USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1898-1899 > Part 18
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Section 26. Upon recommendation of the city charter committee the following change was made in Section 26. After the word duties in the fifth line the words were stricken out to the word to and the following substituted, "of the city clerk, treasurer, collector, and auditor."
Report of the committee appointed to draft an amend- ment, to embody the ideas of the Schaedel and Buttrick motions, was accepted, and laid on the table.
City charter was then considered commencing with Title 5, School Department.
Section 32. The following amendment was accepted to be placed after the end of the sixth line: " No member of the school committee shall, while a member of that com-
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mittee, hold any other office in, or under, the city govern- ment, or act as counsel before the board of aldermen, or any committee thereof;" and in the fourteenth line after the word committee strike out everything down to the word shall in the fifteenth line, after the word shall insert " make and." This section was then accepted as amended.
Sections 33, 34, and 35, were voted, as printed.
Title 6. Departments and officers.
Section 36. Clauses I, II, III, IV, V, and VI, were voted, as printed. The city charter committee made a motion to strike out paragraphs VII, VIII, IX, and X, and insert a new paragraph, to be called VII. George L. Morse offered a substitute for paragraph VII of the committee's report.
Voted, That paragraph VII with the amondment, and the report of the committee on granting franchises, and bonded indebtedness, be printed, and left at the residence of every voter, and the same be left over until next Monday's meet- ing for action thereon.
Paragraphs XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV, and XVI, were voted. as printed.
Section 37. Laid on the table.
Section 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, and 43, voted as printed.
Section 44. Amended by striking out the words "the yea and nay vote of" after the word by in the seventh line, and substituting the words, " the vote to be taken by yeas and nays," after the word aldermen in the eight line. Section voted as amended.
Section 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, and 56, voted without amendment.
Voted, That the charter committee be authorized to change the phraseology of the charter, if found necessary.
Voted, That the charter committee be continued, that they may confer with the representative to the Legislature in regard to any changes that might be suggested.
Voted, to adjourn until next Monday evening, January 23rd, at 7.30 o'clock.
Attest: W. DEHAVEN JONES,
Town Clerk, pro tem.
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Adjourned Town Meeting, Monday evening, January 23rd, 1899, at 7.30 o'clock.
Met according to adjournment.
Voted, to strike out paragraphs VII, VIII, IX and X of Section 36 of the charter committee report, and insert the following, as paragraph VII, yea 130, nay 7.
Voted, The public works department to be under the charge of an official who shall be known as the engineer and superintendent of public works. He shall have charge of the design, construction, alteration, repair, maintenance and management of the water works, the public sewers and drains, the public ways, sidewalks and bridges, public parks, squares and play-grounds and the lighting and watering thereof, and also the public buildings, excepting however such duties with reference to the school buildings as are now conferred by law and this charter upon the school committee, and shall make and have the custody of all plans, surveys, measurements and levels appertaining to the public ways, drains, sewers, waterworks and lands, and shall perform such other duties as the board of aldermen may prescribe. He shall appoint, subject to the approval of the mayor, his own assistants, who shall be an assistant superintendent in the water department, and an assistant superintendent in the sewer department, and such other as- sistants as the condition of the work may require.
Voted, That a committee of six be appointed by the moderator, the moderator to be chairman, to draft resolu- tions on the death of A. V. Lynde.
Committee :
Levi S. Gould.
F. P. Shumway.
Royal P. Barry.
George R. Jones.
George L. Morse. John Larrabee.
Voted, That the charter committee be given authority to draft a new section relating to parks and park commissions if in their opinion it is necessary to secure to the full autho- rity of the park laws.
Voted, To take Section 37 of the charter from the table. Voted, That Section 37 be amended by striking out from
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the words "The board of aldermen," in the eighth line down to, and including, the word established in the fifteenth line.
Section 37 voted as amended.
Voted, The following to be placed in the charter as a new section.
No vote of the board of aldermen granting or bestowing a franchise or privilege of any description in the public ways or public property, to any person or corporation, for a term of more than sixty days, shall be valid unless the same shall be approved by a vote of the qualified voters of the city, voting at large in their respective voting places at a meeting duly called for that purpose, or at the annual municipal election, provided, however, that additional locations for poles and the extending of lines, by electric light, telephone, or telegraph lines already established, may be granted by the board of aldermen under the rules and regulations as may be provided for by ordinance. No vote of the board of aldermen authorizing an issue of bonds or permanent loan, except for the purpose of refunding or renewing, re- placing or paying any portion of the municipal indebtedness, shall become operative until after the expiration of a period of thirty days from the day of the final passage of said vote by the board of aldermen and its approval by the mayor. If within said period of thirty days a petition of one hundred legal voters of the city shall be filed with the city clerk ask- ing that the question of the authorization of such issue or loan be submitted to the voters of the city at large, the city clerk shall transmit such petition to the board of aldermen, and said question shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the city voting at large in their respective voting places, at the next annual municipal election.
