Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1937, Part 5

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Publication date: 1937
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 176


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fied, and the cash on hand September 4, 1937, was proved by actual count.


The assessors' computation of the tax rates for the period covered by the audit were examined and checked.


The surety bonds of the town clerk, treasurer, and tax collector were examined and found to be in proper form.


The accounts of the sealer of weights and measures were examined. The recorded receipts were checked with the record of fees charged, the payments to the treasurer were compared with the treasurer's cash book, and the cash on hand October 7, 1937, was counted.


The records of accounts receivable of the selectmen and of the health, sewer, public welfare, old age assistance, highway, and school departments were examined. The charges were added and compared with the commitments reported to the bookkeeper, the recorded collections were checked with the treasurer's cash book, the abatements and disallowances were checked, and the outstanding accounts were listed and proved with the bookkeeper's ledger.


The receipts for licenses issued by the board of health, including milk and oleomargarine licenses, were checked with the record of licenses granted, and the payments to the treasurer were compared with the treasurer's record of receipts.


The accounts of the cemetery commission were ex- amined. The charges for sale of lots, care of lots and foundations, etc., were added, the recorded collections were compared with the payments to the treasurer, and the outstanding accounts were listed and proved. The cash balance October 16, 1937, was proved by a reconciliation of the bank balance with a statement received from the bank.


Appended to this report, in addition to the balance


129


sheet, are tables showing a reconciliation of the treasurer's cash, summaries of the tax and departmental accounts, as well as tables showing the transactions and condition of the trust funds.


For the cooperation received from the several town officials while engaged in making the audit, I wish, on behalf of my assistants and for myself, to express apprecia- tion.


Respectfully submitted, HERMAN B. DINE,


Assistant Director of Accounts HBD: C


TOWN OF PALMER Balance Sheet - September 4, 1937 GENERAL ACCOUNTS


Assets


Liabilities and Reserves


Cash :


In Banks and Office,


$88,446.46


Temporary Loans : In Anticipation of Revenue 1937, $150,000.00


Levy of 1931,


$ 13.35


State and County Taxes :


Levy of 1932,


14.00


State Tax,


$ 15,180.00


Levy of 1933,


14.00


State Parks and Reservations Tax 187.49


Municipal Auditing Tax, 437.37


Veterans' Exemption Tax,


816.00


Special State Tax-


Old Age Assistance, 23.00


268,907.68


County Tax, 13,570.73


Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes :


Levy of 1934,


$ 7.72


30,214.59


Levy of 1935,


31.22


Levy of 1936,


217.00


318.00


Levy of 1937,


3,505.94


3,761.88


Dog Licenses-Due County, Fire District Tax Title Redemptions To Be Paid To Fire District


130


Levy of 1934, 36.80


Levy of 1935,


308.11


Levy of 1936, 25,049.76


Levy of 1937,


243,471.66


Accounts Receivable : Taxes :


Tax Titles,


Tax Possessions,


$ 5,348.19 2,317.41


Treasurers : Fire District No. 1, $ 68.82 Fire District No. 2, 42.80


7,665.60


Departmental :


Health,


$ 250.47


Highway,


194.20


Public Welfare,


1,479.93


Old Age Assistance,


1,769.05


School, 211.75


Levy of 1934, $ 36.80


Levy of 1935, 308.11


Levy of 1936,


3,215.03


Estimated Receipts to be Collected,


79,313.84


Levy of 1937,


4,040.56


131


7,600.50


Overdrawn Accounts : Purchase of Adding Machine, 1936, $ 33.00


Revenue Available When Collected : Motor Vehicle Excise Tax, $ 3,761.88


Forest Lake Road,


2,226.47


Town Tax Title, 7,246.03


Palmer-Bondsville Road, 157.60


Fire District Tax Title, 419.57


Park Street, 1,790.71


Departmental, 3,905.40


Whipple Bridge,


74.20


Insurance, 20.05


15,332.88


Revenue, 1937, Surplus Revenue,


42.00


4,302.03


68,593.32


$456,302.89


$456,302.89


111.62 172,308.29 11,781.69


Appropriation Balances,


Reserve Fund-Overlay Surplus Overlays Reserved for Abatements :


