USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Inaugural address of the mayor, with the annual report of the officers of the city of Quincy for the year 1889 > Part 14
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SEC. 48. No sum appropriated for a specific purpose, shall be expended for any other purpose, and no expenditure shall be made, nor liability incurred, by or in behalf of the city, until an appropriation has been duly voted by the city
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council sufficient to meet such expenditure or liability, together with all prior unpaid liabilities which are payable out of such appropriation ; provided, however, that, after the expiration of the financial year and until the passage of the regular annual appropriations, liabilities payable out of a regular appropria- tion to be contained therein may be incurred to an amount not exceeding one-third of the total of such appropriation for the preceding year.
SEC. 49. Nothing herein contained shall affect the en- forcement of the provisions of chapter three hundred and twenty of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and eighty- four, being "An act to improve the civil service of the Com- monwealth and the cities thereof," or of the rules made by the commissioners appointed thereunder ; and the city council shall make sufficient and proper appropriations for the carrying out and enforcement of said act and such rules in said city.
SEC. 50. The passage of this act shall not affect any right, accruing or accrued, or any suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding pending, at the time when it shall take effect by acceptance, as herein provided, and no penalty or forfeiture previously incurred shall be affected thereby. All persons holding office in said town at the time this act shall be accepted as aforesaid, shall continue to hold such offices, until the or- ganization of the city government hereby authorized shall be affected, and until their respective successors shall be chosen and qualified.
SEC. 51. Chapter one hundred and sixty-two of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and eighty-three is hereby amended by inserting after the words "direction of," in line twenty-two of section two of said act, the words, "the com- missioner of public works of the city of Quincy or ;" by strik- ing out in the thirteenth line of section ten of said act the words, "by the water commissioners hereinafter provided for," and inserting in place thereof the words, "by the commissioner
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of public works of the city of Quincy ;" by inserting after the words, "said loan," in the eighteenth line of said section, the words, "unless an amount thereof, equal to the total amount divided by the greatest number of years which any of such secur- ities have to run, is made payable at the end of each year from the date of its issue ;" and by striking out section twelve of said act and inserting in place thereof a new section, as fol- lows :- "Sec. 12. All the authority granted to the city of Quincy by this act, and not otherwise specifically provided for, shall be vested in the commissioner of public works, to be ex- ercised by him, subject to the ordinances and regulations of the city council. In case a sinking fund is constituted, under the provisions of this act, the city treasurer shall, ex officio, be the trustee of such sinking fund, subject to the ordinances and reg- ulations of the city council." The city of Quincy is hereby given all the rights and privileges, and made subject to all the duties and liabilities given to or imposed upon the town of Quincy by said act, except as above amended.
SEC. 52. So much of chapter seventy of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and eighty-two, as is inconsistent with this act, is hereby repealed, and the city of Quincy is hereby given all the rights and privileges and made subject to all the liabilities therein given to or imposed upon the town of Quincy, with relation to laying out and maintaining a public park or parks.
SEC. 53. Upon an acceptance of this act, as herein pro- vided, the selectmen of said town shall forthwith divide the territory thereof into six wards, so that the wards shall con- tain, as nearly as may be consistent with well-defined limits to each, an equal number of voters, and they shall designate the wards by numbers. They shall, for the purpose of the first municipal election to be held hereunder, which shall take place on the first Tuesday of December next succeeding such accep- tance, provide suitable polling places in the several wards, and
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give notice thereof, and shall at least ten days previous to such first Tuesday in December appoint all proper election officers therefor, and they shall in general have the powers and perform the duties of the mayor and the board of aldermen of cities under chapter two hundred and ninety-nine of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and eighty-four, the provisions of which shall so far as applicable apply to said election ; and the town clerk shall perform the duties therein assigned to city clerks. The registrars of voters shall cause to be prepared and pub- lished according to law lists of the qualified voters in each of the wards established by the selectmen.
