USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1921-1925 > Part 13
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SECTION 3. Any town meeting held under the provisions of this act, except as otherwise provided, shall, at and after the first annual election held under this act, be limited to the regis- tered voters elected under section two and together with the following, designated as town members at large; namely, any member of the general court of the commonwealth of Massa- chusetts, from the town; the moderator, the town clerk, the selectmen, the town treasurer, the town counsel, if a voter of the town, the town collector of taxes, the town auditor or auditors, the chairman of the school committee, the chairman of the trus- tees of the public library, the chairman of the board of health, the chairman of the park commission, the chairman of the water commissioners, the tree warden, the chairman of the board of public works and Spring Grove cemetery trustees, the chairman of the assessors of taxes, the chairman of the sinking fund com- mission, and the chairman of the finance committee. The town clerk shall notify the town meeting members of the time and place at which town meetings are to be held, such notices to be sent by mail at least seven days before any such meeting. The town meeting members, as aforesaid, shall be the judges of the election and qualification of their members. A majority of the town meet- ing members shall constitute a quorum for doing business; but a less number may organize temporarily and may adjourn from time to time. Notice of every adjourned town meeting shall be posted by the town clerk in each precinct in one or more public places, and such notices shall state briefly the business to be acted
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upon at such meeting and shall include notice of any proposed reconsideration. All town meetings shall be public. The town meeting members as such shall receive no compensation. Sub- ject to such conditions as may be determined from time to time by the members of representative town meeting any voter of the town who is not a town meeting member may speak, but he shall not vote. A town meeting member may resign by filing a written resignation with the town clerk, and such resignation shall take effect on the date of such filing. A town meeting member who removes from the town or from the precinct from which he was elected shall cease to be a town meeting member.
SECTION 4. Nominations of candidates for town meeting members to be elected under this act shall be made by nomination papers which shall bear no political designation, and signed by not less than ten registered voters of the precinct in which the candi- date resides and filed with the town clerk at least ten days before the election. No nomination papers shall be valid in respect to any candidate whose written acceptance is not thereon or at- tached thereto.
SECTION 5. The articles in the warrant for every town meeting, so far as they relate to the election of the moderator, town officers, and town meeting members, as hereinbefore provided, to granting licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors, referenda, and all matters to be acted upon and determined by ballot, shall be so acted upon and determined by the registered voters of the town in their respective precincts. All other articles in the warrant for any town meeting shall be acted upon and determined exclusively by town meeting members at a meeting to be held at such time and place as shall be set forth by the selectmen in the warrant for the meeting, and subject to the referendum provided for by section eight.
SECTION 6. A moderator shall be elected by ballot at each annual town meeting and shall serve as the moderator of all town meetings except as otherwise provided by law until his successor is elected and qualified. Nominations for moderator
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and his election shall be as in the case of other elective town officers, and any vacancy in such office may be filled by the town meeting members at a town meeting held for that purpose. If a moderator is absent, a moderator pro tempore may be elected by the town meeting members.
SECTION 7. Any vacancy in the full number of town meeting members from any precinct may be filled until the next annual election by the remaining members of the precinct from among the registered voters thereof. Upon petition therefor, signed by not less than ten town meeting members from the precinct, notices thereof shall be promptly given by the town clerk to the remaining members from the precinct in which such vacancy or vacancies exist, and he shall call a special meeting of such mem- bers for the purpose of filling any vacancy. He shall cause to be mailed to each of such members, not less than four days before the time set for such meeting, a notice, specifying the object and the time and the place thereof. At such meeting a majority of the members shall constitute a quorum, and they shall elect from their own number a chairman and a clerk. The choice to fill any such vacancy shall be by ballot and a majority of the votes cast shall be required for a choice. The chairman and clerk shall make a certificate of such choice and forthwith file the same with the town clerk, together with a written acceptance by the member or members so chosen, who shall thereupon be deemed elected and qualified a town meeting member or members, subject to the right of all the town meeting members to judge of the election and qualifications of members as set forth in section three.
SECTION 8. No article in the warrant shall at any representa- tive town meeting be finally disposed of by a vote to lay upon the table, to indefinitely postpone, or to take no action thereunder. No vote passed at any representative town meeting under any article in the warrant except a vote to adjourn or a vote for the temporary borrowing of money in anticipation of taxes shall be operative until after the expiration of seven days, exclusive of Sundays and holidays, from the dissolution of such meeting. If, within said seven days a petition, signed by not less than five
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per cent of the registered voters of the town, containing their names together with their street addresses, is filed with the selectmen, asking that the question or questions involved in such vote be submitted to the voters of the town at large, then the selectmen within fourteen days of the filing of such petition, shall call a special meeting which shall be held within ten days after the issuing of the call, for the sole purpose of presenting to the voters at large the question or questions so involved. The polls shall be opened at two o'clock in the afternoon and shall be closed not earlier than eight o'clock in the evening, and no ballots shall be removed or counted before the closing of the polls, and all votes upon any questions submitted shall be taken by ballot and the check list shall be used in the several precincts in the same manner in which they are used in the election of town officers. Such question or questions as may be submitted at said town meeting shall be determined by the vote of a majority of such registered voters at large voting thereon at said special town meeting. The question or questions submitted to be voted upon at said town meeting shall be stated upon the ballot in the same language and form as said question or questions were stated when presented to said representative town meeting by the moderator, and as the same shall appear upon the records of the said representative town meeting. If such petition be not filed within the said period of seven days the vote in the representative town meeting shall become operative and effective upon the expiration of said period.
