USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1897 > Part 7
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ART. 29. The committee on grade crossings appointed last year reported progress.
Voted, To add two to that committee, and that they act under the same conditions as last year ; the committee as now constituted are J. T. Stevens, N. E. Hollis, E. W. Arnold, B.
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F. Dyer, George H. Arnold, George H. Weatherbee, Jr., and Frank O. Wellington.
ART. 28. . Voted, That a committee of three be appointed to investigate the purchase of the combination wagon of Hose Co. No. 1, and report at the adjourned meeting. Moderator appointed John Cavanagh, William Allen and Edward Shay as that committee.
ART. 6. Voted. To appropriate $1,500 for removal of snow.
Voted, To instruct the Selectmen to see that the Street Railway Company remove the snow in compliance with the provisions of their franchise.
Voted, That the section in the appropriation committee's report relating to Town Officers be passed over.
ART. 24. Indefinitely postponed.
ART. 25. Indefinitely postponed.
ART. 27. Indefinitely postponed.
ART. 6. Appropriation for support of poor, $4,000.
ART. 15. Appropriation for night police, $1,800.
Voted, That when we adjourn it be for one week at 7.45 o'clock P. M.
ART. 6. Janitor Town Hall and Library, $600. Inci- dental expenses of Town Hall, $175.
Voted, To refer the matter of town lands to a committee of three to investigate the needs of said lands, especially Plain Street Cemetery, and report, with recommendations, at the adjourned meeting ; also to consider the price charged for burial lots.
Insurance on public buildings, $700.
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Interest on town debt, $5,000.
Incidental expenses, $2,000.
Voted, To adjourn to Monday evening, March 22, at 7.45. A true record-Attest :
H. A. MONK, Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, March 22, 1897.
The town met in accordance with adjournment from March 15. Moderator in the chair.
ART. 6. Voted, To appropriate the following sums of money :-
For abatement of taxes, $1,500.
For court fees and expenses, $100.
ART. 9. Voted, To appropriate the sum of $175 and pay the same to Gen. S. Thayer, Post 87, G. A. R., to assist in defraying the expenses of Memorial Day.
ART. 6. For Thayer Public Library, $800. For distrib- uting library books, $100. For Soldiers' Relief, Act of 1890, $400. For State Aid, Chap. 279, P. S., $100.
ART, 32. Voted, To accept Hillside Road as a town way as laid out by the Selectmen.
Voted, To appropriate the sum of $1,050 for the con- struction of said road.
ART. 34. Relating to widening and re-locating Washing- ton street as ordered by the County Commissioners.
Voted, On motion of Mr. Abercrombie, that the matter be referred to the Selectmen to investigate and report to the town at some future meeting some definite sum for the build- ing of the street.
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Voted, On motion of Mr. French, that the Selectmen be instructed, upon receipt hereafter, of notice from the County Commissioners appointing a hearing on an application to lay out a new highway, or to widen or straighten an existing highway within the limits of the town ; to call a town. meet- ing to be held before the return day of said notice to act upon said application.
ART. 6. Voted, To appropriate the sum of $800 for painting public buildings, Town House. Engine Houses. Pond, Union and Monatiquot School Houses. and that the stock for the same shall be purchased by the town, the money to be expended under direction of the Selectmen.
ART. 30. Indefinitely postponed.
ART. 31. Indefinitely postponed.
ART. 8. Voted, On motion of Mr. Hobart, that interest be charged on all unpaid taxes after Dec. 1, 1897.
ART. 6. The committee to investigate the needs of town lands reported with recommendations.
Voted. To appropriate the sum of $275 for town lands, $250 of said amount to be expended at Plain Street Ceme- tery in accordance with the recommendations of the commit- tee appointed to investigate the needs of said cemetery, the balance for other town lands.
Voted, On motion of Mr. Willis, that Plain Street Cem- etery be all lotted up, and that the price to be charged for said lots be left discretionary with the Selectinen.
The committee appointed to consider the matter of the consolidation of town offices and to consider salaries to be paid town officers recommended the uniting of Town Clerk and Tax Collector with a salary of $800 per year; after a lengthy discussion it was voted on motion of Mr. Kelley to indefinitely postpone the whole matter.
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Voted, On motion of Mr. Potter, that a committee of three e appointed to examine the methods of book-keeping in all he departments of the town, and report to the town at some uture meeting, said committee to serve without pay.
