USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1908-1911 > Part 47
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Received from Joseph E. Conley, Supt. 5,150 50
Refund on Interest account, 20 00
$48,633 78.
101
account with the SEWER COMMISSIONERS.
Cr.
By paid Commissioners' orders, Balance,
$31,673 06
16,960 72
$48,633 78
102
HAROLD W. GAY, Treasurer of Norwood, in
1910
Dr.
Feb. 1. Balance in Treasury, Received from F. W. Talbot,
$1,953 28
2,589 61
Received interest on Trust Funds, Received from Old Cemetery account,
148 62
74 50
$4,766 01
OLD CEMETERY
1910
Dr.
$63 61
Feb. 1. Balance in Treasury, Received from Cemetery Commissioners, 5 00
Received interest from Trust Funds,
13 22
$81 83
CEMETERY TRUST FUND FOR PERPETUAL
Dr. 1910
Feb. 1. Balance in Treasury,
$3,400 00
Received from Warren E. Rhoads, Received from Eugene H. Randlett, Robert Mckenzie,
100 00
100 00
100 00
Received from Charles J. Rhoads,
100 00
Received from estate of J. E. Smith,
1,900 00
Received from interest, 161 84
$5,861 84
.
103
account with the HIGHLAND CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS.
1911
Cr.
Jan. 31.
By paid Commissioners orders,
Balance,
$2,457 59
2,308 42
$4,766 01
ACCOUNT.
1911
Cr.
Paid Highland Cemetery, account labor,
$74 50
Jan. 31.
Balance,
7 33
$81 83
CARE OF LOTS.
Cr
Paid Cemetery Commissioners, $161 84
Balance,
5,700 00
$5,861 84
We hereby certify that we have examined the accounts of Harold W. Gay with the Water Commissioners, Trustees of the Public Library, Municipal Light Department, Sewer Commissioners, and Cemetery Commissioners, and find the some correctly stated and properly vouched.
JAMES E. PENDERGAST, H. H. MILLER,
February 24, 1911.
Auditors.
104
GEORGE O. CAPEN, Collector of Taxes, in
1911
Dr.
Amount of Commitment tax,
$134,205 37
Amount of Non Resident Bank tax,
310 50
Amount of Street Watering tax,
849 50
Amount of Supplementary tax and December assesment,
2,103 38
Amount of Street betterment tax,
2,615 65
Amount of Excise tax,
838 56
Amount of apportioned sewer assessments,
5,432 33
Interest collected on taxes,
229 23
Amount of interest, sewer assessments,
2 95
$146,587 47
We hereby certify that we have examined the accounts of the Collector of Taxes of the Town of Norwood for 1910 and find the same correctly dated and properly vouched.
JAMES E. PENDERGAST, HERBERT H. MILLER,
Auditors.
105
account with the TOWN OF NORWOOD.
1911
Cr.
$120,961 82
By cash, paid H. W. Gay, Treasurer, Uncollected taxes,
$15,906 14
Uncollected Supplementary taxes,
679 16
Uncollected Street Watering taxes,
104 00
Uncollected Street betterment tax,
2,495 82
Uncollected Excise tax,
29 12
Abatement by Assessors,
976 12
Total, Fractional difference in commitment,
$141,152 18
.01
$141,152 19
Cash, paid H. W. Gay, as Treasurer of the Board of Sewer Commissioners, collected on Assessors commitment of apportioned sewer assessments, $269 43 Interest collected on payments made on assessed apportionments, after Dec. 1, 1910, 2 95
Amount of assessed apportionments re- maining uncollected, Feb. 1, 1911, 769 57
$1,041 95
By abatements from the Board of Asses- sors, as authorized by the Sewer Commissioners,apportionments which were paid in 1909 and 1910, previous to the commitment, made by asses- ors, 4,393 33
$146,587 47
$19,214 24
106
GEORGE O. CAPEN, Collector of Taxes, in
1909 Taxes
Dr.
