USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1887-1888 > Part 5
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35 were buried in Braintree; 14 in Weymouth ; 11 in Quincy ; 6 in Boston; 2 in Brookline; and one each in Plymouth, Scituate, Dedham, South Scituate, Cohasset, Randolph, Holbrook, Hingham, Brockton, Chelsea, Maine, New Hampshire, and St. Pierre, Miquelon.
23 voters died during the year.
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TOWN RECORDS.
NORFOLK, SS. To either of the Constables of the town of Braintree, GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are required to notify and warn the Inhabitants of the town of Braintree, qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall, in Braintree, on Wednesday, the twenty-third day of February next, at 7.15 o'clock, P. M., to act on the following articles, namely :
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
ART. 2. To hear the Report of the Committee chosen by the town to negotiate with the Braintree Water Supply Co., relative to the purchase of the franchise, corporate property, and other rights and privileges of said Corporation, and to take such action thereon as may be deemed expedient.
ART. 3. To see if the town will vote to elect Water Commis- sioners under the Act of the year eighteen hundred and eighty- five (1885,) and vote to proceed thereunder.
ART. 4. To see if the town will vote to authorize its Treas- urer and Water Commissioners to issue, from time to time, bonds, notes, or scrip of the town, to an amount not exceeding in the aggregate one hundred thousand dollars, for the purpose of paying the necessary expenses and liabilities incurred under the provisions of the Act of the year eighteen hundred and eighty- five (1885). Such bonds, notes, or scrip, to be drawn and issued according with the provision of Section 5 of said Act.
You are to give notice of the meeting by posting true and attested copies of this warrant in not less than nine public places in this town, seven days at least before the time of said meeting.
Hereof fail not, but make return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, before the time of said meeting.
Given under our hands at Braintree, this sixteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven.
J. MURRAY KNIGHT, Selectmen J. F. BATES, of HENRY A. MONK, $
Braintree,
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NORFOLK, SS. BRAINTREE, Feb. 16, 1887.
Pursuant to the provisions of the foregoing warrant, I have this day posted attested copies of the same, as the law directs. EDWIN L. CURTIS, Constable of Braintree.
A TRUE COPY.
Attest: SAMUEL A. BATES, Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, Feb. 23, 1887.
In accordance with the above warrant, the meeting was called to order and the warrant read by the Town Clerk.
Upon ballot, C. N. Wallace was elected Moderator, and de- clined to serve.
Another ballot was had, and Edward Avery was elected Moder- ator, and was sworn by the Clerk.
Report of the Water Supply Committee was submitted in print.
Voted, That Article 2, be laid on the table.
Voted, That Article 3, be laid on the table.
Voted, That the town proceed to ballot, Yes or No, by the use of the check list, on the Fourth Article of the warrant, viz :- To see if the town will vote to authorize its Treasurer and Water Commissioners, to issue from time to time, bonds, notes, or scrip of the town, to an amount not exceeding in the aggre- gate, one hundred thousand dollars, for the purpose of paying the necessary expenses and liabilities incurred under the provi- sions of the Act of the year 1885. Such bonds, notes, or scrip to be drawn and issued according with the provision of Section 5 of said Act.
J. M. Knight and H. A. Monk were appointed to check the list, and they were sworn by the Town Clerk.
The ballot having been taken, the Moderator announced the re- sult as follows, viz :
Whole number of ballots, 184. Yes, 120; No, 64. Necessary for its adoption, 123.
There not being the necessary two-thirds, it was declared not adopted.
Voted to adjourn.
SAMUEL A. BATES, Town Clerk.
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NORFOLK, SS. To either of the Constables, of the town of GREETING :
Braintree,
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are required to notify and warn the Inhabitants of the town of Braintree, qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall in Braintree, on Monday, the seventh day of March next, at eight o'clock in the forenoon, to act on the following articles namely :
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
ART. 2. To hear the Report of the several town officers, and act thereon.