A special election for voting upon said question may, however, be called by vote of two thirds of the board of aldermen, with the approval of the mayor. If the act of the mayor and aldermen authorizing such issue or loan be ap- proved by a majority of the legal voters of the city voting upon the question, such act shall at once become operative; but if not so approved, such act shall have no effect. If such petition be not filed within said period of thirty days
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the act of the mayor and aldermen authorizing such issue or loan shall become operative from and after the expiration of said period. Nothing in this section contained shall apply to debts incurred for temporary loans made under authority of statue.
Voted, That the city charter, as reported by the committee, and amended, be adopted as a whole.
Voted, That this meeting adjourn sine die.
Attest:
W. DEHAVEN JONES,
Town Clerk, pro tem.
In Memoriam.
ALONZO V. LYNDE.
BORN IN STONEHAM DEC. 27, 1823. DIED IN MELROSE JAN. 23. 1899. AGED 75 YEARS, AND 27 DAYS.
To honor the memory of one who, for a long series of years, was a commanding figure in shaping the legislation of this community, the citizens of Melrose in town meeting assembled, through a duly chosen committee thereof, hereby places upon record a declaration as to his valuable public services, and tender their earnest sympathy to all who mourn.
Born of humble parentage and receiving few of the ad- vantages of the present generation, the quality of his mind and its training was such that he toiled and struggled, labored, and studied, rising step by step from the barefooted scholar to the well equipped teacher, from the lawyer's clerk to the honorable station of register of probate of this great county, and finally, for more than half a century a leading attorney at the Middlesex bar, of which he was possibly the senior member, a most conspicuous example of success in a chosen profession, and of the possibilities open to all who
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have an object in life, combined with energy, prudence, and perseverance.
As a citizen of Melrose he was seldom absent from town meeting, and in every important debate he wielded the force of a remarkable knowledge of public affairs.
Declining office and honors, and never disconcerted by opposition, which was constantly encountered, he was abso- lutely independent, poising always a free lance, as ready to pierce a friend as to puncture a foe, if necessary to oppose a foible, or unmask a fraud.
Plain, frugal, and temperate himself, he discouraged ex- travagance in any form and despised vanity, self-conceit, and ostentation.
A firm believer in the town form of government as the most economical, purest, and most democratic system on earth, he opposed, with wonderful vigor and tenacity, any radical departure from the simple methods of the fathers. It was not for him to witness the advent of a new order of things in which he had neither confidence or sympathy.
With infinite courage he summoned to his aid cutting sar- casm or bitter denunciation, as well as suavity and gentle- ness -- whichever suited best in constructing insurmountable barriers to what he considered as wild, delusive, or extrava- gant legislation, in this winning the commendations of a large proportion of his fellow citizens who will not cease to mourn his loss. In many respects Alonzo V. Lynde was without a peer in this community, and there are none to take up the mantle which he laid down.
Respectfully submitted, LEVI S. GOULD, F. P. SHUMWAY, ROYAL P. BARRY, GEORGE R. JONES, GEORGE L. MORSE, JOHN LARRABEE,
Committee appointed by the Town.
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
WARRANT.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Melrose, in the County GREETING. .
of Middlesex :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify the inhabitants of the town of Melrose, qualified to vote in elections and town affairs, to meet at the town hall, on Monday, the sixth day of March, A. D. 1899, at 6 o'clock, a. m., then and there to act on the following articles, viz :
Article I. To choose a moderator.
Art. 2. To bring in their votes for town officers ; and in answer to the question, "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town?" All ballots are to be furnished by the town, and will be distributed at the polls by officers duly appointed in accordance with provi- sions of laws accepted by the town. Polls to be kept open until 5.30 p. m.
Art. 3. To choose all other town officers deemed neces- sary as required by law.
Art. 4. To authorize the town treasurer to borrow money with the approval of the selectmen, in anticipation of taxes.
Art. 5. To see if the town will authorize the treasurer to hire money, with the approval of the selectmen, for the purpose of renewing, replacing, or the payment of any loan or loans now existing.
