Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1919, Part 2

Author:
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: The town
Number of Pages: 206


USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1919 > Part 2


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For Salary of Moderator. $25.00


For Selectmen's Department (including


salaries) 1960.00


For Accounting Department (including


expenses)


825.00


For Salaries of Auditors.


225.00


For Tax Collector's Dept. (including salary and bond)


1300.00


For Treasurer's Dept. (including salary and bond)


795.00


For Assessor's Dept. (including salaries)


1500.00


For re-writing Assessor's Books.


150.00


For Town Clerk's Dept. (including salary) 950.00


For Legal Expenses . 250.00


Article 7. For Registration and Elections 900.00


TOWN HALL


Article 8. For maintenance and janitor service $2750.00


POLICE DEPARTMENT


Voted to appropriate:


Article 9. For salary of Chief 1400.00


For salary of officers. 3900.00


For Sunday work . 300.00


For General and Court expenses .


900.00


FIRE DEPARTMENT


Article 10. Voted to appropriate:


For pay of Chief


$1560.00


For pay of Engineers 70.00


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For pay of Stewards


$150.00


For pay of Permanent men 2440.00


For pay of call men 900.00


50 Poll Taxes . 100.00


For extra pay of firemen


500.00


For new hose 800.00


For general expenses (including $500. for Qualey's truck and $600. for new auto equipment)


2,668.00


For repairs on Franklin Street House


200.00


For hydrant service 500.00


For maintenance of Fire Alarm


For insurance 200.00


30.00


For fire alarm box, Holmes and Washington Streets (reappropriated) 244.23


Article 11. Mr. C. F. Tarbox moved that a sum not exceeding $5,000.00 be raised and appropriated for the purchase of a piece of combination Motor Fire Apparatus, that said piece of apparatus, when purchased, be kept in the engine house of precinct 3. Mr. E. E. Abercrombie offered a substitute to the substitute, that a committee consisting of the Selectmen, Fire Chief and one other from each precinct, to investigate and also to consider the matter of repairs to the engine house.


Voted to lay Article 11 on the table.


Article 12. Motion that the recommendations of Appropriation Committee be amended that the sum of $1500 be appropriated to repair engine house in precinct 3.


Voted to take Article 11 from the table.


Voted to consider Articles 11 and 12 jointly.


Articles 11 and 12. Substitute motion of Mr. Aber- crombie not carried.


Substitute motion of Mr. Tarbox not carried.


Voted to indefinitely postpone all action under Articles 11 and 12.


Motion by Mr. Roger Lakin to reconsider last vote not carried.


INSPECTION


Article 13. Voted to appropriate:


For sealing Weights and Measures $600.00


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FORESTRY


Article 14. Voted to Appropriate:


For suppression of gypsy and brown tail moths . $5,500.00


Credits from work done on private property to revert to the Town.


500.00


For trimming trees


For forest fires


450.00


HEALTH


Article 15. Voted to appropriate:


For salaries


$350.00


For expenses . 75.00


For fumigation .


300.00


For collection of garbage


200.00


For care of dumps 100.00


For printing.


150.00


For contagious diseases 500.00


For vital statistics 100.00


For inspection of animals 100.00


For inspection of meats and slaughtering. 300.00


For inspection of milk 100.00


For inspection of plumbing 375.24


At 10:15 o'clock P. M. voted to adjourn to Monday March, 17th at 7:45 o'clock P. M.


A true record. Attest:


H. A. MONK, Town Clerk. Town Hall, Braintree, March 17, 1919.


The Town met in accordance with adjournment from March 10. Meeting opened at 7:45 P. M. Moderator W. F. Rogers in the chair.


The point being raised as to the legality of a notice given the Moderator of intention to move a reconsideration of certain votes passed at the last meeting, Mr. Fitzgerald withdrew such notification.


Article 16. Voted to lay this Article on the table:


Article 17. Voted to lay Article 17 on the table.


Voted to take up Articles 18, 19 and 20 and consider the same jointly.


Articles, 18, 19, 20. Several substitutes, for the re- commendations of the Appropriation Committee were offered and all rejected after a lengthy debate, the Town voted to adopt the recommendation of the committee, viz:


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That Articles 18 and 19 be indefinitely postponed and that under Article 20, the Selectmen be instructed to take definite action to enforce the completion of the contract.


Notice of intention to move a reconsideration of Articles 18 and 19 given the Moderator by Mr. Woodsum.


