USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1902 > Part 2
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You are to give notice of this meeting by posting up truë 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, and by publishing the same 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 at Braintree this first day of Feb- ruary, in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and two.
ANSEL O. CLARK, WM. W. MAYHEW, J. PARKER HAYWARD, Selectmen of Braintree.
A true copy,-Attest : CHARLES A. HOBART, Constable of Braintree.
BRAINTREE, February 10, 1902.
The town met in accordance with the foregoing warrant at the time and place specified; the meeting was called to order and the warrant then read by the Town Clerk.
Article 1. Upon ballot with the use of the check list Mr. E. E. Abercrombie was elected moderator and was sworn by the Town Clerk.
Art. 2. Voted that the provisions of Section 353 of Chap- ter II of the Revised Laws of Massachusetts be accepted, and that "Precinct Voting " be established for the election of all town officers required to be elected by ballot at the annual town election and for such other town officers as the town has already determined shall be so elected, and for voting on the question of granting licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors, and such elections shall be held in the precincts already established.
Voted to adjourn.
A true record,-Attest :
H. A. MONK,
Town Clerk.
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WARRANT FOR ANNUAL TOWN MEETING.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
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 directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the town of Braintree, qualified to vote in elections therein, to meet at the polling places in their respective precincts, to wit :
Polling place in Precinct No. 1, Town Hall ;
Polling place in Precinct No. 2, Hose House, Hollis avenue ; Polling place in Precinct No. 3, Hose House, Allen street ;
on Monday, the third day of March, 1902, at six o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to bring in to the Wardens of their respective precincts their votes on one ballot for a Town Clerk, a Town Treasurer, three Selectmen, three Assessors, three Over- seers of the Poor, three Road Commissioners, one for a term of one year, one for two years, and one for a term of three years ; three Auditors, three Fence Viewers, a Tax Collector, a Tree Warden, two members of the Board of School Committee for three years, one Water Commissioner and Commissioner of Sink- ing Funds for three years, and one member of the Board of Health for three years, and fifteen Constables. Also to vote on the same ballot Yes or No upon the question "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town ?"
Also to vote Yes or No on the same ballot on the following Article, namely : "Shall an Act passed by the Legislature of the Commonwealth in the year eighteen hundred and eighty-two, together with the amendments thereof, entitled, An Act author- izing towns and cities to lay out public parks within their limits, be accepted."
The polls will be open at six o'clock in the forenoon and may be closed at 12 o'clock M.
You are further directed to notify and warn said inhabitants qualified to vote as aforesaid, to meet at the Town Hall in said Braintree on Monday, the tenth day of March, 1902, at seven
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and one half o'clock in the evening, then and there to act on the following articles, namely :
Article 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meet- ing.
Art. 2. To choose all other town officers except those elected by ballot.
Art. 3. To hear and act upon the reports of the several Boards of Town Officers, and of any committee, and to choose any committee the town may think proper.
Art. 4. To see if the town will authorize its Treasurer with the approval of a majority of the Selectmen to borrow money in anticipation of taxes, and issue notes of the town therefor. Also to see if the town will hold the Treasurer harm- less on his bond from any loss which may arise from the failure of any National Bank in which the funds of the town may be on deposit, said bank or banks being designated by the Select- men. Also to see if the town will continue to pay for the bond of its Treasurer.
Art. 5. To see if the town will vote to charge interest on all unpaid taxes after a certain date.
Art. 6. To see what sums of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for the support of the Public Schools and for transporting pupils to and from the same.
Art. 7. To see what sums of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for the repairs of highways, town-ways and bridges. Also for repairs and building sidewalks and stone road, removal of snow and watering streets.
Art. 8. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for support of the poor.
Art. 9. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for support and maintenance of the Fire Department, purchase of new hose, harnesses, etc.
Art. 10. To see if the town will vote to choose a Municipal Light Board as provided by Section 10 of Chapter 454 of the Acts of 1893, one for the term of one year, one for the term of two years, and one for the term of three years.
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Art. 11. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for operating expenses of the Electric Light Department, for connecting new consumers, etc.
Art. 12. To see if the town will vote to continue its night police and raise and appropriate a sum of money for the same.
Art. 13. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate a sum of money to assist Post 87, G. A. R., in defraying the expenses of memorial services on Memorial Day.
Art. 14. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sum of money for hydrant service.
Art. 15. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sum of money for the Water Loan Sinking Funds.
Art. 16. To see if the town will raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary for the payment of notes, and for the payment of interest on the same.
Art. 17. To see what sums of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for the payment of town officers.
