USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Plainville > Plainville, Massachusetts annual reports 1906-1912 > Part 18
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I rust that in the future I may be of some assistance in the upbuilding of the town of Plainville and that my suc- cessor in office will be given the support and assistance in his labors that is most -certainly but a small part of the re- ward that should be given a town officer who performs his
duties.
WILLIAM F. MAINTIEN.
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ANNUAL REPORT.
Auditor's Report
Town of Plainville, Mass.
This certifies that I have carefully examined the books and accounts of the Treasurer and find them correct. That I have compared the vouchers of the Selectmen, School Committee and Water Commissioner, and find them to agree with the payments of the Treasurer. That I have com- pared the payroll of the Surveyor of Highways, and find them to agree with the payments of the Treasurer. That I have examined the books of the Tax Collector, and that the taxes collected and taxes unpaid are as stated in the Treas- urer's report.
JOHN J. EIDEN, Auditor.
Plainville, Mass., Feb. 20, 1909.
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT
Warrant for Annual Town Meeting
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Plainville.
GREETING:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Plainville, qualified to vote in Town affairs, to meet in the Town Hall, in said Plainville, on Monday, the sixteenth (16th) day of March, A. D. 1908, at nine o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act on the follow- ing articles, viz. :
Article I. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
Art. 2. To consider and act upon the reports of the Selectmen, Treasurer and other Town officers.
Art. 3. To choose all necessary Town officers. The following are to be chosen by ballot, viz .: Three Selectmen, three Overseers of the Poor, three Assessors, one member to be chosen for three years, one member for two years and one member for one year; one Treasurer, one Clerk, one Trustee of Public Library for three years, one Auditor,
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ANNUAL REPORT.
one Collector of Taxes, one Surveyor of Highways, three Constables, one member of the School Committee for three years, and also upon the same ballot, to vote upon the ques- tion : "Shall license be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in the town?" All officers, except as above named, are to be chosen for one year.
The polls will be open at 9:30 o'clock a. m., and may be closed at 2 p. m.
Art. 4. To see how much money the Town will vote to appropriate and raise for :
Ist. The support of schools the current year.
2d. For school books and incidentals the current year.
3d. For the employment of a Superintendent of Schools.
4th. For the support of the Public Library.
5th. For the payment of salaries of the different Town officers.
6th. For current and incidental expenses the current year.
7th. For the support of the poor the current year.
8th. For highways and bridges the current year, and determine how it shall be expended.
9th. For State and military aid the current year.
10th. For Memorial Day.
IIth. For payment of interest the current year.
I 2th. For Fire Department the current year.
I3th. For lighting the streets the current year.
I4th. For the employment of a school physician.
Art. 5. To see if the Town will grant the use of Town Hall free of charge to George H. Maintien Post 133, G. A. R., three days the current year.
Art. 6. To see if the Town will grant the use of Town Hall free of charge to the Fire Department one evening the current year.
Art. 7. To see if the Town will grant the use of Town Hall free of charge to the Alumni Association one evening the current year.
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ANNUAL REPORT,
Art. 8. To see how much money the Town will vote to appropriate and raise for the suppression of the sale of intoxicating liquors, and for the apprehension and prosecu- tion of offenders against the law relating to the illegal keep- ing and sale of such liquors, and instruct the Selectmen to employ efficient agents and counsel to prosecute such offenders.
Art. 9. To see what action the Town will take with regard to the collection of taxes the current year, fix the compensation of the Collector, and determine the rate of interest to be charged on taxes remaining unpaid after November 1, 1908.
Art. 10. To see if the Town will vote to have the surety on the Collector's, or other Town officers' bonds, placed with a fidelity or guarantee company, and appro- priate a sufficient sum of money to pay for the same.
Art. II. To see if the Town will authorize the Col- lector of Taxes to use all of the means of collecting taxes which a Town Treasurer may use when appointed Collector.
Art. 12. To authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow during the municipal year, beginning February I, 1908, in anticipation of the col- lection 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 therefore, payable within one year from the date thereof. All debts incurred under authority of this vote shall be paid from the taxes of the present municipal year.
Art. 13. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of three thousand ($3,000.00) dollars or any other sum of money to build a new School House on the site of the old building, on Blakes Hill, and to determine by whom it shall be spent.
Art. 14. To choose any committee to hear the report of any committee and act thereon.
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ANNUAL REPORT.
Hereof fail not, and make due returns of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, in conformity to the public statutes, at or before the time of said meeting.