ART 3. To determine the manner of repairing the highways and bridges for the ensuing year.
ART. 4. To choose all necessary town officers for the ensuing year; and also to vote on the following question as required by Chap. 54, of the Acts of the year 1881, viz :- " Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town."
ART. 5. To see what action the town will take in relation to hiring money for any purpose.
ART. 6. To raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to defray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year.
ART. 7. To see if the town will accept the jury list as made by the Selectmen.
ART. 8. To see if the town will vote an appropriation of $150, and pay the same to the Gen. Sylvanus Thayer Post, G. A. R., for the purpose of assisting them in defraying the expenses of Memorial services on " Memorial Day."
ART. 9. To see if the town will vote to have the By-laws printed, and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 10. To see if the town will vote to deliver books from the Public Library to the people of the east part of the town under the direction of the trustees, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 11. To see how the town will vote to pay the members of the Fire Department.
ART. 12. To see if the town will vote to raise and re-appro- priate the sum of $835, that being the unexpended balance of
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the appropriation of last year, for the building new road from Liberty to Eliott street, and necessary to complete the same.
ART. 13 To see if the town will instruct the School Com- mittee to employ a superintendent of schools, and raise and appropriate a sum of money to pay for the same.
ART. 14. To see if the town will vote to build a drain to carry the water off Central avenue, and raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for the same.
ART. 15. To see if the town will repair Quincy avenue, and appropriate a sum of money for the same.
ART. 16. To see if the town will raise and appropriate $200 to finish Walnut avenue.
ART. 17. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $100, for the completion of Sterling street.
ART. 18. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropri- ate the sum of $200, to finish Prospect street.
ART. 19. To see what action the town, will take on the claim of E. Bannon, for bounty and state aid.
ART. 20. To see if the town will take measures to prevent the flow of water through the culvert under Washington street, upon the premises of the Misses Pratt, corner of Holbrook avenue.
ART. 21. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for conveying the pupils to and from the High School, the same to be expended by the School Committee at their discretion.
ART. 22. To see if the town will vote to discontinue that part of Plain street, commencing near the property of Michael Brand_ ley, and running to a point near the house of N. H. Hunt, and confer such authority on the Selectmen as may be required by law for that purpose.
ART. 23. To see if the town will accept the new road from the end of Pearl street, near the Old Colony Railroad station, to a point near the junction of Liberty and Middle streets, as laid out by the Selectmen, and raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to build the same.
ART. 24. To see if the town will vote to amend its By-laws by the addition of the following article, namely :- The Town Clerk shall at the end of each fiscal year, furnish to the Select-
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men, an abstract of the records of all town meetings held during the year, which abstract shall contain the records of actions taken and of the appointments of committees, and shall be pub- lished with the annual report of Town Officers.
ART. 25. To see if the town will vote to amend Art. 11, of the By-laws, so that six Trustees of the Thayer Public Library shall be elected in like manner, as the School Committee now are, and to serve for like terms; or so that the town shall elect two Trustees biennially, and the Trustees of Thayer Academy three for life.
ART. 26. To see if the town will vote to have the buildings at the Almshouse painted, and raise and appropriate the sum of $200, to pay for the same.
ART. 27. To see if the town will vote to widen and straighten Commercial street, as ordered by the County Commissioners, and raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for the same.
You are to give notice of this meeting by posting true and attested copies of this Warrant in not less than nine public places in this town, seven days at least before the time of said meeting.
Hereof fail not, but make return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, before the time of said meeting.
Given under our hands at Braintree, this twenty-first day of February, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven.
J. MURRAY KNIGHT, Selectmen J. FRANKLIN BATES, of
HENRY A. MONK, Braintree.
NORFOLK, SS. BRAINTREE, Feb. 25, 1887.
Pursuant to the provisions of the foregoing warrant, I have this day, posted attested copies of the same, as the law directs.
EDWIN L. CURTIS, Constable of Braintree.