Voted, on motion of Mr. Woodsum, that the Town hereby authorize the Selectmen to execute an agreement with the Massachusetts Highway Commission dated March 17, 1919 to indemnify and save harmless the Common- wealth of Massachusetts against all claims and demands for damages which may be sustained by any person whose property is taken or injured by the construction of the State Highway beginning at the northerly end of the 1917 layout at Pond Street and extending to the Quincy Line over Washington, Franklin and Granite Streets.


Article 26. . Taken up.


Voted to accept as Town Ways, as laid out by the Selectmen, Edge Hill Road, Beechwood Road and Arbor Way Drive easterly from Quincy Avenue to Argyle Road; also Arthur Street northerly from private way called Gordon Road and Ardmore Street easterly from Arthur Street to Argyle Road and that no appropriation be made.


Article 17. Taken up. Voted to appropriate for sal- aries and expenses $860.00


Voted, on motion of Mr. Fogg, that the Surveyors of Highways be ordered and instructed to remove the Stone- Crusher from its present location to some ledge where it can be utilized in preparing material for the repairing or building of highways.


At 10:20 o'clock P. M. voted to adjourn to Monday, March 24, at 7:45 P. M.


A true record. Attest:


H. A. MONK, Town Clerk.


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Town Hall, Braintree, March 24; 1919.


The Town met in accordance with adjournment from March 17. W. F. Rogers, Moderator in the chair:


Article 17. Under consideration, voted to appropriate For general repairs on highways, bridges,


sidewalks, stone roads, watering and


oiling streets $30,000.00


Voted to recommend that the Selectmen use $1,500.00 of this appropriation to move and put the stone crusher in suitable condition.


Voted that no corporation, either Water, Electric Light or Gas, shall disturb or tear up any street in this


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town without a written permit from the Highway Sur- veyors, and must be put in a suitable condition before another permit is granted.


For removal of snow 2,500.00


For street lighting . 6,663.00


21 Indefinitely postponed.


22. Laid on the table.


23. Voted, on motion of Mr. Avery, that the sum of $2,000.00 be appropriated for the repairing of Shaw Street.


24. Indefinitely postponed.


25. Indefinitely postponed.


27. Referred to the Board of Selectmen.


28. Indefinitely postponed.


29. Laid on the table.


Article 16. Voted on motion of Mr. Arnold that the drain be built substantially in accordance with plans of Mr. White under the supervision of the Selectmen and that the sum of $1,000.00 be appropriated provided that the heirs of the French estate pay the balance, if any, and also obtain the necessary rights of way.


CHARITIES


Article 30. Voted to appropriate:


For salaries and expenses . . $1,165.00


For maintenance of Braintree Home (plus credits from Weymouth) 3,500.00


For outside relief. 5,000.00


For insurance. 140.00


Article 31. To be expended under Chapt. 763, Acts of 1913 5,000.00


SOLDIERS' BENEFITS


Article 32. For State Aid and Burials


(not included in tax levy) 4,000.00


For Soldiers' Relief 900.00


EDUCATION


Article 33. Voted to appropriate for the support of the Public Schools and trans- portation of pupils to and from the same .. 84,681.00 The following items to be considered as estimates for administration, teachers, tuition and superintendent .. $61,597.00


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For janitors $6,661.00


For text-books and supplies


4,465.00


For fuel and lights . 5,640.00


For buildings and grounds


2,425.00


For incidentals .


1,543.00


For transportation 2,350.00


Voted to appropriate for insurance . 2,100.00


Article 34. Voted that a committee of 9 be appointed by the chair to secure options on land; receive building plans; recommend methods of financing, determine approx- imate cost; also to inquire into the possibility of securing legislation that would permit the Town of Braintree to merge its High School System with the Thayer Academy and report at a subsequent meeting not later than September 16, 1919.


Voted to appropriate the sum of$500.00


for the use of said committee


The Moderator appointed George H. Wetherbee, George H. Holbrook, Henry F. Arnold, Charles O. Miller, Charles G. Jordan, Chester E. Tenney, Harry C. Thayer, J. H. Graham and John M. Connell.


Article 47. Voted to refer this matter to the Water Commissioners.


Resolve, offered by Rev. J. Harlow Graham.


Resolved: That the Braintree Guard Association be granted the occasional use of the Lower Town Hall for monthly and patriotic meetings.