SEC. 54. The selectmen shall notify the persons elected at such first election severally of their elections, and shall pro- vide and appoint a place for the first meeting of the mayor and city council on the first Monday in January next ensuing ; and shall by written notices left at their respective places of resi- dence, at least twenty-four hours prior to such meeting, notify thereof the mayor elect, and councilmen elect, who shall immediately proceed to organize and carry into effect the pro- visions of this act, which shall then have full force and effect. The selectmen shall, in like manner, provide and appoint a place and time for the first meeting of the school committee and notify the members elect thereof. Nothing herein shall affect the annual meeting in said town for the election of national, state, district and county officers, which may be held next after the acceptance thereof.
"SEC. 55. A meeting may be held for the purpose of submitting the question of the acceptance of this act to the legal voters of said town at any time within two years after the passage thereof, except in the months of November and December. At such meeting the polls shall be open not less than eight hours, and the vote shall be taken by ballot in accordance with the provisions of chapter two hundred and ninety-nine of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and eighty-
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four, so far as the same shall be applicable, in answer to the question : " Shall an act passed by the general court in the year eighteen hundred and eighty-eight, entitled 'An Act to incorporate the city of Quincy,' be accepted ?"; and the affirm- ative votes of a majority of the voters present and voting thereon shall be required for its acceptance. If at any meeting so held this act shall fail to be thus accepted, it may, at. the expiration of three months from any such previous meeting, be again thus submitted for acceptance, but not after the period of two years from the passage thereof.
SEC. 56. So much of this act as authorizes the submission of the question of its acceptance to the legal voters of the said town shall take effect upon its passage, but it shall not take further effect unless accepted by the legal voters of said town as herein prescribed. [Approved May 17, 1888.
AN AMENDMENT.
[CHAP. 256, ACTS OF 1889. ]
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION FORTY-FOUR OF CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SEVEN OF THE ACTS OF THE YEAR EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-EIGHT RELATING TO THE MUNICIPAL INDEBTEDNESS OF THE CITY OF QUINCY.
Be it enacted, etc., as follows :
SECTION 1. Section forty-four of chapter three hundred and forty-seven of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and eighty-eight is hereby amended by striking out the following words, "The limit of indebtedness of the said city, exclusive of any indebtedness created for supplying the inhabitants with water, shall be one per cent. of the average valuation of said city, as ascertained in accordance with chapter three hundred and twelve of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and eighty-
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five, but otherwise", so as to read as follows : Section 44. The general laws relating to municipal indebtedness shall apply to said city. The financial year of the city shall begin at such time as the city council shall by ordinance prescribe.
SEC. 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage. [Ap- proved April 15, 1889.
CITY ORDINANCES.
CITY OF QUINCY.
16.4
1625 KIMANET
0:179
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C QUINCY
No. 1.
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AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE FIRE DE- PARTMENT OF THE CITY OF QUINCY. -
Be it ordained by the City Council of Quincy, as follows:
SECTION 1. A Fire Department is hereby established.
There shall be a Chief Engineer of the Fire Department, and one Assistant Engineer from each ward, and other officers and members to the number of sixty-eight (68).
One Steam Fire Engine Company, to consist of three permanent men, viz :. Engineman, Assistant Engineman and Driver.
Hose Co. No. 1, to consist of twelve men, one of whom shall be permanent.
Hose Co. No. 2, to consist of ten men.
Hose Co. No. 3, to consist of ten men.
Hose Co. No. 4, to consist of ten men.
Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1, to consist of thirteen men, one of whom shall be permanent.
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Chemical Co. No. 1,-
Chemical Co. No. 2, to consist of ten men.
No person shall be appointed a member of the Fire De- partment who does not sustain a good moral character, and who is not a citizen of Quincy.
SEC. 2. The Chief Engineer shall be responsible for the discipline, good order and proper conduct of the officers and men constituting the Department, and for the good condition of all houses, reservoirs, hydrants, engines, hose, hose-car- riages, hooks and ladders, trucks, and all apparatus and fur- niture thereto belonging and connected with the Department. He may remove or suspend any officer or member. He shall have the control of the engine and other houses used by the Department ; of the furniture therein, and of the engines and apparatus, as well as of all other property appertaining to the Department.
SEC. 3. The rank of officers in case of fire shall be as follows :
Chief Engineer, assistant engineer of the ward in which the fire originates, the first engineer to arrive, the foreman of the first company to arrive ; and they shall have sole and absolute control and command of all the other members of the Department and of other persons present at fires.