Art. 6. To hear and act upon the report of the finance committee, appointed at meeting December 12, 1898.
Art. 7. To determine the amount of money to be raised and appropriated to defray town charges for the ensuing year and for the payment of the town debt.
Art. 8. To fix the compensation of all officers, and com- mittees elected, and appointed by the town.
Art. 9. To determine the method by which the taxes for the year shall be collected.
Art. 10. To see if the town will vote to raise the sum of two hundred dollars ($200) for keeping in repair, and deco- rating the graves of soldiers on Memorial Day.
Art. II. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, ($500) for the pur-
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pose of employing counsel who shall serve as attorney for the town, and furnish legal advice to the various officers and departments when required.
Art. 12. To see if the town will vote to pay the ex- pense of furnishing bonds for the treasurer, collector of taxes, or any other town officers, and raise or appropriate money for same.
Art. 13. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of for the purpose of con- tracting with the Melrose Hospital for the reception, care, and treatment of persons who, by misfortune, or poverty, require relief during temporary illness.
Art. 14. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) from the income of the water works' for the expense of maintenance, operation and construction of new works, as required by Section 20, Chap- ter 488 of the Acts of 1895, on petition of water commis- sioners.
Art. 15. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the money for the permanent improvement of Wyoming cemetery. By request of the cemetery committee.
Art. 16. To see if the town will authorize the sewer com- missioners to expend a sum not exceeding ten thousand dollars, ($10,000), for the construction and extension of sewers, to be from the sums received from assessments as authorized by law. By request of the sewer commissioners.
Art. 17. To see if the town will vote to locate fire alarm boxes at the corner of Melrose and Ashland streets, and the corner of Main street and Boardman avenue, and to appro- priate the sum of three hundred dollars ($300), to defray the expense of same. On petition of Charles N. Fowler and others.
Art. 18. To see if the town will vote to locate a fire alarm box at the corner of Larrabee and Grove streets, and appropriate money for the same. On petition of F. V. Dempsey and others.
Art. 19. To see if the town will repair Third street from Sixth street to Waverly avenue, and appropriate the sum of
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five hundred dollars ($500) for the same. On petition of F. V. Dempsey and others.
Art. 20. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of one thousand two hundred dollars, ($1,200) for horse and driver for hose 4.
Art. 21. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of three hundred dollars ($300), to put South and North High streets in a proper condition. On petition of Henry W. Clark and others.
Art. 22. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of three hundred dollars ($300), for improvement on street and sidewalk on Mystic avenue. On petition of F. A. Pratt and others.
Art. 23. To see if the town will vote to grade and repair Mt. Vernon street, at its junction with Brown street and appropriate five hundred dollars ($500) for the same.
Art. 24. To see what action the town will take regarding the surplus of the water board for the year 1898. On petition of the water commissioners.
Art. 25. To see if the town will amend the by-laws, so that the sealer of weights and measures shall be paid a salary for his services, and pass any other vote deemed nec- essary in connection therewith. On petition of Chase C. Worthen and others.
Art. 26. To see if the town will direct that such part of the high school building as is not required for high school purposes, shall be used for scholars in the ninth grade in the public schools, or take any action relating thereto. On petition of Frank W. Foster and others.
Art. 27. To see if the town will accept, and allow the taking by the board of park commissioners of certain lands north of Ell Pond for the locating and laying out of a public park, as shown in taking and plan dulv filed with the town clerk.
Art. 28. To see if the town will instruct the assessors to prepare and print for the use of the voters a complete list of valuations of real and personal property for 1899; to- gether with the poll tax list, and will appropriate three
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
hundred dollars ($300) or whatever may be necessary therefor. By request of the finance committee.
Art. 29. To see if the town will appropriate, or raise the sum of three thousand dollars ($3,000) for the purpose of widening and grading Swain's Pond avenue from Grove street to the Malden line. On petition of J. Herman Pren- tiss and others.
Art. 30. To see if the town will build a fire station in the southwesterly portion of the town, west of the Boston and Maine railroad, and purchase land if necessary, and raise or appropriate money for the same. On petition.
Art. 31. To see if the town will accept the following streets as laid out by the selectmen.
(I) An extension of Richardson road running from Ash- land street southerly and southwesterly to Alpine street.
(2) Street running from Richardson road northerly to Wakefield line, to be called Renwick road.
Art. 32. To hear and act upon the reports of the town officers, and committees, and for the transaction of any other business which may legally come before the meeting.