Given under our hands and seal of the Town of Plain .- ville, this twenty-first day of February, in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and eight.
WM. F. MAINTIEN, GEO. F. CHEEVER, JOSEPH F. BREEN,
Selectmen of Plainville.
[Seal.]
OFFICERS' RETURN ON WARRANT
Plainville, Mass., March 16, 1908.
This certifies that I have served the within warrant by posting attested copies of the same at nine various places within the Town of Plainville.
(Signed) DANIEL CROTTY, Constable.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK, ss .:
Then personally appeared Daniel Crotty, Constable of Plainville, and made oath that the above statement by him signed is true, before me.
JAMES H. SHANNON,
Town Clerk.
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ANNUAL REPORT,
Annual Town Meeting
Plainville, Mass., March 16, 1908.
The meeting was called to order at 9 o'clock a. m., and opened by the reading of the warrant by Town Clerk J. H. Shannon.
Article I. It was unanimously voted that Mr. J. F. Breen cast one ballot for H. F. Keeney for Moderator. The ballot was cast, and Mr. Keeney was declared chosen Mod- erator.
Article 2. It was voted that the reports of the several Town officers as printed in the annual report be accepted.
Article 5 was here taken up, and on the motion of W. F. Maintien, the use of the Town Hall was granted free of charge to George H. Maintien Post 133, G. A. R., three days the current year.
Article 6. On motion of H. E. Thompson, the use of Town Hall free of charge was granted the Fire Department one evening the current year.
Article 7. On motion of H. E. Thompson, the use of the Town Hall was granted to the Alumni Association one evening the current year.
Article 8. It was voted that the Town appropriate and raise the sum of one hundred dollars for the suppression of the sale of intoxicating liquors, and for the apprehension and prosecution of offenders against the law relating to the illegal keeping and sale of such liquors, and that the Select- men be instructed to employ efficient agents and counsel to prosecute .such offenders.
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ANNUAL REPORT.
Article 9. It was voted, on motion of W. F. Maintien, that the compensation of Collector of Taxes be one hundred dollars, that twenty-five dollars of said sum be paid in ad- vance, and that six per cent. per annum be charged on taxes unpaid Nov. 1, 1908.
Article 10. On motion of W. F. Maintien, it was voted that the sureties on the Collector's and other Town officers' bonds be placed with a fidelity or guaranty company, and that the expense be from the current and incidental appro- priation.
Article II. On motion of H. E. Thompson, it was voted that the Collector of Taxes be authorized to use all of the means of collecting taxes which a Town Treasurer may use when appointed Collector.
Article 12. On motion of W. E. Barden, it was voted that the Treasurer be and hereby is authorized, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow during the municipal year beginning February 1, 1908, in anticipation of the col- lection of taxes of said year, such sums of money as may be necessary for the current expenses of the Town, but not ex- ceeding the total tax levy for said year, giving the notes of the Town therefor, payable within one year from the date thereof. All debts incurred under authority of this vote shall be paid from the taxes of the present municipal year.
Article 3 was then taken up. It was here voted that the Town proceed to the election of Town officers. Receipts were taken for the ballots and election apparatus, and the apparatus was inspected and found in proper cnodition, and the polls were declared open at 9:30 o'clock.
Article 4 was then taken up, and under Section I, on motion of Rufus King, the sum of $4,750.00, together with the Dog Fund and interest on School Fund and other school receipts was granted for the support of the schools the cur- rent year.
Section 2. On motion of J. W. Blackwell, $500 for school books and $300 for school incidentals was granted,
.
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ANNUAL REPORT.
Section 3. On motion of Rufus King, $500 was granted for the employment of a Superintendent of Schools.
Section 4. On motion of W. E. Barden, to grant the sum of $300, and amendment on motion of F. W. Northup, that the sum of $400 be granted, the amendment was ac- cepted and the sum of $400 was granted for the support of Public Library.
On motion of W. F. Maintien, Sections 5 and 6 were taken together, and the sum of $2100, on motion of W. F. Maintien, was granted for payment of salaries of Town officers and for current and incidental expenses the current year.
Section 7. On motion of W. F. Maintien, $750 was granted for the support of poor the current year.
Section 8. On motion of W. E. Barden, the sum of $1500.00 was granted for highways and bridges, that $400.00 of said sum be expended for sidewalks, and on motion of W. E. Barden, it was voted that the money be expended by the Highway Surveyor.