[PUBLIC STATUTES. ]
Sec. 3. The fire-wards, or any three of them, present at a place in immediate danger from a fire, or where no fire-wards are appointed, the selectmen, or mayor and aldermen present, or, in their absence, two or more of the civil officers present, or, in their absence, two or more of the chief military officers of the place present, may direct any house or building to be pulled down or demolished, when they judge the same to be necessary in order to prevent the spreading of fire.
Sec. 4. In cities and towns which, by vote of the City Council, or of the legal voters respectively, have accepted the provisions of this section, or of chapter two hundred and one
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of the statutes of the year eighteen hundred and seventy-three, the engineer of a fire department in command at a fire shall, to the exclusion of all other persons, have the power conferred by the preceding section.
SEC. 4. The Chief Engineer shall keep rolls of the com- panies, specifying the name, age, occupation and residence, and the date of the admission and discharge of each member of the Department, and he shall keep an accurate account of all property belonging to it.
He shall make annually, and oftener if required, to the Mayor, a detailed report of the condition of the Fire Depart- ment, of loss and accident by fire, with the causes thereof, as well as they can be ascertained, and of the description of the buildings and other property destroyed or injured, the amount of insurance, and the names of the owners, and such other duties as are prescribed by chapter 199 of the Acts of 1888.
SEC. 5. The Chief Engineer shall examine all places where shavings or other combustible materials are deposited or collected, and shall see to the removal of the same, when- ever in his opinion, the same are dangerous, and shall direct the owners, tenants or occupants of such places to remove the same, which they shall do forthwith ; and in case of refusal or neglect, he shall cause the same to be removed at the expense of such owners, tenants or occupants.
SEC. 6. The Chief Engineer and assistant engineer shall have and exercise the power and duties of forest fire-wards, and may employ such assistance as they may see fit to suppress forest fires, at the expense of the city.
SEC. 7. The Chief Engineer shall observe all buildings in which steam engines are used, and all buildings in process of erection or alteration, and make a record of such of them as in his judgment may be dangerous, and report thereon to the Mayor forthwith. Whenever, in the opinion of the Chief Engineer, any camphene or other explosive or inflammable
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fluid or material should be removed, he shall forthwith notify and direct the owner, tenant or occupant of the premises upon which the same are situated to remove the same, which he shall forthwith do. In case such tenant, owner or occupant shall refuse or neglect so to do, the Chief Engineer shall cause the same to be removed at the expense of such owner, tenant or occupant. No person shall obstruct the Chief Engineer in carrying out the provisions of this section.
SEC. 8. The Chief Engineer shall, on the last day of each week, prepare a pay-roll of all permanent men employed in the Department, and present it to the Mayor for his approval or disapproval. On the first day of December, in each year, the clerk of each company shall make a roll bearing the full name, age, occupation and residence of every call member of the company, specifying also the number of times the company has been called out, and the attendance of each member, to which shall be appended the following certificate :
"We, the undersigned, do hereby certify that, according to the best of our knowledge and belief, the foregoing persons are members of-company, and that said company had con- sisted of-members during the last year ; that during that time they have performed all the duties incumbent upon them as firemen, have been present at every turnout of the company, or have been duly excused ; and that they are entitled to all the privileges and pay of firemen."
The certificate shall be signed by the foreman and clerk, and shall be delivered to the Chief Engineer.
The Chief Engineer shall examine these rolls, and present them, with the pay-rolls of the several companies, to the Mayor for his approval or disapproval.
SEC. 9. Salaries .- Chief Engineer, $250.00 per year ; he to pay his own clerk.
Six Assistant Engineers, $25.00 each per year. Wards 1 and 3, $75.00 per year.
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One Engineman, $16.00 per week.
One Assistant Engineman, $16.00 per week.
Driver of Steamer, $16.00 per week.
Driver of Hose No. 1, $16.00 per week.
Driver of Hook and Ladder, $16.00 per week.
Call men on Hose No. 1, eleven ; and Hook and Ladder No. 1, twelve ; $75.00 per year each.