And you are hereby directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies thereof at the town hall, each of the post offices and depots in the town, not less than seven days before the day appointed for said meeting, and by leaving printed copies of the warrant at the dwellings of the legal voters before the day of meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the town clerk, at the time and place of said meeting.
Given under our hands this twenty-first day of February, in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine.
SIDNEY H. BUTTRICK, EUGENE H. MOORE, JONATHAN C. HOWES, SIDNEY D. FARRAR, L. FRANK HINCKLEY, Selectmen of Melrose.
A true copy.
Attest:
WILLIAM L. PIERCE, Constable.
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
MELROSE, March 4, 1899.
MIDDLESEX, SS.
Pursuant, to the within warrant, I have served the same, by posting up an attested copy at each of the railroad de- pots and post offices of the town, and at the town hall, more than seven days before the time set for said meeting.
And I have also left a printed copy at the residences of legal voters in said town, before the day set for said meet- ings. WILLIAM L. PIERCE, Constable. A true copy.
Attest :
W. DEHAVEN JONES, Town Clerk.
Annual Town Meeting, Monday, March 6th, 1899, 6 o'clock a. m.
Meeting called to order by Sidney H. Buttrick, chair- man of the selectmen.
Voted, That one ballot be cast for W. DeHaven Jones, as town clerk pro tempore. Polls were opened and check list used. Sidney H. Buttrick announced one ballot cast, and declared W. De Haven Jones elected unanimously as town clerk pro tempore for the meeting. The oath of office was administered by Sidney H. Buttrick, justice of the peace.
Article I. Chose Levi S. Gould, moderator. Polls opened, check list and ballots used, declared unanimously elected.
Art. 2. Voted, That the ballots do not be counted until the close of the polls at 5.30 o'clock p. m. Motion to re- consider defeated.
Voted, That the consideration of all business other than the balloting for town officers be postponed until Monday evening, March 13th, and continue each Monday thereafter until all the articles in the warrant shall be acted upon. Sessions shall be from 7.30 to 10 o'clock p. m., and that the finance committee be requested to report in print at the ad- journed meeting.
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Ballot clerks and tellers appointed by the selectmen.
Ballot Clerks.
Curtis S. Gordon. William P. Peirce.
Thomas J. Hawkes. John H. Larrabee. Check Lists.
Julian C. Woodman. John J. Mccullough.
Albon W. Parker. Ambrose C. Dearborn.
Tellers.
George F. Woodman. F. W. Lewis.
James F. Fernald. Victor C. Kirmes.
Oscar F. Frost. Peter J. Curran.
George C. Stantial. Otis W. Pierce.
Edward J. Kitching. Wm. J. Duffy.
Tellers appointed by moderator.
H. H. Boerum. Samuel Dearborn.
Fred L. Putnam.
George W. Carr.
Frank E. Morton. John J. Mccullough.
Allen H. Sturges. Edwin L. Cragin.
E. F. Lothrop. Charles E. Marshall.
John H. Larrabee.
J. C. Woodman. Frank N. Pierce. John T. Barker.
All of the above were sworn to the faithful discharge of their duties by the moderator, with the assistance of Sidney H. Buttrick, justice of the peace, and the town clerk.
Ballot box inspected, and found to be empty and in good condition.
Polls opened at 6 o'clock a. m. Closed at 5.30 p. m. The ballot box registered as follows:
Eight o'clock a. m. 534
Nine o'clock a. m. 700
Twelve o'clock m. 1,017
Three thirty-three p. m. 1,429
Five thirty p. m. 1,739
Total number of votes cast 1,739
Total number registered on box 1,739
Total number of votes cast (men) 1,721
Total number of votes cast (women) 18
Total, 1,739
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Result of the balloting as declared by the moderator in open town meeting.
Selectmen.
Barton, Charles J., 85 Meridian street, .
1,076
Buttrick, Sidney H., 87 Essex street, 1,021
Carbee, George E. 41 Essex street, 178 Carrie, William A., 3 York terrace, 750
Hinckley, L. Frank, 123 W. Foster street, . Howes, Jonathan C., 71 E. Emerson street, 1,073
1,137
Lawson, John H., 276 Franklin street, 744
Lord, Joseph D., 51 Cleaveland street, . 709
Moore, Eugene H., 220 Porter street, . .
728
Norton, Daniel, .
I
Blanks, .
1,188
Total,
8,605
Town Clerk.
Howe, Sidney, 112 Upham street, 781
Jones, W. DeHaven, 245 Porter street, 844
96
Blanks, .
