USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1906-1910 > Part 10
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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 th 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,
.
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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, notes. 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 shal' 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 « 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-
190
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:
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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 boo' 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 ___ town re- ports, reports of all committees chosen by the town", and all original documents relating to the affairs of the tow. 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 und 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 selectmen 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
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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
194
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.
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INDEX.
PAGE
Town Officers, 1906-1907
3-5
Proceedings of Town Meetings, 1906-1907
6-45
Town Clerk's Report
- 46-48
Recommendations for Appropriations
- 49-50
Selectmen's Report -
49-56
Jury List
50-51
Auditor's Report
57
Expenditures for the year -
58-73
Report of Assessors
74-89
Report of Town Treasurer
90
Report of Commissioner of Sinking Fund
91
Report of Treasurer Commissioners Trust Funds -
92-94
Report of Treasurer Geo. F. Bemis Lecture Fund - 95-96
Report of Treasurer Cemetery Commissioners
97
Report of Water Commissioners
98-115
Report of Tree Warden -
116-119
Report of the Board of Health
120
Rules and Regulations of the State Board of Health
121-122
Regulations of the Board of Health of Lincoln
123-126
Report of Overseers of Poor -
127
Report of Supt. of Streets
128-130
Report of Committee on Claims -
131-133
Report of Inspector of Animals and Provisions
134
Report of the Coal Committee
135
Report of the Stone Crusher Committee
136
Report of the Committee for the Suppression of Liquor Nuisance
137
Report of Committee on Electric Lights
138-143
Report of Trustees of Lincoln Public Library
144
Library Statistics -
145
Report of Treasurer of Lincoln Library
146
Report of Librarian
147
List of Accessions to Library
148-158
School Reports
159-181
Report of School Committee -
161-167
Summary of School Expenses
168
School Calendar and Statistics
178-180
Roll of Honor -
179
Tabular Statement
181
Warrant, 1907 -
182-186
By-Laws of the Town
187-194
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-
-
.
Report of the Officers
OF THE
TOWN OF LINCOLN
From Feb. 1, 1907, to Feb. 1, 1908
ALSO THE
Reports of the School and other Committees
FOR THE YEAR 1907-1908
N
COJ
N
T& IN
CORP
R
PIN.174
T. IN.1754-AS-A-TOWN.
BOSTON : GEO. E. CROSBY CO., PRINTERS 234-236 Congress Street 1908
-
Report of the Officers
OF THE
TOWN OF LINCOLN
From Feb. 1, 1907, to Feb. 1, 1908 ALSO THE
Reports of the School and other Committees
FOR THE YEAR 1907=1908
LINCOLN
OWN.
CO
RPO
RATED.IN.J
T: IN-1754.
.IN.174
IN
BOSTON : GEO. E. CROSBY CO., PRINTERS 234-236 Congress Street 1908
TOWN OFFICERS, 1907=1908.
Town Clerk.
GEORGE L. CHAPIN.
Selectmen and Overseers of Poor.
CHARLES S. SMITH, CHARLES LEE TODD,
ROBERT D. DONALDSON.
Board of Health.
CHARLES S. SMITH
Term expires 1908
CHARLES LEE TODD
1909
MARTIN M. WELCH
1910
Assessors.
CHARLES S. WHEELER, WILLIAM C. PEIRCE, WILLIAM H. SHERMAN.
Treasurer and Collector of Taxes. CHARLES S. WHEELER. Auditor. THOMAS L. GILES.
Constables.
JAMES T. LAIRD, WILLIAM C. ROBUS,
GEORGE S. AVAND.
School Committee.
HENRY E. WARNER
Term expires 1908
REV. EDWARD E. BRADLEY
1909
EDWARD R. FARRAR
1910
4
Water Commissioners.
GEORGE L. CHAPIN
Term expires 1908
CHARLES F. EVELETH
1909
JOSEPH S. HART . .
1910
CHARLES S. SMITH, Chairman Selectmen, ex-officio.
CHARLES S. WHEELER, Town Treasurer,
Field Drivers.
PERCY P. RUSS, EDWARD GRAF,
HOWARD SNELLING, WILLIAM E. CHUTE.
Fence Viewers.
JOHN F. FARRAR, MARTIN M. WELCH.
Surveyors of Lumber. RICHARD A. SHEPARD.
Measurers of Wood and Bark.
