USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1890-1895 > Part 19
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The Board has been called to unite with the other towns and cities on the Charles River in some comprehensive plan for the purification of the river, and has been present at all meetings of the Committees, and acting with the Selectmen has authorized Mr. Zibeon C. Field to act as its agent in preventing injurious le- gislations, and to protect the Town's interest as far as possible.
It has become an imperative necessity for the Town to take
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6.2
action in regard to the disposition of sewage, and it is hoped that the Town will pass a law authorizing the Board to compel the re- moval of all privies and cesspools from the banks of the river. Unless some action is taken, it is certain that the Town will be- forced to provide some system at a large expense.
ROBERT H. COCHRAN,
Secretary Board of Health.
AUDITOR'S REPORT.
To TAX-PAYERS AND CITIZENS :-
I submit the following as my report concerning the accounts of the different departments :-
In relation to Highway Department you will find one team and man less, same having been transferred to Fire Department by vote last March. You will find a tabulated report of your laborers' pay during the year, and I recommend that you give your Selectmen power to give the laborers the benefit of the intent of the statute law of 1890, Chap. 375, which says nine hours shall constitute a day's work. By nine hours' work they should be paid at the rate per hour as if they worked ten hours per day, is as I interpret the intent of said chapter. Some weeks the pay has been as low as 80 cents for some of the laborers, and surely you can see by the amounts that none outside of the team- sters, who get $2 per day, are getting much of a salary. The fol- lowing list is correct, with exception of last two pay-rolls, which were small ones, and I did not wish to delay the report in wait- ing for same.
I. would recommend that a Finance Committee be appointed at November meeting for following March, giving said Commit- tee power at their pleasure to hold several sessions at various times with different departments, and it would be a great benefit to you financially. Your present method is not satisfactory, as \ the Finance Committee has scarcely time to consider or examine into the various departments and report when they do.
You can readily perceive at a glance the responsibility you place upon a Committee chosen as I recommend; they can report . to you, and you can have the report of said Committee printed in your report, and know just what you are expected to vote either for or against. Other towns smaller than this have adopted the plan I suggested.
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Patrick Donlon,
1880g hours, at 20
cents per hour,
$376 04
James McAvoy,
1802
66
20
66
66
360 40
P. Glennon,
1689
20
66
66
337 80
Henry McAvoy,
1599
66
20
66
66
319 98
T. Sheedy,
1570
66
20
66
66
314 07
William McAvoy,
550
20
66
66
110 00
B. Kiernahan,
1598
66
17₺
66
279 70
Michael Larkin,
1501
66
17%
66
66
262 70
Patrick Morgan,
1548
172
66
271 06
John Quinn,
1215
66
17₺
66
66
213 27
M. Moran,
1494
66
172
66
66
261 39
J. Moran,
1512
66
17₺
66
66
265 78
James Kenney,
750
66
20
66
66
150 00
Patrick Milan,
681
66
20
66
66
136 20
John Griffin,
1020
66
172
66
66
178 52
Patrick Casey,
85
66
17}
66
66
14 85
Matt Shea,
629
66
173
66
66
110 03
T. Hynes,
146
"
172
J. Buckley,
78
66
17층
66
66
13 65
Fred Breckman,
269
66
172
66
47 24
Michael Slattery,
408
66
172
66
71 54
L. Gaghegan,
397
173
66
66
69 97
P. O'Donnell,
59
66
17}
66
66
10 32
M. McDonnell,
45
66
172
66
7 87
A. Barrows,
20
66
20
66
66
4 00
G. Severance,
20
66
20
66
66
4 00
Incidentals. You will find in Clerk's report approved bills to amount of $394.35 to be paid coming year, and I believe eight Tellers who served in that capacity at November meeting.
Your street lights, as I reported last year that there was need of a larger appropriation, which was not done; consequent- ly you have $772.56 of approved bills for next year's account.
Salaries you will find. also an amount of bills approved for next year's payment to the amount of $1,517.08. If you appro- priated same amount as was paid' out last year, I think would have sufficient. An additional bill in salaries came in since re- port was in print of $158.36.
Memorial Hall can stand a reduction in appropriation. I will show Finance Committee when asked.
Chap. 440, you will need an appropriation of $1200 this year. The reason of the necessary addition is that since May the
66
25 54
65
officers are paid for prisoners under laws which were not in effect the year previous. .
You will see that the appropriation for water for fire pur- poses will have to be increased this year, as you have added two more hydrants.