3,905.40


DEBT ACCOUNTS


Net Funded or Fixed Debt, $ 75,000.00 School Loans, $ 75,000.00


TRUST ACCOUNTS


Trust Funds, Cash and Securities,


$ 36,227.53


Merrick Fund, Thompson Fund,


$ 850.00


951.28


Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds,


34,426.25


$ 36,227.53


$ 36,227.53


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ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


OF THE


Town of Palmer


For the fiscal year ending December 31, 1937


135


School Committee 1937-1938


CLIFTON H. HOBSON, Secretary


FLORENCE H. CALLAHAN Term expires 1940


ELIZABETH I. CORNISH Term expires 1939 DR. WILLARD E. SEDGWICK Term expires 1939


LOUISE M. CUSHMAN Term expires 1938


DR. CHARLES GIROUX


Term expires 1938


Regular meetings of the School Committee are held at 8 p. m. on the Tuesday before the last Friday of each school month.


All bills must be in the hands of the Superintendent on the Monday before the above date.


Superintendent of Schools, Clifton H. Hobson.


Office, High School Building, Telephone 54.


Office Hours :- 8 a. m. to 12 m .; 1 to 5 p. m. Saturdays, 9 a. m. to 12 m.


136


CALENDAR


HIGH SCHOOL


Winter Term :


Begins January 3, 1938; ends February 25, 1938


Spring Term:


Begins March 7, 1938; ends April 29, 1938


Summer Term:


Begins May 9, 1938; ends June 30, 1938


Fall Term:


Begins September 6, 1938; ends December 23, 1938


Winter Term:


Begins January 2, 1939 ; ends February 24, 1939 Spring Term :


Begins March 6, 1939; ends April 28, 1939


Summer Term:


Begins May 8, 1939; ends June 30, 1939


OTHER SCHOOLS


Winter Term:


Begins January 3, 1938; ends February 25, 1938 Spring Term :


Begins March 7, 1938; ends April 29, 1938


Summer Term:


Begins May 9, 1938; ends June 17, 1938 Winter Term :


Begins January 2, 1939; ends February 24, 1939 Spring Term :


Begins March 6, 1939; ends April 28, 1939


Summer Term :


Begins May 8, 1939; ends June 16, 1939


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VACATIONS - ALL SCHOOLS


Winter :


February 26, 1938, to March 7, 1938


Spring :


April 30, 1938, to May 9, 1938


Summer :


(Grades) June 18, 1938, to September 6, 1938


(High) July 1, 1938, to September 6, 1938


Fall :


December 24, 1938, to January 2, 1939


Winter :


February 25, 1939, to March 6, 1939


Spring :


April 29, 1939, to May 8, 1939


Summer :


(Grades) June 17, 1939, to September 4, 1939 (High) June 30, 1939, to September 4, 1939


138


Report of Superintendent of Schools


To the School Committee of the Town of Palmer :


I herewith present my twenty-seventh report as Su- perintendent of Schools in Palmer. This is the forty-fifth in the series of reports issued by the superintendents of the Town.


ATTENDANCE


The attendance statistics for the school year of 1936-37 were as follows :- Enrollment, 2,024; Average Member- ship, 1,883.806; Average Attendance, 1,819.226; Per Cent of Attendance, 96.57; Tardinesses, 474.


A percentage of 95 is regarded as an ideal one. The twenty-six-year average has been better than 96.25%.


HEALTH WORK


The high degree of efficiency in health work has been maintained during the past year. Palmer is rated highly for its health work. Health is one of the cardinal objec- tives of education. Work of this nature is a distinct social contribution.


The annual physical examination this fall-an examin- ation that is thorough, and not merely perfunctory-dis- closed these defects :- Teeth, 697; Throat, 203; Skin, 100; Glands, 2; Nutrition, 3; Heart, 30; Anemic, 5. As usual, teeth, throat, and skin defects are numerous; others, few.


139


Diphtheria immunization was administered to one hundred forty-six (146) public school children; twenty- seven (27) parochial school children; and twenty-two (22) pre-school children. During the past ten years, more than three thousand pupils have been immunized. To-day, prac- tically ninety per cent of our pupils, both in high school and grades, are immunized. The disease has been, to all intents and purposes, eliminated.


Twice a year, pupils in the grades are weighed and measured. Last fall, eleven hundred and nintey-five (1,195) pupils were weighed and measured and the num- ber of underweights were as follows :- 7%, eighty-one (81); 10%, one hundred and thirty-five (135) ; 15%, sixty- seven (67).


