USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1898-1902 > Part 26
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ARTICLE II.
FINANCES.
Section 1. The financial year shall commence with the first day of February and end with the thirty-first day of January annually.
Sect. 2. The town treasurer shall have the custody of all funds belonging to the town except sinking funds, trust funds and funds for which other provision is made by law; and he shall pay no money from the treasury except upon a draft signed by a majority of the selectmen, stating the ac- count to which the same is chargeable. Such draft shall be sufficient authority to the treasurer to pay the same, and the payment thereof shall discharge him from all liability on account of the money so paid.
Sect. 3. The water commissioners and all other boards, committees and officers shall, on the first day of each month, pay to the town treasurer all sums collected by them the month previous to the custody of which the treasurer is entitled.
Sect. 4. A majority of the water commissioners, school committee, or of any board, or committee, and any officer having charge of the expenditure of an appropriation, shall approve in writing all accounts, claims, bills and pay-rolls properly chargeable to such appropriation, and shall trans- mit the same with his or their approval to the selectmen. All other accounts, claims, bills and pay-rolls shall be ex- amined by the selectmen and, if proper, shall be approved by them. The selectmen shall label all accounts, claims, bills and pay-rolls which have been approved either by themselves or by the other officers before mentioned, and shall keep a record thereof in a book kept for the purpose, stating the persons to whom payable, the amounts and dates thereof, and the funds, or appropriations, from which the same are payable.
Sect. 5. Drafts signed by a majority of the selectmen. stating the accounts to which the same are chargeable.
201
shall be drawn upon the treasurer for the payment of all' sums by law payable from the treasury to the common- wealth or county, final judgments of courts, bonds, not and scrip of the town and interest thereon and money pay- able to the commissioners of the sinking fund and to the trustees of the public library; and also for the payment of all accounts, claims, bills and pay-rolls which have been approved in the manner provided in the previous section. Such drafts shall not be negotiated, but shall be trans- mitted by the selectmen directly to the treasurer accom- panied by the approved bills or other documents for the settlement of which the drafts are drawn.
Sect. 6. The treasurer shall file and safely keep all ap- proved and receipted accounts, claims, bills, and pay-rolls, and all vouchers, cancelled bonds, notes scrip, and other evidences of indebtedness of the town which have been paid from the treasury.
Sect. 7. No draft shall be drawn by the selectmen un- less there is sufficient appropriation to pay the same, except for sums by law payable to the commonwealth or county, final judgments of courts, bonds, notes and scrip of the town and interest thereon, and money payable to the com- missioners of the sinking fund.
Sect. 8. The selectmen and treasurer respectively shall make a record, in a book kept for the purpose, of each ap- propriation, with a list of the drafts drawn against such appropriation, and shall make a record of all bonds, notes, scrip or other evidence of indebtedness of the town, signed or countersigned by them.
Sect. 9. When the bills contracted or approved by any board. committee, or officer have exhausted the entire ap- propriation for such board, committee or officer, they shall incur no further expenditure, except in cases where such; expenditure may be required by law; and it shall be the duty of each board, committee or officer before the close of the financial year to approve all accounts, claims, bills and pay-rolls chargeable to their appropriation. During the in-
202
terval between the thirty-first day of January in each year and the time of making the next annual appropriations, the selectmen, school committee and water commissioners, in order to meet the liabilities of their several dpartments, incurred in the carrying on of the work entrusted to them, shall have authority to make expenditures and payments from the treasury from any available funds therein, and the same shall be charged against the next annual appropria- tion. Such expenditure and liability incurred for any pur- pose shall not exceed one-fourth the entire amount appro- priated for that purpose in the previous year.
Sect. 10. Unless the town shall expressly otherwise vote, no extension of water pipes shall be made unless be- fore the work of construction is begun one or more of the persons whom it is proposed to supply with water by means of such extension, shall file with the town clerk a bond with sureties satisfactory to the water commissioners, condi- tioned to pay to the town for five years next following the completion of such extension and the letting of water into the same, a sum sufficient, together with the net annual in- come from such extension, to amount annually to five per centum of the total cost thereof.
