Norwood annual report 1932-1935, Part 11

Author: Norwood (Mass.)
Publication date: 1932
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1450


USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1932-1935 > Part 11


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On report from Advisory Committee on Unemployment that through expenditure of funds in its possession by public contribution certain stand- ing wood on town property had been converted into cord wood with about two hundred cords on hand, it was voted, on February 11, that if the Com- mittee made available to the town through the Board of Public Welfare, without cost, forty cords of such wood, the Committee might dispose of the remaining portion at such price and upon such terms as it determined, with the understanding that all monies received from the sale be used by the Committee for further relief of unemployment.


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Approved recommendation of General Manager that no motor vehicle indemnity insurance be authorized.


Quarterly allotments established for expected expenditures from the various appropriations under control of Selectmen.


Favorable report made to Secretary of the Commonwealth on petition for incorporation of The Norfolk County League of Sportsmen's Clubs, Inc.


On June 28 the list of persons qualified for jury service voted and an- nounced.


On April 12 order adopted that sewer mains be installed in St. John Avenue, Morse Street and Short Street.


On July 5 voted that band concerts for season be held as follows, three at Elks Park, two at Municipal Building grounds and one each at Balch School grounds, Senior High School grounds and Callahan School grounds, respectively.


On September 13 order adopted for construction of sewer mains in Upton Avenue, Morse Street, Highland Street, Washington Street from Short Street to Mylod Street and in Prospect Street for a distance of one hundred and fifteen feet from Casey Street.


On September 21 voted, after conferences held to lease for a period of one year to the Norwood Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the premises owned by the Town on Railroad Avenue formerly used for school purposes and known as the East School, for headquarters for said Post.


On September 27, arrangements made with Dr. Charles L. Lynch to act as town physician during the illness of Dr. George Klein.


On June 28, Honorable Clifford B. Sanborn appointed special and additional Town Counsel during the leave of absence granted to Town Counsel Halloran.


On October 4, approved the purchase of a new plough for the Mack Truck owned by the Town as snow removal equipment.


On October 18, authorized payment to Mr. Edward O'Toole of $150.00 as rental for premises used as a Rifle Range for the year ending October 1, 1932.


Report received from General Manager that in the last official list of cities and towns participating in the National Safety Contest, Norwood stood second in the class of communities having a population between 10,000 and 25,000.


On December 20, notice received from State Forester, Department of Conservation, that the maximum amount required to be expended by the Town for gypsy and brown tail moth work for the year 1933 would be $5,000.


On December 20, it was voted that all places of business operated under common victuallers' licenses be required to close by 1.15 a. m.


Notice reported on January 5 from State Department of Public Works, dated December 28, 1931, of an order of taking of land of the Town for


179


state highway purposes (the new Boston-Providence Turnpike) identified as parcel 14 with area of 33,550 square feet and a nominal award of damages, and on September 21 another notice received, dated September 15, that this Department had taken certain further land owned by the Town for like purposes, and identified as parcels 11 and 12 with areas of 69,920 square feet and of 4,450 square feet, respectively, and with a nominal award of daınages.


On March 1, lay-out plans with plans showing areas benefitted signed and ordered filed with Town Clerk as to following streets, viz .: Hill Street, Highland Street, Mountain Avenue and Cedar Street.


On March 22, by unanimous vote, appreciation extended to Superin- tendent Joseph E. Conley for services in the conduct of the Public Works Department and an expression of confidence also in his judgment in the execution of the work of his Department with respect to the employment of labor.


On April 4, appropriate resolution voted expressing appreciation of the community through the Selectmen to Sergeant Walter A. Readel for his faithful services for the twenty-five years' period, ending April 4, 1932, as police officer in Norwood.


On August 2, voted that notice be given to the State Department of Public Works with respect to the new state highway (Boston-Providence Turnpike) of the concern of the Selectmen as to traffic safety and of the hazards and dangers arising upon the opening of the same in Norwood, particularly as to the East Cross Street intersection, and expressing the opinion of the Selectmen that no form of control by signal system would furnish proper and adequate protection to the travelling public at that intersection, and that the Department should provide an overpass at that point and take immediate steps to that end, and that responsibility for the protection of traffic devolves on the State rather than on the local com- munity and that the State should install for protection at all intersections "stop" and "go" traffic signals.