To uncollected tax,
$13,344 15
To Supplementary tax,
1 06
To Street Watering tax,
69 25
To Street betterment tax,
388 39
$13,802 85
258 05
Interest,
$14,060 90
107
account with the TOWN OF NORWOOD.
Cr.
By cash, paid Treasurer,
$11,870 68
Uncollected taxes,
$1,445 96
Uncollected Street Watering tax,
6 00
Uncollected Street Betterment tax,
367 29
Uncollected Supplementary tax,
1 06
$1,820 31
Abatements,
369 91
$14,060 90
We hereby certify that we have examined the accounts of the Collector of Taxes of the Town of Norwood, and find the same correctly stated and properly vouched.
JAMES E. PENDERGAST, HERBERT H. MILLER,
February 24, 1911.
Auditors.
108
GEORGE O. CAPEN, Collector of Taxes, in
Dr. Uncollected taxes of 1908, amount, $8,061 64
109
account with the TOWN OF NORWOOD.
Cr.
Amount paid by Tax Collector to H. W. Gay,
Treasurer,
$2,834 47
Balance,
5,227 17
$8,061 64
Suits were brought to collect $8,061.64, being the un- collected taxes for the year of 1908. By vote of the town, these suits were compromised and settled for the sum of $2,834.47, which amount was paid upon judgments entered in said suits, and from the collection of the balance amounting to $5,227.17, the Collector of Taxes was accordingly relieved. The above vote is as follows :-
Art. 17. Voted-That the Collector of Taxes and Board of Selectmen be and hereby are authorized and directed to compromise and settle on the basis of the tax rate for the year 1909, the five suits now pending in the Superior Court for Norfolk County brought to collect the taxes assessed against the defendants on Dec. 18, 1908, namely :-
Geo. O. Capen, Tax Collector, vs. Emma L. Shattuck, et al, Trustees for Chauncey H., and Adelia Kimball.
Geo. O. Capen, Tax Collector, vs. Emma L. Shattuck, et al, Trustees for Emma L. Shattuck, et al.
Geo. O. Capen, Tax Collector, vs. Emma L. Shattuck, et al, Executors.
Geo. O. Capen, Tax Collector, vs. Emma L. Shattuck, Guardian of Sarah B. H. Shattuck.
Geo. O. Capen, Tax Collector, vs. Emma L. Shattuck, Guardian of Edmund J. Shattuck.
110
Investments of the Sinking Fund.
1911
Jan. 1.
Town of Norwood, note due July 1, 1911, $1,500 00
Town of Norwood note due Dec. 30, 1911, 4,350 00
Town of Norwood, note due July 1, 1912,
1,500 00
Town of Norwood, note due Dec. 1, 1912, 1,500 00
Town of Norwood, note due Dec. 1, 1913,
2,200 00
Town of Norwood, note due Dec. 1, 1911,
1,000 00
Town of Norwood, note due Dec. 1, 1912,
1,000 00
Town of Norwood, note due Dec. 1, 1913,
1,000 00
Town of Norwood, note due Dec. 1, 1914,
1,000 00
Town of Norwood, note due Dec. 1, 1915,
1,000 00
Town of Norwood, note due Dec. 1, 1916,
1,000 00
Town of Norwood, note due Dec. 1, 1917,
1,000 00
Town of Norwood, note due Dec. 1, 1918,
1,000 00
Town of Norwood, note due Dec. 1, 1919,
1,000 00
Town of Norwood, note due Dec. 1, 1920,
1,000 00
Deposit in Dedham Inst. for Savings,
927 76
Depoist in Warren Inst. for Savings,
1,018 33
Deposit in Roxbury Inst. for Savings,
1,033 69
Deposit in Suffolk Savings Bank,
1,041 04
Deposit in Franklin Savings Bank,
972 81
Deposit in Home Savings Bank,
919 49
Deposit in Boston Five Cent Savings Bank,
937 81
Deposit in Norwood National Bank Savings Dept., 6,601 20
$34,502 13
111
AUDITORS' REPORT.