ARTICLE III.
TOWN SEAL.
Section 1. The design of the town seal shall be: a circle, in the border the words "Lincoln. Incorporated in 1746 as a precinct: in 1754 as a Town;" in the center, a shield, in the chief or upper part of which on a cross, gules, a fleur -- de-lis, gold, from the old seal of Lincoln, England, and in the base of the shield a view of the present town hall; crest. the old chestnut tree standing upon the common in Lincoln; in saltire two shepherd's crooks; the device thereof being as follows:
203
Sect. 2. All deeds and other legal documents made, given or entered into by the town requiring a seal shall be sealed with the town seal, and signed in behalf of the town by a majority of the selectmen.
Sect. 3. The town clerk shall have the custody of the town seal.
ARTICLE IV.
RECORDS.
Section 1. The town clerk shall record in full in a book kept for the purpose all written contracts, deeds and other instruments to which the town is a party except such in- struments as may by law be recorded in the Registry of Deeds; and it shall be the duty of any board or officer exe- cuting or receiving such written contract, or other instru- ment, to deliver the same forthwith to the town clerk for the purpose of record. It shall be the duty of the town clerk to see that all conveyances of real estate to the town are properly recorded in the Registry of Deeds.
Sect. 2. The town clerk shall keep a file of all town re- ports, reports of all committees chosen by the town, and all original documents relating to the affairs of the town which may come into his possession.
ARTICLE V.
BOOKS.
Section 1. Books, records and laws received by the town from the commonwealth shall be deposited in the public library building.
Sect. 2. It shall be the duty of the town officer by whom any book mentioned in the preceding section is received, to cause the same to be at once deposited in the public library building.
Sect. 3. Such books may be used by the inhabitants of the town within such building, and may be taken therefrom upon written receipt to the librarian for a period not ex- ceeding one day at any one time for use in any town meet- ing, or by or before any committee or official of the town.
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ARTICLE VI.
SUITS AND CONTROVERSIES.
Section 1. The selectmen may compromise claims and suits to which the town is a party, provided that they shall act upon the advice of counsel when the amount claimed by or against the town exceeds $200.00.
Sect. 2. The selectmen shall have, unless it is otherwise voted by the town, full authority as agents of the town to institute and prosecute suits or other proceedings in the name of the town before any tribunal, to appear and repre- sent or defend the town before any tribunal in all suits and other proceedings against the town or in which the town has an interest, to employ counsel for the purpose aforesaid and for other purposes when it may be expedient to do so, and to take all necessary and proper measures for the pro- tection of the interests and rights of the town.
Sect. 3. If the town shall, at any meeting called for the purpose, choose, a committee on claims, such committee shall have and exercise exclusively all the powers and duties conferred upon the selectmen by the two preceding sections.
ARTICLE VII.
REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS BY THE TOWN.
Section 1. The annual reports of the town officers, boards and committees shall be prepared in form suitable for printing on or before the tenth day of February in each year. The selectmen shall cause such reports to be printed and distributed to the legal voters of the town seven days at least before the annual meeting.
Sect. 2. The selectmien shall cause to be printed and bound each year with the annual reports of the town officers, boards and committees, a copy of the records of the town meetings during the preceding year; a statement of all devises, bequests and donations to the town during the
205
preceding year; a list of all laws of the commonwealth ac- cepted by the town during the year; all by-laws adopted by the town since the preceding annual report; copies of the laying out, alteration, locating anew or discontinuance of any highway or townway within the limits of the town dur- ing the preceding year; and a statement of all outstanding bonds, notes and obligations of the town for the payment of money.