SECTION 9. The town of Andover after the acceptance of this act, shall have the capacity to act through and to be bound by its said town meeting members who shall, when convened from time to time as hereinunder provided, constitute representative town meetings; and such representative town meetings shall exercise exclusively, so far as shall conform to the provisions of this act, all powers vested in the municipal corporation of the town. Action in conformity with all provisions of law now or hereafter applicable to the transaction of town affairs in town meetings shall, when taken by any representative town meeting in the town in accordance with the provisions of this act, have the
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same force and effect as if said action had been taken in a town meeting, open to all the voters of said town, as heretofore organ- ized and conducted.
SECTION 10. This act shall not abridge the right of the citizens of Andover to hold general meetings, according to any right secured to its voters or to the people by the constitution of this common- wealth; nor shall this act confer upon any representative town meeting in Andover the power finally to commit the town to any proposition affecting its municipal existence or change in the form of its government, without action thereon by the voters of the town at large, using the ballot and check lists therefor.
SECTION 11. The question of the acceptance of this act by the town of Andover shall be submitted to the registered voters of that town at any annual or special town meeting to be called for the purpose. At such election the vote shall be taken by bal- lot in accordance with the provisions of chapter eight hundred and thirty-five of the acts of the year nineteen hundred and thirteen and any amendment thereof, so far as the same shall be appli- cable, in answer to the question: "Shall an act passed by the general court in the year nineteen hundred and twenty-two, entitled 'An act to provide for precinct voting, representative town meetings, town meeting members, a referendum and an annual moderator in the town of Andover' be accepted by this town?" and the affirmative votes of a majority of the registered voters of that town present and voting thereon shall be required for and shall determine its acceptance by that town. So much of this act as authorizes its submission to the registered voters of the town of Andover shall take effect upon its passage, but this act shall not take further effect unless and until accepted by the town of Andover as herein provided. . "
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4
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL CONDI- TIONS IN SHAWSHEEN VILLAGE
The School committee has made a careful survey of school conditions at Shawsheen Village, and is convinced that at least 200 pupils will be located in the Richardson School district in 1922, with a further steady increase as the village development goes on. The present building has two good sized rooms and one smaller one, all of which have now become overcrowded so that it will be necessary to do something to relieve the situation at once.
About 105 pupils are now in attendance at the Richardson School, and the additional 100 pupils expected in 1922 would require four additional rooms. The development of the situation should be made not only from the standpoint of this immediate requirement, but with full consideration of future requirements. The first step should provide for securing sufficient land to accommodate not only the initial unit to be constructed, but the addition of several units as they may be needed, and playground and athletic facilities to serve requirements as the same are determined by the growth of the village.
The present lot of land is not sufficient to care for this need, nor is the location capable of providing such added area as will ultimately be required. The center of the present school popu- lation in Shawsheen Village is in the vicinity of the junction of Warwick street with North Main street, with a future develop- ment contemplated on both sides of Main street that will evident- ly hold this same center when the development is completed. Available sites can now be secured before the full development takes place, and the committee recommends that immediate action be taken by the town to secure one of such sites, sub- stantially in accordance with an article submitted herewith :-
ARTICLE 11. To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen and the School committee to serve as a joint committee to select
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a suitable lot of land for municipal or town purposes in the district known as Shawsheen Village.
If land that may be selected cannot be acquired by purchase, to authorize the Selectmen on behalf of the town to exercise the right of taking by eminent domain, awarding damages for land that may be taken, and making a report of their action at a special town meeting to be called not later than April 15, 1922, with a recommendation for an appropriation to cover the award and for such further action as may be necessary.