On August 16, Selectmen as Board of Survey, after hearing held on petition of Norwood Estates, Inc. and others, for approval of plans locating proposed private ways for public use, namely, Fairbanks Ave., running westerly from Prospect Street and an extension of Prospect Avenue running westerly from Prospect Street, approved said plans. On December 6, as Board of Survey, approved after public hearing plan of certain proposed private ways for public use in area easterly of Washington Street and northerly of Ellis Avenue, viz .: Margaret Street, Willard Street and Royal Street, on petition of David I. Ellis, with understanding that when sub- division plan of proposed development is prepared it be submitted for consideration and approval before filing in Registry of Deeds.


On December 27, voted that acting Chief of the Fire Department Parker be paid the sum of $100.00 in addition to his regular salary as Deputy Chief, as compensation for services as acting Chief. It was also voted


180


that the new Fire Chief, Alonzo N. Earle, be paid for the year 1933 a salary of $2500.00 subject to the requirement that he should contribute to the Town, 10% of such salary, in keeping with like contributions from members of that department, to which salary basis Chief Earle agreed.


In view of the action taken by the voters at the special town meeting held on July 7 with respect to the purchase of a parcel of land from the Norwood Estates, Inc., described in the vote under Article 10 and after report on the title when found to be merchantable the parcel was purchased for the purposes authorized through appropriate deed delivered and recorded.


On November 15, notice received from State Department of Public Works, under date of November 8, that the Department was authorized to cooperate and share equally with the Town in the expense of removal of snow on Route 1, Neponset Street and Washington Street, during period from December 1, 1932, to December 1, 1933.


Various matters important, but more or less routine in character had the necessary attention, including the following: warrants for annual and special town meetings and for presidential and state primaries and state election; military aid and soldier's relief; warrants for payment of Town charges; anticipation of revenue notes and other notes for various loans, approval of issue; jurors drawn; Highland View Cemetery deeds; de- linquent accounts; yearly report to Department of Public Utilities covering operation of municipal lighting plant; abatements of sidewalk assessments, also action as to abatement of street betterment and sewer assessments; issue of warrants from time to time permitting special assessments, viz. : sidewalk, sewer and street betterments to Collector of Taxes.


Conclusion


It is intended through the foregoing report to acquaint the citizens in a somewhat general way with the manner of our performance of the varied duties committed to us.


Sincere appreciation is extended to our fellow officials and appointees in the conduct of the business of the Town, for their cooperation and assistance.


HERBERT A. BAKER, Chairman, HAROLD W. BAKER, PETER J. FEENEY, JOHN M. MUTCH, EUGENE L. MURPHY,


Selectmen of Norwood


Norwood, Massachusetts January 10, 1933.


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181


LIST OF PERSONS QUALIFIED FOR JURY SERVICE (INHABI- TANTS OF THE TOWN OF NORWOOD) AS PREPARED BY THE SELECTMEN OF NORWOOD UNDER DATE OF JUNE 28, 1932


Name


Address


Occupation


Abel, John, Jr.


238 Nahatan St.


Jeweler


Abel, Walter F.


30 Nichols St.


C. P. A.


Ahearn, George F.


79 Hill St.


Laborer


Alden, Harold L.


137 Vernon St.


Manager


Allen, Edward H.


277 Winter St.


Manager


Allen, J. Archer


56 Walpole St.


Salesman


Anderson, August


17 Saunders Rd.


Carpenter


Anderson, Carl A.


51 Winslow Ave.


Tailor


Atwood, Alfred L.


467 Washington St.


Real Estate


Bailey, Chester A.


10 Davis Avenue


Meter Inspector


Barr, Robert T.


S Walpole St.


Manager


Barr, Wallace R.


12 Cypress St.


Clerk


Bateman, Harold R.


233 Winter St.


Salesman


Bateman, Leon F.


95 Nichols St.


Milkman


Beckwith, David F.


31 Granite St.


Merchant


Bigelow, Bernard L.


219 Winter St.


Salesman


Blasenak, Frank E.


341 Railroad Ave.


Foreman


Bodge, Byron H.


5 Chapel St.


Appraisor


Bragg, Erwin R.