Sect. 3. The selectmen shall from time to time cause to be printed a sufficient number of copies of the by-laws of the town and shall incorporate therewith a list of the laws of the commonwealth which have been accepted by the town.
ARTICLE VIII.
TRUANTS.
Section 1. Any minor being an habitual truant, and any child between the ages of seven and fifteen years found wandering about the streets or public places within the town having no lawful occupation or business, not attend- ing school, and growing up in ignorance, and such children as persistently violate the reasonable rules and regulations of the public schools, may upon conviction thereof be com- mitted to the Middlesex County Truant School at Chelms- ford, Mass., or to any other place provided by the town within its limits, for confinement, instruction, and disci- pline.
ARTICLE IX.
PUBLIC REGULATIONS.
Section 1. No person shall coast upon any public street or part thereof after the selectmen have posted a notice prohibiting coasting upon such street or part thereof.
Sect. 2. No person, unless authorized by law, shall break or dig up any part of any street without a written permit therefor from the selectmen. Every person who
206
after obtaining such permit shall obstruct or render unsafe any public street, shall guard the same by a proper fence or railing, and by lights during the night time, subject to the approval of the selectmen. Such permit may be revoked at any time.
Sect. 3. No person shall be or remain in any doorway, or upon any stairs, doorstep, portico or other projection from any house or building, or upon or against any wall or fence on or near any street or public place, after having been requested by the owner or any occupant of the premises or by any constable or police officer to remove therefrom.
Sect. 4. No person shall make, write, print, paint, cut or post any indecent or obscene marks, words, figures or signs upon any fence, building, post, tree or other object exposed to public view.
Sect. 5. No person shall wilfully injure, mar, deface or destroy any fence, signboard, guideboard. lamp-post, lamp or lantern in any street or public place, nor extinguish any street light, nor extinguish or remove any light placed to denote an obstruction or a defect in any public street or way. without proper authority to do so.
Sect. 6. Any person who shall offend against any of the provisions of this article shall forfeit and pay, for each offense, a sum not exceeding twenty dollars."
Which said By-Laws being seen and understood by the Court, are on this nineteenth day of June, A. D. 1897, ap- proved.
In testimony that the foregoing is a true copy of record. I hereto set my hand and affix the seal of said Court. this twenty-second day of June, A. D. 1897.
RALPH M. SMITH. Ass't Clerk.
INDEX.
PAGE
Town Officers, 1900-1901
3-5
Proceedings of Town Meetings, 1900
6-25
Town Clerk's Report -
-
26-29
Town Grants, 1900-1901
30
Recommendations for Appropriations
31
Selectmen's Report - - -
-
32-38
Remarks of Mr. John F. Farrar on Special Town Ways for Electric Roads -
- 39-48
House Bill No. 727 -
-
- 49-52
House Bill No. 990
- 53-55
Report of Overseers of the Poor -
56
Expenditures for the year
57-87
Report of Town Treasurer
88
Jury List -
89
Report of Committee on Claims
- 90-92
Report of Highway Surveyor
-
93
Report of Assessors
- 94-107
Report of Water Commissioners
108-130
Report of Board of Health
131-138
Report of Flag Staff Committee
139-145
Report of Tree Warden -
146-147
Report of Treasurer Geo. F. Bemis Lecture Fund Report of Treasurer Commissioners Trust Funds
150-151
Report of Commissioner of Sinking Fund
152
Report of Treasurer Cemetery Committee
153
Report of Treasurer of Lincoln Library
154
Report of Trustees of Public Library
155
Library Statistics
155
In Memorian, George Grosvenor Tarbell -
156-159
List of Accessions to Library -
160-167
Report of School Committee
169-179
School Reports
180-192
Roll of Honor - -
193
School Calendar and Statistics
194
Tabular Statement
- 195
Warrant, 1901 -
196-198
By-Laws of the Town -
199-206
148-149
REPORT OF THE OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF LINCOLN
From Feb. 1901, to Feb. 1, 1902.