Voted to adopt the foregoing resolution.


At 10:20 o'clock P. M. the meeting voted to adjourn to Monday, March 31, at 7:45 P. M.


A true record. Attest :


H. A. MONK, Town Clerk.


Town Hall, Braintree, March 31, 1919.


The Town met in accordance with adjournment from March 24.


The meeting called to order at 7:45 o'clock P. M. by the moderator.


Article 35. Laid on the table.


Article 36. Voted to appropriate the sum of $3,050.00 for sanitals and settees for Monatiquot School building.


Article 37. Voted to appropriate $1,500.00 for repairs at Hollis School.


Voted to take up Article 57 in conjunction with Article 5.


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Articles 57 and 5. The committee appointed at a previous meeting to investigate land on the shore front in Precinct 3, proposed for a Playground reported through the Chairman, Mr. Horace R. Drinkwater, that they had carefully examined said land, a view of which was exhibited by lantern slides. Also reported that if the Town decided to purchase, Mr. Thomas A. Watson a former owner would donate $500. toward the purchase price of $10,500.00. The committee unanimously recommended that the Town purchase said land.


Voted that the Town purchase said land and appropriate the sum of $10,500.00 for that purpose.


Voted that for the purpose of raising ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) appropriated for the purchase of a public play-ground in Precinct Three the Town Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen' is hereby authorized and directed to issue and sell Bonds to the amount of $10,000. 00, entitled "Playground Bonds of Precinct 3, of $500.00 each, dated May 1st, 1919 and payable two each year on the first day of May of the years 1920 to 1929 inclusive.


Said Bonds shall bear interest at a rate not to exceed five per cent per annum, payable semi-annually. Any premium received from the sale of said Bonds shall be applied to the payment of the principal of the Bonds first maturing. None of said Bonds shall be obligatory without the authenticating certificate of the Old Colony Trust Company of Boston, endorsed thereon. All other parti- culars as to the form, preparation, issuance and sale of said Bonds shall be determined by the Treasurer and Selectmen. Voted by use of check lists. Yes 10, no 0


Voted to accept the offer of Mr. Thomas A. Watson and that the thanks of the Town be tendered him for his generosity.


Voted on motion of Mr. Abercrombie that it is dis- tinctly understood that all money appropriated at this town meeting be for use in 1919.


Motion of Mr. Fitzgerald establishing the salaries of the various Town Officers ruled out of order by the Modera- tor.


Voted on motion of Mr. Abercrombie that the same committee on sewerage be continued in office and that the $2,000.00 be reappropriated for their use.


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LIBRARY


Article 38. Voted to appropriate:


For general expenses . $1,800.00


For distribution of books (East Braintree) 150.00


For janitor . 300.00


Article 39. Laid on the table.


UNCLASSIFIED


Article 40. Voted to appropriate for


miscellaneous expenses.


$2,000.00


Article 41. Voted to appropriate for Me-


morial Day. . 200.00


Article 42. Voted to appropriate Em-


ployees Compensation Act 900.00


Article 43. Voted to appropriate for water at Hollis Fountain 50.00


Article 44. Laid on the table.


Article 45. Referred to the Appropriation Committee for further consideration.


WATER DEPARTMENT


Article 46. Motion of Mr. Arnold to appropriate $2,800.00 for 6-inch pipe on Union Street to dead end. Substitute motion of Mr. Stevens to appropriate $3,500.00


for installing a six-inch pipe on Middle


Street from the present terminus to Lib- erty Street. Mr. Stevens motion sub- stituted and carried.


Voted to appropriate for salaries of the Commissioners. 300.00


Voted to consider the interest and debt requirements under Municipal Indebtedness.


Voted that the balance of the income of the Water Department together with unexpended balance, be approp- riated for extensions, renewals and repairs of water mains and expenses.


CEMETERY Article 48. Voted to appropriate for Plain Street Cemetery $300.00


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MUNICIPAL INDEBTEDNESS


Article 49. Voted to appropriate for interest: General


$440.00


Playgrounds. 50.00


Schools 1,585.00


Town Hall


1,220.00


Water ($4,000.00 to be paid by Water Dept.) 6,540.00


Anticipation of Revenue . 4,500.00


DEBTS


General . $2,250.00


Playgrounds. 500.00


Schools .. 5,500.00


Town Hall . 3,000.00


Water, ($1,500.00 to be paid by Water Dept.) 4,500.00


Article 58. Voted to appropriate $1,000.00 for ex- penses of District Nurse.