412 Prospect St.


Linotype Oper.


Breen, Paul F.


21 Hoyle St.


Manager


Breen, William C.


220 Nahatan St.


Retired


Briggs, W. Earle


21 Walpole St.


Candy Maker


Britton, Charles V.


145 Nichols St.


Manager


Brown, Charles H.


24 Florence Ave.


Salesman


Brown, Willard C.


222 Vernon St.


Ink Maker


Burke, Jeremiah


41 Hill St.


Laborer


Butler, Lester H.


149 Vernon St. S Hoyle St.


Ball Player


Carberry, John H.


910 Washington St.


Janitor


Carlson, John V.


112 Winslow Ave.


Foreman


Carter, Walter S.


108 Nichols St.


Helper


Chadbourne, Neal D.


51 Oak Road


Bookbinder


Chamberlain, Eli L.


19 Everett Ave.


Superintendent


Chandler, William E.


30 Rosemary St.


Inc. Tax Asses.


Colp, George O.


SA Monroe St.


Laborer


Connolly, Patrick


108 Casey St.


Laborer


Corcoran, William F.


31 Rock St.


Inspector


Coughlin, Jeremiah F.


66 Monroe St.


Inspector


Coughlin, William J.


251 Pleasant St.


Electrotyper


Crosby, Benjamin F.


361 Walpole St.


Manager


Pressman


Callaghan, Martin F.


182


Name


Address


Occupation


Crowley, John P.


39 Prospect Ave.


Machinist Machinist


Cullinane, James J.


9 Granite St.


Davis, Alfred D.


33 Wheelock Ave.


Upholsterer


Davis, Theodore F.


229 Winter St.


Salesman


Donovan, Daniel J.


340 Prospect St.


Machinist


Doran, Francis J.


20 Douglas Ave.


Salesman


Dougherty, John J.


225 Vernon St.


Inspector


Drummey, James Edward


S2 Monroe St.


Clerk


Drummey, John E.


50 Saunders Rd.


Teamster


Drummey, Matthew


110 Monroe St.


Machinist


Drummey, Thomas P.


414 Washington St.


Shaver


Earle, Gordon D.


54 Howard St.


Carpenter


Endressen, Sigvard


15 Second St.


Bookbinder


Everett, Herbert P.


115 Nichols St.


Bookkeeper


Fales. Charles W.


21 Phillips Ave.


Shipper


Fenton, Earl W.


149 Walpole St.


Electrotyper


Ferreira, Anthony F.


329 Winter St.


Superintendent


Fisher, Leonard C.


387 Neponset St. 38 Florence Ave.


Foreman


Flaherty, Edward A.


219 Vernon St.


Merchant


Foster, Chester L.


S2 Walpole St.


Bank Clerk.


Fowler, Herbert C.


SO Winter St.


Salesman


Fulton, Patrick J.


51 Adams St.


Civil Engineer


Gahagan, Patrick J.


45 Central St.


Watchman


Gallagher, Charles J.


122 Winslow Ave.


Bookbinder


Garby, William O.


50 George St.


Foreman


Garceau, Henry F.


93 Walnut Ave.


Proofreader


Garner, Thomas C.


51 Saunders Rd.


Druggist


Gay, Harold W.


67 Winter St.


Insurance


Glaser, Frederick E.


7 Grant Ave.


Foreman


Golden, Charles J.


13 School St.


Clerk


Hagman, Gustave C.


183 Winslow Ave.


Foreman


Halbert, Charles


4S Phillips Ave.


Bookbinder


Hamilton, Elton E.


55 Cypress St.


Paper Maker


Hartshorn, Earle C.


130 Monroe St.


Optician


Hefferan, Stephen M.


32 Lydon St.


Foreman


Hills, Philip


129 Nichols St.


Superintendent


Hocking, James


30 Lincoln St.


Superintendent


Jefferson, Allan


145 Bond St.


Salesman


Johnson, Carl A.


12 Vernon St.


Clerk


Johnson, Oscar L.


103 Vernon St.


Manager


Jordan, Sydney V.


170 Vernon St. Foreman


King, Charles I.


S2 Cross St.


Bookbinder


Lailey, Benjamin D.


153 Walnut Ave.


Bookbinder


Farmer


Fitch, Winfred P.


