USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Leverett > Record of Town Meetings and Elections, 1936-1955 > Part 18
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Twee copy F. Jr. Taylor Low Click
Record of the annual Town meeting held February 12, 1955. The meeting was called to order by the moderator Edward D. Emusou. The meeting was opened with prayer by Rev. Herbert Dijon. a half minute of selice was observed as a memorial to Rev. arthur h. Truesdell who served this Town as a Minister of the gospel for a great many years and who passed how are midst on September 20, 1954. also George S. Waterhouse who served the Jour as one of the Selectmen for eleven years, muche of the time being Chairman of the Board.
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The also was active in the banquegational Church, the grange and all enterprises for the good of the Town and Community. He passed away suddenly on December 6 th 1954 while at work.
The following was printed in the Town Report for 19514,
The death of George S. waterhouse on December, 6, 1954, lift many of our fellow citizens with a feeling of loneliness and to all of his many friends a sense of personal lost.
On the Boardof Selectmere for 11 years, me Waterhouse served the Jacon in a sacrificial and loyal spirit. He was pleasant to work with and with a deep understanding and an informed mind his council and advice were widely sought.
active in Grange, blunch and others organizations, he was held in bigle esten by his associates.
The was interested in the welfare of both young and old; and cooperated whole- heartedly whenever he could render service. While he will be deeply missed he will not soon be forgotten; and one citizens will always be grateful for his memory.
The warrant for this meeting article 1. The following officers were chosen F. J. Taylor Jours black + Treasures 14 Rutti E. Field auditor 1 year Tellers appointed by the moderator John D. Swenson, Winfred Hoodandr & Vanum &. abbott Jay Collector 1 year Richard L. glazier Violet F. abbott R. Carlyle Field
Selectman 3 years School Committee 3 yrs алиссы з уго.
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Library Trustee 3 yes. Constable 1 yr. baustable 1 ye. Constable 1 yu. Ince warder ign. Sumeyou 1 ye
Ethel It. Woodard Chester S. Woodard Warren Glazier
Home germain Clifford d. graves Ethan V. Howard & William H. Williams
glow K. watson Joseple baron David Field
Sureyou / yu. Sureyou Field Driver 1 ye. Field Diver 1 yu, folie Mc Donangle Fuld Driver 1 yo, Hinfields B. Laurence Poundsuper 1 yr
article 2- Voted to accept the report of the auditor, Selectmer, School Committee, School nurse and Library Trustees, article 3- Voted that the Jawn Treasurer, with the approval of the Selective, be authorized to bonow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year, beginning January 1, 1955 and to issue a note or noter therefor, payable within one year, and to renew any noter as may be given for a period of less than one year, in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44 of the general Laws.
article 4 voted to accept the list of Jurors as prepared by the Selective with the exception of thelec glazier, who asked to be excused and his request was granted.
article 5 bated that the Town pay a fifty cent bounty toresidents of this Town on all hedgehogs killed in this Jouons article6, voted to transfer the sum of $5000. four the road machinery fund to the wood machenery account.
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article I voted to raise and appropriate the Sum of $ 900. Jou Cemeteries and Memorial Day. articles vated to raise and appropriate the sum of $450, and the dog fund, also the lines collected in 1954, ($22.27) for the Jawn Library. articleq voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $3000. for sidewalks , highway , bridges railings, snow removal etc.
article 10 vated that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $1360, to mut the Jason's share of the cost of Chapter 81, and that in addition the sunt of $9350, lee transferred from unappropriated available funds in the treasury to meet the State's shave of the cost of the works, the reimburse. ments from the State to be restored upon their receipt to unappropriated available funds in the treasury. Total appropriation $10710. article 11 Voted that $500. be raised and appropriated to mut the Jour's show of the cost of chapter 90 maintenance, and that in addition the sum of $1600. be transferred from unappropriated available funds in the treasury to meet the State's and Country's share of the cost of the work, the remboursements grow the State and beauty to be restored upon their receipt to umappropriated available funds in the treating Total appropriation $2400.