A TRUE COPY,
Attest : SAMUEL A. BATES, Town Clerk.
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BRAINTREE, March 7, 1887.
In accordance with the foregoing warrant the meeting was called to order, and the warrant read by the Town Clerk.
The ballot having been taken, Francis A. Hobart was declared elected Moderator, and sworn by the Town Clerk.
Voted, That Article two be laid on the table.
Voted, To proceed to the election of the following town offi- cers on one ballot, namely : Town Clerk ; Treasurer; three Selectmen, who shall be Assessors, Overseers of the Poor, and Surveyors of Highways; two School Committee for three years ; three Fence Viewers ; three Auditors ; and nine Constables ; and also at the same time on the question : " Shall licenses be grant- ed for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town ?
Polls were declared open at 8 h. 10 min. A. M.
J. Murray Knight was appointed to check the voting list, and, was sworn by the Town Clerk.
Voted, To reconsider the vote whereby we voted to vote on the question of the sale of intoxicating liquors, and that said vote be taken at one o'clock, P. M.
Moderator appointed James T. Stevens, Willie H. Shaw and L. H. H. Johnson to act as tellers to assort and count the votes and they were sworn by the Town Clerk.
Voted, That a committee of nine be appointed by the Chair to report what appropriations are necessary to be made to de- fray the expenses of the town the ensuing year. George D. Willis, Frank O. Whitmarsh, Eliphaz E. Thayer, George H. Ar- nold, J. Franklin Bates, Albert E. Avery, Albion C. Drinkwater and Alverdo Mason were appointed said committee.
Voted, That the polls be declared closed at one o'clock, P. M., and at that time they were closed ..
Voted, To proceed to ballot on the question : "Shall li- censes be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town ?"
Polls declared open at two minutes past one, P. M.
Voted, To close the polls at 2 o'clock, P. M., and at that time they were declared closed.
The result of the ballot was as follows, namely :
Whole number of ballots, 236. Yes, 80; No, 155; simply "No," 1.
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The Tellers having completed their labors, the Moderator de- clared the result of the ballot as follows, namely :
Whole number of ballots, 547.
Town Clerk,-Samuel A. Bates, had 544, and was declared elected, and sworn by the Moderator.
Town Treasurer,-Scattering, 1; David H. Bates, 545; elected and sworn by the Moderator.
Selectmen, Assessors, Overseers of the Poor, and Surveyors of Highways,-Scattering, 3; Henry Mann, 61; Henry A. Monk, 258; J. Murray Knight, 267; J. Franklin Bates, 415; Ansel O. Clark, 470.
A separate ticket for Surveyors of Highways was thrown, which the Moderator declared should be counted, by which it appeared that Henry A. Monk had a plurality of votes, he announced that Henry A. Monk had been elected Surveyor of Highways, instead of J. Murray Knight.
Henry A. Monk then declined serving as Surveyor of Highways.
Voted, To proceed to ballot for Surveyor of Highways. The ballot having been taken, J. Murray Knight was elected, and so declared.
Ansel O. Clark, J. Franklin Bates and J. Murray Knight, were sworn by the Moderator.
School Committee for three years,-Albert E. Avery, 537, elected and accepted; John Reed, 547, elected and accepted. Scattering 3.
Auditors,-George D. Willis, 544; Alverdo Mason, 544; John M. Beals, 492; John M. Bates, 54. Scattering, 3.
George D. Willis, Alverdo Mason and John M. Beals; were elected and sworn by the Moderator.
Constables, - Joshua Bunker, 546; Gilman D. Whittaker, 545; Albert Hobart, 542; Thomas Clinton, 545; John W. W. Rowell, 540; Edwin L. Curtis, 540; Horace Faxon, 539; Edgar Hayden, 535; John Kelley, 2d, 512. Scattering, 3.
Joshua M. Bunker, Albert Hobart, Thomas Clinton, John W. W. Rowell, Edwin L. Curtis, Horace Faxon, Edgar Hayden, were declared elected, and were sworn to the faithful performance of their duties. Gilman D. Whittaker, and John Kelley, 2d, were declared elected, but declined serving as Constables.