Art. 18. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for the Thayer Public Library and for the distribution of library books.
Art. 19. To see what sums of money the town will raise and appropriate for supplies and repairs of the Town Hall, and for services of a janitor.
Art. 20. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for miscellaneous expenses.
Art. 21. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for abatements of taxes.
Art. 22. To see what sum of money the town- will vote to raise and appropriate for insurance on town buildings.
Art. 23. To see what sum of money the town will vote to appropriate for the support of the insane in hospitals; for the payment of State Aid and Military Aid, and for Soldiers' Relief, as provided by Chapter 447 of the Acts of 1890, and to determine how much of the same shall be raised by taxation.
Art. 24. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for the payment of court fees and expenses in crimi- nal cases.
7
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Art. 25. To see if the town will accept the jury list as pre- pared by the Selectmen.
Art. 27. To see if the town will accept the laying out of Stedman avenue, so-called, as a town way, as made by the Select- men, leading southerly from School street to Elm street, and appropriate a sum of money to build the same.
Art. 28. To see if the town will accept the laying out of Harrison avenue, so-called, as a town way, as made by the Select- men, leading westerly from Middle street to a point near the new Penniman schoolhouse, and raise and appropriate a sum of money to build the same.
Art. 29. To see if the town will vote to amend Section 8 of Article 8 of the By-Laws of the Town of Braintree, by adding after the word " Town " in said section, the words : " provided, however, that the Selectmen may at the request of seven citi- zens of the town, designate certain streets on which coasting with a sled or runners may be allowed."
Art. 30. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate a sum of money to be expended by the Tree Warden.
Art. 31. To see if the town will vote to build a drain on the west side of Washington street from a point in front of the house of C. H. Hobart, to connect with the drain at the end of Holbrook avenue and appropriate the sum of $230.00 to build the same.
Art. 32. To see if the town will supply the Board of Health with a team for the purpose of removing rubbish from the high- ways, and appropriate money for the same.
Art. 33. To see if the town will vote to place suitable .ights on Grove street, between Plain and Liberty streets, and appropriate money for the same.
Art. 34. To see if the town will vote to direct the proper officers to open the school on Liberty street.
Art. 35. To see if the town will vote to extend the street lights on West street, from the junction of West and Granite streets to a point near the Blue Hill cemetery, and appropriate money for the same.
Art. 36. To see if the town desires to take any action in
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relation to building concrete sidewalks and appropriate money therefor.
Art. 37. To see if the town will vote to build a sidewalk on Pearl street from the tracks of the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. to the junction of Pearl and Fountain streets and appropriate a sum of money for the same.
Art. 38. To see if the town will rescind the vote passed at the last annual Town Meeting, wherein it was voted to accept of the act to choose a Board of Road Commissioners.
You are directed to serve this warrant by posting up attested copies thereof in three public places in each Precinct in said Town of Braintree, seven days at least before said' third day of March, 1902, and by publishing the same once in the Brain- tree Observer and Reporter.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk before the first day of March, 1902. 1
·Given under our hands at Braintree, this twelfth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and two.
ANSEL O. CLARK, WM. W. MAYHEW, J. PARKER HAYWARD,
Selectmen of Braintree.
A true copy,-Attest :
CHARLES A. HOBART, Constable of Braintree. ~
BRAINTREE, March 3, 1902.
In accordance with the foregoing warrant, the voters assem- bled in their respective precincts to cast their ballots for town officers for the ensuing year and also to vote on the questions of granting liquor licenses and on the acceptance of the Act of the Legislature of the year 1884 relating to public parks. The polls
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were opened at six o'clock A. M. and were closed as follows : Precinct One at 1.15 P. M .; Precinct Two at 1.30 P. M .; Pre- cinct Three at
At the close of the counting of the votes, the returns were made up by the clerks of the respective precincts and forwarded to the Registrars of Voters, by whom they were canvassed. The result of the ballot as determined by the Registrars and so de- clared, was as follows:
Whole number of ballots deposited was eight hundred four (804) and were for the following persons, namely :
FOR TOWN CLERK.
Henry A Monk had 617
H. P. Hobart
1
Henry A. Monk was declared elected.
FOR TOWN TREASURER.
Benjamin F. Dyer had
607
Alva S. Morrison
1
Benjamin F. Dyer was declared elected and sworn by the Town Clerk.
FOR SELECTMEN, ASSESSORS AND OVERSEERS' OF POOR.
J. Franklin Bates had
51
Ansel O. Clark
66
·
.
.
