USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1885-1889 > Part 18
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
PROCEEDINGS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Annual Meeting, March 7, 1887, 7 A. M.
ARTICLE I OF THE WARRANT. To choose a moderator. Chose Levi S. Gould, by unanimous vote.
ART. 2. . To bring in votes on one ballot for selectmen, clerk, treasurer, collector, assessors, and other officers.
To bring in votes, upon a separate, ballot, in answer to the question, " Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicat- ing liquors in this town ?" Form of ballots to be " Yes" or " No."
Voted, To elect three overseers of the poor for one year.
Voted, That the selectmen shall also be highway surveyors.
Voted, That the officers elected this day shall consist of three selectmen, who shall also be highway surveyors, three overseers of the poor, one clerk, one treasurer, one collector of taxes, three assessors, one water commissioner for three years, one water loan sinking fund commissioner for three years, two school committee for three years, five trustees of the public library, three auditors, and three constables.
Voted, That the transaction of town business, other than voting, be postponed to 7.30 P. M.
Polls opened.
Voted, That the polls be closed at 5 P. M.
Tellers appointed and sworn : John R. Jones, Edward C. Morgan, Albon W. Parker, Justin E. Boynton, Charles F. Loring.
Polls closed at 5 P. M.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
OFFICERS DECLARED ELECTED BY THE MODERATOR.
Selectmen and Highway Surveyors. - Levi S. Gould, John B. Souther, John P. Deering. Overseers of the Poor. - Henry G. Fields, John Singer, Jr., Eunice B. Phinney. Town Clerk. - John Larrabee. Town Treasurer. - George Newhall. Collector of Taxes. - M. FrankEastman. Assess- ors. - George F. Boardman, Moses Briggs, George C Stantial. Water Commissioner for three years. - Wingate P. Sargent. Water Loan Sinking Fund Commissioner for three years. - Daniel Russell. School Committee for three years. - John O. Norris, Sarah W. Bradbury. Trustees of the Public Library. - Elbridge H. Goss, Charles C. Barry, Thomas B. Peck, Hannah Lynde, Ruby F. Farwell. Audit- ors. - John R. Norton, Frank E. Orcutt, Walter I. Nickerson. Constables. - Ansel B. Pierce, Frank M. Mclaughlin, Henry B. Newhall.
LICENSE QUESTION.
" Yes," two votes ; "No," four hundred and twenty votes. Voted, To adjourn.
Adjourned Meeting, March 7, 1887, 7.30 P. M.
ART. 4. To authorize the town treasurer to borrow money for the purpose of meeting the demands of the town, with the approval of the selectmen.
Voted, unanimously, that the treasurer be authorized, with the approval of the selectmen, to hire money to renew, re- place, or pay any existing loan or loans ; also to hire money in anticipation of taxes for the current year, to meet expenses, and issues notes of the town therefor.
ART. 43. To see if the town will purchase land at Wyoming and remove the old Vinton Street Schoolhouse thereon, for the use of N. D. Blake Hose Company.
Voted, That a committee, consisting of the engineers of the Fire Department and the Board of Selectmen, act in conjunc- tion upon the matter, and report to the adjourned meeting.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
ART. 44. To see if the town will purchase or take land for cemetery purposes.
Voted, That a committee be appointed to take the matter into consideration, and report at some future meeting. Com- mittee appointed : George Newhall, Daniel Russell, John Larrabee.
ART. 31. To see if the town will accept from the estate of William H. Jones the sum of one hundred dollars, for the pur- pose of providing for the perpetual care of lot in Wyoming Cemetery, in accordance with Chap. 82, Sect. 17, of the Public Statutes.
Voted, To accept the trust, and that the interest upon the same be expended in accordance with the provisions of the statute.
ART. 30. To see if the town will build a sidewalk on Maple Street and raise money for the same, on petition of Cornelius Casey and others.
Voted, That the sum of three hundred dollars be raised and appropriated for a gravel sidewalk on Maple Street.
ART. 29. Laid on table.
ART. 5. To hear and act upon the report of the Finance Committee appointed at meeting held Nov. 9, 1886.
Report read and accepted.
ART. 6. To raise money for schools.
Voted, To raise twenty thousand dollars.
ART. 7. To raise money for school contingent expenses.
Voted, To raise four thousand five hundred dollars.
ART. 8. To raise money for highways.
Voted, To raise six thousand five hundred dollars, of which amount one thousand dollars shall be expended on Washington Street.
Voted, That the selectmen be authorized and directed to expend one hundred and fifty dollars for the clearing of all rubbish from the streets.
ART. 9. To raise money for sidewalks.