article 12 a. voted that $2500. be raised to meet the Town's share of the cost of chapter go Construction and that in addition $1500. be transferred from unappropriated available funds in the treasury to meet the State's and beautys share of the cost of the work, the reimbursements from the State and the County to be restored upon their receipt to the unappropriated
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available funds in the treasury. Total appropriation $10,000. Cuticle 12 B. Vated that the sumof $250. be raised to meet the Town's share of the cost of Chapter 90 Bridges and Railings, and that in addition the sumof $150. le trans Served from unappropicated available funds in the treasury to meet the States and laucity's show of the cost of the work, the reimbursements from the State and bounty to the restored upon their recept to unappropriated available funds. Total appropriation $1000.
article 13. a report of the Building bode bom. mittel was given by Chester &. Woodard bh. The following is the report which was printed in the Janu Report;
Building requirements suggested by the committee are;
1. any new construction of buildings shall be not less than to It from cuites of existing highways and not less than 20 ft. from adjoining property lines 2. any non- residential construction, such as garages, barne etc., will be re- quired to have a permit issued by the Selective with a possibility of a review of their decision before a review board of fine, appointed annually by the Selectmene at their first meeting after the annual town meeting.
The committee thinks these restrictions practical, but that an elaborate code is unnecessary at this time. Chester woodard ble. Carl Rays beleffort games William barry
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It was voted to accept the foregoing report and that the recommendations in same shall become a part of the by-laws of the town. This was a standing vote 45 yes, 31 no. article It vated to discontinue the Watson Road, so called, leading grow the Dudleyville Road to the Starof William Fleming.
article 15 bated to raise and appropriate the sum of $350. for a 3/4" water supply line from the School building to the Fire Department.
article 16. Voted that there be transferred how the Road Mademy account the sum of $200. to fundiare a compressor for the Town garage, articles vated to transfer the sun of $1500. from the Road Machinery account to purchase a pick-up truck.
article 18 voted to transfer $3000: from Surplus overlay to the Reserve Fred.
article 19 lated to change the term of the Jay Collector from 1 year to 3 years. 42 voted in favor, 31 against the measure article 20 voted to raise and appropriate the Sum of $3460. for Town Officer's Salaries as follows:
Elected Officers
moderator $10.00
Town lebeck+ Treasurer 1000.00
Chairman-Selectie 275.00
Selectivau (2) at 250.00
Charman-Public Welfare 75.00
members (2) at 50.00
Chairman-asserons 300.00
Guessous (2) at 150.00 Chairman - School Committee 65.00
School Commetter (2) at 60,00
.
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Jay Collecter $ 350,00 auditor 15,00
leanstables (3) at
25,00
Tue wardene 10,00
appointed Officer
bleck of Board of Selective 150,00
Fout Five wearder
25.00
Suspecter of animals
50,00
assistant modulator
5.00
Civil Defense Director 25.00
Deputy Forest Fire Warder 10.00 Total 3460,001
article 21 bated to vairs and appropriate the following amounts to mut town expenses.
$ 100.00.
Tools Street Lights Schoolv
550,00,
57256.56 3000.00.
and to Dep. Children
Old age assistance
Disability aid
6000,00. 100,00, 2500.00.
Welfare administration 750,00
100.00
Health and Sanitation
650.00,
Jue Works
motto wools Dutch Elve Disease
300.00
Fire Department 500,00
Town Buildings 350.00
Officers Expenses 700.00. Office Equipment + Supplies 275,00. Bonds 125.00
Insurance
1500,00
Town Reports Joure Employees le ensus 120,00
350.00 750.00
miscellaneous 100.00
Special Committee 100.00
Total
$76 876.56
general Relief
Vituvais Benefits 500.00
200.00.
372
article 22 Vated to hear the report of the Investigating and Building Committee given by Da, Elmer to. Osgood chairman of the committee.
The report in full follows:
Report of The Sunestigating and Building Committee For the Elementary School.
The Committee has investigated the necessity for additional class woow space and has found that there is a real need for a room per graden This means the provision in some way of four new class rooms.
The Committee has considered alterations to the present building as well as additions thereto, It is convinced that alterations to provide class room space will be makeshift, unsatisfactory and relatively costly to the Town. an addition of more than two rooms to the present building will require additional heating facilities. The Committee also believes that the best and least costly solution to the over all school problem for the Town includes owe joining the aubert- Pelham School Region. Doing This will relieve us of the necessity providing, at the Elementary School. two of the additional rooms needed. The Committee, therefore, recommends the building of two additional class rooms, with necessary facilities at the north end of the present building. Preliminary plans for suche anaddition have had tentative acceptance by the State Building assistance Commission."