461
James E. Downs 66
82
J. Parker Hayward
442
Arthur L. Hobart 66
.
77 338
Warren B. Keith 66
.
211
William W. Mayhew "
253
Alva S. Morrison
108
James G. Neal
35
William O. Pinckney "
49
J. J. Downs
.
Ansel O. Clark, J. Parker Hayward and Warren B. Keith were declared elected and sworn by the Town Clerk.
1
.
Willie J. Loring
. . .
29
FOR ROAD COMMISSIONER FOR THREE YEARS.
Daniel Potter had
.
A. O. Clark
66
.
.
1
Carroll Holbrook
66
1
Louis W. Thayer
1
W. A. Kane
1
Brainard T. Dyer 66
1
James Colbert
1
Daniel Potter was declared elected.
FOR ROAD COMMISSIONER FOR TWO YEARS.
Hartley L. White had
451
William W. Mayhew
.
·
.
1
Warren B. Keith
1
Joseph Crickmay
1
J. Starkey
1
Frank Jackson
66
1
Hartley L. White was delared elected and was sworn by the Town Clerk.
FOR ROAD COMMISSIONER FOR ONE YEAR.
William Allen had . 471
Morris Gurney
92
J. Parker Hayward 66 1
William Allen was declared elected and was sworn by the · Town Clerk.
FOR TREE WARDEN.
Elmer E. Abercrombie had
.
514
William Cronin
.
1
B. J. Loring
66
.
1
William Jones 66
·
1
John Kelley
1
W. H. Cuff
66
.
1
Albert Hobart
1
·
.
.
.
Elmer E. Abercrombie was declared elected and sworn by the Town Clerk.
500
30
FOR WATER COMMISSIONER AND COMMISSIONER OF "SINKING FUNDS " FOR THREE YEARS.
John Kelley had 374
Robert J. McMeekin
. 164
John W. West 66 172
John Kelley was declared elected and accepted.
FOR AUDITORS.
Charles G. Jordan had
556
Alva S. Morrison 66
.
.
.
.
538
Daniel Potter
·
556
C. Cummings 66
.
1
C. H. Hayward 66
1
Charles G. Jordan, Alva S. Morrison and Daniel Potter declared elected and sworn.
FOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR THREE YEARS.
William C. Harding had
551
Carrie F. Loring
.
.
546
Ella Sheppard
1
E. Abercrombie . 66
1
I. L. Jones 66
1
William C. Harding and Carrie F. Loring declared elected and sworn.
FOR CONSTABLES.
Henry Dugan, Jr.,
had
.
445
Jeremiah F. Gallivan
66
.
438
Francis A. Gannon
66
353
William Garde
66
168
David C. Hazeltine
336
Charles A. Hobart
385
Horace F. Hunt
66
458
John Kelley
391
James King
66
349
Bradford Y. Knight
66
304
Benjamin J. Loring®
429
William E. Maybury
66
433
.
.
.
1
31
Conrad Mischler
had
384
Joseph F. Mohan
66
·
320
William H. Moir
66
.
300
James R. Qualey
66
273
Thomas Slavin 66
.
Frank O. Whitmarsh
66
Edward M. Wight
66
.
Edward Thomas
66
.
1
John Long
66
1
James McDonald 66
1
James Downs
1
Morris Gurney
66
1
George Nunes
66
1
George Howes
66
1
P. Spring
66
1
M. A. Colbert
66
1
T. Downey
66
1
G. Stevens
66
A. F. Hollis
66
·
1
T. Cullinan
66
1
Carroll Holbrook ·
1
Henry Dugan, Jr., Jeremiah F. Gallivan, Francis A. Gan- non, David C. Hazeltine, Charles A. Hobart, Horace F. Hunt, John. Kelley, James King, Bradford Y. Knight, Benjamin J Loring, William E. Maybury, Conrad Mischler, Joseph F. Mohan, William H. Moir, Frank O. Whitmarsh declared elected and sworn by the Town Clerk.
FOR BOARD OF HEALTH FOR THREE YEARS.
Henry L. Dearing had
586
Dr. Gould
1
J. F. Bates 66
1
Henry L. Dearing declared elected and sworn by the Town Clerk.
FOR FENCE VIEWERS.
J. Marcus Arnold had
536
C. S. Hannaford 481 . . .
277 335 253 1
Edward Starr
66
.
.
.
.
.
.
1 1
C. M. Lothrop
66
.
.
.
