thirty-four:
Voted: That the Town authorize the Water Commis- sioners to sell or otherwise dispose of any equipment or material owned by the Water Department and deemed by the Water Commissioners to be obsolete and of no further use to said department.
Article Thirty-five:
Mr. Walter B. Haskell moved: That the Town take no action under this article.
Mr. Edward R. Belcher moved: That the Town auth- orize the Water Commissioners to purchase from John H. Faulkner, a parcel of land at Little South Pond and bounded substantially as follows: Beginning at the shore of Little South Pond at the Northeast corner of said lot; thence running Westerly to the road to a stone bound which marks the Northwest corner of said lot; thence running Southerly on said road, 100 feet to a stone bound forming the Southwest corner of said lot; thence running Easterly to the shore of the pond; thence running Northerly along the shore of the pond to the point of beginning; and appropriate the sum of $1,600.00 therefor to be taken from the Excess and Deficiency Ac- count; said John H. Faulkner to retain ownership of the buildings upon said land and to remove said buildings from the premises.
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the Oak Grove and Vine Hills and Manomet Cemeteries, and that $2,000.00 of this amount be used for Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemetery and $500.00 for the Manomet Cemetery.
Article Forty:
Voted: That the Town take no action under Article forty.
Article Forty-one:
Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $15,000.00 for the purpose of dredging the mooring basin, so-called, adjacent to, and Southeasterly of the State Pier in Plymouth Harbor, said fund to be expended only in the event that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts makes available for such purpose an equal sum, the Town to assume liability as provided by General Laws, Chapter 91, Section 29, and that this appropriation be taken from the Excess and Deficiency Account if approved by the Commissioner of Taxation, otherwise from the tax levy.
Article Forty-two:
Mr. Walter B. Haskell moved: That the Town take no action under Article forty-two.
Dr. E. Harold Donovan moved to amend Mr. Haskell's motion by substituting the following: That the Town authorize the School Committee to replace boilers in the Hedge School and install heating equipment in connec- tion therewith and appropriate therefor from the Post- War Rehabilitation Fund the sum of $22,000.00. The count was taken by show of hands. 321 voting in the affirmative and 196 in the negative, the motion was car- ried.
Mr. Haskell's motion, as amended, was then put before the meeting and carried.
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Article Forty-three:
Voted: That the Town take no action under Article forty-three.
Article Forty-four:
Mr. Walter B. Haskell moved: That the Town take no action under Article forty-four.
Mr. Herbert H. Lanman moved to amend by substitut- ing the following motion: That the Town appropriate the sum of $45,000.00 for the necessary repairs to the sea wall along Water Street in accordance with a report of Fay, Spofford & Thorndike, said money to be taken from money not otherwise appropriated, but the motion was lost.
Mr. Haskell's motion was then put before the meeting and carried.
Article Forty-five:
Voted: That the Town take no action under Article forty-five.
Article Forty-six:
Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $500.00 to complete work on fish ways in Town Brook and that this appropriation be taken from the Excess and Deficiency Fund, if approved by the Commissioner of Taxation, otherwise from the tax levy.
Article Forty-seven:
Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $500.00 to defray any expense which may be incurred by the Special Committee created by vote of the Town under Article 77 of the Annual Meeting of 1946.
Article Forty-eight:
Voted: That the Town take no action under Article forty-eight.
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Article Forty-nine:
Voted: That the Town instruct the Water Commis- sioners to extend the water supply in Beaver Dam Road, Manomet, from the point where it now ends, to a point beyond the home of Oliver DeLancey and that an appro- priation of $14,000.00 be made for this purpose, and that said appropriation be taken from the Excess and Defici- ency Fund, if approved by the Commissioner of Taxa- tion, otherwise from the Tax Levy.
Article Fifty:
Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $2,500.00 for the purpose of continuing the Survey and Assessors' Plans, to be expended under the direction of the Assessors.
Article Fifty-one:
Voted Unanimously: That the Town accept and al- low as a Town Way, Overlook Terrace, Westerly from Overlook Road, as laid out by the board of Survey and reported to the Town, and appropriate the sum of $100.00 for land and property damages and expenses of acquiring titles.