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Fence Viewers,-Edward Hobart, 544; Freeman G. Crosby, 544; Albert E. Avery, 537.
Edward Hobart was declared elected, but declined serving in that capacity.
Freeman G. Crosby and Albert E. Avery were declared elected, and were sworn.
Voted, To proceed to the choice of a fence viewer, in place of Edward Hobart, declined; and J. Franklin Bates was elected and sworn.
Moved to proceed to the choice of two Trustees of the Thayer Public Library.
Voted, That the motion be laid on the table.
The following officers were then elected by hand votes, namely :
Measurers of Grain,-J. Francis White and Willie J. Loring, and sworn.
Weighers of Hay,-Martin L. Tupper, J. Marcus Arnold, Charles G. Sheppard and Willie J. Loring, and sworn.
Measurers of Lumber,-Martin L. Tupper, Henry Gardner and William R. Penniman, and sworn.
Measurer of Leather,-Albion C. Drinkwater, and sworn.
Measurers of Wood,-J. Marcus Arnold, Charles G. Sheppard, Martin L. Tupper, Willie J. Loring, and sworn. Alfred F. Smith, declined.
Field Drivers,-H. Almon Jones, Robert McDowell, Willie H. Shaw, N. Allen Penniman, Frank E. Drake and Paul Dowd, and sworn. Charles O. Miller, George E. Fogg, Horace Dana, Foster F. Tupper, Elbridge F. Porter and F. H. Dearing, but did not qualify.
Voted, To instruct the Selectmen to appoint a poundkeeper.
Voted, To let out the collection of taxes to the lowest bidder, and Nathaniel F. Hunt, having agreed to collect them for nine mills on the dollar, was elected by ballot, Collector of Taxes for the ensuing year, and was sworn by the Town Clerk.
Article 4 laid on the table.
ARTICLE 5. Voted unanimously, that the Treasurer be author- ized, with the approval of the Selectmen, to hire money in anticipation of taxes of the current fiscal year, and to issue notes of the town therefor; and the debts incurred under the authority of this vote, are hereby made payable from said taxes.
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Voted, unanimously, that the Treasurer be authorized, with the approval of the Selectmen, to hire money, to renew, replace, or pay any existing loan, or auy part thereof, and to issue notes of the town therefor.
ARTICLE 6. The committee on appropriations made a report, and the following sums of money were voted to be raised and appropriated for the several objects specified, namely :
School incidentals
$300 00
Schoolhouse incidentals
400 00
Poor in almshouse
1,800 00
Poor out of almshouse
1,800 00
Fire department
1,800 00
Removal of snow
1,000 00
Town lands
100 00
Incidental expenses
1,200 00
Janitor
600 00
Superintendent of schools .
1,200 00
Voted, That $42.76 be reappropriated for the delivery of books to the east part of the town, the said sum having been unex- pended the last year.
Voted, The further consideration of the 6th article be deferred till the adjourned meeting.
ARTICLE 7. Voted, To accept the following Jury list, as pre- pared by the Selectmen, and reported to the town in their printed report, namely :
Charles G. Anderson, John M. Arnold,
Thomas J. McCormick, William M'Ewan,
Edward P. Allen,
Michael McDermott,
Hiram E. Abbott,
Joseph M. Allen, Richard L. Arnold,
Gustave B. Bates,
Samuel A. Bates,
Charles G. Batson, John M. Beals,
William H. McGreggor, Edward O. Pierson, Thomas Penniman, William H. Cobb, Henry F. Crane, Samuel L. Dyer, Thomas Fallon,
Peter D. Holbrook, Ellis Hollingsworth, Hosea Jackson,
Henry A. Penniman, Elbridge F. Porter, Isaac Porter, James R. Qualey,
James A. Reynolds, John Reed, George A. Sproule.