32
520
Alverdo H. Mason had
E. L. Frampton 66 1
W. A. Kane 66 1
J. Marcus Arnold, Charles S. Hannaford and Alverdo H Mason declared elected and sworn by the Town Clerk.
FOR COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
Frank A. Smith had 581
Murto Gallivan
2
Frank A. Smith was declared elected.
On the question : " Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town ? "
Yes,
204
No, 445
Shall an Act, passed by the Legislature of the Common- wealth in the year eighteen hundred and eighty-two, together with the amendments thereof entitled : "An Act authorizing towns and cities to lay out public parks within their limits," be accepted ?
Yes, 331
No,
138
A true record-Attest :
H. A. MONK,
Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, March 10, 1902.
In accordance with the foregoing warrant, and agreeable to the provisions of the Revised Laws of Massachusetts, the town met at the time and place specified in said warrant and proceed- ed to the consideration of the various matters contained therein. The meeting was called to order by the Town Clerk at seven and one-half o'clock P. M. On motion of Mr. F. A. Hobart the read- ing of the warrant, with the exception of the opening portion ' and the officer's return of the same, was dispensed with.
Article 1. Mr. A. O. Clark was appointed to check the
33
lists. Messrs. Brainard T. Dyer, Arthur L. Hobart and Robert E. Belcher were appointed to assort and count the ballots for Moderator. A ballot was taken for Moderator, the check lists were used and B. Herbert Woodsum was elected and sworn by the Town Clerk.
Art. 38 taken up for consideration. The following motion was made by Mr. John Kelley : That the town rescind the vote passed at the last annual town meeting whereby it accepted the . provisions of Section 337 of Chapter 548 of the Acts of 1898, and hereby abolish the Board of Road Commissioners elected under said Act.
Voted on motion of Mr. E. F. Porter that discussion of this question cease at S.35 o'clock P. M.
Voted to adopt the motion of Mr. Kelley.
Mr. Abercrombie gave notice of his intention to move a re- consideration at some future time.
A motion to reconsider the vote to abolish the Board of Road Commissioners was rejected.
Art. 2. Voted to choose five (5) surveyors of wood and weighers of hay. J. Marcus Arnold, Charles G. Sheppard, Wil- ford F. Woodsum, Edward M. Wight and Edward W. Hobart were chosen and sworn.
Voted to choose three (3) surveyors of lumber. H. W. Borden, Charles O. Miller and George H. Holbrook were chosen and sworn.
Voted to instruct the Selectmen to appoint one measurer of leather, one pound-keeper and three field-drivers.
Art. 10 taken up. Voted to postpone the consideration of this article until the first adjournment of this meeting. Voted that the Selectmen be instructed to consult counsel as to the legality of Article 10 as written in the warrant, and report to the town at an adjournment of this meeting.
Art. 3 taken up. Voted to lay this article on the table. Voted to take Article 3 from the table.
The committee on appropriations rendered their report with their recommendations covering the various articles of the war- rant. Voted to accept the report and that when acted upon it be taken up by items.
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Voted that the items be considered in consecutive order as reported by the committee.
Art. 4 taken up. Voted that for the purpose of procuring a temporary 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 a majority of the Board of Selectmen a sum or sums of money not exceeding in the ag- gregate, seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) and to execute and deliver the note or notes of the town therefor payable with- in one year from the time the loan is made. Any debt or debts incurred by a loan or loans to the town under this vote shall be paid from the taxes of the present municipal year.
Voted that the Town Treasurer be, and is hereby made custodian of all moneys of the several departments of the town and all the securities of the several Sinking Funds of the town. The Board of Water Commissioners are hereby instructed to elect the Treasurer of the town, treasurer of the Water Depart- ment. The Selectmen are hereby instructed to require from the Treasurer such a bond as in their judgment is necessary for the safety of such moneys and securities; that the town pay for said bond and that the Treasurer be held harmless on his bond from any loss from the failure of any National Bank in which the funds of the town may be on deposit, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen.
Voted to lay Article 4 on the table.
Art. 20 taken up. Voted to appropriate one hundred and five dollars ($105) to pay for the Treasurer's bond. .
Art. 6 taken up. Voted that at 10 o'clock this meeting adjourn to Thursday, March 20th, at 7.30 o'clock P. M.
Meeting adjourned.
A true record,-Attest :
H. A. MONK,
Town Clerk.
35
BRAINTREE, March 20, 1902.
The town met in accordance with adjournment from March 10th. The meeting was called to order by Moderator Woodsum at 7.45 o'clock P. M.