Eyes and ears are now being tested.


Tubercular clinics are held. The Von Pirquet-the skin test-is given, and, where necessary, the X-Ray.


Twelve (12) of our children, pre-tubercularly inclined or contacts, spent a total of three hundred thirty (330) days this summer at Camp Frederic Edwards, the pre- ventorium of the Hampden County Tuberculosis and Public Health Association, at no personal expense, where they gained, on an average, three and one-half (31/2) pounds.


Through the generosity of the Palmer Rotary Club, tonsils and adenoids were removed from twenty-four (24) children; through that of the Palmer Teachers' Associa- tion, twenty-six (26) children were given dental care. Both organizations have financed this work for the past few years and are deserving of public appreciation.


PROMOTIONS


The promotion statistics in the grades for the last school year were as follows :- Number of Pupils, 1,120; Promoted Unconditionally, 878-Per cent, 78.29; Promoted


140


Conditionally, 162-Per cent, 14.46; Not Promoted, 80- Per cent, 7.14.


SCHOOL SAVINGS


The report of school savings for the last school year, September, 1936, to July, 1937, is as follows :- Number of Collections, 214; Number of Deposits, 11,245; Amount of Deposits, $3, 637. 32.


The combined School Savings from date of inception, November 1, 1921, to July 1, 1937, are :- Number of De- posits, 327,704; Amount of Deposits, $90,890.88.


COST COMPARISON


The figures below are taken from a bulletin of the State Department of Education, entitled "Statistics of the Public Schools for the Year 1936". In this bulletin, the three hundred fifty-five (355) towns and cities are divided into four (4) groups, as follows :- Group I, Cities (There are 39.) ; Group II, Towns of 5,000 Population or over-Palmer is a member of this group (There are 83.); Group III, Towns of less than 5,000 Population and Maintaining High Schools (There are 110); Group IV, Towns of less than 5,000 Population and Not Maintaining High Schools (There are 123.).


1. Average Population, U. S. Census, 1930 :- Group I, 75,393; Group II, 11,019; Group III, 2,395; Group IV, 1,082; State, 11,971; Palmer, 9,577.


2. Average Valuation, April 1, 1936 :- Group I, $112,235,193 ; Group II, $16,620,071; Group III, $3,589,478; Group IV, $1,502,766; State $18,158,651 ; Palmer, $7,912,733.


3. Average Number of Pupils Enrolled, 1936 :- Group I, 12,612; Group 11, 2,129; Group III, 496; Group IV, 177; State, 2,098 ; Palmer, 1,969.


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4. Average Valuation of 1936 per Pupil in Net Aver- age Membership, 1936 :- Group I, $9,735 ; Group II, $8,306 ; Group III, $7,923; Group IV, $7,553 ; State $9,188; Palmer, $4,341.


5. Average Expenditure for School Support from Lo- cal Taxation per $1,000 Valuation, 1936 :- Group I, $9.52; Group II, $9.40; Group III, $8.92; Group IV, $9.82; State $9.47; Palmer, $15.10.


6. Average Expenditure per Pupil in Average Mem- bership for Support of Public Schools from Local Taxa- tion, 1936 :- Group I, $92.75; Group II, $78.10; Group III, $70.65; Group IV, $74.17; State, $87.03; Palmer, $65.55.


7. Average State Re-imbursement, 1936 :- Group I, $7.51; Group II, $8.81; Group III, $15.91; Group IV, $30.59; State, $9.26; Palmer, $13.90.


8. Average Expenditure in Average Membership for Support of Public Schools from All Sources, 1936 :- Group I, $100.80; Group II, $87.53; Group III, $87.33; Group IV, $133.25; State, $97.56; Palmer $79.94.


Palmer, which is in Group II, compared with average of each group and the State, reveals these relative frac- tional relationships :- Population-slightly less than State's average; Valuation - about four-ninths (4/9) of State's average; School Enrollment - slightly less than State's average; Valuation Per Pupil-about five elevenths (5/11) of State's average; Average Expenditure from Local Tax- ation per $1,000 Valuation-more than one-half (1/2) more than State's Average ; Average Expenditure per Pupil from Local Taxation-$21.48 less than State's Average; Aver- age State Re-imbursement-more than State's Average by $4.64; Average Expenditure per Pupil from all Sources- $17.62 less than State's Average.