Section 9. On motion of W. F. Maintien, the sum of $150.00 was granted for State and Military Aid.
Section 10. On motion of J. J. Eiden, the sum of $150.00 was granted for observance of Memorial Day. On motion of W. E. Barden, it was voted that the money be turned over to the Quartermaster of Post 133, G. A. R.
Section II. It was voted on motion of W. E. Barden, that the sum of $600.00, together with interest receipts other than from School Fund, be granted for payment of interest the current year.
Section 12. On motion of Frank E. Whiting, the sum of $250.00 was granted for Fire Department the current year.
Section 13. On motion of H. E. Thompson, this sec- tion was laid upon the table.
Section' 14. On motion of Rufus King, it was voted that the sum of $50.00 be expended by the school committee
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ANNUAL REPORT.
for the employment of a school physician, and that it be paid from the appropriation for school incidental expenses.
Article 13. It was voted that the matter of building a new School House at Blakes Hill be referred to a commit- tee of three appointed by the Moderator to investigate and report at a subsequent meeting. The Moderator appointed Rufus King, William F. Maintien and Sylvester Smith.
Article 3 was here taken up, and other town officers were chosen as follows :
Tree Warden, E. C. Barney.
Fence Viewers, Charles N. Moore, Frank E. Hill.
Field Drivers, Henry F. Chase, Clinton E. Gay.
Measurers of Wood and Lumber, E. C. Barney, C. W. Pond, Sylvester Smith.
Article 14. No committees were appointed or reports heard under this article.
On motion of J. W. Blackwell, a recess was here taken till I o'clock.
After recess Mr. Bemis, Superintendent of Schools, ad- dressed the voters present as to the difference between the results attained at the Blakes Hill School and compared with the several grades of the centre schools, claiming a superior- ity of the schools at the centre, evidenced by figures and ex- hibitions of school work and examinations. Mr. Bemis' remarks were made and allowed to be in answer to state- ments made early in the meeting.
At 2 :15 o'clock p. m., on motion of J. P. Zilch, the polls were closed. The ballot box registered 206 ballots at close of polls.
The result of the balloting for the several Town of- ficers was as follows :
Town Clerk James H. Shannon, R., 187* W. H. NASH, I Blanks, 18
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ANNUAL REPORT.
Treasurer WALTER E. BARDEN, R., 184* Blanks, 22
Selectmen, Overseers of Poor and Board of Health JOSEPH F. BREEN, R., 139* GEORGE F. CHEEVER, R., 130* WILLIAM F. MAINTIEN, R., 138* EUGENE S. WHITING, N. P., 100 FRANK E. BARNEY, R., 2 Blanks, 109
Assessor for One Year WILLIAM E. BLANCHARD, R., 186* Blanks, 20
Assessor for Two Years WALTER C. POND, R., 174* Blanks, 32
Assessor for Three Years JOSEPH F. BREEN, R., 165* Blanks, 41
Trustees for Public Library for Three Years JOHN W. BLANCHARD, R., 175* Blanks, 31
School Committee for Three Years RUFUS KING, R., 177* Blanks 29
Collector of Taxes GEORGE W. WOOD, R., 178* O. P. BROWN, I Blanks, 27
Auditor JOHN J. EIDEN, R., 171* Blanks, 35
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ANNUAL REPORT.
Highway Surveyor EDWARD C. BARNEY, R., 143* ELLIS J. PECK, N. P., 55 Blanks, 8
Constables DANIEL CROTTY, R., 165* E. WRIGHT SARGENT, R., 178* JOHN H. SCHROEDER, R., 170* CHARLES MEYER, I ALVIN KEYES, I GEORGE D. GRAHAM, I Blanks, 102
On the question : Shall License be granted for the sale of Intoxicating Liquors in this Town: Yes, 44; No, 139; blanks, 23.
R., Republican ; N. P., Nomination Papers.
Ballot Clerks, Gardner Warren, Frank W. Gardner ; Tellers, F. W. Northup, Harry B. Thompson.
Adjourned, 4:30 o'clock p. m.
JAMES H. SHANNON, Town Clerk.
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ANNUAL REPORT.
Special Town Meeting
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. NORFOLK, ss. :
To either of the Constables of the Town of Plainville. GREETING:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Plainville, qualified to vote in Town affairs, to meet in the Town Hall, in said Plainville, on Tuesday, the 16th day of June, A. D., 1908, at 8 o'clock in the eve- ning, then and there to act on the following articles, viz. :
Article I. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
Art. 2. To hear the report of the Water Committee and act thereon.