Call men on Hose No. 2, ten; No. 3, ten ; and No. 4, ten ; and Chemical 2, ten ; $25.00 per year each.
Stewards of Hose No. 2, 3 and 4, and Chemical 2, $40.00 additional per year each.
Man who takes care of chemical No. 1, $20.00 per year.
SEC. 10. The Chief Engineer shall have the care and management of the rooms, apparatus and machinery connected with the fire-alarm telegraph, and shall determine to whom shall be intrusted the keys of the signal-boxes. He shall pre- pare rules and directions for giving alarms of fire through the telegraph.
SEC. 11. No unauthorized person shall open any of the signal-boxes, except in case of fire, or interfere with the wires or the poles or other supports of the wires.
SEC. 12. The Chief Engineer shall see that every per- son raising a false alarm of fire is prosecuted.
SEC. 13. No gambling shall be allowed in any building occupied by the fire department, nor shall spirituous liquors be carried into, kept or used there.
SEC. 14. No unauthorized person shall draw water from the reservoirs or fire hydrants, except in case of fire, and except as otherwise provided. No part of the apparatus shall be taken from the city, unless to a fire, without special permission from the Mayor and Council, nor shall any engine, hose or truck be taken out of the city to a fire without per- mission of the Chief Engineer, or, in his absence, that of the Mayor.
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No piece of apparatus shall be used for any purpose, ex- cept in extinguishing fires, without the consent of the Chief Engineer and Mayor.
SEC. 15. No occupant of any building or room in which there is a hatchway or trap-door shall suffer the same to be left open at night.
SEC. 16. Any member of the department injured or dis- abled while on actual duty shall receive pay pro rata for the time lost in consequence, not exceeding three months.
SEC. 17. No person shall wantonly or carelessly set fire to any tree, bush, grass, leaves, brushwood, rubbish or other substance in any place in the city of Quincy.
SEC. 18. Whoever shall violate any provision of this ordinance shall forfeit a sum not exceeding twenty dollars.
Passed February 25. Approved March 4, 1889.
No. 2.
AN ORDINANCE TO PRESERVE ORDER AT MEET- INGS OF COUNCIL.
Be it ordained by the City Council, as follows :
SECTION 1. If a person behaves in a disorderly manner during any meeting of the City Council, and after notice from the presiding officer persists therein, the presiding officer may order him to withdraw from the meeting, and on his refusal may order the constables or any other persons to take him from the meeting and confine him in some convenient place until the meeting is adjourned.
SEC. 2. The person so refusing to withdraw shall for such offence forfeit a sum not exceeding twenty dollars.
Passed February 25. Approved February 26, 1889.
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No. 3.
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AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING THE OFFICE OF AUDITOR, AND DEFINING HIS DUTIES.
Be it ordained by the City Council of Quincy, as follows:
SECTION 1. The City Council shall, in the month of January, choose an Auditor of Accounts, who shall hold office for the term of one year, beginning work the first Monday in February next ensuing, and until his successor is chosen and qualified. A majority of the votes of all the members of the Council, taken by roll-call, shall be necessary for the choice of the Auditor of Accounts and he may be removed by the affirmative vote of a majority of all the members of the Coun- cil, taken by roll-call. He shall be sworn to the faithful dis- charge of the duties of his office, and shall receive such salary as the City Council shall from time to time determine, and whenever there is a vacancy, it shall be filled in the manner provided above.
SEC. 2. The Auditor, in addition to the duties prescribed by the Charter, shall certify all bills and claims against the City which have been approved by the heads of Department and after certification shall place the same in the hands of the Treasurer. He shall also serve as clerk to the Committee on Finance and Accounts.
He shall keep his accounts in such form and in such detail as may be necessary to a clear exhibit of all expenditures and receipts. He shall keep an account with the Treasurer, charging him with the whole amount of taxes assessed for collection, with the amount of loans and sums of money that may be borrowed for the city, and with all securities and sums receivable, in order that the description and value of all per- sonal property belonging to the city may be shown at any
r
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time by his books. He shall credit each account with its appropriation for the financial year, and with its receipts, and charge against the same the expenditures as they shall from time to time be allowed. Whenever an appropriation for any account is expended, the Auditor shall immediately give notice thereof to the Mayor, the City Council, and the Committee on Accounts, which committee shall not pass or allow any claim or account chargeable against such appropriation, until the City Council provides the means of paying the same. The Auditor shall once in each month furnish the City Council and administration boards with a statement, showing the condition of each account, giving amount of appropriations, and receipts, expenditures, and unexpended balances under the same.