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Elisha A. Belcher, John A. Brigham, Charles I. Craibe, Freeman G. Crosby,
Salmon F. Jenkins, Charles H. Loring, Frank G. Lunt,
Alverdo H. Mason, William B. Merritt, Charles O. Miller, Alva S. Morrison, Ira P. Morrison,
George A. French, Robert Gillespie, Henry Gardner,
Edward P. Hayward, Jonathan E. Hayward, Charles A. Hayward, Henry Hayward, Everett A. Harris, Albert R. Hobart,
Howard M. Hobart, Joseph H. Hobart, Charles W. Hobart,
Charles G. Sheppard, Alfred Southworth, Edward G. Stoddard,
Willie H. Shaw,
William H. Stevens, Henry Simonds, Charles Thayer, David H. B. Thayer, Albert N. White,
John Whitty, Joseph Whitely.
Voted, That the remaining articles in the warrant be now called in their order, and considered. In case any gentleman shall rise in his place, and state that he is desirous to discuss any article as it is called, action thereon shall be postponed until the adjourned meeting. All other articles shall be disposed of now.
ARTICLE 8. Voted to appropriate the sum of $150, and pay the same to the Gen. Sylvanus Thayer Post, G. A. R., for the purpose of assisting them in defraying the expenses of memorial services on "Memorial Day."
ART. 12. Voted to raise and reappropriate the sum of $835, that being the unexpended balance of the appropriation of last year for the building of the new road from Liberty to Eliott street.
ART. 13. Voted to instruct the School Committee to employ a Superintendent of Schools.
ART. 19. Voted that the claim of E. Bannon for bounty and state aid be referred to the Selectmen, with instructions to appear before the committee of the Legislature, to see that the interests of the town are protected in the proposed legislation.
Voted, That the Surveyors of Highways examine into tlie condition of Quincy avenue, and report at the adjourned meeting.
Voted, To adjourn until the first Monday of April, 1887, at one o'clock, P. M.
SAMUEL A. BATES,
Town Clerk.
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RECOUNT OF VOTES.
BRAINTREE, March 8, 1887.
TO SAMUEL A. BATES, TOWN CLERK OF BRAINTREE :
The undersigned, legal and qualified voters of the town of Braintree, respectfully represent that they have reason to believe, and do believe, that an error was made in ascertaining and de- claring the result of the election of Selectmen and Surve yor of Highways, at the town meeting held on the seventh instant, whereby J. Murray Knight was declared to be elected as one of said Selectmen, and Henry A. Monk as one of the Surveyors of Highways, and believing that a recount of all votes cast at said elction, so far as they relate to said Knight and Monk, will show that the said Monk was elected as one of the Selectmen of said town, respectfully petition that a recount be made of the ballots cast at said election, both for Selectmen and Surveyor of High ways, in accordance with the provisions of Sect. 2, Chap. 262, of the Act of the Legislature of 1886, to more fully determine the result of said election. Douglas A. Brooks, W. A. Kane, Joseph E. Holbrook, R. F. Randall, Elisha Thayer, S. L. Dyer, A. F. Smith, C. M. Lothrop, L. M. Hobart, Fred P. Lothrop, Orin W. Jackson, Edwin L. Curtis, J. W. Chick.
A TRUE COPY.
Attest : SAMUEL A. BATES, Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, March 8, 1887.
Received and filed in the office of the Town Clerk.
S. A. BATES, Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, March 10, 1887.
In accordance with the foregoing petition I, Francis A. Hobart, Moderator of said meeting, appointed Thursday, March 10, 1887, at 4 o'clock, P. M., when a recount of votes cast at the meeting of March 7, 1887, was made; James T. Stevens, Samuel A. Bates and Albert E. Avery, who were duly appointed and sworn by me for that duty, and it was found that J. Murray Knight received 267 votes, and Henry A. Monks 259 votes for Selectman; and
100
J. Murray Knight received 267 votes, and Henry A. Monk received 263 votes for Surveyor of Highways.
I therefore declare that J. Murray Knight was elected Selectman and Surveyor of Highways on the seventh day of March, 1887.