To citizens who asked me for a more itemized report in Overseers' Department, would say that the Overseers would be pleased to explain anything in relation to said department. If it was a few days earlier I can assure you, gentlemen, I would with their assistance have same in report if not so late. However, I have explained in person to you, and have an itemized list, which you are welcome to see.
To citizens who asked that the School Department be more itemized, I would say that report was in print, as I informed you. But I think it advisable for said Board to itemize their depart- ment, same as in Selectmen's Department, hereafter.
In regard to bills in relation to changing Charles River's course, you have same in report approved to be paid out of next year's account in Incidentals of Selectmen's Department.
In regard to taxes, i would say that 187 people left Town when notifications were sent by Tax Collector, as I saw same up to September discount day. Seven hundred poll taxes were paid by persons who were assessed only for poll, 400 more than was paid year previous up to above time.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
You will find in this department a few recommendations worthy of your attention. I recommend that you change the end- ing of fiscal year in this department from April 30 to Feb. 1, same as all other departments end, as the power is given you under Chap. 35, Sec. 34, of Public Statutes.
The following will explain why I suggest the change :-
Your chief received for services as electrician for the year 1890, $100; this fiscal year he has drawn $200 for services as electrician for the year 1891. In the year '91 there were a few more boxes added, hence I suppose the doubling of salary. This year you have added more boxes and a tapper, and you will be asked, I suppose, to settle in proportion as in the past. This bill is always paid the first of May.
As electrician for your Town a defect was discovered in
66
your alarm system and you were obliged to have an experienced electrician come, I think from Boston, to repair the damage. His bill and expenses were $10.02, and it was paid direct from your Town's money, instead of being paid out of your electri- cian's salary.
Another instance of injudicious financiering: A 65-ft. ladder was purchased to replace one destroyed at a fire, at a cost of $3 per ft., 10 per cent off, and shipped via B. & A. R. R. at a cost of $21 freight. You can have same delivered here, guaranteed in perfect condition, for $10. When it arrived, a reduction was asked, but your Clerk was informed that he would have to write to general freight agent. Then you heard the rumor that it could not be brought by team. You can purchase same ladder from same firm for a smaller town than Milford, and receive 15 per cent discount, and have it delivered for $8, same town being nearly as far as Milford.
Citizens, it is time your attention is directed to this depart- ment. In May of this year I received notice concerning a set of harnesses that your engineers purchased in '91. It is reliable in- formation. The harnesses cost you $99, and you can purchase same identical harnesses for $65, from same firm. The Clerk of this department is a capable person if he choose to do so, but it is not at all done as it should be, either because he has a privilege that no other officer in Town has, or he is acting as he is to be contrary. He came near having one of your Town orders pro- tested at the bank, by doing business as he wished to. I con- sidered the matter, and rather than have Milford's order, equiva- lent to a check, go on record throughout the state as protested, I yielded and audited same, and settled the matter.
In May last your firemen had to experience a little delay in receiving their money. I will say that the Engineers, consisting of Clerk and Chief, are responsible solely. Your Selectmen at my request promulgated the order that all orders in different depart- ments should be signed by two or more of the Officers, because it was too loose a way to transact business with only one signature. Consequently the Engineers, as I mentioned, decided to have only one name to their orders, and caused the delay in the firemen get- ting their money for a few days. However, for fear of being re- moved, they consented, and things went on harmoniously for an- other while.
67
Why doesn't this department make out their report as they head it, so much for pay of members, etc., and you could readily see what each was costing. The Clerk's book is just like the report, not separated as he has been obliged to in past, but all reckoned up together ; but it will be before it is signed by me.
I am sorry to be obliged to print the preceding about the department, but it is running everything headlong as they see fit, and I am informed that the said two referred to are the ones that do the business; certainly if it is so, the other two ought not to receive the censure of the above. I have carefully considered all this, and have conferred with some of the citizens, and have been advised by them and counsel that it was my duty to ex- plain above.
You have Bonds, 5's 15 years, due Nov. 1, '93 $40,000
Note, 32 to Milford Savings Bank, due Nov. 1, '93 21,500
Total $61,500
These come due in November: Action will have to be taken in replacing same.
Your contract with Electric Light Co. expires March 5, 1893
Your lease of militia hall expires August 1, 1893
Your lease of militia lower hall expires September 1, 1893
There is at present a law suit pending against the Town, of N. Ethel Potter, who received a verdict in the superior court for $4000, and exceptions were taken and same will be tried again, or settled.
Your Selectmen have settled another law suit that was pending, as you will see by report, partially as there were not funds enough to pay all; so a small balance is due, as reported in Incidentals.
I recommend that all departments keep books and bills in vault or safes that are supplied by the Town, as the statute law requires, only when said books or bills are wanted for use. It is not done, and should be.