After our election, and as soon as the Town had decided to have all the departmental work done by the Town Book- keeper, we then commenced to make the necessary arrange- ments for the installation of a system to cover the taking care of the work necessary under the new conditions.
After many meetings of the Board and consultations with public accountants, Mr. Thomas S. Spurr of Boston, was en- gaged to install the system.
As certain legislation bearing on Town accounts was likely to be enacted, it was deemed advisable to await such action before installing anything definite. This matter was finally settled in June, 1910; but by that time so much of the fiscal year had elapsed, it was not advisable to attempt starting the new set of books until the close of the year. With that in mind all arrangements were made, and, as you already know, an Accountant and Bookkeeper was engaged for this purpose, whose services commenced on the 1st of February, 1911.
Under the old system, the final adjustment of accounts between departments was left until the close of the year, which meant a rush at that time, and entailed a great deal of work which might have been avoided, had it been done regularly throughout the year. Under the new system, this will be done away with; as the work will be done regularly each month, and a statement of how each department stands will be rendered to them monthly, or oftener, as they may elect.
We believe that the new arrangements will prove of great value to the departments and the Town, as all work of this nature will be centralized.
The advantage to be obtained from the new condition is
112
the Town Bookkeeper, who will be on duty every day, and in- formation desired along many lines can be secured from him. As this new system has but just started, each department may not secure all the information it desires at once, but with a little patience, we have every reason to believe that before the end of two or three months, everything will be going along smoothly; and we then can better judge of the value of the change than at the present time. We can see even now its advantages over what has existed in the past. The work of compiling figures has been done by the different Boards, and has naturally taken more or less of their time, which we believe they should have been relieved of. Under the present condi- tions, they will have none of this work to do, and it will, there- fore, afford them more time for the regular work of their depart- ments. Then, too, the Accountant will be a check against appropriations being exceeded, at the same time placing each department in a position to know their exact financial condition, through the regular statement submitted each month, so that they can seek additional appropriations to cover any possible contingencies.
We would suggest the following:
1-a. Tax Collector be regularly located at the Selectmen's rooms instead of going out collecting as at present.
2-b. Enforce collection of delinquent Poll and Real Estate taxes as he is required to do by law.
2. Treasurer .- Regular hours at Selectmen's rooms.
3. In place of the two large antiquated safes, build an up-to-date vault which will contain all Town records of any value.
. 4. Later, appoint a Stenographer who shall act as clerk of all committees and departments, rendering to each member a copy of the minutes of each meeting; write all letters, and do general work in addition.
113
Of the appropriation made in 1910, for the above purpose, we have expended $325.00, and there is now due Mr. Spurr, for balance of services, $300.00; for books and special forms, $300.00; which together with additional office equipment, makes an appropriation of about $1,000.00; needed to complete the cost of the entire system.
We would further suggest that the Town close its records on the 31st of December, instead of on the 31st of January, as at present. While there may be good reasons why the year should run from February 1st to January 31st, we believe that the calendar year would be much better for all purposes of the Town work. Take for illustration, the Municipal Light Department. It must render at the end of December a state- ment to the State, and then on the 1st of February another statement to the Town, and, as we understand it, the one that is made on the 1st of February is the more difficult because of the difference in the periods.
We wish to thank the various departments for their co- operation with us in installation of the new system.
We have examined the accounts of the Selectmen, Town Treasurer, Collector of Taxes, Cemetery Commissioners, Water Commissioners, Trustees of the Public Library, Trustees of the Sinking Fund, Sewer Commissioners, Municipal Light Com- missioners, and all the original vouchers on which moneys have been paid from the Town Treasury for the year ending January 31, 1911.