SAMUEL FARRAR,
HAROLD S. COUSINS
Cemetery Commissioners.
HERBERT E. BARNES
Term expires 1908
GEORGE L. CHAPIN
1909
CHARLES S. SMITH
1910
JULIUS E. EVELETH
1911
EDWARD F. FLINT
1912
Commissioners of Trust Funds.
JULIUS E. EVELETH
Term expires 1908
SAMUEL H. PIERCE
1909
C. LEE TODD
66 1910
Tree Warden.
EDWARD R. FARRAR.
Committee on Claims.
MOORFIELD STOREY, CHARLES S. WHEELER, JULIUS E. EVELETH.
5
Trustees for Bemis Fund for Free Public Lectures.
GEORGE F. FLINT JULIUS E. EVELETH ·
Term expires 1909
1908
C. LEE TODD
· . 1910
Trustees of Grammar School Fund.
CHARLES S. WHEELER,
HERBERT E. BARNES.
Trustees of Lincoln Library.
CHARLES F. ADAMS, CHARLES LEE TODD, JOHN F. FARRAR.
CHARLES S. SMITH, Chairman of Selectmen, ex-officio.
REV. Edward E. BRADLEY, Chairman School Committee, ex-officio.
Registrars.
CHARLES S. SMITH. C. LEE TODD,
ROBERT D. DONALDSON, GEORGE L. CHAPIN.
6
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT.
Proceedings of a Town Meeting, held Feb. 25, 1907.
WARRANT.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
MIDDLESEX, SS.
To James T. Laird, or any other constable of 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, February twenty-fifth, at 7.30 o'clock P. M., to act on the following articles, viz:
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator.
ART. 2. To hear the report of the Special Committee, ap- pointed to select a site and obtain plans for a new school- house, and to take any action in relation to the matter.
ART. 3. To see if the Town will reconsider the vote passed at the last Town meeting, authorizing the special committee to purchase specific land upon which to erect a school building.
ART. 4. To see if the Town will choose a site for a new schoolhouse or take any action in reference to the same.
7
ART. 5. To see what action the Town will take with respect to procuring, selecting or designating a schoolhouse lot, or make any appropriation therefor, or take any other action in relation thereto.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting an attested copy thereof in each of the postoffices and one of the churches, or some other public place, seven days at least before the day appointed for such meeting, and to make seasonable return thereof with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk.
HEREOF FAIL NOT.
Dated at Lincoln, this sixteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and seven.
EDWARD F. FLINT, ANTHONY J. DOHERTY, Selectmen of Lincoln.
The return of the Warrant is as follows:
LINCOLN, February 16, 1907.
I have served this Warrant by posting an attested copy in each of the Post Offices and one in the vestibule of the First Parish Church, seven days before said meeting.
JAMES T. LAIRD, Constable of Lincoln.
Pursuant to the above Warrant the meeting was called to order by the Town Clerk, and after reading the Warrant, the following votes were passed.
ARTICLE 1. Voted and chose Charles S. Wheeler, Moder- ator. (The Check List was used.)
8
ART. 2. Mr. Edward W. Pope read a printed report of the Schoolhouse Committee. Without taking any action in re- gard to the report, it was voted that the Article lie on the table.
ART. 3. Voted, 70 Yes; 13 No.
That the vote passed at the Town Meeting of Jan. 23, 1907, authorizing the Schoolhouse Committee to purchase certain land of Roger Sherman for schoolhouse purposes be and the same is hereby reconsidered.
ART. 4. Voted, 81 Yes; 20 No.
That the present Schoolhouse Committee, consisting of Edw. W. Pope, Win. C. Peirce, and Charles F. Eveleth are hereby authorized to purchase for the Town for a school building not less than four (4) acres of land now owned by Charles S. Smith, and located on the Station Road; said land being bounded by the land of John H. Pierce, Roger Sherman, and said Station Road, and that the sum of not exceeding two thousand (-2,000.00) dollars is hereby appropriated for the same.
The Treasurer is hereby authorized to borrow the money temporarily pending the issue of bonds, notes, or script.
Voted to adjourn.
GEORGE L. CHAPIN, Town Clerk.
9
Proceedings of a Town Meeting, held March 4, 1907.
WARRANT.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
MIDDLESEX, SS.