Voted, To raise two thousand dollars, of which amount five
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
hundred dollars shall be expended in repairs on existing walks, and the remainder to be expended in accordance with votes of previous years by which abutters pay one half of the expense.
ART. 10. To raise money for crossings and gutters.
Voted, To raise six hundred dollars.
ART. II. To raise money for the support of the poor.
Voted, To raise four thousand five hundred dollars.
ART. 12. To raise money for the Fire Department.
Voted, To raise two thousand one hundred dollars.
ART. 13. To raise money for, lighting and care of street lamps.
Voted, That a committee, consisting of the Board of Select- men and Drs. G. L. Austin and J. S. Clark, consider the matter of lighting the streets by electricity, and report at the adjourned meeting as to methods and probable cost.
ART. 14. Laid on table.
ART. 15. To raise money for police and watchmen.
Voted, To raise eighteen hundred dollars.
ART. 16. To raise money for contingent expenses. Voted, To raise twelve hundred dollars.
ART. 17. To raise money to pay interest on the town debt.
Voted, To raise five thousand five hundred dollars.
ART. 18. To raise money for the reduction of the town debt. Voted, To raise five thousand dollars.
ART. 19. To raise money for the public library.
Voted, To raise seven hundred and fifty dollars, to which shall be added the dog tax when received.
ART. 20. To raise money for water, viz .: to pay cost of constructing works for the past year, and for the use of the water in hydrants, public buildings, etc.
Voted, To raise two thousand dollars for the use of the water in hydrants, public buildings, etc.
Voted, That the town treasurer be authorized to borrow seven thousand ninety-nine and ninety-five hundredths dollars
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
to pay the cost of constructing the water works for the year 1886, and that the selectmen be authorized to petition the Legislature for authority to issue additional water bonds to the amount of fifty thousand dollars, to be used as may be. necessary for constructing the water works, from time to time, under the authority of the town. (Unanimous vote )
ART. 21. To raise money for salaries of town officers, and to fix the compensation of all officers and committees elected or appointed by the town.
Voted, To raise two thousand eight hundred dollars ; that the salaries of the selectmen shall be two hundred dollars each ; of the assessors, one hundred and fifty dollars each ; of the overseers of the poor, chairman of the board, one hundred and fifty dollars, other members fifty dollars each; of the auditors, twenty-five dollars each ; and that the other town officers' salaries be the same as last year.
Voted, That the sum of three hundred dollars be appropri- ated for such clerical services as may be required by the assessors.
ART. 22. To raise money for drainage, bridges, and cul- verts.
Voted, To raise seven hundred dollars.
Voted, To adjourn for four weeks, viz., to Monday evening,. April 4, 1887, at 7.30 o'clock.
Adjourned Meeting, April 4, 1887, 7.30 P. M.
ART. 2. Declination of Mrs. Eunice B. Phinney, of the office of overseer of the poor, read and accepted.
Voted, That the polls be opened, and that the town clerk be instructed to cast a ballot for Miss Martha D. Ring, who was declared elected.
ART. 23. To raise money for deficiencies in accounts for the past year, and for all other necessary expenses for the ensuing year.
Voted, To raise for deficiencies, $4,850.50, viz .: school contingent, $525.49 ; highways, $987.80 ; street lights, $97 ;
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
insurance, $256.30 ; military aid, $266; Town Hall, $2,717.91 ; total, $4,850.50.
Voted, That the town treasurer be and is hereby instructed that he shall not hereafter pay out town moneys in excess of appropriations, nor shall the selectmen incur obligations in excess of appropriations, save in case of a pressing emer- gency, except upon vote of the town.
Voted, That there be raised and appropriated toward the running expenses of the Town Hall building the sum of five hundred dollars, and that the treasurer be authorized to pay in addition thereto a sum not exceeding eight hundred dollars. in anticipation of the revenue from said building.
Voted, That there be raised and appropriated for the pur- pose of paying military aid, under Chap. 252, Acts of 1879,. the sum of three hundred dollars.
ART. 23. Laid on table.
ART. 24. To determine the method by which the taxes. for the year shall be collected.
Voted, That all single poll taxes be made payable on or before Aug. 1, 1887 ; that all other taxes be made payable on or before Oct. 1, 1887 ; and that interest be added upon all taxes remaining unpaid after that date at the rate of six per centum per annum; that all property on which the taxes remain unpaid on June 1, 1888, be sold by the collector, in accordance with the provisions of law.
Voted, That the above vote be strictly carried out by the collector.
ART. 13. To raise money for lighting and care of street lamps.
Report of committee appointed at meeting held March 7, 1887, read and accepted.
