USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1945-1947 > Part 46
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17
REPORT OF TOWN CLERK
E. After acceptance by referendum, the future steps are governed and prescribed by the provisions of the act itself and involve committee study and the preparation of reports and recommendations to be presented at the next annual or special town meeting, for action.
In concluding this report, your committee recommends as follows:
A. That at a later meeting, the town should vote on a motion to petition the legislature for the enactment of a special act described as "An act to establish in the Town of Norwood representative town government by limited town meetings." (Not later than April 15, 1947. Amendment by T. F. Riley.)
B. That the selectmen be authorized by this meeting to distribute copies of the act as proposed to every registered voter of the Town of Norwood to promote dis- cussion and a better understanding of the operation of this form of limited town meeting government.
FRANK B. COUGHLIN, JOHN J. COAKLEY, EDMUND F. MURPHY, ARTHUR P. ALLEN, LUDOVIC O. FOURNIER, JOHN R. RUSSELL, HAROLD E. SHAW,
Chairman.
An Act to Establish Representative Town Government by Limited Town Meetings
Section 1. There is hereby established in the town of Norwood the form of representative town government by limited town meeting hereinafter set forth.
Section 2. Upon the adoption of this act there shall be created a temporary committee consisting of the selectmen and six registered voters of the town appointed by the Moderator. Such committee shall study the provisions of this act and shall determine what in its opinion is a practicable percentage of the total registered voters to constitute a representative town meeting in the town of Norwood and what is a practical number of precincts into which the town should be divided for the purpose of this act. Such committee shall submit its report together with recommended by- laws to the next annual town meeting or to a special town meeting called for the pur- pose of acting on such report and proposed by-laws.
Section 3. Within the limits established by this act the town of Norwood shall determine by by-laws the number of precincts into which the town shall be divided and the percentage of the registered voters which shall constitute the rep- resentative town meeting.
Precincts
Section 4. Upon the adoption of the by-laws required by section 3 the town of Norwood shall be divided by its selectmen into precincts which shall be composed as nearly as practicable of homogeneous neighborhoods. They shall be bounded when- ever possible by the center line of known streets and ways or by other well-defined limits.
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
These boundaries shall be reviewed, and if need be, wholly or partly revised, by the selectmen in December, once in five years, or in December of any year when di- rected by vote of the preceding annual meeting of the town.
Precinct Boundaries Publicized
Section 5. Within 10 days after any establishment or revision of precincts, the selectmen shall file a report of their doings with the town clerk, the registrars of voters and the assessors, with a map or maps or description of the precincts and the names and residences of the registered voters therein. The selectmen shall also cause to be posted in the town hall a map or maps or description of the precincts as established or revised from time to time with the names and residences of the reg- istered voters therein; and they shall also cause to be posted in at least one public place in each precinct a map or description of that precinct, the names and residences of the registered voters therein. The division of the town into voting precincts and any revision of such precincts shall take effect upon the date of the filing of the report thereof by the selectmen with the town clerk. Whenever the precincts are estab- lished or revised, the town clerk shall forthwith give written notice thereof to the state secretary stating the number and designation of the precincts.
Elections
Section 6. Meetings of the registered voters of the several precincts for election, for primaries, and for voting upon any question to be submitted to all the registered voters of the town, shall be held on the same day and at the same hour and at such place or places within the town as the selectmen shall in the warrant for such meeting direct. The provisions of chapter fifty to fifty-six, inclusive, of the General Laws relating to precincts voting at elections, so far as the same are not inconsistent with this act, shall apply to all elections and primaries in the town upon the establishment of voting precincts as hereinbefore provided.
Precinct Representation
Section 7. Each precinct shall be represented in the representative town meet- ing by elected representatives the number of which shall bear the same proportion to the total elected membership as the number of registered voters in the precinct bears to the total registered voters in the town as nearly as may be but no precinct shall be represented by more than 15 elected members nor less than six. The number and size of precincts shall be such that the number of elected representatives shall not exceed one for each fifty voters or fraction thereof, and the total elected member- ship shall not exceed 240.