To James T. Laird, or any other Constable of 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 inhab- itants of the Town of Lincoln, duly qualified to vote in Town affairs, to assemble in Bemis Hall, on Monday, March fourth, at 1 o'clock P.M., to act on the following articles, viz :
ARTICLE 1. To choose a moderator.
ART. 2. To hear and act upon the reports of Town Officers, Committees, Commissioners, and Trustees.
ART. 3. To choose all necessary Town Officers, Com- mittees, Commissioners and Trustees for the ensuing year.
ART. 4. To act upon the jury list presented by the Selectmen.
10
ART. 5. To appropriate money for necessary and expedient purposes of the Town, and enact anything in relation to the same.
ART. 6. To give in their votes by ballot in answer to the question: "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this Town?" The check list shall be used as provided by Section 5, Chapter 100 of the Public Statutes.
ART. 7. To determine the manner of collecting taxes for the ensuing year.
ART. 8. To determine the compensation of the Col- lector of Taxes for the ensuing year.
ART. 9. To see if the Town will authorize the Treas- urer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow during the municipal year, beginning February first, 1907, in anticipation of the collection of taxes of said year, such sums of money as may be necessary for the current expenses of the Town, but not exceeding the total tax levy for the said year, giving the notes of the Town in payment thereof, payable in one year from the dates thereof. All debts incurred under authority of this vote shall be paid from taxes of the present municipal year.
ART. 10. To see if the Town will choose a Committee on Claims under the provisions of Section 3 of Article 9 of the By-Laws.
ART. 11. To determine the manner of repairing the highways and bridges for the ensuing year.
ART. 12. To see if the Town will appoint a committee to prosecute persons for selling intoxicating liquors in the Town, and appropriate money for the same.
11
1
ART. 13. To see if the Town will determine the lo- cation of a new schoolhouse, and adopt all necessary measures to purchase and procure land therefor.
ART. 14. To see if the Town will take any action toward the erection of a new schoolhouse, and to ap- propriate any money for the same.
ART. 15. To see if the Town will authorize the School Committee to terminate the existing union for the purpose of employing a Superintendent of Schools, or to enter another union or make any other arrangement for the employment of a Superintendent, or take any action in relation to the matter.
ART. 16. To see if the Town will make an appropria- tion to carry out the purposes of Chapter 502 of the Acts of 1906 or enact anything in relation to the matter.
ART. 17. To see what action the Town will take in regard to the wages paid to the laborers on the Highways.
ART. 18. To see what action the Town will take to- ward the extermination of the gypsy and brown-tail moths during the ensuing year.
ART. 19. To see if the Town will vote to discon- tinue that part of the old Turnpike Road running from the Bedford Road and through the land of Mr. Michael Connors to the present location of the so-called Turnpike Road, or take any action in relation to the matter.
ART. 20. To see if the Town will purchase hose and a hose carriage for the North part of the Town, and ap- propriate the necessary money for the same.
12
ART. 21. To see if the Town will take any action to- ward improving the present fire equipment, and make any appropriation for the same.
ART. 22. To see if the Town will take any action in regard to petitioning the General Court to increase the borrowing capacity of the Town for water purposes.
ART. 23. To see if the Town will take any action in regard to House Bill No. 865, now pending before the General Court, entitled "To Prohibit certain Uses of Great Ponds by Cities and Towns."
ART. 24. To see if the Town will release any lands or rights or easements therein taken by the Water Com- missioners for water purposes, or take any action in re- lation to making such releases under Chapter 148 of the Acts of the year 1900.
ART. 25. To see if the Town will take such action as may be necessary to introduce electric lights into the Town, and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 26. To see if the Town will instruct the Com- mittee on Claims to request the General Court to amend Chapter 188 of the Acts of 1872, reducing the Water Commissioners from five members to three elective members.
ART. 27. To see what action the Town will take in regard to securing land to be used for school purposes; also to see if the Town will take any action in regard to a new schoolhouse or suitable grounds for the same; also to see if the Town will elect a Building Committee or take any action in relation to the matter.
ART. 28. To see if the Town will accept the pro- visions of Chapter 11, Section 336 of the Revised Laws
13
and elect a Highway Surveyor who shall hold his office for one year.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by post- ing an attested copy thereof in each of the Post Offices and one of the churches or some other public place, seven days at least before the day appointed for such meeting, and to make seasonable return thereof with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk.
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