Voted, On motion of Mr. Hobart that a committee of three be appointed to transfer all records, papers and other prop- erty of the town from the late Town Clerk to the present one, and to also perfect the past records. The Moderator appointed Mr. A. O. Clark, John Kelley and H. A. Monk as that committee.
Voted, On motion of Mr. Abercrombie, that we take up the matter of salaries for town officers separately.
Voted, On motion of Mr. Abercrombie, as amended by Mr. Potter, that the salaries of the Selectmen be $650 each per year.
Voted, Onmotion of Mr. Abercrombie, as amended by Mr. French, that the salary of the Treasurer be $525 per year, to include all services rendered as Treasurer of the Town, Treasurer of Water Loan Sinking Funds, Electric Light Sinking Fund, etc.
Voted, To adjourn to Monday, March 29, 1897, at 7.45 o'clock P. M.
A true record .- Attest :
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H. A. MONK, . Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, March 29, 1897.
The town met in accordance with adjournment from March 22, 1897 at 7.48 o'clock moderator in the chair.
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ART 6. The salaries of town officers being still under consideration. It was voted that the salary of the Town Clerk be fixed at $500 per year for all services rendered the town in connection with his office exclusive of fees fixed by statute, said salary to include his services as Registrar of Voters.
Voted, That the combined salaries of the Auditors be fixed at $100 per year.
Voted, That the salaries of Registrars of Voters be fixed at $35 each per year.
Voted, That the Water Commissioners be paid out of the appropriation for town officers and that the amount be fixed at $100 each per year.
Voted, To appropriate the sum of $3.480 for town officers.
ART. 28. The committee appointed to investigate the purchase of the hose wagon at East Braintree reported with- out recommendations.
Voted, To refer the whole matter to the selectmen with instructions to reorganize the Board of Engineers if they deem it advisable.
Voted, On motion of Mr. Kelley, that all departments of the town are hereby instructed that in letting contracts they require closed bids on the same to be made and that bidders be notified of the time and place at which the bids shall be opened, and that said bids be opened in the presence of the bidders, the town reserving the right to reject any and all bids, and that all contracts for public work be done in ac- cordance with Chap. 494 of the Acts of 1896.
ART. 20. Voted, To amend Art. 9 of the By-laws to read as follows: The Town of Braintree hereby avails itself of the several provisions of the Statutes of the Common- wealth now in force relating to habitual truants and children between seven and fifteen years of age, who
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may be found wandering about in the streets or public places therein, having no lawful occupation or busi- ness, not attending school and growing up in igno- rance, and such children as persistently violate the reason- able rules and regulations of the public schools ; and such children shall upon conviction thereof, be committed by the court or tribunal, to which jurisdiction of such offences are given by the Statutes of the Commonwealth, to the Bristol, Norfolk and Plymouth Counties School at Walpole, for con- finement, instruction and discipline. It shall be the duty of the Truant Officers to keep a full record of all their official acts and to make an annual report thereof to the School Committee, who shall publish the same with their own report.
. Upon the request of Mr. Abercrombie and the unanimous consent of the meeting the following resolution was intro- duced and adopted :
Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting that cheaper fares ought to be obtained between the several villages of this town and the city of Boston. That a committee of three be appointed to confer with the authorities of the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co. and endeavor to have them reduce the price of 100 rides and also to issue a 50-ride book.
Voted, On motion of Mr. May, that the committee serve without pay ; moderator appointed E. E. Abercombie, F. . A. Hobart and D. G. Doane as that committee.
Voted, To adjourn to next Monday evening, April 5. at 7.45.
A true record-Attest :
H. A. MONK, Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, March 30, 1897.
The town having refused to elect assessors of taxes, the following named persons : Ansel O. Clark, William W.
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Mayhew and J. Parker Hayward, the same being Selectmen of the town of Braintree, personally appeared before me this 30th day of March, 1897, and severally took the oath of office prescribed by the Public Statutes for assessors of taxes.
H. A. MONK, Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, April 5, 1897.
The town met in accordance with adjournment from March 29, 1897. Moderator in the chair.
ART. 29. Voted, On motion of Mr. Hobart that the name of Charles T. Crane be added to the committee on grade crossings.