Article 6. Voted to appropriate :
For pay of teachers, in addition to dog tax and school fund, $18,000 00
For salary of superintendent of schools,
1,400 00
For janitors, including care of houses during sum- mer vacation, 2,132 00
For text books and supplies,
1,840 00
For incidentals for schools,
500 00
Voted to lay Article 6 on the table.
Art. 3. Voted to take up Article 3.
Voted that a committee of three be appointed to investigate the need of repairs on the Pond, Union and South schoolhouses and report at the next meeting. T. Haven Dearing, H. W. Borden and John W. West, were appointed as that committee.
The committee appointed at the last Annual Meeting to in- vestigate the matter of lower railroad fares, reported verbally that the Old Colony Street Railway Company were 'willing to comply with the law in relation to furnishing tickets to pupils of the public schools and that tickets in strips of ten could be purchased.
The committee on needs of South School District appointed at the last Annual Meeting, reported in writing recommending the re-opening of the school. (See public document No. 2 on file in Town Clerk's office).
Voted that the report be accepted and the recommendations adopted.
Voted that at 10 o'clock the Moderator declare this meeting adjourned to Monday, March 31, at 7.45 P. M.
The committee on future water supply reported progress.
Voted that the same committee continue to serve for the ensuing year.
Voted that a committee of five be appointed to take into
36
consideration the matter of obtaining material for the construc- tion of stone roads. John Kelley, H. L. White, John Cavanagh, Daniel Potter, T. F. Finnegan were appointed.
The Selectmen, under instructions of the town, procured the opinion of counsel on the legality of Article 10 of the war- rant ; the opinion of C. C. Mellen was presented in writing and was in substance that Commissioners could be legally elected. (See public document No. 3 on file in Town Clerk's office).
The committee appointed at the last Annual Meeting to in- vestigate the subject of an Electric Light Commission, reported verbally that it is their opinion that it would be advisable for the town to elect such a board.
Art. 3 laid on the table. .
Art. 6. Article 6 taken up.
Voted to adjourn to Monday, March 31, 1902, at 7.45 o'clock P. M.
A true record,-Attest : H. A. MONK, Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, March 31, 1902.
The town met in accordance with adjournment from March 20th. The meeting was called to order at 7.45 o'clock P. M. by Moderator Woodsum.
Voted that at 10 o'clock P. M. the Moderator shall declare this meeting adjourned to 8 o'clock P. M. Monday, April 7 next.
Article 6. Notice given by Dr. T. H. Dearing of his inten- tion to move a reconsideration of the vote passed at the last meeting whereby the town voted to reopen the South school.
The committee appointed at the last meeting to investigate the needs of certain schoolhouses reported in writing, which report was received (see public document No. 4, on file in Town Clerk's office).
Item 6 of the report of appropriation committee under con- sideration ; voted that this matter be laid on the table.
The Board of Health presented a report of the sanitary con-
37
dition of the schoolhouses; voted to receive the report (see public document No. 5, on file in Town Clerk's office).
Art. 3 taken up. Voted to take up the report of the com- mittee on schoolhouse repairs.
Voted to lay Article 3 on the table,
Art. 6. Voted to take up Article 6.
Voted that the sum of $600 be appropriated for the repair of the South schoolhouse and for the maintenance of a school therein, such part of said sum as may be needed to be used for said purposes.
Art. 3 taken up. A motion to reconsider the vote passed at the last meeting relating to the reopening of the South school · was rejected.
Art. 6 taken up. Voted to appropriate for repairs of school- houses, $1,000; for fuel, $1,600.
Meeting declared adjourned to Monday, April 7, at 8 o'clock P. M.
A true record, -Attest : H. A. MONK, Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, April 7, 1902.
The town met in accordance with adjournment from March 31st. Moderator Woodsum in the chair.
Article 6. Voted to appropriate the sum of $1,100 for trans- portation of pupils.
Art. 6 laid on the table.
Art. 7 taken up. Voted to re-appropriate the sum of $1,200 for maintenance of highways.
Voted to appropriate :
For maintenance of highways in addition to amount to be received from State $4,000 00
For construction of new stone road in addition to excise tax, 1,000 00
For construction and repairs of sidewalks, 1,500 00
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For watering streets, in addition to an assessment
of one cent per lineal foot on abuttors, 750 00
For removal of snow,
750 00
Art. 8. Voted to appropriate the sum of $6,000 for support of the poor.
Art. 9. Voted to appropriate the sum of $1,385 for the pay of firemen, engineers and stewards in addition to remission of poll taxes; 75 members at $15 each, 3 stewards at $65 each, and 3 engineers, $110.
Voted to appropriate the sum of $150 in addition to the above to pay the poll taxes.
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