183


Name


Address


Occupation


Latham, Leslie J.


160 Vernon St. 1


Foreman Clerk


LeFevre, James H.


186 Sumner St.


Lunden, Eugene B.


63 Howard St.


Civil Engineer


Lynch, Thomas P.


136 Roosevelt Ave.


Machinist


Macchi, John M.


71 Oliver St.


Machinist


Maddox, Austin


42 Marion Ave.


Engineer


McDonough, Festus J.


434 Washington St.


Clerk


McLennan, John M.


104 Pleasant St.


Fireman


Meade, Cornelius G.


73 Cross St.


Moulder


Metcalf, George F.


27 Wheelock Ave.


Contractor


Morgan, Arthur J.


53 Adams St.


Insurance Agent


Morrow, Andrew C.


125 Walpole St.


Manager


Nead, Carroll P.


357 Prospect St. 11 Second St.


Bookbinder


Newman, Edgar S.


108 Nichols St.


Wool Salesman


Nicholson, Charles A.


17 Sycamore St.


Engineer


Norton, Philip E.


87 Vernon St.


Pressman


Nugent, Michael E.


14 West St.


Clerk


Nugent, Patrick T.


18 Williams St.


Mill Hand


O'Brien, James A.


48 Florence Ave.


Manager


O'Brien, Joseph J., Jr.


33 Phillips Ave.


Electrician


O'Connor, Daniel F.


25 Oak Road


Bookkeeper


Oelschlagel, Elmer F.


444 Nahatan St.


Garage Man


Partridge, Harold C.


120 Lincoln St.


Plumber


Pendergast, William I.


134 Walpole St.


Merchant


Peterson, William F.


111 Vernon St.


Lineman


Phillips, Robert R.


55 Nichols St.


Merchant


Pierce, Almon J.


206 Vernon St.


Auto Dealer


Plimpton, Howard E.


40 Walpole St.


Manufacturer


Pond, Carl F.


80 Lincoln St.


Insurance Agent


Quinn, James E.


69 Chapel St.


Steamfitter


Rathbun, William F.


146 Nichols St.


Manager


Reardon, Clement J.


60 Winslow Ave.


Ass't. Manager


Regan, John W.


93 Cottage St.


Merchant


Rich, Charles J.


67 Beech St.


Manager


Roache, James E.


74 Winslow Ave. Everett St.


Clerk


Rorke, Joseph V.


23 Warren St.


Clerk


Rouillard, Kenneth G.


407 Prospect St.


Clerk


Ryan, Mark J.


114 Monroe St. 96 Lincoln St.


Carpenter


Sager, Ronald F.


Accountant


Saumseigle, Raymond


49 Maple St.


Clerk


Schaier, Winfred H.


44 Highview St.


Draftsman


Scott, Charles B.


48 Prospect St.


Millwright


Cutter


Robinson, John


Insurance Agent


Neilson, Olav Harry


184


Name


Address


Occupation


Smith, Francis W.


21 Beech St.


Plant Engineer


Smith, Luther L.


128 Nichols St.


Manager


Sodergren, Benjamin


783 Washington St.


Accountant


Stitt, Albin


777 Neponset St.


Chemist


Strickland, Elmer A.


41 Florence Ave.


Bookkeeper


Stuntzner, Guido A.


30 Bullard St.


Merchant


Sullivan, James S.


25 Adams St.


Machinist


Swift, Alonzo F.


17 Belleview Ave. 9 Melville Ave.


Operator


Tanneyhill, Alfred C.


32 Day Street


Mechanic


Trask, Edward M.


351 Washington St.


Lather


Tupper, Russell L.


63 Maple St.


Superintendent


Upham, William G.


15 Marion Avc.


Architect


Welch, John P.


435 Washington St.


Merchant


Wiggin, Herbert L.


171 Vernon St.


Machinist


Willett, George F.


305 Walpole St.


Retired


Wood, Frederick P.


132 Vernon St.


Machinist


Woods, Carroll H.


1 Parkway


Insurance Agent


Attest: JAMES E. PENDERGAST, Town Clerk and Accountant


Manager


Tammelin, Joel W.