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It is estimated that the total cost of such an addition will not exceed $60,000. It is proposed to borrow money on a flaw similar to that used for the present School, which money is to be paid back, with the assistance of the State, over a period of twenty years Cluster S. Woodard Carl S. Rays Salve D. Swenson Waynea. Haward Elemente. Osgood cho Lustigating and Building Committee
Voted to accept the foregoing uport as given by Dr. Osgood. article 23. There was some discussion of this article and are amendment was offered to delay action until articles 26 and 27 have leve voted upow. This amendment was carried and the muting proceeded to the next article. article 24 a motion was made to pass over the article but the motion was lost 42 to pass over 46 not, The motion to raise and appropriate $75. to install flood lights on the East side of Echo Lake to aid ice skating was lost, only 28 voting in favor. article 25 voted to authorize the School Committee to establish and maintain State aided Vocational Education in accordance with the provisions of Chapter It, general Laws and acts, amended thereto, or provided thereon but no appropriation was made.
374
article 26 voted to ratify, adopt and confirm action taken by our Regional School Planning Commetter in submitting to the Regional District School Committee of the ambert. Pelham Regional School District, a petition are behalf of the Town of Peuvent to join said District as a Participating Town.
article 27 vated articles 27 and 28 be considered together by this meeting. Voted that copies of the agreement become a part of the records of this meeting. vated that articles 27+25 be voted upon by written hallot.
Ballot for articles 27+ 28 article 27
Shall the Town of Leverett accept are amendment to the agreement Establishing The ambert-Pelham Regional School District which provides the terms upon which the Towns of Leverett and Stutilbury shall become participating towns thereunder and which is entitled"amendment to the ambust-Pelham Regional School District agreement Providing for the admission of the Towns of Loveutt and Strutisbury, such acceptance to be conditional upon acceptance of the same amendment by the Towns of aubert-Pelham and Shutesbury at their 1955 annual town meetings:
yes no
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Shall the Town of Leverett accept an amendment to the agreement Establishing the Ambert-Pelham Regional School District which provides the terms upon which the Town of Liverett shall become a Participating Town thereunder and which is entitled. "amendment to the ambust-Pelham Regional School District agreement providing for the admission of the Town of Levert, suche acceptance to be effective in the event this Town is unable to join said District together with the Town of Strutisbury? yes. no. article 28 Shall the said agreement Establishing the ambert-Pelham Regional School District, as amended be either of the amendments accepted under the preceding article be accepted? yes no There were 121 votes cast on the preceding ballots as follows. 110 yes and 11 no. I hereby certify that the proposed. amendments and a copy of said agreement remained on file at the office of the Board of selectmen and in the Office of the Lower blocks from the time the wanaut was posted until the said meeting was held.
it this point it was voted to return to article 23 of the warraut.
Vated to raise and appropriate or transfer from unappropriated available funds in the treasury the sum of $ 60,000. for
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alteration and addition to our Elementary School Building, this figure being the amount suggested in the report of the Investigating + Building Commette.
article 29 as there was no further business to be acted upow it was voted to dissolve the meeting.
The modulator made the following appointment. Finance Committee mrs. Mildred Rice Peter m. Surprenant Josephe baublin
F. W. Taylor Jour bleck.
The following is a list of appropirations voted at the annual Loww Meeting February 12, 1955,
article y Cemeteries + memorial Day $ 900.00 8 Library, Fines 2.27. 450.00 and dog und 472.27 9 Highways, Bridges, Railings Sidewalls Etc 3000.00 n
C 10 Highway Chap. 81 10710.00
12 a Chap. 90 construction 10000.00
B
" 90 Highways Budge Etc
1000.00
article 11 Chap. 90 maintenance 2400.00
11 15 water pipe line for Fire Dept. 350.00
16 Compressor-Jeou madeneuf acet 200.00
17 Pick-up Truck" 1500.00
V 18 Reserves surplus overlay 3000.00 20 Officers Salaries 3460.00
$ 36992.27
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article 21
Tools 4100.00
Street Lights Schools aid to Dep. bluldre
550,00 57256.56 3000,00 6000,00
Old age asst.