Voted, To adopt the recommendations of the committee in their report, viz. : that the sum of thirty-five hundred dollars. be raised and appropriated for lighting the streets of the town, and that the selectmen be authorized to expend so much of said sum as will be necessary to maintain not less than.
26
REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
fourteen electric lights, in such localities as may in their judgment best subserve the public interest.
Voted, To adjourn to Saturday evening, April 9, 1887, at 7.30 o'clock.
Adjourned Meeting, April 9, 1887, 7.30 P. M.
ART. 44. To see if the town will purchase or take land for cemetery purposes.
Report of committee appointed at previous meeting read and accepted.
Voted, To adopt the recommendations of the committee, and that the treasurer be and is hereby authorized to accept from Charles Pratt a deed of his farm on the westerly side of Lebanon Street ; that the treasurer be further authorized to issue in payment therefor a note of the town for the sum of ten thousand dollars, payable to the executors or adminis- trators of said Pratt's estate, six months after his decease, bearing interest at five per cent per annum, payable semi- annually ; that the treasurer shall also execute and deliver unto said Charles Pratt a lease of the buildings and not exceeding three acres of the land, surrounding the same, which lease shall be valid during his natural life ; that the Board of Selectmen be authorized to countersign said note and lease. (Unaminous vote.)
ART. 34. To see if the town will build a house for the engineer at the pumping station, agreeable to petition of the water commissioners, and raise money to pay for the same.
Voted, That for the purpose of erecting a building for the use of the engineer at the pumping station and for the pur- chase of land for the same, the town treasurer be authorized to borrow the sum of twenty-three hundred dollars, which, together with the unexpended balance from the high service appropriation, is hereby appropriated, and that the water commissioners be authorized to expend the same.
ART. 43. To see if the town will purchase land at Wyo- ming and remove the old Vinton Street Schoolhouse thereon, for the use of N. D. Blake Hose Company.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
Report of committee appointed at previous meeting read and accepted.
Voted, That the selectmen, acting in behalf of the town, be authorized to purchase a lot of land near the house of Warren Lynde, on Main Street, paying therefor a sum not to exceed ten cents per square foot, and cause to be moved thereon the unoccupied wooden Vinton Street Schoolhouse, and in con- junction with the Board of Fire Engineers, fit up the same for the uses of the N. D. Blake Hose Company ; or they are authorized hereby, in their 'discretion, to sell said building where it now stands at public or private sale, and use the pro- ceeds thereof toward the payment of a new hose house hereby authorized, providing the whole expense thereof, including land, shall not exceed the sum of twelve hundred dollars and the additional amount received from said sale.
Voted, That the sum of twelve hundred dollars be raised and appropriated for the above purpose.
ART. 3. To choose all other necessary town officers.
OFFICERS ELECTED.
Measurers of Wood and Bark, Weighers of Hay and Coal. - Seth E. Benson, M. F. Eastman. Surveyor of Lumber. - Henry A. Leonard. Committee on Cemeteries. - George Newhall, Daniel Russell, John Larrabee. Field Drivers. - Otis Howard, H. B. Newhall, Frank Gibbons, W. Truman Howard. Fence Viewers. - Dexter Pratt, Joseph S. Eastman. Pound Keeper. - W. Truman Howard. Forest Firewards. - Dexter Pratt, Calvin Locke, Chase C. Worthen, James Mar- shall, Henry Barron. Sealer of Weights and Measures. - Ansel B. Pierce.
ART. 14. To raise money for additional street lamps.
Voted, To raise one hundred and fifty dollars.
ART. 25. To see if the town will sell the school buildings now unoccupied, on Green Street, Franklin Street, and Flor. ence"Street, the latter known as the old Vinton Street School building.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
Voted, To indefinitely postpone.
ART 26. To see if the town will employ a superintendent of the public schools.
Voted, To indefinitely postpone.
ART. 48. To hear and act on the reports of committees, and for the transaction of any other business which may legally come before this meeting.
The report of the special committee on improved water supply "high service," as printed with the annual reports, was accepted.
The final report of the committee on the " Fells " school- house was read and accepted.
Voted, To adjourn to Wednesday evening, April 13, 1887, at 7.30 o'clock.
Adjourned Meeting, April 13, 1887, 7.30 P. M.
ART. 33. To see if the town will accept an extension of Porter Street easterly, as laid out by the selectmen.
Voted, That the report of the selectmen be accepted and adopted, and that three hundred dollars be raised and appro- priated for the building of the same.