DR. EDWARD C. CONROY, Chairman DAVID R. LAWSON, Secretary
School Committee
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TOWN WARRANT
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
ESSEX, SS. : To either of the Constables of the Town of An- GREETING: dover:
In the name of the Commonwealth you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said town who are qualified to vote in elections and in town affairs to meet and assemble at the Town House in voting Precinct One and the Old School House Ballard Vale in voting Precinct Two, in said Andover, on MONDAY, the SIXTH DAY OF MARCH, 1922, at 6 o'clock a.m., to act on the following articles :
Article 1. - To elect a Moderator for one year, Town Clerk for one year, Treasurer for one year, Collector of Taxes for one year, one member of the Board of Selectmen for three years, one member of the Board of Assessors for three years, three members of the School Committee for three years, Five Trustees of Punch- ard Free School for three years, two members of the Board of Public Works for three years, one member of the Board of Health for three years, three Auditors of accounts for one year, three Constables for one year, one Trustee of Memorial Hall Library for seven years, one Tree Warden for one year and all town officers required by law to be elected by ballot. Also to take action on the following question, Shall licenses be granted for the sale of certain non-intoxicating beverages in this town?
All to be voted for on one ballot. The polls will be open from 6 o'clock a.m. to 5 o'clock p.m.
After final action on the preceding article one, the said meet- ing shall stand adjourned by virtue of Section 20, Chapter 39 of the General Laws to Monday March 13th, at 1.30 o'clock p.m. at the Town Hall, then and there to act upon the following Articles, namely :
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Article 2. - To elect all other officers not required by law to be elected by ballot.
Article 3. - To determine what sums of money shall be ap- propriated for Almshouse Expenses, Relief out of Almshouse, Aiding Mothers with Dependent Children, Board of Health, Brush Fires, Fire Department, Hay Scales, Highway Department, Insurance, Interest, Memorial Hall Library, Memorial Day, Post 99, G. A. R., Miscellaneous, Parks and Playsteads, Police, Printing and Stationery, Public Dump, Retirement of Veterans, Redemption of Water, Sewer, High School, and Shawsheen Bridge Bonds, Schools, Sewer Maintenance, Sewer Sinking Funds, Soldiers' Relief, Spring Grove Cemetery, State Aid, Street Light- ing, Town Officers, Town House, Tree Warden, Moth Depart- ment, Water Maintenance, Construction and Sinking Funds, and other town charges and expenses.
Article 4. - To see if the town will approve the recommenda- tion of the Board of Public Works and vote to reconstruct the highway on Main Street from Chapel Avenue to Andover Square, with macadam pavement or other road material in accordance with plans and specifications prepared by the State Department of Public Works, Division of Highways. Also to see if the town will vote that said work of reconstruction be done by contract under the supervision of the Board of Public Works at an ex- pense not to exceed $100,000. Also to see if the town will vote that notes or bonds of the town be issued to raise funds for the payment of work undertaken under this article, payable annually in the years 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926 and 1927, in conformity with Chapter 44 of the General Laws.
Article 5. - To see if the Town will authorize and direct the Board of Public Works to petition the legislature for authority to issue bonds or notes, outside the statutory limit to the amount of $40,000. to be denominated on the face thereof "Andover Water Loan, Act of 1922", said loan to be for the purpose of making necessary changes in and extending the present system of water works in the town of Andover under such terms and
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conditions as the General Court may provide, on petition of the Board of Public Works.
Article 6. - To see if the town will authorize and direct the Board of Public Works to petition the Legislature for authority to borrow $200,000. outside the statutory limit of indebtedness, by bond issue or otherwise, for the following purposes; To con- struct and maintain a pipe line, in accordance with plans ap- proved by the State Board of Health, for the purpose of disposing of the sewage of the Town of Andover, said pipe line to extend from Andover through the City of Lawrence to the Merrimack River, and to authorize the purchase or taking of land in said Andover and Lawrence necessary for said site and to award and pay damages for said purchases or takings. On petition of the Board of Public Works.
Article 7. - To see if the town will appropriate the sum of $15,000.00 as their share of the cost in the reconstruction of Main street by the State, through Shawsheen Village on petition of the Board of Public Works.
Article 8. - To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of $5,748.08 to pay the balance due on Haverhill Street Sewer on petition of the Board of Public Works.
Article 9. - To hear the report of the committee on housing the inmates of the Town Farm and to see if the town will appro- priate the sum of $10,000. in addition to the $30,000. now on hand, received from the sale of the Town Farm property, for the purpose of erecting a new building and other necessary expenses.
Article 10. - To see if the town will appropriate the sum of Three thousand ($3000) dollars to purchase the property in Whittier Court, adjacent to the Playstead, known as the Cun- ningham property, and consisting of approximately one (1) acre of land with the buildings thereon, on petition of Frederic S. Bout- well and others.
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Article 11. - To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen and the School Committee to serve as a joint committee to select a suitable lot of land for municipal or town purposes in the district known as Shawsheen Village. If the land that may be selected cannot be acquired by purchase, to authorize the Selectmen on behalf of the town to exercise the right of taking by eminent domain, awarding damages for land that may be taken, and making a report of their action at a special town meeting to be called not later than April 15, 1922, with a recommendation for an appropriation to cover the award and for such further action as may be necessary, on petition of the School Committee.