Nomination
Section 8. Nomination of candidates for town meeting members, to be elected under this act, shall be from among the registered voters of the precinct. Nomina- tion papers shall bear no political designation, shall be signed by not less than 10 registered voters of the precinct in which the candidate resides, and shall be filed with the town clerk on the same day that nomination papers of candidates for other town offices must be filed. Any town meeting member may become a candidate for re-election by giving written notice thereof to the town clerk on or before the last day for filing nomination papers. The words "candidate for re-election" must be printed on the ballot opposite the names of such candidates.
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REPORT OF TOWN CLERK
No nomination papers shall be valid in respect to any candidate unless his written acceptance is endorsed thereon or attached thereto.
Election and Terms of Representative Town Meeting Members
Section 9. The representative town meeting members, whose number shall have been determined as provided in this act shall be elected by ballot by the reg- istered voters in every precinct at the first annual town election following the estab- lishment or revision of such precinct in conformity with the laws relative to elections not inconsistent with this act.
The first third, in the order of votes received, of members so elected shall serve three years, the second third, in such order shall serve two years, and the remaining third, in such order shall serve one year from the first day of the annual town meeting. In case of a tie vote affecting the division into thirds, the members elected from the precinct shall by ballot determine the same.
Thereafter, except as is otherwise provided herein, at each annual town election the registered voters of each precinct shall similarly elect for the term of three years one third of the number of town meeting representatives to which such precinct is entitled; and shall at such election fill for the unexpired term or terms any vacancy or vacancies then existing in the number of elected town meeting members in such precinct. The terms of office of all town meeting representatives from every revised precinct shall cease upon the election of their successors at the first annual town election after revision.
The town clerk shall, after election of town meeting members, forthwith notify by mail each such member of his election.
Vacancies
Section 10. In the event of any vacancy in the full number of elected town meeting members from any precinct the remaining elected members of the precinct may choose from among the registered voters thereof a successor to serve until the next annual election .. The town clerk may, and upon a petition therefor signed by not less than one-third of the elected town meeting members from the precinct shall call a special meeting of the remaining members from such precinct for the purpose of filling such vacancy and mail notice thereof to each member from the precinct specifying the object and the time and place of such meeting which shall be held not less than four days after mailing of such notice. At such meeting a majority of such members shall constitute a quorum and shall elect from their own number a chairman and a clerk. The election to fill such vacancy shall be by ballot and a majority of the votes cast shall be required for a choice. The clerk shall forthwith file with the town clerk a certificate of such election together with a written acceptance by the member so elected who shall thereupon be deemed elected and qualified as a town meeting member subject to the right of all the town meeting members to judge of the election and qualification of the members as set forth in section 14.
Moderator
Section 11. A moderator shall be elected by the registered voters of the town by ballot at each annual town election and shall serve as the moderator of all town meetings except as otherwise provided by law until his successor is elected and quali-
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
fied. The moderator shall be a member of the town meeting. Nominations for moderator and his election shall be as in the case of other elective town officers, and any vacancy in such office may be filled by the town meeting members at a representa- tive town meeting held for that purpose. If a moderator is absent, a moderator pro tempore may be elected by the town meeting members. The moderator shall be entitled to vote in case of a tie.
Powers
Section 12. The article in the warrant for every town meeting, so far as they relate to the election of the moderator, town officers and town meeting members, and as herein provided, to referenda, and all matters to be acted upon and determined by ballot, shall be so acted upon and determined by the registered voters of the town in their respective precincts. All other articles in the warrant for any town meeting shall be acted upon and determined exclusively by town meeting members at a meet- ing to be held at such time and place as shall be set forth by the selectmen in the warrant for the meeting, subject to the referendum provided for by section 15.
Town Meeting
Section 13. Any representative town meeting held under the provisions of this act, except as otherwise provided herein, shall be limited to the town meeting mem- bers elected under the provisions of this act.
The town clerk shall notify the town meeting members of the time and place at which the representative town meetings are to be held, the notices to be sent by mail at least seven days before the meeting.
A majority of the town meeting members shall constitute a quorum for doing business; but a less number may organize temporarily and may adjourn from time to time, but no town meeting shall adjourn over the date of an election of town meet- ing members.
All town meetings shall be public. Subject to such conditions as may be deter- mined from time to time by the members of the representative town meeting, any registered voter of the town who is not a town meeting member may speak at any representative town meeting, but shall not vote.