Disability aid
100,00
general Relief
2500,00
Welfare administration 750,00
Veterans Benefits 100.00
Health & Sanitation 500,00
The words 650,00
math works 200.00 300,00 500,00
quiche Elm Fire Dept
Joure Buildings
350,00
Officers Expenses 700,00
Office Equipment+ Supplies 275.00
Officeis Boude
125.00
Insurance 1500,00
Joure Reports 350,00
Town Employees 750,00
bensus 120.00
miscellaneous 100.00
Special Committees 100,00
76 876.56
Cuticle 23. School addition 60 000.00
From previous page 26992.27
Total appropriations # 173,868.83
See following pages for the agreement establishing a Regional School District Comprising the Towns of aubert and Pelham, also the amendment to the
agreement providing for the admission of the Laws of Laureth and Skuterbury
378
In addition to the report of the Investigating and Building Committee undile article 22 of the warrant Mr. John D. Swenrow gave the following figures to show the advantages to be gained by joining The auchust Pelhace Regione.
Present Tuition aubert It.S. 35 pupils @#385 perpupil $3475. g.H. 14 @2248 .. 3360. .. ..
new Salu academy 16
@250,
4000.
Total $20835,
OP. cost Regional g. H. +H.S. @ $285, per pupil $18525.
65 pupils
ambient+ Pelham total cost $822,500 The percentage for Livet 4.2%
34545.
First year cost to Leurett including 3% interest $ 3.8 3, 20 3.
Saving in tuition $20836. lus 18 525="2310.
C
8996.00
1349,00
15 % -
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an agreement Establishing a Regional School District Comprising the Town of ambert + Pelham
Section I a
Establishment of the Regional School District a Regional School District is hereby established under the provisions of Section 15 of chapter 11 of the general Laws, comprising the territory of Cumhuist and the town of Pelham. Said towns are referred to herinafter as the Participating Jawris, The Regional School District Committee
6, Section I a. The Regional School District Gommettes, hereinafter referred to as the Committee, shall consist of 7 15, members; 5 from amburst and 2 from Pelham. b. Within 10 days after the effective date of this agreement, the local school committee of each Participating Joure Shall select from it's own memberslieps the number of Committee members specified in Section I a above. Such selecter shall take office. on the texthe day after sude effective date and shall serve until their successon are selected and qualified under Section I a below, The local school committee of eache Participating Town shall, within 10 days after each annual town Electron, select from its own membership the number of Committee members needed to bring it's representation on the committee up to the number specified in Section II a above. Each sude selectie shall take office on the tenthe day after the latest of suche annual tours Electrons and shall serve for the duration of said selectie's term on the local school committee or until a successor hasbeen selected and qualified after termination of said selecte's ter on the local school committee. d When a vacancy occurs in the committee, the local school committee of the town concerned shall select a replacement who may be the replacement on the local school committee,
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Sections I a
b .
or, if such exists, a local schol committee member who is not already a member of the committee.
e Within 5 days after the members of the initial Committee have taken office the Committee shall be convened by the Committee members from ambient, and at that time shall choose its officers, establiche their terms of office, and define their duties. Indue course the Committee shall formulate procedures and a place of organizations adequate to permit the efficient execution of its duties.
8
The committee shall establish, and from time to time may relocate, within the District at a place of its own choosing a central office for the transactions of its business.
g The Regional Committee shall not assume jurisdiction over the students specified in Section IX until it has acquired facilities to provide for them. Until sude time the students shall be unders the jurisdiction of their respective local school committus. When facilities are acquired a specific date of transfer of jurisdiction shall be arranged. by written agreement between the Regional. Committee and the local committees.
Powers and Duties of the Regional School District The powers and duties of the Recional School District, shall be nested in and exercised by the Regional District School Commetter, The District shall be a body politics and corporate with all the powers and duties conferred upon school committees by law and buy this agreement and any amendments threeto, and with the additional powers and duties specified in Chapter ?! of the general Laws as nous and hereafter amended ..