We find and report that all orders drawn by the Selectmen, Water Commissioners, Municipal Light Commissioners, Ceme- tery Commissioners, Sewer Commissioners and the Trustees of the Public Library have been duly vouched and that the forego- ing is a true statement of the sums received and payments made by Harold W. Gay, Town Treasurer, and Geo. O. Capen, Tax Collector, and the accounts kept by them have been correctly
114
cast and the payments duly vouched, and that there remains in the Treasury, January 31, 1911, the following amounts:
Town account, $4,838 19
Electric Light account, 1,713 63
Cemetery account,
2,308 42
Old Cemetery account, 7 33
Water account, 9,088 63
Library account, 17 19
Sewer Department account, $16,960 72
That the amount of investment of the Sinking Fund is $34,502.13.
JAMES E. PENDERGAST,
HERBERT H. MILLER,
Auditors.
Record of Town Meetings, Vital Statistics and List of Jurors
OF THE
TOWN OF NORWOOD
FOR THE
Year Ending January 31, 1911.
.
RECORD OF TOWN MEETINGS.
TOWN MEETING WARRANT.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Norfolk, ss.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Norwood, in said County :
Greeting :-
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Norwood, qualified to vote in elections and town affairs, to assemble in Village Hall, in said town, on Monday, the seventh day of March, A. D. 1910, at fifteen minutes before six o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act on the following articles, namely :
Article 1. To choose all necessary town officers. The following are to be chosen by ballot, namely: Three Selectmen, who shall be Overseers of the Poor and Surveyors of Highways; one Town Clerk, one Town Treasurer, one Collector of Taxes, three Auditors, three Park Commissioners, five Constables, one Tree Warden, one Moderator, one member of the Board of Health, all for one year; one Assessor for three years; one Sewer Commissioner for three years; one member of the Municipal Light Board for three years; one member of the Board of Health for three years; one Water Commissioner for three years; two members of the School Committee for three years ; two trustees of the Morrill Memorial Library for three years; and
4
,
also upon the same ballot to vote upon the question, "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in the town ? "
Art. 2. To hear and act on reports of the Auditors, on Selectmen's, Treasurer's, Tax Collector's, Water Commission- ers', Sewer Commissioners', Municipal Light Board's, Library Trustees' and Cemetery Commissioners' accounts.
Art 3. To hear and act on reports of Town Officers and Committees.
Art. 4. To see what action the town will take in regard to unexpended appropriations of the past year.
Art. 5. To authorize the Town Treasurer, with the ap- proval of the Selectmen, or a majority thereof, to borrow during the municipal year, beginning February 1, A. D. 1910, in antic- ipation of the collection of taxes of said year, such sums of money as may be necessary for the current expenses of the town, but not exceeding the total tax levy for said year, giving the notes of the town therefor, payable within one year from the dates thereof. All debts incurred under authority of this vote shall be paid from the taxes of the present municipal year.
Art. 6. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Col- lector of Taxes to use the same means as a Town Treasurer may use when acting as collector.
Art. 7. To see what sum or sums of money the town will raise and appropriate for the following purposes or take any other action in the matter:
First. The support of the Morrill Memorial Library.
Second. The use of George K. Bird Post, No. 169, Grand Army of the Republic, for the purpose of decorating soldiers' graves on Memorial Day.
Third. The support of the Fire Department the ensuing year.
5
Fourth. The support of the Fire Alarm System the en- suing year.
Fifth. The support of the schools the ensuing year.
Sixth. Conveying children living in the outlying districts to the Norwood schools, and to place its expenditure in the hands of the School Committee.
Seventh. The expense of children at the Truant School. Eighth. To meet the expenses of the Board of Health.
Ninth. To be expended in trimming and care of shade trees the current year.
Tenth. The prosectuion of illegal sales of liquor.
Eleventh. The repairs of highways, culverts and bridges the ensuing year.
Twelfth. Building sidewalks and setting edgestones the current year.