Provisions Relative To Town Meeting Members
Section 14. The town meeting members, as aforesaid, shall be the judges of the election and qualifications of their members. The town meeting members as such shall receive no compensation.
A town meeting member may resign by filing a written resignation with the town clerk, and such resignation shall take effect on the date of such filing. A town meet- ing member who removes from the town shall cease to be a town meeting member, and a town meeting member who removes from the precinct from which he was elected to another precinct may serve only until the next annual town meeting.
Referendum
Section 15. No article in the warrant shall at any representative town meeting be finally disposed of by a vote to lay upon the table, indefinitely to postpone or to take no action thereunder.
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REPORT OF TOWN CLERK
No vote passed at any representative town meeting under any article in the warrant, except a vote to adjourn, or a vote authorizing the expenditure of less than $5,000, or votes appropriating money for the payment of notes or bonds of the town . and interest becoming due in the then current financial year, or votes for the tem- porary borrowing of money in anticipation of revenue or a vote declared by preamble by a two-thirds vote of the town meeting members present and voting thereon to be an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the peace, health, safety or convenience of the town, shall be operative until the expiration of five days, exclusive of Sundays and legal holidays, from the date of such vote.
If, within said five days a petition, signed by not less than three percent of the registered voters of the town, containing their names and addresses as they appear on the list of registered voters, is filed with the selectmen asking that the question or questions involved in such a vote be submitted to the registered voters of the town at large, then the selectmen, after the expiration of five days, shall forthwith call a special meeting for the sole purpose of presenting to the registered voters at large the question or questions so involved. The polls shall be opened at two o'clock in the afternoon and shall be closed not earlier than eight o'clock in the evening, and all votes upon any questions so submitted shall be taken by ballot, and the check list shall be used in the several precinct meetings in the same manner as in the election of town officers.
The questions so submitted shall be determined by a vote of the same proportion of voters at large voting thereon as would have been required by law had the question or questions been finally determined at a representative town meeting, but no action of the representative town meeting shall be reversed unless at least 20 per cent of the registered voters shall so vote. Each question so submitted shall be in the form of the following question, which shall be placed upon the official ballot: - "Shall the town vote to approve the action of the representative town meeting whereby it was voted (brief description of the substance of the vote)?" If such petition is not filed within said period of five days, the vote of the representative town meeting shall become operative and effecttive upon the expiration of said period.
Powers of Town and its Town Meeting Members
Section 16. The town, after the acceptance of this act, shall have the capacity to act through and to be bound by its town meeting members, who shall, when con- vened from time to time as herein provided, constitute representative town meetings; and the representative town meetings shall exercise exclusively, so far as will conform to the provisions of this act, all powers vested in the municipal corporation. Action in conformity with all provisions of law now or hereafter applicable to the transaction of town affairs in town meeting, shall when taken by any representative town meet- ing in accordance with the provisions of this act, have the same force and effect as if such action had been taken in a town meeting open to all the voters of the town as organized and conducted before the establishment in said town of representative town meeting government.
Certain Rights Not Abridged
Section 17. This act shall not abridge the right of the inhabitants of the town to hold general meetings as secured to them by the constitution of this common- wealth; nor shall this act confer upon any representative town meeting in any town
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
the power finally to commit the town to any measure affecting its municipal existence or substantially changing its form of government without action thereon by the voters of the town at large, using the ballot and the check list therefor.
Submission of Act to Voters
Section 18. This act shall be submitted to the registered voters of the town of Norwood for acceptance at its next annual town election. The vote shall be taken by ballot in accordance with the provisions of the general laws, so far as the same shall be applicable, in answer to the question, which shall be placed upon the official ballot to be used in said town at said election: "Shall an act passed by the general court in the year --- , entitled 'An Act to establish in the town of Norwood repre- sentative town government by limited town meetings' be accepted by this town?"
Time of Taking Effect
Section 19. So much of this act as authorizes its submission to the registered voters of the town shall take effect upon its passage. Sections two and three shall take effect upon acceptance by a majority of the voters voting thereon, and the re- mainder shall take effect upon the effective date of the by-laws provided for by section three.