ART. 29 To see if the town will build a sidewalk on the west side of Main Street, from Franklin Street to Melrose Street, and raise money for the same, on petition of C. H. Bean and others.
Voted, That the sum of five hundred dollars be raised and appropriated for the purpose of building a sidewalk on the west side of Main Street, between Franklin and Melrose Streets.
ART. 27. To see if the town will purchase land for a High School building, and raise or borrow money for the same.
Voted, To indefinitely postpone.
ART. 28. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of $ 200 for keeping in repair and decorating the graves of soldiers on Memorial Day.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
Voted, That there be raised for the purpose of keeping in repair and decorating the graves of soldiers in this town the sum of two hundred dollars.
ART. 32. To see if the town will accept a street leading from Myrtle Street to Willow Street, now called Cherry Street, as laid out by the selectmen.
Voted, That the report of the selectmen be accepted and adopted.
ART. 35. To see what action the town will take in regard to a settlement for damages for land taken from George F. Boardman on Essex Street, on petition of H. H. Westgate and others.
Voted, To indefinitely postpone.
ART. 36. To see if the town will grant to H. C. Richard- son, without charge, the use of water from stand-pipes for the purpose of watering the streets, and also erect a stand- pipe on Main Street, near Ell Pond, on petition of J. A. Dill and others.
Voted, To indefinitely postpone.
ART. 37. To see if the town will accept a street leading from Grove Street southerly to Park Street, now known as Meridian Street, as laid out by the selectmen.
Voted, That the report of the selectmen be accepted and adopted ; that the sum of three hundred dollars be raised and appropriated for the building of the same.
ART. 38. To see if the town will accept a street leading from Franklin Street northerly, now known as Prospect Avenue, as laid out by the selectmen.
Voted, That the report of the selectmen be accepted, and that the street be called Sargent Street.
ART. 39. To see if the town will accept a street leading from Main Street westerly, now known as Highland Avenue, as laid out by the selectmen.
Voted, That the report of the selectmen be accepted, and that the street be called Highland Street.
ART. 40. To see if the town will accept a street leading
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
from Main Street westerly, now known as Briggs Avenue, as laid out by the selectmen.
Voted, To accept the street, and that it be called Briggs Street.
ART. 41. To see if the town will accept a street leading from Briggs Avenue northerly, now known as Spring Avenue, as laid out by the selectmen.
Voted, To accept the street, and that it be called Spring Street.
ART. 42. To see if the town will accept a street leading westerly from Main Street to Spring Avenue, now known as Morgan Avenue, as laid out by the selectmen.
Voted, To accept the street, and that it be called Morgan Street.
ART. 45. To see what action the town will take to remedy the evil caused by the stagnant water called Dix's Pond ; whether they will take the same with or without other adja- cent land and fill the said pond, for the purpose of public use in connection with the Town Hall lot, or what other action shall be taken in the matter.
Voted, To indefinitely postpone.
ART. 46. To see what action the town will take to establish telephonic or electrical communication between the outlying districts and the centre for fire and police service.
Voted, To indefinitely postpone.
ART. 47. To see if the town will accept the provisions of Chap. 186 of the Acts of the year 1877, in relation to the election of the overseers of the poor, on petition of W. E. Barrett and others.
Voted, To indefinitely postpone.
ART. 48. To hear and act on the reports of committees, and for the transaction of any other business which may legally come before this meeting.
Voted, That the assessors be instructed to prepare an itemized list of all real estate liable to taxation in the town, giving location of same, the assessed valuation, to whom
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
assessed, and the amount of taxes paid thereon, to be pub- lished previous to Oct. 1, 1887, in a similar manner as the. assessed valuations for the town of Stoneham were published for the year 1886; that the sum of three hundred dollars be raised and appropriated for printing and expense of publishing the same.
Report of the Committee on the Building of the Vinton Street Schoolhouse read and accepted.
Report of the selectmen on guide-boards read and accepted.
Voted, That a committee be appointed to take into consid- eration the matter of amending or altering the By-Laws of the town, and that they be requested to report at the Novem- ber meeting.
Committee appointed : F. S. Hesseltine, W. L. Williams, John Larrabee.
Voted, To adjourn, sine die.
Meeting, April 27, 1887, 7.30 P. M.
ARTICLE I. To chose a moderator.
Chose Levi S. Gould (unanimous vote).
ART. 2. To see if the town will accept the provisions of Chap. 126 of the Acts of the year 1887, entitled An Act to authorize the Town of Melrose to make an additional Water Loan, and authorize the issue of the bonds contemplated in the Act, designate their denomination, length of time and interest thereon, and pass any other vote or votes necessary to carry out the will of the town.