185


MANAGER'S ANNUAL REPORT


To the Selectmen of Norwood:


Gentlemen:


FOREWORD


A leading municipal expert has written "The public administrator must not overlook the fact that the taxpayers should be constantly informed in a clear and simple manner about the financial condition of the eity."


In many communities this, sometimes called "Report of Stewardship" may only be a weekly column in the local Press or a single statement en- closed with water, light or tax bills. Oftentimes it is a municipal bulletin mailed quarterly to each taxpayer as a report from the Board of Directors would be in a business corporation. Again the schools and libraries, in many places, have been used as community centers in which the officials would answer questions on municipal matters at open meetings. It is unfortunate that none of these plans have been approved for Norwood, because in a time of nervous unrest, the weirdest stories are so quickly spread and often actually believed.


It is gratifying however, to witness the increasing requests the Manager's office receives for municipal information. Upwards of a hundred inquiries have been taken care of this year. While most are from officials of other communities or from the State House, yet several this year have come from local citizens. In order to give a better picture of the type of work done in the Manager's office, which does not show in the physical proper- tics of the town, a radically different form of report is being submitted this year by the Manager.


The 1928 and 1929 reports contained many tables and charts of financial and other data pertaining to several of our departments. Many of these tables carried on the data originally charted in the report of 1917. In addition, numerous photographs of departmental work and improvements were included. The demand, both in Norwood and from outside, was so great that in each year the entire edition was exhausted in a few weeks. Last year that style of report was discontinued in the effort to economize. The result was that the demand for copies was much less and we still have a couple of hundred on hand. This year, while we continue the elimina- tion of charts and photographs, we are giving more detail to the description of work accomplished.


Municipal Information


After the preparation in this office of the chart of "Municipal Statistics of All Cities and Towns in Massachusetts Between 12,000 and 22,000 Population," many cities and towns, as well as several State Departments,


186


have regularly asked for copies of later compilations of similar data. Among the tables and charts thus prepared have been the following: Salaries and Wages, Welfare Expenditures, Waterworks Electric Pumping Rates, Sewer Assessments, Public Works Organizations, Police Statistics, and Voluntary Contributions by Employees.


Investigations for Selectmen


It is interesting to note the many matters considered during the past few years by the Selectmen which required surveys by the Manager in addition to the foregoing subjects. Among these reports have been a Three-Year Plan of Public Improvements for Norwood, Insurance Rates and Fire Department Improvements, Welfare Workers on Public Works, Board of Survey Regulations, Golf Courses, Electric Appliance Sales, Oil Burners, Snow Removal Costs, Taxi Regulations, Cemetery Charges, Traffic Counts, Parking Surveys, Automotive Operating Costs, and Cemetery Regulations.


Manuals of Procedure


The Code of Practice for all departments operating through the Mana- ger's office is ncaring completion. This manual will not only set up duties and methods in the various departments in arrangement similar to manuals used by private corporations, but will also contain samples of all forms used and a description of their use. The chronological arrangement of departmental duties cannot help but assure a better and surer compliance with all details of operation. A separate manual of rules and regulations for the Fire Department is being finally revised and will soon be issued in similar form to those previously written for the Police and Electric De- partments.


Cost Data


The detailed cost records of every job performed by the Public Works Department have been kept regularly since 1928 and are most interesting in comparison with similar records kept from 1915 to 1918. We do not know of any city or town in which such data is kept as thoroughly as it is in Norwood. The requests for this data, not only from within Massa- chusetts but from other States and from technical journals and Bureaus of Municipal Research, evidently prove this statement. The value of such records locally is very definite. Not only does this data act as an actual gauge for the preparation of a true and detailed budget, instead of the old guess method, but it serves as a check at the end of each year on the efficiency and economy with which the work of the past year has been performed. The fact that during the past three years one hundred fifty- two (152) jobs, totalling $333,989 of budgeted public works, were accom- plished in Norwood for $325,956, or 2.4% under the estimates, is surely the best proof that we have an exceptional set-up for public works.


187


It should be thoroughly understood that these are not the usual "top- figure" estimates, but are based on actual previous costs and purposely kept as low as possible to reduce budget requests. Thus it can be seen that the 2.4% reduction truly means a reduction below former records.