I recommend the Finance Committee, when reporting to the people such sums as they deem necessary to run the different departments, that they report said sums in an itemized manner; then you can easily keep the different departments within the vote of your Town meeting, and what surplus is left in one part
68
of department cannot be used in another part of said department.
I have examined all the bills and vouchers of the different departments, and certify to correctness of same.
You have two years' taxes, '96 and '87, and the books are same as when I called your attention to same three years ago. Will some citizen call for report on these two years. It lies in vault, and your Assessors will not abate any of said taxes until same report is accepted or made to people.
Respectfully submitted.
T. J. LYNCH, Auditor.
TOWN RECORDS 1892-93
TOWN RECORDS *1892-93.
WARRANT FOR ANNUAL TOWN MEETING, - MARCH 7, 1892.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Worcester, ss.
To Either Constable of the Town of Milford, in said County, Greeting :
In the name of the Commonwealth aforesaid, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town, quali- fied by law to vote in Elections and in Town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall, in said Town, on MONDAY, THE SEVENTHI DAY OF MARCH, 1892, punctually at eight o'clock in the fore- noon, to act upon the following articles, namely :-
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meet- ing.
ARTICLE 2. To choose all necessary Town Officers for the year ensuing. A Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, Tax Collector, Auditor, three Selectmen, three Assessors, three Overseers of the Poor, two members of the School Committee, two Trustees of Public Library, three members of the Board of Health, two Trus- tees of Vernon Grove Cemetery, and fifteen Constables, to be voted for on ballots prepared and furnished in accordance witha the provisions of Chapter 386 of the Acts of 1890; also upon said ballots the voters will give in their votes "Yes" or "No" in answer to the question, "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this Town ?" -
ARTICLE 3. To hear and act upon the report of the Select- men, School Committee, Overseers of the Poor, Treasurer, Engi- neers of the Fire Department, Tax Collector, Trustees of Public Library, Trustees of Vernon Grove Cemetery, and any other offi- cers and committee of said Town.
ARTICLE 4. To raise and appropriate such sum or sums of money as may be necessary to defray Town expenses for the year ensuing.
4
ARTICLE 5. To see if the Town will authorize the Treasurer to borrow money in anticipation of the taxes of the current year.
ARTICLE 6. To determine when all taxes shall be collected and paid into the treasury the year ensuing, and to fix the com- pensation of the Collector of Taxes for collecting the same.
ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate one hundred and fifty dollars towards defraying the expense of Memorial Day.
ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will appoint the Selectmen to take charge and control of all legal proceedings in which the Town shall be interested.
ARTICLE 9. To see if the Town will grant the' free use of the Town Hall one night in each week in the interest of temper- ance and labor.
ARTICLE 10. To see if the Town will accept the report of the Committee on Road Roller, and appropriate money for the purchase of such road roller.
ARTICLE 11. To see if the Town will reimburse Chandler Cheney for sidewalk betterment paid in 1888 in excess of the amount which was required by law.
ARTICLE 12. To see if the Town will transfer the pair of horses now used on the steamer from the Highway Department to the Fire Department, or take any action in relation to the same.
ARTICLE 13. To see if the Town will increase the Fire Alarm system by a striker on the Town House bell and three ad- ditional street boxes, and appropriate money for the same or take any action in relation to the same.
ARTICLE 14. To see if the Town will appropriate money for a new boiler and other repairs for Steamer No. 1, or take any action in relation to the same.
ARTICLE 15. To see if the Town will vote to erect a new school building on land adjoining Memorial Hall on Spruce street, appropriate money for the same, or take any action in regard to providing additional school accommodations.
ARTICLE 16. To see if the Town will appropriate money for the widening of, and building a sidewalk on Hayward street, or take any action in relation to the same.
And you are hereby directed to serve this warrant by post- ing up attested copies thereof at each of the Public Meeting
5
Houses and at the Post-Office in said Town ; also cause an attested copy to be published in The Milford Daily News, Milford Daily Journal, Milford Gazette, and The Milford Times, newspapers printed in said Town, two Sabbaths at least before the time set for said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant, with your' doings thereon, to the Clerk of said Town, at the time of meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands at Milford, this twenty-fifth day of February, A. D., 1892.
AMARIAH A. TAFT, EPHRAIM L. WIRES, WILLIAM B. HALE,
Selectmen of Milford.
A true copy. Attest :
OLIVER D. HOLMES, Constable of Milford.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Worcester, ss.
Milford, March 7, 1892.