The only expenditure above the State's average is in Expenditure per $1,000 Valuation, due to Palmer's valua-


142


tion being less than the average throughout the State. The smaller the valuation, the larger is the expenditure per $1,000 thereof, regardless of the high or low cost per pupil for education.


In the cost per pupil in average membership from all sources, Palmer stands lower than all four groups and the State.


It may be interesting to compare Palmer's rank in the State in per capita cost with that of nearby towns, picked solely because of propinquity, without regard as to their rank being higher or lower. There are thirty-three (33) such towns, exclusive of Palmer, ranging in population from 16, 684 to 137, with an average of 5, 284. There are three hundred fifty-five (355) towns and cities in the State ; consequently, ranks may run from one (1) to three hun- dred fifty-five (355).


The towns and their respective rank in the State are :- Greenwich, 11; Holland, 12; Enfield, 38; Brimfield, 59; Longmeadow, 65; Wilbraham, 72; Wales, 89; Hampden, 94; Hardwick, 119; Brookfield, 126; Montague, 128; West Springfield, 130; East Longmeadow, 139; Belchertown, 153; Amherst, 155; West Brookfield, 162; Greenfield, 174; Barre, 182; Deerfield, 185; Ware, 203; Great Barrington, 221; North Brookfield, 225; Spencer, 227; East Brookfield, 243; Warren, 247; Monson, 255; Ludlow, 260; Palmer, 264; Southbridge, 280; Agawam, 299; Easthampton, 300; Or- ange, 315; Winchendon, 336; Athol, 339.


The average rank of these towns is 179; Palmer's rank is 264. Six (6) of them - including Palmer, there are thirty-four (34) towns-only rank lower.


The average cost per pupil from all sources ranges from Athol, $68.17, the lowest, to Greenwich, $197.06, the highest. The cost in some of the very nearby towns is :- Ware, 89.93; Monson, $83.64; Warren, $84.21; Brimfield,


143


$130.81 ; Ludlow, $83.27 ; Belchertown, 100.21; Wilbraham, $123.46; Wales, $115.95; Amherst, $99.89; North Brook- field, $86.97 ; Brookfield, $105.29; West Brookfield, $98.37; East Brookfield, $84.71; Palmer, $82.61.


ECONOMY


The School Department has been as economical as possible without too much damage to the boys and girls during the past six years.


This table will tell the story.


COMPARISON OF EXPENDITURES


Year


Expenditures


1925


$189,763.10


1926


176,284.15


1927


177,326.62


1928


173,715.30


1929


170,998.41


1930


176,080.86


1931


174,228.45


1932


157,331.31


1933


151,378.18


1934


151,159.00


1935


155,975.98


1936


155,995.48


1937


164,180.39


HIGH SCHOOL


ELEMENTARY


Total


Cost


Membership Average


Cost


Membership Average


Cost


Per Pupil


1926


$45,323


276


$163


$113,647


1,933


$58.78


2,210


$75.60


1927


44,588


289


153


116,941


1,917


60.99


2,206


76.66


1928


46,532


286


162


115,058


1,828


62.93


2,105


82.03


1929


47,370


302


156


114,757


1,763


65,06


2,066


82.76


1930


50,937


353


144


115,543


1,718


67.23


2,072


84.95


1931


55,972


448


124


109,791


1,740


63.09


2,189


79.07


1932


51,793


498


103


98,727


1,765


55.91


2,264


69.48


1933


53,439


551


97


92,720


1,672


55.45


2,223


68.09


1934


55,152


557


95


89,068


1,515


58.77


2,092


72.22


1935


59,212


621


95


90,210


1,421


63.43


2,043


76.33


1936


67,129


696


96


82,384


1,247


66.06


1,943


80.27


1937


72,826


705


103


84,233


1,136


74.13


1,841


89.15


Year


Total


Cost


Average


Membership


Cost


Per Pupil


Per Pupil


ALL SCHOOLS


in this table which covers a twelve-year period :


Another picture of the economy practiced is shown


144


145


A further picture of economy is given in this com- parison of Palmer's cost for fiscal year of 1936 with that of each Group and the State, based on average member- ship :


Group I


$100.80


Group II


87.53


Group III


87.33


Group IV


133.25


State


97.56


Palmer


79.94


Palmer's cost for the fiscal year of 1936 is $20.86 less than Group I; $7.59 less than Group II, her own group; $7.39 less than that of Group III; $53.31 less than that of Group IV; $17.62 less than that of the State.