Thirteenth. Paving gutters the ensuing year.
Fourteenth. To be expended in sanding sidewalks during winter months.
Fifteenth. Street signs.
Sixteenth. To be expended in operating stone crusher for the present year.
Seventeenth. Watering streets the ensuing year.
Eighteenth. Free band concerts.
Nineteenth. Maintenance of Sewer Department the pres- ent year.
Twentieth. Operation, maintenance, salaries, repairs, in- terest on notes, amount for depreciation and new construction work of the Municipal Light Department for ensuing year.
Twenty-first. To meet the expenses of suretyship on bonds furnished by the Town Treasurer and Tax Collector.
6
Twenty-second. To defray the incidental and other nec- essary expenses, not otherwise provided for, the current year.
Twenty-third. The purchase of fire hose.
Article 8. To see what disposition the town will make of money received as excise tax from street railway companies.
Art. 9. To see what disposition the town will make of money received for dog licenses.
Art. 10. To see if the town will vote to fix the time within which taxes assessed therein for the year 1910 shall be paid and that on all taxes remaining unpaid after such time or a certain time, interest shall be paid at a specified rate not exceeding six per cent. a year and such interest to be added to and be a part of such taxes.
Art. 11. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $1,206.75 to meet the deficit in the School Department for the year ending January 31st, 1910.
Art. 12. To see if the town will vote to pay for horses on town work the sum of twenty cents per hour or take other action on the matter.
Art. 13. To see if the town will vote to accept the pro- visions of Sections 1 to 13 inclusive, of Chapter 104 of the Revised Laws and acts, in amendment thereof relating to the inspection of buildings.
Art. 14. To see if the town will vote to instruct the Board of Selectmen to appoint an inspector of wires.
Art. 15. To see if the town will vote to appoint a com- mittee to be known as a committee on taxation, to serve for the current year, to assist and co-operate with the Assessors with respect to the valuation of the property in the town subject to assessment, and all other matters relating to taxation thereof, or or take any other action in the matter.
Art. 16. To see if the town will vote to continue the
7
special committee of three, which has been investigating the financial condition of the town, and that said committee be empowered to examine all books and accounts of town officers and the methods of conducting the business of the town with a view to the improvement thereof, and make report. thereon, with recommendations at a future town meeting, and raise and appropriate the sum of $100 for the expenses of said committee for said purposes, or take any other action in the matter.
Art. 17. To see if the town will vote to compromise and settle on the basis of the tax rate for the year 1909 the five suits now pending in the Superior Court of Norfolk County, viz :---
George O. Capen, Tax Collector, vs. Emma L. Shattuck, et al, Trustees for Chauncy M. and Adelia Kimball;
George O. Capen, Tax Collector, vs. Emma L. Shattuck, et al, Trustees for Emma L. Shattuck, et al;
George O. Capen, Tax Collector, vs. Emma L. Shattuck, et al, Executors;
George O. Capen, Tax Collector, vs. Emma L. Shattuck, Guardian of Sarah B. M. Shattuck.
George O. Capen, Tax Collector, vs. Emma L. Shattuck, Guardian of Edmund J. Shattuck,
brought to collect the taxes assessed to said parties on December 18th, 1908 and to instruct and authorize said Tax Collector and the Board of Selectmen to make said compromise and settle- ment upon said basis or take any other action in the matter.
Art. 18. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate or borrow money to be expended in completing a survey of the town, and provide plans, maps and books, for the use of the Assessors, and other town officers, or take any other action in the matter.
Art. 19. To see if the town will vote to employ a book- keeper to perform such clerical duties as may be required in
8
connection with all the accounts of the town, who shall be ap- pointed by the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, and who shall be responsible to the Treasurer; the system of accounting to have approval of the Board of Auditors; and to raise and appropriate money for the said pur- pose, or take any other action in the matter.