Voted, unanimously, That we hereby accept the Act en- titled An Act to authorize the Town of Melrose to make an additional Water Loan, same being Chap. 126 of the Acts. of the year 1887, and we hereby authorize and direct the issue of fifty bonds, each of the denomination of one thou- sand dollars, bearing on the face the words, " Melrose Water Loan Act of 1887," payable in twenty years from the date of issue, bearing interest payable semi-annually at four per cent per annum ; and the treasurer is hereby authorized and directed
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
to sign said bonds, and the Board of Water Commissioners are hereby authorized and directed to countersign the same ; and the treasurer is also authorized, for the purpose of pay- ing the cost of construction of the water works for the years I{ 86 and 1887, and for the payment of the cost of building a house for the engineer at the pumping station, as authorized by vote of the town at meeting held April 9, 1887, from time to time to sell and dispose of not exceeding twenty of the bonds before mentioned at public or private sale, on such terms and conditions as he may deem proper, the proceeds to be applied as before stated.
ART. 3. To see what further action the town will take in relation to the purchase of land for cemetery purposes.
Voted, That the vote passed at meeting held April 9, 1887, whereby the town treasurer was authorized to issue a note of the town to Charles Pratt, or his executors or administrators, is hereby amended so that the said note may bear interest at a rate not exceeding six and one half per cent per annum, payable semi-annually.
ART. 4. To see if the town will construct a drain through Essex Street, in accordance with drawings made by W. C. Stevens, surveyor, and appropriate money for the same.
Voted, That the selectmen be authorized to take such action as to them seems best, and that the treasurer be authorized to borrow a sum not exceeding twelve hundred dollars for the purpose of constructing a drain which will take the water from Essex Street (if in the judgment of the selectmen it can be advantageously done), and that the select- men be instructed not to allow any further drainage to be directed into Dix's Pond, and to take any steps within their authority to limit the present drainage into that pond.
ART. 5. To hear and act upon the reports of committees, and for the transaction of any business which may legally come before this meeting.
Voted, That the unexpended balances from last year, and all other unappropriated funds in the hands of the treasurer, be
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
carried into the treasury and applied to the reduction of the town debt.
C. F. Loring, Esq., appointed on the Committee on By-Laws in place of F. S. Hesseltine, Esq., resigned.
Voted, To adjourn.
Meeting, Nov. 8, 1887, 7 A. M.
ARTICLE I. To bring in their votes to the selectmen for State and county officers.
Polls opened at 7 A. M. At 8 A. M., Voted, To take up
ART. 2. To choose a moderator to preside for the trans- action of town business.
Chose Levi S. Gould.
Voted, That the polls be kept open until 4.30 P. M.
Voted, That the further transaction of town business be postponed to Saturday evening, Nov. 12, at 7.30 o'clock.
Victor C. Kirmes and George R. Jones appointed to check the lists, and duly sworn.
Result of the voting under Article I, as declared. Total number of ballots cast, 962.
For Governor.
VOTES.
Oliver Ames, of Easton
614
Henry B. Lovering, of Lynn
306.
William H. Earle, of Worcester
39
Blanks
3
For Lieutenant-Governor.
John Q. A. Brackett, of Arlington
623
Walter Cutting, of Pittsfield
.
302
John Blackmer, of Springfield
35.
Blanks .
2:
For Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Henry B. Peirce, of Abington
623:
John F. Murphy, of Lowell
294;
3
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
Amos E. Hall, of Chelsea .
Henry W. Pierce, of Abington
I
Blanks
For Treasurer and Receiver-General.
Alanson W. Beard, of Boston
620
Henry C. Thacher, of Yarmouth
304
John L. Kilbon, of Lee
36
Blanks
For Auditor.
Charles R. Ladd, of Springfield 623
William F. Cook, of Springfield
303
Edmund M. Stowe, of Hudson .
36
For Attorney-General.
Andrew J. Waterman, of Pittsfield
623
John W. Corcoran, of Clinton
300
Allen Coffin, of Nantucket
. 36
Blanks
3
For Councillor, Sixth District.
Francis Jewett, of Lowell . 622
Lewis P. True, of Everett . .
303
Claudius P. Travis, of Natick
35
Blanks
For Senator; Sixth Middlesex District.
John K. C. Sleeper, of Malden .
622
Benjamin F. Dutton, of Malden
299
Ammi Cutter, of Stoneham
36
Blanks
5
For County Commissioner.
J. Henry Read, of Westford 623
James Skinner, of Woburn 303
Joseph W. Barber, of Sherborn .
.35
I
Blanks
VOTES. 36
8
2
.
2
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
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