SEC. 3. The Auditor shall countersign all bonds, notes and certificates of indebtedness issued by authority of the City Council. He shall report to the City Council, under the direction of the Committee on Accounts, during the month of January in each year, in detail, the amount of appropriations, expenditures, and receipts during the preceding financial year ; and the whole shall be arranged as far as practicable, to con- form to the accounts of the Treasurer. He shall include in said report a statement of the funded and temporary loans, the rate of interest thereon, and shall exhibit the liabilities and assets as shown on the books in his" office at the close of the financial year.
Passed February 25, 1889.
No. 4.
AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING ASSESSORS AND COLLECTION OF TAXES.
Be it ordained by the City Council of Quincy, as follows:
SECTION 1. The Assessors shall [meet on the first Monday of February, or as soon thereafter as may be, and
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organize as a board, and the Principal Assessor shall, ex-officio be chairman.
COLLECTION OF TAXES.
SEC. 2. All taxes shall be paid before the first day of November of the year in which the assessment thereof is made ; and on all taxes not paid before said day, interest at the rate of six per centum per annum shall be added from and after said day, inclusive, until said taxes are paid.
If any taxes are not paid before the first day of January, the Collector shall forthwith issue a summons demanding the payment thereof, which summons shall be forthwith served upon each delinquent by the Collector, or any constable or police officer of the city, either personally or by leaving the same at his last and usual place of abode, and twenty cents shall be added to said tax after said summons has been issued for the same ; and if said tax and the interest due thereon, and twenty cents additional for said summons are not paid in 14 days after the service of said summons, the Collector shall forthwith collect the same according to law.
SEC. 3. The Collector shall give a bond with sufficient sureties, to be approved by the Mayor, in the sum of thirty thousand dollars for the faithful performance of the duties of his office and accountability for all money which may come into his hands as Collector of Taxes by virtue of his office.
Said bond shall be executed, approved and delivered to the Mayor before he enters upon the duties of his office. In case of the death or insolvency of any of the sureties on any bond so given, the Collector shall immediately give a new bond with sufficient sureties as heretofore provided, and if he fails to give such new bonds within a reasonable time after notice to do so, it shall be sufficient cause for his removal from office.
In case the office of Treasurer and Collector is held by the same person, the bond shall be fifty thousand dollars.
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No. 5.
AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING THE OFFICE OF CITY TREASURER AND DEFINING HIS DUTIES.
- Be it ordained by the City Council of Quincy, as follows :
SECTION 1. The Treasurer shall give a bond with suffi- cient sureties to be approved by the Mayor, in the sum of thirty thousand dollars, for the faithful performance of his duty as Treasurer, which shall be executed, approved and de- livered to the Mayor before he enters upon the duties of his office. In case of the death or insolvency of any of the sure- ties on any bond so given, the Treasurer shall immediately give a new bond with sufficient sureties, as heretofore provided ; and if he fails to give such new bonds, within a reasonable time after notice to do so, it shall be sufficient cause for his removal from office. The bond of the Treasurer shall be kept by the Mayor, who shall, forthwith upon its receipt, cause written notice thereof to be given to the Board of Assessors. The bonds of other city officers shall be kept by the Treasurer. If the office of City Treasurer and Collector is held by the same person the bond shall be fifty thousand dollars.
SEC. 2. The Treasurer shall keep, in books provided for that purpose, an accurate and true account of all his receipts and payments on behalf of the city, making the same conform as nearly as may be, to the amounts kept by the Auditor. He shall keep an account with each appropriation made by the City Council, and shall credit each account with its appropriations, and shall charge to each all sums paid out on such account. He shall at the close of each financial year make a written re- port to the City Council of the condition of the Treasury, and all money received and paid out by him during said year.
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