ART. 7. Voted, On motion of Mr. Kelley, that the names of William Allen, Henry Gardner, J. Murray Knight, J. R. Laws and J. E. Sheridan be stricken from the jury list pre- sented by the Selectmen.
Voted, To accept the list as amended.
ART. 5. Voted, On motion of Mr. Clark as amended by Mr. Abercrombie that for the purpose of procuring a tem- porary loan to, and for the use of the town of Braintree 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 the Board of Select- men a sum or sums in the aggregate amounting to $60,000, and to execute and deliver the note or notes of the town therefor, payable within one year from the time the loan is made, with interest thereon at the lowest rate that can be procured at 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 taxes of the present municipal. year.
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ART. 34. Mr. Clark, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen reported on expense of relocating and widening a part of Washington street that the sum of $1,745 would be neces- sary to do the work and moved that that sum be appro- priated, which amount was voted.
The following resolutions were presented by Mr. George H. Arnold and adopted by the meeting, First,
Resolved, That it be declared the sense of the citizens of Braintree in Annual Town Meeting assembled that no franchises or additions to franchises already granted, or locations, re-locations or rights for turn-outs, switches, etc., be granted to any street railway company unless such companies shall agree to carry passengers any distance with- in the town for one fare of five cents or less, upon their own road and shall also arrange if possible for free transfers with any other roads operated within the town. Second,
Resolved, That it is the sense of the town that the Select- men should prevent all street railway companies raising their tracks above the level of the streets and in all cases where tracks have been laid other than as directed in their franchises, such tracks shall be made to conform to the locations speci- fied. Third,
Resolved, That the town does not approve of the granting of free passes to the Selectmen or other town officers.
ART. 3. Voted, On motion of T. H. Dearing. That in concurrence with the abutters, it shall be the duty of the Superintendent of Highways to care for and protect the shade trees that are upon the streets, and that no such trees shall be cut down or trimmed without his consent.
Voted, That the Selectmen require the Superintendent to have cut down and destroyed, all the wild cherry trees and other unsightly trees and bushes that are found upon our principal streets.
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ART. 6. Voted, On motion of Mr. Willis. That the town raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000 to be devoted to the building of concrete sidewalks and curbing of the same, said. money to be spent in equal proportions in each of the three parts of the town, the abutters to pay ¿ of the cost of work done, the work to be performed by and in the same order in which petitions for same are filed with the selectmen by abutters. Curbing to be of granite of usual quality and dimensions. Abutters desiring any special kind or design to pay whole of the increased cost of said kind and design.
Voted, To appropriate in the aggregate $85,003 and that $78,003 of that be assessed.
Voted, That the Selectmen have authority to draw orders on the Treasurer for $2,300 for State Aid, Chap. 301, and for $700 for hospital expenses.
. Voted, On motion of Mr. Potter. That an appropriation made for any specific purpose shall not be exceeded during the ensuing year, and any part of an appropriation not used, shall not be used for any other purpose.
ART. 21. Voted, On motion of Mr. Scollard. That, whereas A. S. Morrison and others who were granted a fran- chise, dated Sept. 20, 1889, for the purpose of furnishing electric light to certain residences named in said franchise, have run wires over streets and set poles therein, not in accordance with and in excess of the terms of said franchise and, whereas, the said A. S. Morrison and others are now carrying on a general commercial lighting business without authority from the town, we, the citizens of Braintree, in annual town meeting assembled, protest against said parties carrying on a commercial lighting business, except as pro- vided by the terms of the aforesaid franchise, dated Sept. 20,1889.
Voted, That a committee of three be selected to consult with the Board of Gas Commissioners and the Attorney-Gen- eral of the Commonwealth in reference to the rights of the
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town in this matter; that said committee be authorized to take legal advice on the subject, and is hereby directed to make a report of the whole status of the case to the town at a date not later than October 1, 1897. Moderator appointed C. C. Mellen, John Cavanagh and F. O. Wellington as that committee.
ART. 4. Voted, That the collection of taxes be let out to the lowest bidder. Frank A. Smith agreed to collect the taxes for five mills ona dollar, and on ballot he was elected tax collector for the ensuing year.
Voted, on motion of Mr. Hobart, that the special commit- tee on transfer of town records take such action as they deem proper to perfect the records of the late town clerk, and also, if they deem it necessary, apply to the legislature for an act legalizing the same.
ART. 2. Voted, To accept the report of the town officers as amended.