Compared over a period of nineteen years, the aver- age cost per pupil based on average membership for each Group, the State, and Palmer was: (see next page)


146


COST PER PUPIL


Year


Gr. I


Gr. II


Gr. III


Gr. IV


State $46.82


Palmer $30.44


1917


$+7.68


$43.55


$46.20


$51.40


1918


52.25


46.39


50.21


34.35


1919


58.07


53.96


58.44


52.66


57.20


38.58


1920


73.65


67.78


71.64


69.19


72.12


44.99


1922


81.38


76.02


80.87


83.58


80.35


73.59


1923


85.13


78.40


82.79


86.58


83.65


77.55


192+


88.43


80.19


85.39


89.03


86.54


79.07


1925


90.09


82.72


88.78


92.88


88.52


78.87


1926


95.32


85.13


90.74


95.00


92.77


76.09


1927


100.19


87.53


92.34


97.24


96.72


81.77


1928


101.2+


89.61


94.60


100.35


98.15


83.28


1929


103.61


91.91


97.40


102.13


100.50


85.84


1930


103.82


92.30


98.18


105.59


100.82


84.44


1931


103.01


93.11


97.14


105.94


100.38


80.08


1932


95.46


87.90


90.58


101.73


93.58


71.16


1933


88.36


82.20


85.34


98.31


87.09


73.05


1934


90.05


81.69


84.13


100.49


88.64


71.95


1935


99.56


84.50


86.06


126.86


95.79


76.42


1936


100.80


87.53


87.33


133.25


97.56


79.94


$87.52


$78.55


$82.53


$94.01


$87.06


$69.55


*Missing in State Report.


Compare Palmer's average $69.55 - of the average costs for nineteen years with that of each group and the State. It is $17.72 less than that of Group I; $9.00 less than that of Group II, her own Group; $12.98 less than that of Group III ; $24.46 less than that of Group IV ; $17.51 less than that of the State.


On the basis of relative rank for the 355 towns and cities in the State, Palmer, for 22 years, had an average rank of 293.


147


For the fiscal year of 1936, on a per capita cost for support of schools from all sources on a net average mem- bership basis, we ranked 264.


REIMBURSEMENTS


Our appropriation for 1937 was $164,240; our reim- bursements were $26,861.49; the net amount to be raised by taxation was $137,318.90. This $26,861.49 is paid di- rectly to the Town Treasurer and is not expended by the School Department.


CONCLUSION


The great hue and cry during these depression days is cost. The cost of public education has been discussed, locally and in distant places, a great deal. So much money has gone into relief that regular functions of town and city government-police, fire, streets, schools-have been ex- pected to curtail even until it hurts.


Locally, the cost of education has never been high. Even the most ardent advocates of cutting who are at all fair admit this. Their desire is to lower tax rate and re- lieve real estate of its burden. They are correct in their desire to relieve real estate. Their method is not always correct. They should tackle the problem at its source. The schools do not cost too much; the method of taxation is wrong, antiquated, and archaic.


Years ago, real estate-land, buildings, cattle, horses, etc .- was the only way for the individual to invest his money. It was a tangible investment, easily apparent and, therefore, easily taxed, with no possibility of escape. Con- sequently, the tax on real estate came into existence and has, with persistency, continued to prevail as the main source of income to support local governmental functions.


The day has long been here when a change should be


148


made. Throw much of the burden on other taxable sources !


A recent recess State legislative committee has just suggested a sale tax of 2 per cent to handle relief. From this, Palmer, I believe, would profit to the extent of lower- ing its tax rate about $7.50.


A similar proposal for legislation by the Massachusetts Superintendents' Association would do the same for edu- cation. This latter proposal strikes me personally as the better, inasmuch as educational costs will, I hope, be more even, year by year, in their impact upon local costs. But, which ever method is adopted-and one should be, I feel- Palmer would profit greatly.


In my opinion, every taxpayers' organization and every citizen should back one or the other. Here is where real relief can be secured if the demand is sufficiently great.


No educational theories have been advanced. This report, similar to those of the past few years, has dealt with cost. Some of the material is repetitive, and should be, until a full and complete registration has been accom- plished.