Total, Town Treasurer.
Newhall, George, 94 Myrtle street,
1,374
Fowler,.C. N., 2
Blanks, . 345
Total, 1,721
Auditor.
Gould, Edwin C., 12 Wyoming avenue, 1,337
Fowler, C. N.,
I
Blanks, . 383
Total, 1,721
Collector of Taxes.
Murray, James W., 16 Union street, 1,2II
Wheeler, Charles O., 84 Essex steeet, . 325
Blanks, . I85
Total, 1,721
1,721
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Assessor, for three years.
Edwards, Joseph, 612 Main street, . 1,322
Scattering, 5
Blanks,
384
Total, . 1,72I
Sewer Commissioner, for three years.
Hinckley, L. Frank, 123 Foster street, 1,280
Blanks, 44I
Total, 1,72I
Water Commissioner, for three years.
Morse, George L., 32 Myrtle street, 1,32I
Blanks, . 400
Total, 1,72I
Water Loan Sinking Fund Commissioner, for three years.
Russell, Daniel, 4 Russell street, . 1,269
I Moore, E. H., .
Blanks, .
45I
Total, 1,72I
Sinking Fund Commissioner, for three years.
Russell, Daniel, - 1,116
Blanks, .
605
Total, 1,72I
School Committee, for three years.
Amadon, Arthur F., 114 Cottage street, .
1,289
Dearborn, Bessie B., 315 Main street, . 1,217 Scattering, 5 Blanks, 967
Total, 3,478
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Trustees Public Library, for three years.
Barry, Charles C., 98 Hillside avenue, . 1,238
Goss, Elbridge H., 26 Cedar park, 1,209
Scattering, 3
Blanks, 992
Total, 3,442
Overseer of the Poor, for three years.
Ripley, Thomas W., 24 Cliff street, . 1,25I
Blanks, . 470 ,
Total, 1,72I
Board of Health for three years.
Harlow, Corydon W. M.D., 114 Franklin street, 71 I Provandie, Paul, M. D., 33 Walton park, 694
Blanks, 316
Total, . 1,72I
Park Commissioner, for three years.
Adams, Charles H., 59 Orient avenue, 1,265
Scattering, 2
Blanks,
454
Total, 1,72I
Cemetery Committee.
Kunhardt, Louis H., 89 Franklin street, one
year, . ·
1,079
Larrabee, John, 34 Foster street, two years, 1,224
Newhall, George, 94 Myrtle street, three years, 1,194
Bucknam, John,
67
Sargent, E. N.,
I
Blanks,
1,598
Total,
5,163
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Constables.
Drown, Osborn E., 43 E. Foster street, 1,189
McLaughlin, Frank M., 56 Green street, 1,129
Pierce, William L., 16 Maple street, 1,328
Pike, E. Warren, 451 Main street,
974
Swain, Elmer D., 6 Waverly avenue,
323
Scattering,
5
Blanks,
1,946
Total,
License Question. 6,884
"Shall Licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town?"
" Yes,"
283
" No,"
1,202
Blanks,
236
Total, 1,72I
The moderator administered the oath of office to the selectmen and town clerk elected.
Voted, To adjourn at 1.30 a. m., March seventh. Attest: W. DEHAVEN JONES,
Town Clerk.
Adjourned Town Meeting, Monday evening, March 13th, 1899, 7.30 o'clock.
Met according to adjournment.
Article 3. Officers elected :
Weighers of wood and coal, and measurers of wood and bark, C. B. Goss, S. E. Benson, F. E. Newell ; fence view- ers, Dexter Pratt, Walter C. Stevens ; field drivers, Frank A. Vinton, A. J. Bonett ; pound keeper, A. J. Bonett.
Art. 4. Voted, unanimously. That for the purpose of procuring a temporary loan, to and for the use of the town of Melrose, in anticipation of the taxes of the present muni-
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cipal year, the town treasurer is hereby authorized and di- rected to borrow, from time to time, with the approval of the selectmen, a sum or sums in the aggregate amounting to seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) and to execute and deliver the note or notes of the town therefor, payable within one year from the time the loan is made, with inter- est thereon at a rate not exceeding four per cent. (4 %) per annum. Any debt or debts incurred by a loan or loans to the town under this vote shall be paid from the taxes of the present municipal year.
Art. 5. Voted, unanimously. That the treasurer be au- thorized, with the approval of the selectmen, to hire money to renew, replace, or pay any existing loan or loans, and issue note of the town therefor.
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