Art. 3. To see if the Town will vote to accept the pro- visions of Chapter 404 of the Acts of 1908, an act to allow the Town of Plainville to supply itself and its inhabitants with water.
Art. 4. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and raise the sum of Thirty-five Thousand (35,000) Dollars for the construction of a Water System and that the sum so raised be placed at the disposal of the Board of Water Com- missioners.
Art. 5. To see if the Town will vote to borrow any sums of money not to exceed Thirty-five Thousand (35,000) Dollars in aggregate, pursuant to the terms of Chapter 404 of the Acts of 1908, entitled, "An act to authorize the Town
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ANNUAL REPORT.
of Plainville to supply itself and its inhabitants with water"; and provide for the payment of any sums of money so bor- rowed pursuant to terms of said Act by such annual propor- tionate payments as will extinguish said loan at maturity, as Act provides.
Art. 6. To elect by ballot Three (3) Water Commis- sioners :
One to serve until the Annual Town Meeting, March, 1910.
One to serve until the Annual Town Meeting, March, IgII.
One to serve until the Annual Town Meeting, March, 1912.
Art. 7. To hear the report of the Committee chosen at last annual meeting to report on the advisability of building a school house at Blakes Hill.
Art. 8. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of Three Thousand (3,000) Dollars or any other sum of money to build a new school building at Blakes Hill, on the site of the old building, and to determine by whom it shall be expended.
Art. 9. To choose any committee, to hear the report of any committee and act thereon.
Hereof fail not, and make due returns of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk in conformity to the public statutes, at or before the time of said meeting.
Given under our hands and seal of the Town of Plain- ville, this eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and eight.
WILLIAM F. MAINTIEN, JOSEPH F. BREEN, GEORGE F. CHEEVER, Selectmen of Plainville, Mass.
[Seal.]
Plainville, Mass., June 16, 1908.
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ANNUAL REPORT.
1
This certifies that I have served the foregoing warrant as therein directed by posting attested copies of the same.
(Signed) DANIEL CROTTY, Constable.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. NORFOLK, ss .:
June 16, 1908.
Then personally appeared the above-named Constable, Daniel Crotty, and made oath that the foregoing statement by him subscribed is true, before me.
JAMES H. SHANNON,
Justice of the Peace and Town Clerk, Plainville, Mass.
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ANNUAL REPORT.
Records of Special Town Meeting
1
Meeting was called to order at 8 o'clock p. m., by Town Clerk Shannon reading the warrant.
Article I. On motion of W. F. Maintien, it was unani- mously voted that Rufus King cast one ballot for H. F. Keeney for Moderator. Mr. King cast the ballot, and Mr. Keeney was declared elected Moderator.
Article 2. Mr. O. P. Brown called for the report of the Committee on Water Supply. Mr. King, Chairman of the committee, then read the report of the committee, which was as follows:
At the special town meeting held Dec. 20, 1907, it was voted that the Town petition the Legislature for the right to supply itself with water.
The committee having this matter in charge desires to report that it has attended to that duty and that a bill has been passed by the Legislature, giving the Town of Plain- ville the unrestricted rights asked for, and becomes in force upon its acceptance by a majority of the legal voters present and voting thereon at a legal meeting called for the purpose.
It seems fitting at this time and in this report that due credit should be given Representative Frank O. Coombs of North Attleboro for the able support given our bill when by reason of illness our own Representative could not be present to give it attention. Without doubt the success of the bill was in large measure due to his earnest effort. This
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ANNUAL REPORT.
committee recommend, unanimously, the acceptance of the bill and the prompt installation of a water system.
(Signed) RUFUS KING, WM. H. NASH, JOSEPH F. BREEN, GEORGE F. CHEEVER, ERNEST N. HALL.
Then Mr. King read the following report of part of the committee :
In addition to this report, we wish to publicly record our appreciation of the work of the Secretary of the com- mittee, William H. Nash, who has given much time to plans, estimates and numerous details of value to the committee ; also for the clerical work, which has been carefully and promptly performed, and is now available for future refer- ence and use.
(Signed) RUFUS KING, JOSEPH F. BREEN, GEO. F. CHEEVER, ERNEST N. HALL.
On motion of W. F. Maintien, it was voted that the report of the committee be accepted, and that the thanks of the Town be extended to the committee.
Article 3. On motion of Rufus King, the vote being taken by a standing vote of 86 in the affirmative and none in the negative, it was voted that the Town accept the pro- visions of Chapter 404 of the Acts of 1908.