Article 12. - To hear and act upon the report of the War Memorial Committee.
Article 13. - To see if the town will, for the purpose of pro- viding a suitable headquarters for a post of the American Legion, approve the leasing of a building or part of a building which shall be under the direction and control of such post subject to such regulations as the town may adopt, and to see if the town will appropriate for the current year the sum of not more than $1500 therefor, as provided for in General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 9, on petition of the War Memorial Committee.
Article 14. - To see if the town will adopt changes in the vot- ing precincts of the town as recommended by the Selectmen in a statement filed with the Town Clerk in accordance with the provisions of Section 7, Chapter 54 of the General Laws.
Article 15. - To see if the Town will accept the provisions of Sections 42, 43 and 44 of Chapter 48 of the General Laws relating to the establishment of a fire department under the control of an officer to be known as the Chief of the Fire Department.
Article 16. - To see if the town will accept as a town way, as laid out by the Selectmen; the street now known as Magnolia Avenue extending from the junction of Corbett Street and Poor Street, and running northerly 1148 feet and 39 feet in width to land now owned by James Mulligan, on petition of James Mul- ligan and others.
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Article 17. - To see if the town will appropriate the sum of $150. for the purpose of engraving into the Pilgrim Memorial Monument at Provincetown the name of the Town of Andover and the year of its incorporation, on petition of John H. Soehrens and others.
Article 18. - To hear and act on the report of the committee appointed to consider the matter of a representative town meeting for the Town of Andover.
Article 19. - To fix the pay of the call firemen for the ensuing year.
Article 20. - To determine the method of collecting the taxes for the ensuing year.
Article 21. - To authorize the Town Treasurer to hire money for the use of the town in anticipation of the revenue of the current financial year, with the approval of the Selectmen.
Article 22. - To determine what disposition shall be made of unexpended appropriations.
Article 23. - To act upon the report of the Town Officers.
Article 24. - To determine the amount of money to be raised by taxation the ensuing year.
Article 25. - To transact any other business that may legally. come before the meeting.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies and publication thereof, seven days at least before the time of said meeting as directed by the By-Laws of the town.
Hereof fail not and make return of this warrant with your do- ings thereon, at the time and place of said meeting.
Given under our hands this twenty-third day of February, A.D. 1922.
WALTER S. DONALD CHARLES BOWMAN ANDREW McTERNEN
Selectmen of Andover
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RECOMMENDATIONS OF FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Finance Committee has given careful consideration to the budgets of the various town departments for 1922 also to the special articles in the warrant calling for appropriations and gives herewith its recommendations.
It is unfortunate that the department budgets are not presented to the finance committee at an earlier date in order to give op- portunity for more full discussion of the department require- ments. It is suggested that all departments prepare their budgets for next year as early as possible and present them to the finance committee by Jan. 1st, in writing, with full details, and with definite recommendations for action by the town.
If full and careful investigation of all projects are made by the departments, and all problems are thoroughly worked out in department meetings before presenting them to the finance committee much time can be saved and more information can be given the town which will assist the voters in arriving at a decision on expenditure of the town money.
During the year we have been able to be of assistance in having a survey made of the fire protection service by the New England Insurance Exchange which has given valuable data and sug- gestions to the Water and Fire Depts.
At the time of the heavy ice storm the hearty co-operation of the various departments was secured to effectively and promptly clear the streets and to take care of the necessary financing for the emergency'.
A new plan of town accounting has been prepared which is based on the State forms but on account of some changes ne- cessary to make it effective it is planned to present this for approv- a next year.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
Almshouse $ 6000.00
(This sum is required for the running expenses of the Town Farm.)
Almshouse Relief out. 5000.00
(Because of the business depression the de- mands on this department are greater than ever before and it is estimated by the Overseers of the Poor that at least five thousand dollars-one thousand dollars more than last year-will be required for the coming year.)
Aiding Mothers with Dependent children 2500.00
Board of Health
3300.00
Brush Fires
600.00
Election and Registration
1000.00
(This item was formerly carried under the ap- propriation for miscellaneous expenditures and town officers.)
Essex County Tuberculosis Hospital 2700.00
(Andover must pay approximately fourteen hundred dollars toward the running expenses of this institution for the period from June to De- cember 1921. The Finance Committee recom- mend that thirteen hundred dollars additional be appropriated to meet Andover's proportion of this expense during 1922.
Fire Department 23000.00
and receipts
It was recommended last year that considera- tion be given to the organization of the De- partment to see if some saving in cost could not be made without impairing the fire fighting efficiency. The selectmen have considered the matter and now propose a permanent chief, the giving up of the board of engineers, and the dropping of several call men. The net
Amount carried forward
$44100.00
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$44100.00
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