Article Fifty-two:
Voted Unanimously: That the Town accept and allow as a Town Way, the alteration at the corner of Middle and Carver Streets, as laid out by the Selectmen and re- ported to the Town and appropriate the sum of $100.00 for land and property damage and expenses of acquiring titles.
Article Fifty-three:
Voted: That the Town take no action under this article.
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Article Fifty-four:
Voted Unanimously: That the Town accept and al- low as a Town Way, Margerie Street, easterly from Oak Street, as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town, and appropriate the sum of $100.00 for land and property damages and expenses of acquiring titles.
Article Fifty-five:
Voted: That the Town take no action under this article.
Article Fifty-six:
Voted: That the Town assume liability in the manner provided by Section 29 of Chapter 91 of the General Laws for all damages that may be incurred by work to be performed by the Department of Public Works of Massachusetts, for the improvement, development, main- tenance and protection of rivers, harbors, tide waters, and foreshores, in accordance with Section 11 of Chapter 91 of the General Laws, and authorize the Selectmen to execute and deliver a bond of indemnity therefor to the Commonwealth.
Article Fifty-seven:
Voted: That the Town authorize the transfer of $25,000. from the Excess and Deficiency Fund to the Stabilization Fund, as authorized by the provisions of Chapter 124 of the Acts of 1945.
Article Fifty-eight:
Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 for maintaining the mosquito control' works constructed in the Town of Plymouth, as estimated and certified to by the State Reclamation Board, in accord- ance with the provisions of Section 4, Chapter 112, Acts of 1931.
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Article Fifty-nine:
Voted: That the Town take no action under this article.
Article Sixty:
Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $2,500.00 for the establishment of Fire Protection at Manomet, this amount to be expended under the direc- tion of the Fire Commissioner.
Article Sixty-one:
Voted: That the Town take no action under this article.
Article Sixty-two:
Voted: That the Town take no action under this article.
Article Sixty-three:
Voted: That the Town authorize the Board of Select- men to petition the Director of Marine Fisheries for the right to control and regulate public fisheries within the Town in accordance with the provisions of the General Laws, Chapter 130, Section 94.
Article Sixty-four:
Voted: That the Town take no action under this article.
Article Sixty-five:
Voted: That the Town take no action under this article.
Article Sixty-six:
Voted: That the Town take no action under this article.
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Article Sixty-seven:
Voted: That the Town vote to accept Section 4B of Chapter 136 of the General Laws in accordance with Chapter 207, Section 3 of the Acts of 1946, an act author- izing the Selectmen to grant licenses for Sunday bowl- ing.
Article Sixty-eight:
Mr. Walter B. Haskell moved: That the Town appro- priate the sum of $2,500.00 to make repairs to the South Street Fire Station, said building to be under the control of the Selectmen and said appropriation to be expended under their direction.
Mr. William H. Barrett moved to amend by substitut- ing the figure $3500.00 for the figure $2500.00, but the motion was lost.
Mr. Haskell's motion was put before the meeting and carried.
Article Sixty-nine:
Mr. Walter B. Haskell moved: That the Town author- ize the Selectmen to accept, from the Navy Department, or any other authorized Government Agency, the Plym- outh Airport, so-called, without payment of rental there- for, upon such terms and conditions as may be required by said department or agency; said airport to be under control of the Selectmen, who shall have authority to permit such uses to be made of said airport as they may deem to be in the best interest of the Town including the authority to let or lease any or all of said property, and that the sum of $200.00 be appropriated for the protection and maintenance of said airport property.
Mr. Philip Jackson moved: That no action be taken under this article, but the motion was lost.
Mr. Haskell's motion was then put before the meeting and carried.
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Article Seventy:
Voted: That the Board of Registrars be constituted a committee for the purpose of studying the advisability and possible cost of dividing the Town into precincts, and report at the next annual Town Meeting.
Article Seventy-one:
Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $1,088.00 for the purpose of advertising the advantages, resources, and attractions of the Town of Plymouth under Chapter 40, Section 6A of the General Laws, said appropriation to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Article Seventy-two:
Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $800.00 to renovate, repaint, and renew the historical signs which were installed originally at the time of the Tercentenary, and to erect additional signs as needed. This appropriation to be spent under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Article Seventy-three:
Voted: That the Town take no action under this article.