Article 39. Taken from the table.


Voted to appropriate $500.00 to be expended on Parks and Playgrounds and public lands of the Town. Mr. Trainor gave notice of intention to move reconsideration.


Mr. Lakin moved to reconsider Article 39 now.


Voted at 10.35 P. M. that this meeting adjourn to Tuesday April 8, 1919 at 7:45 o'clock P. M.


A true record. Attest:


H. A. MONK, Town Clerk.


Town Hall, Braintree, April 8, 1919.


The Town met in accordance with adjournment from March 31st.


Meeting opened at 7:45 o'clock P. M. Moderator Rogers in the chair.


Article 39. Voted to reconsider previous action under this article.


Voted on motion of Mr. Neal that the sum of $800.00 be appropriated to be used on Parks and Playgrounds.


Article 5. Mr. Fitzgerald offered a motion that a committee of three be appointed to fix the salaries of Town Officers (motion withdrawn.)


Voted on motion of Mr. Arnold that in accordance with the appropriations as voted the salaries of the several town officers be as follows:


Selectmen, $400. each; Auditors, $75. each; Tax Collector, $800 .; Treasurer, $600 .; Assessors, $250. each;


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Town Clerk, $650 .; Surveyors of Highways, $200. each; Overseers of Poor, $200. each; Sealer of Weights and Meas- ures, $400 .; Registrars of Voters, $50. each.


Voted on motion of Mr. Abercrombie that the Selectmen be requested to insert an Article in the warrant for next Annual Town Meeting, "To see if the Town will accept Chapter 284, Acts of 1915."


Voted on motion of Mr. Pratt that Articles 18, 19 and 20 be taken from the table.


Articles 18, 19 and 20. Several motions, amend- ments and substitutes were offered.


Voted to indefinitely postpone action under these Articles.


Article 50. Voted to appropriate the sum of $120 for Water Loan Sinking Fund.


Article 45. Voted to appropriate from the income of the Electric Light Department the sum of $3,842.11 for the Depreciation Fund: the sum of $300.00 for the salaries of the Municipal Light Board and the balance together with the unexpended balance, $379.90 of the year 1918, for operating expenses, renewals, repairs and new construction.


Article 51. Indefinitely postponed. .


Article 52. Indefinitely postponed.


Article 57. Voted on motion of Mr. Miller that the Board of Park Commissioners be instructed to petition the Legislature for authority to purchase the land on Quincy Avenue for Playground purposes in accordance with and under the vote adopted by the Town at its Annual Town Meeting held on March 31, 1919, notwithstanding the law prohibiting the purchase by Towns of land for public purposes at more than 25% above the assessed value.


Voted on motion of Mr. Oakman that the vote passed on March 31, 1919 relating to raising money be amended by striking out certain words and inserting other certain words so that the vote will read as follows:


Voted that for the purpose of raising ten thousand dollars, ($10,000.00) appropriated for the purpose of a Public Playground in Precinct Three the Town Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen is hereby authorized and directed to issue and sell bonds or notes to the amount of $10,000.00 or entitled Public Playground Bonds or Notes Precinct Three" to be payable $1,000.00 each year, in the years 1920 to 1929 inclusive.


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Said Bonds or notes shall bear interest at a rate not to exceed five per cent per annum, payable semi-annually. Any premium received from the sale of said Bonds or Notes shall be applied to the payment of the principal of the Bonds or Notes first maturing.


All other particulars as to the form preparation, issuance and sale of said Bonds shall be determined by the Treasurer and Selectmen.


The above vote passed 53 in the affirmative none in the negative.


Voted on motion of Mr. Abercrombie that the Select- men be authorized to grant the Home Guard Association the use of any equipment they may have.


Article 56. Voted to appropriate the unexpended balance in the hands of the Public Safety Committee, about $1,100.00 to celebrate the return of Soldiers and Sailors.


Voted on motion of Mr. Woodsum that the sum of $18,159.62 be reappropriated as follows: Sewerage Com- mittee, $2,000.00, Fire Alarm Box, $244.23; Fire Alarm Whistle, $2,681.71; Middle Street Drain, $772.82; Reloca- tion Washington Street, $334.81; Relocation Washington and Hancock Streets, $986.20; State Highway, $10,000.00; State Highway Widening, $1,139.85. and the sum of $9,194. 26 be appropriated from the surplus and applied to the payment of overdrafts.