FRANCIS A. HOBART, Moderator.
A TRUE COPY,
Attest :
SAMUEL A. BATES, Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, April 4, 1887.
Pursuant to adjournment from March 7, 1887, the meeting was called to order by the Moderator.
Voted, That Art. 2 be taken from the table.
Voted, That the Treasurer of the Trustees of the Thayer Public Library be required to deposit the income of the trust fund with the Town Treasurer.
After considerable discussion, it was voted that the report of the Auditors be accepted.
Voted, That Art. 4 be taken from the table.
The Town Clerk reported a list of officers elect who had declined or had not taken their oath of office, viz: Constables, Gilman D. Whittaker and John Kelley, 2d; Measurer of Wood, Alfred F. Smith; Field Drivers, F. H. Dearing, E. F. Porter, Horace Dana, F. F. Tupper, G. E. Fogg, and C. O. Miller.
Voted, That Edward M. Wight be elected Measurer of Wood, and he was sworn by the Moderator.
Voted, That the Selectmen are hereby authorized to fill the vacancies in field drivers if in their judgment they shall deem it necessary.
Voted, That Art. 4 be laid on the table.
Article 6 taken from the table.
'Voted, That the following sums of money be raised and ap- propriated for the several objects specified, namely :
Schools
$8,400 00 .
In addition to what may be received from the state and town school funds, and the dog tax, which are hereby appropriated for schools.
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Text books and supplies
$800 00
Stone roads
3,000 00
Public Library
500 00
Grand Army of the Republic, Post 87
150 00
Interest on the town debt .
2,000 00
Town officers
2,200 00
Repairs on highways .
3,400 00
Four hundred dollars of this amount shall be expended in paving the gutters on Hollis and Monatiquot avenues.
Article 6 laid on the table.
Article 23 taken up.
Voted, That the town accept the new road from the end of Pearl street, near the Old Colony railroad station, to a point near the junction of Liberty and Middle streets, as laid out by the Selectmen.
Voted, That the sum of $4,000 be raised and appropriated to build said road.
Article 15 taken up.
The surveyors of highways made a verbal report of the con- dition of Quincy avenue, and it was voted that the sum of $1,500 be appropriated to repair Quincy avenue.
Article 16 taken up.
Voted, That the sum of $200 be raised and appropriated to finish Walnut avenue.
Article 14 taken up.
Voted, That the matter of building a drain to carry the water off Central avenue be referred to the Selectmen, with instructions to build such a drain as shall carry off the water.
Voted, That when this meeting adjourns, it be adjourned to Monday, April 25 instant, at 7 hours, 45 minutes P. M.
Article 25 taken up.
Voted, That the consideration of this article be referred to the adjourned meeting.
Article 18 taken up.
Voted, That the sum of $200 be raised and appropriated to finish Prospect street.
Article 10 taken up.
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Voted, To raise. and appropriate the sum of $100 to deliver books from the Public Library to.the people of the east part of the town, under the direction of the trustees of said library.
Voted to adjourn.
SAMUEL A. BATES, Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, April 25, 1887.
Pursuant to adjournment from April 4th inst., the meeting was called to order by the Moderator.
Article 25 taken from the table.
Moved that the following amendment to article 11 of the By-laws be adopted, viz. :
" The Board of Trustees of the Thayer Public Library shall consist of six persons, who shall be citizens of the town, and shall be elected by ballot at the annual town meeting immedi- ately upon the adoption of this amendment: two of these trustees shall be elected to serve until the expiration of three years, two until the expiration of two years, and two until the expiration of one year from the annual town meeting at which they are elected, and thereafter two such trustees shall be chosen annually, to serve for three years. Vacancies occurring from any cause shall be filled at the next annual town meeting."
Voted, That the above motion be indefinitely postponed.
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