Resubmission After Rejection
Section 20. If this act is rejected by the registered voters of the town of Nor- wood when submitted to said voters under section 18, it may be submitted for ac- ceptance in like manner from time to time to such voters at any annual town meet- ing in said town within three years thereafter.
ARTICLE 5. To see what disposition the Town will make of money received for dog licenses.
Voted: That this Article be laid upon the table to be taken up and acted upon together with Item 8, Sub-Division D of Article 6.
A. General Government.
1. Selectmen (a) Salaries, (b) Incidentals.
Voted: That the Selectmen receive no salaries. (b) By taxation the sum of $500.00 for salary of the Clerk, and the further sum of $100.00 for incidental expense of the Selectmen.
2. (1) Town Clerk and Accountant and (2) Town Bookkeeper, (a) Salaries (b) Incidentals, (c) New Equipment.
Voted: That there be appropriated for salary of Town Clerk and Accountant and Town Bookkeeper, the sum of $4,900.00, of which sum $2,300.00 shall be raised by taxation, $2,000.00 shall be taken from the receipts of the Electric Light Depart- ment, $600.00 shall be taken from the receipts of the Water Department. (b) The sum of $27,098.00 be appropriated for incidental expense for the Department of Town Clerk and Accountant and Town Bookkeeper of which sum $21,548.00 shall be available for personal services, of which sum $9,848.00 shall be raised by taxation and $13,000.00 shall be taken from the receipts of the Electric Light Department and $4,250.00 shall be taken from the receipts of the Water Department.
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REPORT OF TOWN CLERK
3. Town Treasurer and Collector of Taxes. (a) Salary, (b) Incidentals, including premium on suretyship bond, (c) To meet the expense of the foreclosure of tax titles held by the Town.
Voted: That there be appropriated for salary of the Town Treasurer and Collector of Taxes the sum of $4,800.00, of which sum $3,650.00 shall be raised by taxation, $900.00 shall be taken from the receipts of the Electric Light Department and $250.00 shall be taken from the receipts of the Water Department. (b) $12,530.00 shall be appropriated for the incidental expense of said office, and not more than $9,700.00 shall be available for personal services, and with respect to the said sum of $12,530.00, $8,830.00 shall be raised by taxation, $2,900.00 shall be taken from the receipts of the Electric Light Department, $800.00 shall be taken from the re- ceipts of the Water Department. (c) By taxation the sum of $650.00.
4. Assessors (a) Salaries, (b) Incidentals.
Voted: (a) By taxation the sum of $4,900.00, (b) By taxation the sum of $3,810.00, of which sum $2,800.00 shall be available for personal services.
5. Certification of Bonds and Notes.
Voted: By taxation the sum of $50.00.
6. Finance Commission. (a) Incidentals.
Voted: By taxation the sum of $600.00.
7. Law. (a) Salary, (b) Incidentals, (c) Books for law library, (d) Ex- pense of defense of Assessors in proceedings under Chapter 58A, General Laws.
Voted: (a) By taxation the sum of $3,000.00. (b) and (c) By taxation the sum of $420.00. (d) Indefinite postponement.
8. Election and Registration. (a) Salaries, (b) Incidentals.
Voted: (a) By taxation the sum of $1,000.00. (b) By taxation the sum of $3,771.00.
9. Memorial Municipal Building. (a) Maintenance.
Voted: (a) That there be appropriated the sum of $16,500.00, of which sum $14,400.00 shall be raised by taxation, $1,800.00 shall be taken from the receipts of the Electric Light Department, and $300.00 shall be taken from the receipts of the Water Department, and with respect to the said sum of $16,500.00, not more than $6,040.00 shall be available for personal services.
10. General Manager. (a) Salary, (b) Incidentals, including premium on suretyship bond.
Voted: (a) $6,200.00, of which amount the sum of $2,950.00 shall be raised by taxation, $2,150.00 shall be taken from the receipts of the Electric Light Department, and $1,100.00 shall be taken from the receipts of the Water Department. (b) $8,620.00, of which amount $7,220.00 shall be raised by taxation, $1,200.00 shall be taken from the receipts of the Electric Light Department and $200.00 shall be taken from the receipts of the Water Department, and with respect to the said sum of $8,620.00, not more than $6,950.00 shall be available for personal services.