Voted, On motion of Mr. Kelley, as amended by Mr. Clark, that the assessors prepare and have printed in the town report, a list of the separate land holdings of the town, arranged by streets or public highways, in order, as the sep- arate holdings are located on or near said streets or public highways, such list to show the assessors estimate of the amount of land in each holding, of its length of frontage on street or public highway, its assessed valuation and the name of its owner.
Voted to adjourn sine die.
A true record-Attest :
H. A. MONK,
Town Clerk.
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BRAINTREE, April 13, 1897.
. Mr. Hartley L. White's oath of office as superintendent of streets, executed before George H. Weatherbee, justice of the peace, was filed in this office this 13th day of April, 1897.
HENRY A. MONK, Town Clerk.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK, SS.
SUPERIOR COURT, May Sitting, Viz. : May 20, 1897.
Upon the petition of Henry A. Monk, Town Clerk of Braintree, in said County, praying that the amendment to Article 9 of the By-laws of said Town as adopted by the in- habitants of said Town on the twenty-ninth day of March, A. D., 1897, may be approved by the Court, which article, as amended, reads as follows .:-
The town of Braintree hereby avails itself of the several provisions of the Statutes of the Commonwealth now in force relating to habitual truants and children between seven and fifteen years of age who may be found wandering about in the streets or public places therein, having no lawful oc- cupation or business, not attending school and growing up in ignorance, and such children as persistently violate the rea- sonable rules and regulations of the public schools, and such children shall, upon conviction thereof, be committed by the Court or Tribunal to which jurisdiction of such offences are given by the Statutes of the Commonwealth to the Bristol, Norfolk and Plymouth Counties School at Walpole for con- finement, instruction and discipline ; it shall be the duty of
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the Truant Officers to keep a full record of all their official acts, and to make an annual report to the School Committee, who shall publish the same with their own report.
It is ordered by the Court that said By-law, as amended, be approved.
Attest :
LOUIS A. COOK, Clerk
A true copy-Attest :
.
HENRY A MONK, Town Clerk.
WARRANT FOR TOWN MEETING.
NORFOLK, SS. To either of the Constables of the Town of Brain- tree. GREETING :-
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby 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 said Braintree on Monday, the 27th day of September, 1897, at seven and one half o'clock in the even- ing, to act on the following articles, namely :
ARTICLE. 1. To choose a moderator to preside at said meeting.
ART. 2. To see if the town will vote to purchase the copy or the index to the Town Records as made by Samuel A. Bates.
ART. 3. To see if the town will vote to accept of Chapter 51 of the Public Statutes and the amendments thereto, in relation to betterments and other assessments on account of public improvements.
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ART. 4. To see if the town will vote to extend the water system on West street to a point near the West Street School House and appropriate a sum of money for the same.
ART. 5. To see if the town will appropriate an additional sum of money to be expended for the repair of highways, and vote to transfer the unexpended appropriation made at the last annual Town Meeting for the construction of con- crete sidewalks, to the repair of highways.
ART. 6. To see if the town will change or amend the vote passed at the last annual Town Meeting in relation to printing the valuation of land in the Town Report, or vote to have a survey and plans of the improved lands made for the purpose of enabling the assessors to fix a more correct valuation throughout the town.
ART. 7. To see if the town will provide suitable drain- age on Hollis and Dearing avenues.
ART. 8. To see if the town will make an additional appropriation to build a stable and store room at the elec- tric light station.
You are to give notice of this meeting by posting up true and attested copies of this warrant in not less than nine pub- lic places in this town, seven days at least before the time of said meeting, and by publishing once in the Braintree Bee.
Hereof fail not and make return of this warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk before the time of said meeting.
Given under our hands this fifteenth day of September in . the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven.
ANSEL O. CLARK, WM. W. MAYHEW, J. PARKER HAYWARD.
Selectmen of Braintree.
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BRAINTREE, Sept. 25, 1897.
NORFOLK, SS. :
Pursuant to the within warrant I have notificd the inhabi- tants of the town of Braintree herein described to meet at the time and place and for the purposes within mentioned by posting up attested copies of this warrant at more than nine public places in said town of Braintree, seven days before the time set for said meeting and I have caused the said warrant to be published once in the Braintree Bee before the time set for said meeting.
HORACE FAXON, Constable of Braintree,
A true copy .- Attest :
HENRY A. MONK, Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, Sept. 27, 1897.