Article 5. Rufus King moved that we take up Article 5. Taken up by consent.
W. F. Maintien moved, seconded by W. H. Nash, "That the Town issue its Coupon Notes to the amount of Thirty- five Thousand Dollars ($35,000), or any part of said sum, bearing interest, payable semi-annually, at a rate not to exceed four per cent. per annum."
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ANNUAL REPORT.
That such notes shall bear on their face the words, "Town of Plainville Water Loan," and shall be signed by the Treasurer of the Town and countersigned by the Water Commissioners, to be chosen by said Town.
That the Treasurer be authorized to sell said notes at not less than par at public or private sale, and that the pro- ceeds of such sale shall be expended in supplying the inhabit- ants of the Town with water in accordance with the provi- sions of Chapter 404 of the Acts of 1908.
That the number of notes shall be fifty, numbered from one to fifty, both inclusive, and for the sum of Seven Hun- dred Dollars ($700.00) each.
That two shall become payable in five years after the date of issue, and thereafter two notes shall become due and payable each year. Numbers forty-nine and fifty paya- ble within thirty years from the date of issue.
That the necessary amount for the payment of principal and interest of said notes shall be raised annually by taxa- tion.
The vote on Mr. Maintien's motion was then taken by count : Affirmative, 97 ; negative, none, and Mr. Maintien's motion was declared carried.
Then Article 4 was taken up. On motion of W. F. Maintien, it was voted that the Town appropriate the sum of Thirty-five Thousand Dollars ($35,000.00) for the build- ing and completion of the system of water supply authorized by the Town, and that the same be paid from the proceeds of the sale of, the Coupon Notes authorized by vote of the Town.
That the Water Commissioners be hereby authorized and instructed to employ a competent engineer to cause the necessary plans, specifications and estimates to be made for supplying the Town with water in accordance with the plan submitted to the Town by the Water Committee, to advertise for bids and to make all the necessary contracts in the name of the Town, and to sign and execute all necessary papers, and to do all other things which may be necessary to install
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ANNUAL REPORT.
a system of water supply in accordance with said plans or any modifications of the same which said Commissioners shall consider for the best interest of the Town, provided the said water plant complete in all respects (with the exception of pumping station), and ready to turn on the water to the consumer, shall be constructed for a sum not exceeding Thirty-five Thousand Dollars ($35,000.00) ; and further provided, that the actual work of construction shall not be commenced until a satisfactory contract is executed by the contractor or contractors and a bond with sufficient sureties and for an amount prescribed by the Commissioners, is given by the contractor or contractors to the Town, and so conditioned as to protect the interests of the Town. Said Commissioners are hereby authorized, if they shall consider it to be for the best interest of the Town, to make a contract for a term of years with any person, company or corporation to furnish power necessary to pump and distribute the water for said supply.
The vote on the motion was taken by count and result- ed: Affirmative ninety-six, negative none, and was declared carried.
Article 6. Voted that the Town choose three Water Commissioners, to serve without pay, one to serve till the annual town meeting of 1910, one to serve till the annual town meeting of 1911 and one to serve till the annual town meeting of 1912.
On motion of W. H. Nash, it was voted that the per- son receiving the largest number of votes be the one to serve for the longest term, the one receiving the next largest number of votes be the one to serve for the next longest term, and the one receiving the next largest number be the third member of the commissioners for the shortest term.
The Town proceeded to ballot for three Water Com- missioners.
Voted that the Town proceed with the transaction of other business and that the polls remain open.
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ANNUAL REPORT.
On motion of W. H. Nash it was voted that the polls remain open till 10 o'clock.
Article 7. The committee chosen at the annual town meeting of 1908 to inquire into the advisability of building a School House at Blakes Hill reported by Chairman W. F. Maintien for a majority of the committee that it was inad- visable. The committee consisted of W. F. Maintien, Rufus King and Sylvester Smith. Sylvester Smith reported for the minority as in favor of building a School House.
IO o'clock. W. H. Nash moves that the polls be now closed. Voted.
Article 8 was taken up, and a motion by Sylvester Smith that the Town appropriate Three Thousand Dollars to build a new School House at Blakes Hill was defeated by a vote of seven in the affirmative and thirty in the negative.
The number of ballots cast for Water Commissioners was 115, and number of names checked on voting list was 115. The result of the ballot was as follows :
William H. Nash, 73. Joseph F. Breen, 71.
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