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
11. Engineering. (a) Salary, (b) Incidentals.
Voted : (a) By taxation the sum of $2,100.00. (b) By taxation the sum of $9,100.00.
12. Board of Survey. (a) Incidentals.
Voted: (a) By taxation the sum of $25.00.
13. Planning Board. (a) Incidentals.
Voted: (a) By taxation the sum of $400.00.
14. Board of Appeal. (a) Incidentals.
Voted: By taxation the sum of $50.00.
B. Protection of Persons and Property.
1. Police Department. (a) Salaries, (b) Incidentals, (c) New Equipment (d) Expense of insurance providing indemnity for or protection to officers or employees as provided in Chapter 50, Section 5, Clause 1.
Voted: (a) By taxation the sum of $69,706.84. (b and d) By taxation the sum of $7,260.00. 2. By taxation $3,380.00. (c) By taxation the sum of $1,150.00.
2. Fire Department. (a) Salaries, (b) Incidentals, (c) New equipment and replacement of equipment, (d) Expense of insurance providing indem- nity for or protection to officers or employees as provided in Chapter 40, Section 5, Clause 1.
Voted: (a) By taxation the sum of $69,687.22. (b and d) By taxation the sum of $7,500.00. (c) By taxation the sum of $400.00.
3. Maintenance and Extension of Fire Alarm System.
Voted: By taxation the sum of $2,500.00.
4. Hydrant Service.
Voted: By taxation the sum of $6,692.00.
5. Inspector of Buildings. (a) Salary, (b) Incidentals.
Voted: (a) By taxation the sum of $1,350.00. (b) By taxation the sum of $375.00.
6. Inspector of Animals. (a) Salary.
Voted: (a) By taxation the sum of $200.00.
7. Sealer of Weights and Measures. (a) Salaries, (b) Incidentals.
Voted: By taxation the sum of $750.00. (b) By taxation the sum of $200.00.
8. Inspector of Wires. (a) Salary.
Voted: (a) Indefinite postponement.
9. Town Game Warden. (a) Salary, (b) Incidentals.
Voted: (a) By taxation the sum of $175.00. (b) By taxation the sum of $100.00.
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REPORT OF TOWN CLERK
10. Gypsy and brown tail moths and other insect pest extermination including the purchase of new equipment.
Voted: By taxation the sum of $4,520.00.
11. Care and Planting of Shade Trees.
Voted: By taxation the sum of $3,450.00.
12. Street Lighting.
Voted: By taxation the sum of $13,627.00.
13. To meet the expense of the enforcement of law relating to dogs.
Voted: By taxation the sum of $350.00.
C. Health and Sanitation.
1. Board of Health. (a) Salaries, (b) Contagious Diseases, Garbage Disposal and other Incidental Expense, (c) Maintenance of Town Dump, (d) County Hospital Assessment.
Voted: (a) By taxation the sum of $150.00, (b) By taxation the sum of $34,505.25 of which sum not more than $17,210.00 shall be available for personal services, (c) By taxation the sum of $3,025.00, (d) By taxation the sum of $10,998.53.
2. Sewer Department. (a) Maintenance, (b) Particular Sewers.
Voted: (a) By taxation the sum of $5,740.00, (b) By taxation the sum of $4,310.00.
3. Sewer Construction.
Voted: By taxation the sum of $7,200.00.
4. Drain Construction.
Voted: By taxation the sum of $2,450.00.
5. Maintenance and construction of main drains and clearing brooks and drains other than main drains.
Voted: By taxation the sum of $7,160.00.
6. Removal of Ashes and Rubbish.
Voted: By taxation the sum of $10,662.00.
D. Miscellaneous.
1. Public Works Department. (a) Expense of operation including salary of Superintendent.
Voted: (a) $20,271.00 of which amount not more than $10,350.00 shall be avail- able for personal services, and not more than $3,500.00 shall be available for a Public Works Stock Revolving Account, of which sum so appropriated, there shall be raised by taxation the sum of $10,971.00, $7,500.00 shall be taken from the receipts of the Water Department, and $1,800.00 shall be taken from the Public Works Stock Credit Account.
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