Public Works Organization


In order to have actual proof that the Norwood Public Works Depart- ment is at the highest possible point of efficiency, a survey has just been completed of departments covering similar functions in other cities and towns of the same size in Massachusetts. The results show that no other community our size secures all the services given by our department. In one town there is no water filter plant or pumping stations to operate,- they have Metropolitan water; neither does that town have any sewer pumping plant because of the fact that the Metropolitan sewer also serves that town by gravity. In one town all sewers and connections are laid. by contract and no sewer foremen or skilled men are carried. In the town showing the smallest percentage for permanent men, we find that the town does not have any sewer system whatever, and neither has that town employed a single laborer from public works funds since 1931, but all from unemployment funds. If these items were included, its percentage would be, nearly 40% .* In none of the other towns is the Public Works Depart- ment required to carry men to repair schools, libraries and other public property. t (In Norwood twenty-seven (27) public buildings receive minor repairs by Public Works employees). Furthermore, it is found that most of the towns buy all their crushed stone rather than crushing base stone as Norwood does. tWhile this naturally increases the cost of their streets, it diminishes the number of permanent men carried. All these situations require that the Norwood Public Works Department carry more men than would be the case if its operations were as simple as in these other towns: but even under these handicaps the following tables show how efficiently the Norwood department operates.


No. of Supt. and


Total Sal- aries Supts. and


Total Perma- nent Men 87


Total Sal- aries and Wages Per- manent Men $139,307 75,314


Total Bud- gets of Pub. Wks Functions $120,279 118,539


Percentage of Total Budget Go- ing to Perm- anent Force 33.2%


63.5%


Norwood


2 Men


6,000


57


SS,558


325,242


27.2 %


C D


5 Men


12,510


56 37


89,949 56,402


247,352


22.7%+


Towns


A


Assistants S Men


Assistants $20,228 10,638


44


B


4 Men


353,627


25.4%*


4 Meu


8,670


These figures show that salaries for superintendence alone in Norwood since 1915 (the date the Public Works system was inaugurated by the Manager) has shown a saving of over $100,000 under salaries if operated with the average number of superintendents and assistants as paid in the other towns in this list. In addition to this saving, there is of course, an even larger amount saved by the centralization of all departments in one


1SS


yard instead of several yards as would be the case of separate departments as in many towns; and also a saving is realized by the shifting of equipment and men skilled in the work of all departments rather than having to em- ploy a separate crew of men continually in each department.


Centralized Purchasing


The Municipal Administration Service in New York published a booklet this year by the former President of the National Purchasing Agents' Association and the Professor of Government of New York University. In this booklet on Municipal Purchasing three pages were devoted to a description of the methods used in Norwood and five of our forms were reproduced.


As one definite benefit duc to centralized purchasing, a recent check-up was made on the price paid by several other towns for gasoline. This showed an average of five cents a gallon more than the price Norwood was paying for the exact same gasolinc. On the 30,000 gallons used by town departments in Norwood, this item alone shows an annual saving of $1500. This is the fifth year that this saving has been made for our taxpayers. There is absolutely no gasoline given out without a signed receipt, whereas, before the 10,000 gallon tank was installed, it was found that the dis- bursements from the individual tank at the Fire Department could not be checked within twenty per cent (20%)-another saving of many hundreds of dollars annually. A representative of a large refinery stated recently that Norwood has been the only town purchasing gasoline wholesale until recently when one of the largest towns in Massachusetts copied this system.


Arrangements for also purchasing fuel oil by carload are now being made. A saving will even result the first year over the cost of equipment for handling it and thereafter a saving of approximately $1000 a year can be secured. Norwood is one of the few municipalities to have secured a re- fund from the State gasoline tax continually since its enactment. This year wc have received $272.00. A careful listing of all savings made for our taxpayers by centralized purchasing this past year shows $5941 by special trade discounts and $1462 by discounting invoices in ten days (a feature seldom in vogue in many communities). A total saving of $7403. Every purchase of over $500 must be advertised in advance and even items of $100 and less are often advertised. Practically no items, however small. are bought without securing competitive prices and the award is invariably made to the lowest responsible bidder. Every quotation, order and invoice is open to public inspection at all times. On all supplies in which specifications are practical, the materials are tested by the Massa- chusetts Institute of Technology or other approved laboratories before payment.




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