The kindly attitude and thoughtful appreciation of the public is deeply sensed and highly valued. Your financial support is greatly appreciated. You want good schools. We try our best to give them. May your support never fail us and may we always measure up to expectations !


Respectfully submitted,


CLIFTON H. HOBSON,


Superintendent of Schools.


Palmer, Massachusetts, January 14, 1938.


149


FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR YEAR-1937


APPROPRIATION EXPENDED BALANCE


Commercial


$ 8,595.00


$ 8,366.73 $


228.27


Fuel and Light


7,460.00


7,401.58


58.42


Furniture and


Funishings


750.00


691.35


58.65


General Expenses


7,669.00


7,554.41


114.59


Janitors' Salaries


10,331.18


10,435.40


--- 104.22


Maintenance of Build-


ings and Grounds


2,260.00


2,438.91


-178.91


Music, Manual Train-


ing and Drawing


2,100.00


2,087.72


12.28


Other Expenses


7,276.37


7,737.59


-461.22


Repairs


1,500.00


1,833.74


-333.74


Teachers' Salaries


97,698.45


95,570.69


2,127.76


Textbooks and Supplies


7,400.00


8,887.40


-1,487.40


Transportation


11,200.00


11,174.87


25.13


$164,240.00


$164,180.39 $ 59.61


150


COST LESS REIMBURSEMENTS AND REVENUES RECEIVED AND RECEIVABLE 1937


*General School Fund


$21,272.45


*Vocational School


215.62


Tuition :


*State Wards


2,522.70


Towns


2,435.00


Rentals


305.75


Sale of Merchandise


109.97 $26,861.49


Expenditures


$164,180.39


Reimbursements and Receipts


26,861.49


Net Direct Cost $137,318.90


Average Membership 1,841.55


Cost Per Pupil Based On Average Membership $74.56 **


From State of Massachusetts.


This, in reality, is the cost per pupil based on money raised by taxation. The appropriation was $164,240. A balance of $59.61 was unexpended, making the total expenditures $164,180.39. Our reimbursements and received and receivable revenues were $26,861.49. The amount spent, therefore, from money raised by taxation was $137,318.90.


151


Town Warrant


COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS


County of Hampden,


Town of Palmer.


To either of the Constables of the Town of Palmer, in said County, GREETING:


In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn all the in- habitants of the Town of Palmer, qualified to vote in elections of town officers, to meet at the several polling places in said Palmer, designated by the Selectmen, to wit: In Precinct A, in the High School Gymnasium on Converse Street in the Depot Village; in Precinct B, at the Thorndike Grammar School in Thorndike; in Pre- cinct C, at the Three Rivers Grammar School in Three Rivers, and in Precinct D, at the Bondsville Grammar School in Bondsville, on Monday, the seventh day of Feb- ruary, A. D. 1938, at six o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to give in their votes on one ballot to the precinct officers of the several voting precincts of said town, for the following officers, to wit: 3 Selectmen, a Town Treas- urer, Collector of Taxes, 3 Auditors, 5 Constables, 3 Li- cense Commissioners, a Tree Warden, all for the term of one year; 1 Assessor, 1 Member of the Board of Public Welfare, 1 Member of the Board of Health, 1 Cemetery Commissioner, 2 Members of the Planning Board, and 2 Members of the School Committee, all for the term of three years.


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The polls will be open at six o'clock in the forenoon and will be closed at five o'clock in the afternoon.


And you are further hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Palmer, qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet at the Town House at Four Corners in said Palmer, on Monday the fourteenth day of Febru- ary, A. D. 1938, at seven o'clock in the evening, then and there to act on the following articles, viz :


Article 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.


Article 2. To choose all other usual town officers.


Article 3. To act on the reports of the town officers.


Article 4. To raise money and make appropriations to defray expenses of the town for the ensuing year.


Article 5. To see if the town will vote to authorize the town treasurer, with the approval of the selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1938, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with Section 17 of Chapter 44 of the General Laws.


Article 6. To hear and act on reports of committees.


Article 7. To choose committees and give them in- structions.


Article 8. To determine the manner and state the terms and conditions of collecting the taxes for the en- suing year, and fix the compensation of the collector of taxes.


Article 9. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money to convey pupils to and from public schools,


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and instruct the school committee as to the manner of letting the contract for such conveyance.


Article 10. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for the Young Men's Library Association, or take any action relative thereto.




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