Pursuant to the within warrant, I have notified the inhabi- tants of the Town of Milford, herein described, to meet at the time and place and for the purpose within mentioned, by posting up attested copies of this warrant at each of the Public Meeting Houses and at the Post-Office in said Town; and I have likewise caused an attested copy of this warrant to be published in The Milford Daily News, Milford Daily Journal, Milford Gazette, and Milford Times, newspapers printed in said Town, two Sabbaths before the time set for said meeting.
Attest :
OLIVER D. HOLMES, Constable of Milford.
A true copy of the warrant and the return thereon. Attest : DOMNICK J. LANG, Town Clerk.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING, MARCHI 7, 1892. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Worcester, ss.
Milf rd, March 7, 1892.
At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Mil-
6
ford, qualified by law to vote in elections and in Town affairs, holden this, the seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-two, at eight o'clock in the forenoon, the said inhabitants proceeded as follows :-
The meeting was called to order by the Town Clerk, who then read the warrant.
ARTICLE 1 .- The meeting made choice of Henry E. Fales as Moderator, the check list being used.
The Polls were opened at 8.30 A. M.
Voted, That the Polls be closed at 4.30 P. M.
Voted, That the articles in the warrant be taken up at 2 o'clock.
S. C. Sumner and William H. Pyne, having been appointed Ballot Clerks by the Selectmen, were duly sworn by the Town Clerk.
P. M. Hunt and Harry C. Tilden were appointed as addi- tional Ballot Clerks, and duly sworn by the Moderator.
The Moderator appointed Henry J. Pyne, John H. Stratton, William J. Welch, John J. Toomey, Thomas F: Waters, W. D. Leahy, A. A. Jenkins, A. F. Sadler, N. F. Blake, F. A. Shepard, George Ellis and William J. Coakley as Tellers, and they were duly sworn to faithfully perform the duties of their office by the Moderator.
The Moderator appointed James Murray, jr., to check the list at the Polls, and he was duly sworn to faithfully perform the duties of the office by the Moderator.
Voted, That the Moderator appoint a Committee of twenty- five (25) to act as a Committee on Appropriations. The Moderator then appointed the following persons, viz. :-
A. A. Taft, William B. Hale, George E. Stacy, Chester L. Clark, G. M. Billings, Charles A. Dewey, C. W. Wilcox, John M. Wood, Patrick Gillon, John H. Scott, Clifford A. Cook, James F. Stratton, Patrick Lynch, B. E. Harris, D. J. Cronan, John Nolan, C. W. Shippee, G. M. Greene, E. L. Wires, M. W. Ed- wards, George P. Cooke, W. D. Leahy, J. Allen Rice, H. E. Mor- gan, and B. H. Spaulding.
During the voting the ballot-box was opened by the unani- mous consent of the Selectmen, Town Clerk and Tellers, for the purpose of taking out the ballots, and sorting and counting the same; first at 9.15 A. M., when it registered 106; then at 9.35 A. M., when it registered 199; then at 10.05 A. M., when it registered
7
300 ; then at 11.45 A. M., when it registered 577; then at 1.45 P. M., when it registered 1159; and at the close of the Polls, 4.30 P. M., when the ballot-box registered 1431.
At 2 p. M. the several articles in the warrant were taken up and acted upon.
ARTICLE 3 .- Voted, To lay the report of the Selectmen on the table.
Voted, To accept the reports of the Treasurer, Tax Collector, Assessors, Overseers of Poor, Board of Engineers, Trustees of Town Library, Town Clerk, School Committee, Auditor, Park Commissioners, and Board of Health.
Voted, To re-commit the report of the Trustees of Vernon Grove Cemetery back for further action.
ARTICLE 4 .- Clifford A. Cook, for the Committee on Appro- priations, reported the following recommendations for appropri- ations :-
For Highways
$11,500
Incidentals
3,000
Salaries
5,000
Memorial Hall
800
Street Lights
4,500
Town Library
600
Schools
28,000
Poor Department
9,500
Interest
.
5,000
Water for Fire Purposes
5,000
Vernon Grove Cemetery
100
Military Aid
800
Fire Department
7,400
Memorial Day
150
Town Park
200
Sidewalks
1,000
Town Hall
.
450
Town Debt
5,000
Soldiers' Relief, Chap. 298
2,000
Expenses under Chap. 440, Acts of 1890
800
.
.
.
.
-
$90,800
.
Voted, That the items be taken up and acted upon sep- arately.
8
Each item in the report was then taken up and acted upon separately, as follows :-
Voted, To raise and appropriate :-
For Highways
$10,000
Incidentals
3,000
Salaries
.