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C. The committee is empowered, subject to the provisions of paragraphe d and . below, to incur debt for the purpose of acquiring land and constructing, reconstructing, adding to, and equipping a school building or buildings; provided, however, that any indebtedness so incurred shall not exceed an amount approved by the Emergency Finance Board ofthe Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Within 48 hours after such debt is authorized by the Committee, the committee shall mail to the Board of Selectmen in each Participating Town a written notice stating the amount of the debt and the date of it's authorization. In addition the committee shall cause the same information to be published within ten days after suche authorization as a paid notice in a newspaper circulating in the District,
e In accordance with Section 16(d) of Chapter ?! of the general Laws as amended, no debit may be incurred for the above purpose until the expiration of thirty days from the date said debt was authorized by the Committee; and prior to the expiration of said period any Participating Jour may call. a town meeting for the purpose of expressing disapproval of the amount of debt authorized by the committee, and if at Runde meeting a majority of the voters voting thereon expressed disapproval of the amount author- ized by the Committee, they said debtshall not be incurred and the committee shall there upon pupone au alternative proposal and a new or revised. authorization to incur debt. In a town having representative town government by limited town meetings, a vote to express disapproval of the amount of The authorized debt shall be by representation town meeting with the right of referendum
4
2N
d. 1
L
Z
1
382
applicable to such town. with suspect to the plupical and related aspects of constructing any regional school building and any major additions or alterations thereto, the Committee shall obtain the advice of at least three other persons, of its own selection, who by training on experience possess knowledge of building materials and building construction, these additional consultants to serve in an advisory capacity only and without pay. Section II Location and name of the Regional District School. a The Regional District Schools shall be located in ambient.
The committee shall select an appropriate name or names for any school or R ebooks of the Region.
Sections I a The Type of Regional District School The Regional District shall compie the grades sever through twelve, inclusive. Section II apportionment and Payment of boots sucurred. by the District.
b.
For the purpose of apportionning assessment. levied by the District against the Bautocupation Towns, costs other than those transportation costa described in Section Is a shall be divided into two categories; capital costs and operating costs. Capital costs shall include all expenditures relating to capital outhay such as payment of principal and interest or bonds or other obligations issued by the District, and any other expenses associated with the acquisition ofreal estate, the construction and improvement of buildings, grading, purchase of equipment, and other activities incident to placing in operation the original a cool plant and any subsequent additions and improvements thereto.
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C Operating costs shall include all ottime costs such as salaires, wages, supplies, lists, repair and maintenance upruditures, interest on noter issued in anticipation of revenue, and other costs incurred in the day- to-day operations of the schools.
d Capital costs shall be apportioned as follows. Principal and interest ou louds or other obligations issued to finance capital costs shall be apportioned to the Participating Towns on the basis of the equalized valuation of said towns as set forthe in Chapter 559 of the acts of 1945, entitled. "an act Establishing the Basis of apportionment of State and Country Jases" or any equalized valuations enacted by the general Court of the Commonwealthles Massachusetts in effect on the date suche bonds or other obligations are issued. The proportion shall be computed to the nearest tenthe ga percentage point and the proportion shall not be changed during the period sude bounds or other obligations die outstanding except as provided in Sections XI and XII, provided, however, that if the capital costs for the construction of the initial required district school (which shall be a three- year senior. high school, shall include community- uses type of facilities, the proportionate show. of the capital costs of the Town of amberat as so determined shall be increased by one percent and the proportionate theart of the capital costs of the Town of Pelham as so determined shall be decreased by one percent, all other capital costs for the ensuing year shall be apportioned to the Participating Town annually in December on the basis of the equalized valuation of said towns as set forth in said Chapter 559 of the acts of 194500 any
384
later equalized valuation enacted by soud general Court in effect on the first day of December of the year in which the apportionment is so determined.
e Q putting costs for the ensuing calendar year shallbe apportioned annually in December on the basis of the average pupil membership for the school year ending the previous gement. each Participating Jour's shave to hear the same relationship to aprating costs as it's average membership in the Regional District Schools hears to the combined average membership in the Regional District Schools from all the Participating Towns, as determined by the Regional District Committee, provided, that if the Regional District schools shall not have lieve operated during the school year ending the previous June 30, the basis of scale apportion mentshall be the average membership which cade Participating Town would have had in the Regional District Schools had they have is operated, any unaffected balance from the current year's operating budget plus income received in the current year from admission of tuition. pupils shall be deducted from operating costa for the ensuing year piece to the apportionment thereof among the Participating Loures
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