ALSO, THE
Reports of the School and other Committees
FOR THE YEAR 1901-1902.
&LINCOLN. ING
ORPOR
ATED.I
N.174
.IN.1754.AS.A.TOWN
BOSTON: "WASHINGTON PRESS : " GEO. E. CROSBY & CO., PRINTERS, 383 WASHINGTON STREET, 1902.
REPORT OF THE OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF LINCOLN
From Feb. 1901, to Feb. 1, 1902.
ALSO, THE
Reports of the School and other Committees
FOR THE YEAR 1901-1902.
&LINO
T& INGOR
P
TED
N.17
T. IN.1754.AS .A.TOWN
6
BOSTON: ". WASHINGTON PRESS :" GEO. E. CROSBY & CO., PRINTERS, 383 WASHINGTON STREET, 1902.
TOWN OFFICERS, 1901=1902.
Town Clerk. JAMES L. CHAPIN.
Selectmen.
Chairman, JOHN F. FARRAR, CHARLES S. SMITH, EDWARD F. FLINT.
Overseers of the Poor.
CHARLES S. SMITH,
JOHN F. FARRAR,
EDWARD F. FLINT.
Board of Health.
Term Expires 1902
S. H. BLODGETT, JOSEPH S. HART,
.
1903
SAMUEL H. PIERCE, ·
1904
Assessors.
CHARLES S. WHEELER, WILLIAM C. PIERCE,
WILLIAM H. SHERMAN.
Treasurer and Collector of Taxes. . CHARLES S. WHEELER.
Highway Surveyor. DANIEL H. SHERMAN.
Auditor. S. RODMAN SNELLING.
Constables
LORENZO E. BROOKS, FRANK M. DEMPSEY,
EDWARD BANNON, JOHN F. FARRAR.
School Cammittee.
GEO. F. NEWTON, JULIUS E EVELETH. EDWARD R. FARRAK ·
.
Term Expires 1902
1903
.. 1904
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT.
Proceedings of a Town Meeting, March 4, 1901.
WARRANT.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. MIDDLESEX, SS.
To Lorenzo E. Brooks, or any other Constable in the Town of Lincoln in said County :
GREETING:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Lincoln, duly qualified to vote in Town affairs, to assemble in Bemis Hall, on Monday, March 4, at one o'clock P. M., to act on the following articles, viz:
ARTICLE I. To choose a Moderator.
Chose Charles S. Wheeler.
ART. 2. To hear and act upon the reports of Town Offi- cers, Committees, Commissioners and Trustees.
Report of Selectmen, accepted.
" Overseers of the Poor, accepted.
..
" Treasurer, accepted.
.. " Committee on Claims, accepted.
..
" Assessors, accepted.
Water Commissioners, Voted, that the Report of the Water Commissioners be referred to a Committee consisting of C. F. Adams, W. S. Briggs and J. E. Eveleth, to investigate and report to the town a true statement of facts in regard to the present condition of the water works; also to report to the Town what action, if any, is necessary by the town to legalize the payment of money that has been made from the Treasury within the past year for water construction.
7
At an adjournment of this meeting, March 18, Voted, to accept the Report of the Water Commissioners.
Report of the Board of Health, accepted.
..
" Flag Staff Committee, accepted.
..
" Tree Warden, accepted.
..
" Treasurer of Bemis Lecture Fund, accepted.
..
" Treasurer, Commissioner Trust Funds, in ac- count with George G. Tarbell legacy, accepted.
..
" in account with George Russell legacy, accepted.
" Commissioner of Sinking Funds, accepted.
..
" Trustees of Public Library, accepted.
..
" School Committee, accepted.
The Special Committee upon the Water Works presented a report, containing the following votes which were passed :
Voted, that the Special Committee named in the vote passed under Art. 3 of the Warrant for a Town Meeting, held on Oc- tober 28, 1898, be, and the same is hereby discharged. If not already discharged.