.
5,000
Memorial Hall
·
.
800
Street Lights
4,500
Town Library
600
Schools
28,000
Poor Department
9,500
Interest
5,000
Water for Fire Purposes
5,000
Vernon Grove Cemetery
100
Military Aid
800
Fire Department
7,400
Memorial Day
150
Town Park
200
Sidewalks
1,000
Town Debt
5,000
Soldiers' Relief, Chap. 298
2,000
Town Hall
450
Expenses under Chap. 440, Acts of 1890
800
$89,300
ARTICLE 5 .- Voted, That the Treasurer is hereby author- ized to borrow money any time during the current year, in vari- ous amounts, not exceeding $50,000 in all, and give the negotia- ble notes of the Town therefor, the same to be paid out of the taxes assessed for the year 1892.
ARTICLE 6 .- Voted, That all taxes be paid on or before Sept." 10 next, and that a discount of 2} per cent be allowed on all taxes paid on or before that date; and that all not paid before Oct. 1 next be charged at the rate of one-half of one per cent per month, and that the Collector be authorized to use all means of collecting taxes which a Town Treasurer when appointed Col- lector may use.
Voted, That the pay of the Collector be one per cent of all taxes actually collected.
ARTICLE 7 .- Voted, To pass over. (See List of Appropria- tions.)
.
.
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ARTICLE 8 .- Voted, That .the Town appoint the Selectmen to take charge and control of all legal proceedings in which the Town shall be interested.
ARTICLE 9 .- Voted, That the Town grant the free use of the Town Hall one night in each week in the interest of temper- ance and labor.
ARTICLE 10 .- Voted, That the whole matter be re-commit- ted to the Committee, who with the Selectmen will investigate the whole matter and report at some future meeting.
ARTICLE 11 .- Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to draw an order on the Town Treasurer in favor of Chandler Cheney for such sum ($19.70) as they find he has paid for side- walk assessment in excess of the amount required by law.
ARTICLE 12 .- Voted, That the control of the pair of horses be transferred from the Highway Department to the Fire De- partment, and that a proper adjustment be made between the two boards in regard to the same.
ARTICLE 13 .- Voted, To increase the Fire Alarm system by putting a striker on the Town House bell, and three additional Fire Alarm boxes, the same to be located by the Selectmen and Board of Engineers, and that $1000 be raised and appropriated for the same.
ARTICLE 14 .- Voted, That the whole matter be referred to the Selectmen, and they to investigate the same.
ARTICLE 15 .- Voted, That the Moderator appoint a commit- tee to confer with the School Committee in regard to additional school accommodations, and report to the Town at some future meeting. The moderator appointed E. L. Wires, A. A. Taft, D. J. Cronan, Jas. Lally, jr., and A. F. Sadler.
ARTICLE 16 .- Voted, That the Town raise and appropriate $500 for the same. (Hayward street.)
Voted, That J. D. Hunt and John Shockrow be appointed Field Drivers.
Voted, That J. D. Hunt be appointed Pound Keeper.
Voted, That I. N. Davis, Chandler Cheney and Chester L. Clark be appointed Fence Viewers.
Voted, That Henry E. Fales, Z. C. Field and C. W. Wilcox be appointed Park Commissioners.
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Due notice having been given, the Polls were at 4.30 in the afternoon declared to be closed.
During the voting the ballot-box was in the charge of the Election Officers. The ballot-box was opened six times during the time of voting by the unanimous consent of the Selectmen, Town Clerk and Tellers, for the purpose of sorting and counting the ballots, and again at the close of the Polls, when the register stood at fourteen hundred thirty-one (1431).
The names of those .on the list of voters which had been checked were audibly counted, and found to be fourteen hundred forty-five (1445). The discrepancy between the ballot-box and the actual count was due to the failure of the box to regis- ter.
The ballots having been sorted and counted, the Moderator · declared the following officers elected :-
Town Clerk, Domnick J. Lang, 10 Bacon slip.
Town Treasurer, Clifford A. Cook, 9 Church street.
Tax Collector, Mortimore J. Reynolds, Purchase street.
Auditor, Thomas J. Lynch, 335 West Main street.
Selectmen, William B. Hale, 6 Grove street ; Clinton R. Scott, 17 Purchase street; Maurice E. Nelligan, 30 Main street.
Assessors, Thomas J. Connor, 11 Short street ; Lewis Hay- den, 39 Winter street ; George E. Stacy, 76 School street.
()verseer, of Poor, James W. Burke, 137 West street ; Ches- ter L. Clark, 61 Purchase street; John Smith, 41 West street.
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