Article Seventy-four:
Voted: That the Town take no action under this article.
Article Seventy-five:
Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $5,000.00 for the use of the Special Study and Coordina- tion Committee appointed under Article 80 of the last Annual Town Meeting, for the purpose of continuing the work of said committee.
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Article Seventy-six:
Voted: That the Town authorize the Selectmen to sell or otherwise. dispose of any equipment or material in the hands of any department under their supervision and deemed by the Selectmen to be obsolete and of no further use to said department.
Article Seventy-seven:
Voted: That the Town approve of naming the cross street between Savery's Avenue and Cordage Terrace, Dias Road, in honor of the two Dias brothers who were killed in action in World War II.
Article Seventy-eight:
Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $1,500.00 for the purchase of an automobile to be used for the Department of Public Welfare. Said appropriation to be expended under the direction of the Board of Public Welfare and to be taken from the Excess and Deficiency Fund, if approved by the Commissioner of Taxation, otherwise from the tax levy.
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SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
SEPTEMBER 8, 1947
The meeting was called to order at 8 P.M. At 8:45, a quorum not being present, the meeting was adjourned to Sept. 22, 1947.
On Sept. 22, 1947, the meeting was called to order. A quorum not being present, the meeting was adjourned to Sept. 29, 1947.
On Sept. 29, 1947, the meeting was called to order. Again, a quorum not being present, the meeting was ad- journed, this time without date.
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Advisory and Finance Committee on the ARTICLES IN THE TOWN WARRANT March 22, 1947
NOTICE Please retain this report for use at any Adjourned Town Meeting
Your Committee presents herewith its report and recom- mendations on the Articles in the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting:
The various town departments have presented budget figures this year greater than at any time in the history of the town.
A total of $1,334,155.19 (Article 7) has been asked to run the town departments. This is $228,831.14 more than was recommended by last year's Finance Committee for the same purpose. This sum does not include the many special requests, totalling an additional. $358,393.05, which appears under separate articles.
The additional money being asked for by the various town departments may perhaps be justified on the grounds that they give more or better services. But can the people of the town afford these payment increases?
We point out that, contrary to some popular thought, there is a practical limitation to the amount of taxes that property owners can pay. In town affairs, as in our individual lives, there are many things that we may want, there are many things that we must have and there are many things that may be desirable. Some of these things we can afford and we get them, but the rest must be postponed until we can afford them.
A high tax rate is not only a hardship on the owners of property but directly affects rents. High taxes affect the cost of all things bought in local stores. High taxes discourages new business and the building of new taxable property. High taxes will prove a hardship upon those in need of housing.
For these reasons, your committee has recommended a substantial reduction of the amounts asked for by the town departments under Article 7, and adds further that if the sums requested by certain Town Departments continue to increase
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at the present trend, it is the opinion of this committee that serious consideration should be given by the Town toward making a detailed and minute examination of these depart- ments to see if these appropriations are warranted.
The total amount requested under the special articles is $358,393.05. Of this, $25,000 (Article 57) is merely a transfer of money from one account to another. Your committee has recommended, under these special articles, the appropriation of $181,817.88. $79,716.76 of this would come from the 1947 tax levy. The balance will come from funds not affecting the tax rate.
The Surplus or Reserve Fund is $352.591.13 and the Post War Rehabilitation Fund is $57,500.00. This is a substantial amount but it must be remembered that this fund has been built up during the war years when all town services were curbed and materials were not available for purchase. In all probability, this fund, will, during the next few years, decrease in amount.
.Your Committee therefore, has recommended that the sum of $90,325.00, plus the $25,000, which is the transfer to a Stabilization Fund, be taken from the surplus account. We point out that transfers from this account must be approved by the Tax Commissioner of this Commonwealth. Your committee recommends no expenditure from the Post War Rehabilitation fund.
The above recommendations are the result of many weeks of deliberation and conferences with the department heads and Town Accountant, and represent what the committee believes is for the best interest of the Town.
Article 5. To see what action the Town will take with regard to fixing the salaries of elected town officers.