Voted, that the acts of the Water Board as composed dur- ing the year beginning March 5, 1900, and the date of this meeting be approved, ratified and confirmed as the acts of a full and legally constituted Board.
Voted, that this report be referred back to the Committee with instructions to make a further and more thorough inves- tigation of the present condition of the Water Works plant and accounts; also to examine into the financial relations which have existed between the Water Works and the town since those Works were constructed, with a view to striking a balance showing the amount the Works in question have now cost the town and are indebted to it, and the present value of said Works. The Committee is further instructed to recommend a system under which the accounts and finances of the Water Works and of the Town shall be hereafter kept distinct; and also to report such other facts and conclusions bearing upon the subject as in its judgment may prove of interest or value to the Town. Voted, that in order to obtain the above called for information, the Committee is authorized to employ such experts as may seem necessary, and to pay reasonable compensation to the same; the bills for which
" Treasurer of Cemetery Commission, accepted.
8
shall, on the approval of the Committee, be paid by the Town Treasurer, and charged to the town's contingent fund.
The Committee appointed to examine and audit the ac- counts of the Treasurer of the Lincoln Cemetery Commission- ers submitted a report in which they recommend the accept- ance of that report.
* ART. 3. To choose all necessary Town Officers, Com- mittees, Commissioners and Trustees.
ART. 3. Chose:
Town Clerk, James L. Chapin.
Selectmen, John F. Farrar, Charles S. Smith, Edward F. Flint.
Overseers of the Poor, Voted to omit choosing.
Board of Health, Samuel H. Pierce, three years; Dr. Steph- en H. Blodgett, one year.
Assessors, Charles S. Wheeler, William H. Sherman, Wil- liam C. Peirce.
Treasurer and Collector, Charles S. Wheeler.
Auditor, S. Rodman Snelling.
Constables, John F. Farrar, Frank M. Dempsey, Lorenzo E. Brooks, Edward Bannon.
School Committee, Edward R. Farrar.
Water Commissioner, Joseph S. Hart, three years.
Field Drivers, A. H. Higginson, Patrick F. Corrigan.
Fence Viewers, Lorenzo E. Brooks, James E. Baker.
Surveyors of Lumber, Samuel Farrar, Richard A. Shepard, George F. Harrington.
Measurers of Wood and Bark, E. R. Farrar, Thomas L. Giles, R. A. Shepard.
Cemetery Commissioner, Henry Brooks.
Water Commissioner, Stephen H. Blodgett, two years, in place of John F. Farrar, resigned.
Commissioner of Trust Funds, C. Lee Todd, three years.
Trustee of Bemis Lecture Fund, George F. Newton, three years.
Committee on Claims, Charles F. Adams, William S. Briggs, Charles S. Wheeler.
ART. 4. To act upon the Jury list presented by the Select- men.
9
* ART. 4. Voted to accept the following List of Jurors: Herbert E. Barnes,
Albert A. Cook,
Thomas L. Giles,
Isaac B. Cook,
Herbert J. Harrington,
Fred E. Cousins,
A. Henry Higginson, Owen E. Martin,
George B. Cunningham, Frank M. Dempsey,
J. Walter Nelson,
John J. Driscoll,
Daniel H. Sherman,
Herbert W. Farrar,
William H. Sherman,
John F. Farrar,
Roger Sherman,
Edward F. Flint,
S. Rodman Snelling,
Charles P. Farnsworth,
* ART. 5. To appropriate money for necessary and expe- dient purposes of the Town, and enact anything in relation thereto.
* ART. 5. Voted to appropriate the following sums of money :
For Schools $5500
Miscellaneous Expenses .
3000
Support of Poor
.