In accordance with the foregoing warrant the meeting was called to order at 7.30 o'clock P. M., by Henry A. Monk, Town Clerk, and the warrant for the meeting was read.
ARTICLE 1. Upon ballot Mr. John Kelley was elected Moderator, and sworn by the Town Clerk.
ART. 2. Taken up for consideration, Voted, To refer the same to the next annual meeting.
ART. 3. Taken up. Voted, To refer the same to the next annual meeting.
ART. 4. Taken up. Voted, On motion of Mr. E. E. Abercrombie to refer the matter to the Water Commissioners with instructions to act according to their best judgment.
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ART. 5. Taken up. Voted, On motion of Mr. A. O. Clark as amended by Judge French that the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) be appropriated for repair of high- ways.
ART. 6. Taken up. Voted, On motion of Mr. E. E. Abercrombie, as amended by Judge French, that the Select- men be instructed to take no further action under the. vote passed at the last annual meeting.
ART. 7. Voted, On motion of Mr. Daniel Potter that this matter be referred to the next annual meeting.
ART. 8. Taken up. Voted, On motion of Judge French that for the purpose of building a stable, store room and office at the electric light station the sum of eight hundred dollars ($800) be appropriated, the same to include the sum of five hundred dollars ($500) previously appropriated for that purpose.
Voted, That this meeting be now dissolved.
A true record .- Attest :
H. A. MONK,
Town Clerk.
NORFOLK SS. To either of the Constables of the Town of Braintree. GREETING :- '
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the town of Braintree qualified to vote in elections, to meet at the Town Hall in said Braintree on Tuesday, the second day of November, 1897, at six o'clock in the forenoon, to bring in their votes to the Selectmen for Governor of the Common- wealth, Lieutenant Governor, Treasurer and Receiver-Gen- eral, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Auditor, and At-
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torney-General for the Commonwealth, one County Com- missioner, County Treasurer, and Register of Deeds for the County of Norfolk, Senator for the First Norfolk Senatorial District, two representatives to the General Court for District No. 6 of the County of Norfolk ; all of the above votes to be on one ballot. The polls will be kept open until one o'clock P. M.
You are directed to serve this warrant by posting up at- tested copies thereof in not less than nine public places in this town seven days at least before the time of said meet- ing, and by publishing once in the Braintree Reporter.
Hereof fail not and make return of this warrant with your doings thercon, to the Selectmen before the time of said meeting.
Given under our hands at Braintree this twenty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred and ninety-seven.
ANSEL O. CLARK, WILLIAM W. MAYHEW, J. PARKER HAYWARD,
Selectmen of Braintree.
NORFOLK, SS.
BRAINTREE, October 23, 1897.
` Pursuant to the within warrant I have notified the inhab- itants of the town of Braintree herein described, to meet at the time and place and for the purpose within mentioned, by posting up attested copies of this warrant at more than nine public places in said town of Braintree seven days before the
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time set for said meeting, and have caused the said war- rant to be published once in the Braintree Reporter before the time set for said meeting.
HORACE FAXON, Constable of Braintree.
A true copy-Attest :
HENRY A. MONK, Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, November 2, 1897.
In accordance with the foregoing warrant, the meeting was called to order and the warrant read by Ansel O. Clark, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, who presided at the meeting.
W. A. Kane and Richard L. Arnold having been ap- pointed ballot clerks.
John V. Scollard and Nathaniel F. Hunt, inspectors. Daniel Potter, Will H. Shaw, Thomas P. Harrison, Will W. Mayhew, Charles F. Cavanagh, Charles G. Sheppard, Charles A. Belcher and John H. Sullivan as tellers, were all sworn by the Town Clerk.
The Town Clerk delivered to the presiding officer the first set of ballots and received his receipt for the same.
The cards of instruction and specimen ballots were posted according to law.
The Clerk of the Board of Registrars furnished the pre- siding officer with a list of the qualified voters for the use of the Selectmen, and a duplicate copy for the use of the ballot clerks.
The polls were declared open at three minutes past six o'clock A. M.
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Voted, That the polls be kept open until one fifteen o'clock P. M., and then closed, and at that time the" polls were declared closed.
At the close of the balloting the presiding officer an- nounced that 547 names had been checked by the ballot clerks, and that 547 names had been checked by the Selectmen.
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