Art. 20. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Board of Water Commissioners to provide water meters at the expense of the town for service connections and raise and appro- priate or borrow money for said purpose, or take any other action in the matter.
And the polls shall be opened at six o'clock in the forenoon and shall be kept open until thirty minutes past four o'clock in the afternoon, when they may be closed.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting at- tested copies in ten public places in this town, seven days at least before the day of said meeting.
Hereof fail not and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Selectmen, on or before the time and day of said meeting.
Given under our hands at Norwood this twenty-fourth day of February, A. D., 1910.
RICHARD E. OLDHAM, JAMES A. HARTSHORN, JAMES W. CONGER, Selectmen of Norwood.
A True Copy. Attest.
WARREN E. RHOADS,
Constable of Norwood.
9
Norwood, Feb. 25, 1910.
Norfolk, ss.
By virtue of this warrant I have served the within warrant by posting attested copies in ten public places in said town seven days before the time of said meeting.
WARREN E. RHOADS, Constable of Norwood.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Norfolk ss.
In pursuance of the foregoing warrant, the inabitants of the town of Norwood, qualified to vote in elections, met in Vil- lage Hall, in said town, on Monday, March seventh, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ten and were called to order at five forty-five o'clock in the morning by the town clerk, who read the warrant calling the meeting and the return of the Constable who served the same upon the inhabitants.
Moderator of Meeting.
Clifford B. Sanborn was moderator of the meeting.
Ballot Clerks.
Arthur N. Hartshorn,
J. Irving Reid,
Arthur L. Bateman, John H. Donahoe,
Ehomas F. Mahoney, Patrick J. Slattery,
Conrad Readel.
Counters.
Norman J. Stone,
Eugene M. Sullivan,
George H. Dexter,
Thomas H. Hayden,
Hugh J. Foley,
William J. Mahoney,
Frank W. Talbot, Bernard M. Corbett,
10
Specimen Ballots, Cards of Instruction, etc., etc.
In accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Mass- achusetts governing elections, Village Hall was fitted up as a polling place, a space railed off and compartments provided for the convenience of voters in marking and examinging their ballots and each compartment was supplied with cards of in- struction and other necessary facilities.
Cards of instruction and specimen ballots were also posted in different parts of the building outside the rail. The town clerk delivered to the Ballot Clerks one sealed package marked eighteen hundred (1800) official ballots, March seventh, A. D. 1910; and one package marked six hundred (600) ballots for School Committee only, March seventh, A. D. 1910, and took their receipt therefor. The Ballot Clerks were provided with duplicate sets of lists of registered voters of the town, one for men voters and one for women voters, as prepared by the regis- trars of voters for use at this election. They were also supplied with the official ballots taken from the packages received from the town clerk and stationed at the entrance to the polling place with instructions to deliver such ballots only to voters whose names were found and checked on the voting list. The ballot box used in elections was then opened in public meeting, examined by the Moderator and other election officers and found to be empty. The register was set at zero and the box locked. At six o'clock A. M., on motion by James A. Hartshorn; voted that the polls be now opened for the election of officers desig- nated in articles two, and to vote on the question of license, and by vote the polls were kept open until forty minutes (40) past four in the afternoon, when after due notice they were declared closed. By unanimous consent of the Moderator, Town Clerk and other election officers, the ballot box was opened at ten forty-five o'clock A. M. for the purpose of removing the ballots to be counted.
Total Vote Cast.
The ballot box was opened at the close of the polls and the
11
register stood at ten hundred and seventy-seven (1077). The exact number of ballots deposited was ten hundred and seventy- seven (1077). The names checked on the voting lists by the ballot clerks at the entrance to the polling place and by the checkers at the ballot box were counted and compared and found to agree, and the total number of names so checked was ten hundred and seventy-seven (1077) of which two (2) were women votes for School Committee only which were sorted, counted and declaration thereof made in open town meeting at six o'clock in the evening, as follows :-
Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor, Surveyors of Highways.
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