1000
Highways and Bridges
5000
Library, Dog Tax and from the Treasury
500
Interest from the Treasury
200
Cemeteries
300
Board of Health
300
Tree Warden
1000
State Aid
48
Contingent Fund from the Treasury
2500
Sinking Fund, from the Treasury
960
Voted, that the sum of $2000 be appropriated to extend the water pipe to the estate of Wm. H. Sherman, said money to be taken from the Treasury pending an issue of bonds, and to be repaid from the proceeds of the next water bonds issued.
Voted, that the amount expended on extension of water pipes during the last year in excess of the amount appro- priated therefor, viz .: $538.46 be repaid to the Treasury out of the unappropriated proceeds of bonds now in the Treasury.
10
ART. 6. To give in their votes by ballot in answer to the questions, "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxi- cating liquors in this town?" The Check List shall be used as provided by Section 5, Chapter 100 of the Public Statutes. Voted, Yes, 2 votes. No, 42 votes.
ART. 7. To determine the manner of collecting taxes the ensuing year.
ART. 8. To determine the compensation of the Collector of 'Taxes the ensuing year.
Voted, To act upon Articles 7 and 8, together.
Voted, That the taxes be collected in the same manner as last year and that the compensation of the collector be fixed at 1-2 of 1-o of his list; and that the Town Treasurer be ap- pointed Collector of Taxes.
ART. 9. To see if the Town will authorize its Treasurer, under the direction of the Selectmen, to borrow money in an- ticipation of taxes of the current year and to be paid there- from.
Voted, That for the purpose of procuring a temporary loan to and for the use of the Town of Lincoln, in anticipation of the taxes of the present municipal year, the Town Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to borrow from time to time, with the approval of a majority of the Board of Selectmen, a sum or sums not exceeding in the aggregate $15,000, and to execute and deliver the note or notes of the Town therefor, payable within one year from the time the loan is made. Any debt or debts incurred by a loan or loans to the Town under this vote shall be paid from the said taxes of the present muni- cipal year.
ART. 10. To see if the Town will choose a Committee on Claims under the provisions of Section 3 of Article 6 of the By-Laws.
Voted, To choose a Committee on Claims.
ART. II. To see if the Town will borrow any money by an issue of bonds, under Chapter 341 of the Acts of 1897, for the purpose of providing money heretofore appropriated, or here- tofore expended and to be refunded to the Treasury, under the vote of the Town, April 12, 1900.
Not acted upon.
11
ART. 12. To see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to provide electric lights for the use of the Town, by contract with any electric light company, or otherwise, or take any other action in relation to the matter.
Laid on the table.
ART. 13. To see if the Town will make an appropriation for grading and fencing the Pumping Station lot.
Voted, To appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000).
ART. 14. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of six hundred dollars for the widening, grading and general re- pairing of the road leading from the junction of the Virginia and Bedford roads, near the house of Trogott Conant, to the State road, near the house of Mr. Wilson, or take any action in relation to the same.
Not acted upon.
ART. 15. To see if the Town will dispose of the North School House, either by auction or private sale, or take any action in the matter.
Not acted upon.
ART. 16. To see if the Town will establish scales in the centre of the Town.
Not acted upon.
ART. 17. To see what disposition the Town will make of the Underwriter Fire Pump, which has been in use in the old Pumping Station.
Not acted upon.
ART. 18. To see if the Town will extend the water pipes from Farnsworth Corner to a point opposite the land of W. H. Sherman.
Voted, That the Water Commissioners be authorized to ex- tend the water pipes from Farnsworth's Corner (so called) to a point opposite the land of Wm. H. Sherman, providing a bond of four per cent. be filed in accordance with the By-Laws of the Town.
ART. 19. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of $250 to establish a free bed at the Waltham Hospital.
Not acted upon.
Adjourned.
JAMES L. CHAPIN, Town Clerk
12
Proceedings of a Town Meeting, March 18, 1901.
WARRANT.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
MIDDLESEX, SS.
To Lorenzo E. Brooks, or any other Constable in the Town of Lincoln, in said County : GREETING:
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