Recommended that the salaries of the following elected town officers be:
Chairman of Selectmen $ 726.00
Other Selectmen (each) 363.00
Chairman of Assessors
2,571.60
Other Assessors (each)
2,129.60
Town Clerk 2,080.00
Town Treasurer
2,080.00
Collector of Taxes
3,170.00
Chairman of Board of Public Welfare
50.00
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to equalize and establish a uniform hourly rate of $1.00 per hour for any and all laborers in all the various and different departments of the Town, such hourly rate to be retroactive to January 1,1947.
Recommend no action.
(By petition )
Recommended by Departments Personal Services Salaries Expenses Other
Recommended by Committee Personal Services Salaries
Expenses Other
Selectmen's Dept.
$6,469.79
$1,540.00
$5,481.35
$1,140.00
Accounting Dept.
4,068.70
400.00
4,068.70
400.00
Treasury Dept.
3,771.23
1,089.00
3,771.23
1,000.00
Tax Collector's Dept.
4,900.30
1,220.00
4,900.30
1,220.00
Assessors' Dept.
8,317.58
500.00
8,317.58
400.00
Law Dept.
2,000.00
150.00
1,500.00
150.00
Town Clerk's Dept.
3,771.23
342.50
3,771.23
250.00
Engineering Dept.
1,450.00
275.00
1,450.00
275.00
Planning Board
200.00
800.00
50.00
Election and Registration
1,474.79
1,017.50
1,374.79
1,000.00
Town House Maintenance
1,200.70
1,813.85
1,177.10
1,768.85
Town House Repairs
1,100.00
750.00
Storage Vault in Basement of Town House
2,500.00
Old High School Maintenance
1,885.94
1,705.00
1,819.38
1,705.00
Town Hall Maintenance
4,200.35
5,806.00
4,200.35
5,706.00
Town Hall Repairs
7,925.00
7,925.00
Police Dept.
54,072.70
5,240.00
. 51,372.70
4,940.00
Police Dept., Out-of-State Travel
100.00
100.00
Fire Dept.
62,495.76
8,131.70
62,495.76
7,021.70
Fire Dept., New Hose
1,610.00
1,610.00
Fire Dept., Out-of-State Travel
150.00
150.00
Fire Dept., Liability Insurance
1,190.84
1,190.84
Inspection of Buildings
173.80
25.00
173.80
25.00
Sealing of Weights and Measures
1,754.00
400.00
1,754.00
300.00
Moth Suppression
1,853.72
5,300.00
1,820.00
4,525.00
Moth Dept., Addition to Building
1,000.00
1,000.00
Tree Warden's Dept.
905.08
5,300.00
910.00
4,010.00
sums of money as the Town shall deem expedient.
Article 7. To make necessary appropriations to defray the expenses of the Town, and for other purposes and to raise
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Recommended by Departments Personal Services Expenses Other Salaries 890.00
Recommended by Committee Personal Services Salaries 640.00
Expenses Other 2,860.00
Forest Warden's Dept.
Forest Warden's Dept., Liability Insurance
881.28
881.28
Forest Fire Payrolls
2,000.00
2,000.00
Inland Fisheries
300.00
300.00
Plymouth County Hospital Maintenance
16,305.70
16,305.70
Health Dept.
9,428.69
12,967.40
8,712.11
11,231.40
Garbage Collection
14,982.48
14,862.48
Shellfish
1,855.00
750.00
1,855.00
645.00
Public Sanitaries
3,825.53
417.20
3,725.00
417.20
Sewers
7,000.00
7,000.00
Street Cleaning
5,500.00
5,000.00
Roads and Bridges
4,831.40
40,000.00
4,831.40
40,000.00
New Sandspreader for Highway Dept.
850.00
850.00
Highway Construction and Reconstruction From Excess and Deficiency
23,150.00
20,000.00
Hard-Surfacing Streets
5,000.00
5,000.00
Sidewalks
6,000.00
6,000.00
Granolithic Sidewalks and Curbings
2,000.00
2,000.00
Snow and Ice Removal
7,500.00
7,500.00
Street Sprinkling
1,500.00
750.00
Street Lighting
22,000.00
21,000.00
Traffic Lights
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