Voted to take up Article 54.


Article 54. Voted to appropriate $500.00 for Town Accountant.


Article55. Indefinitely postponed.


Article 5. Voted on motion of Mr. Neal that a com- mittee of three be appointed by the Moderator to consider the advisability of changing the names of certain streets, also renumbering the same, also to estimate the cost of making said changes and report at the next annual meeting.


Shelley A. Neal, Geo. E. Sampson, Geo. R. Dobson appointed by the Moderator.


Voted on motion of Mr. Fogg that a committee of 6 be appointed by the Moderator to inquire into the needs of the Town for additional Fire Apparatus and report at next annual meeting.


Thomas E. Sears, Alva M. Dow, Arthur Haynes, Geo. T. Miller, Fred L. Chandler and James W. Colbert appointed by the Moderator.


Voted on motion of Mr. Abercrombie that the Water Commissioners be requested to report at the next annual meeting the cost of a proper filtration system.


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:


Voted on motion of Mr. Trainor that a vote of thanks be tendered the committee under Article 57 for their services to date.


Voted that the Town appropriate in the aggregate $277,103.36 and that $224,982.24 of that sum be raised by taxation.


Voted that the Moderator appoint a committee of 15 as an Appropriation Committee.


H. F. Arnold, G. V. Pennock, Oscar A. Hubbard, Mareul L. Uram, Alfred J. Hixon, Harry C. Thayer, Charles H. Ferguson, Ralph C. Cain, Edward J. Sullivan, William P. Kelley, Walter E. Thompson, George Fogg, C. Fred Tarbox, Harry S. Fairfield appointed.


Voted that this meeting adjourn, sine die.


A true record. Attest:


H. A. MONK, Town Clerk.


WARRANT FOR SPECIAL TOWN MEETING


Commonwealth of Massachusetts


Norfolk, ss. To either of the Constables of the Town of


Braintree, 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 Town affairs to meet at the Town Hall in said Braintree.


On Monday, the 26th day of May, 1919, at seven forty- five o'clock in the evening, to act on the following articles, namely :


Article 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.


Article 2. To see what further sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for Legal expenses.


Article 3. To see what further sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the expenses of the Police Department.


Article 4. To see what further sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for Contagious Diseases.


Article 5. To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate to celebrate the return of its Soldiers and Sailors.


Article 6. To see what further sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for insurance under the Employees' Compensation Act.


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Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to accept the laying out as a Town way as made by the Selectmen, of Holmes Street, so called, leading from Independence Avenue to Washington Street, and appropriate a sum of money for the same.


Article 8. To see if the Town will vote to accept the laying out as a Town way, as made by the Selectmen, of Fairfield Street, so called, leading from Washington Street to Holmes Street, and appropriate a sum of money for the same.


Article 9. To see if the Town will accept the laying out as a Town Way, as made by the Selectmen, of Morrison Road, so called, leading easterly from Adams Street.


Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to build a fence between the Noah Torrey School grounds and the Pond Street Cemetery and appropriate a sum of money for the same.


Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to rescind all action taken at the annual Town Meeting in connection with the purchase of water front property on Quincy Avenue.


Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to take by eminent domain a certain parcel of land in Precinct 3 on Quincy Avenue for a public landing park or playground, and raise and appropriate a sum of money for the same.


Article 13. To choose any committee the Town may think proper, or hear the report of any committee.


You are directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies thereof in three public places in each Pre- cinct in said Town of Braintree, seven days at least before said 26th day of May, 1919, and by publishing the same once in the Braintree Observer-Reporter and Braintree Bee.


Hereof, fail not, and make due returns of this warrant with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk before the said meeting.


Given under our hands at Braintree, this 17th day of May, in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and nineteen.


GEORGE H. HOLBROOK, BENJAMIN H. WOODSUM, EDWARD AVERY, Selectmen of Braintree.


A true Copy. Attest:


JEREMIAH F. GALLIVAN, Constable of Braintree.


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1.1


Braintree, Mass., May 19, 1919.


Pursuant to the foregoing warrant, I hereby notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Braintree, qualified as therein expressed, to meet at the time and place for the purposes therein mentioned.


JEREMIAH F. GALLIVAN, Constable of Braintree.


SPECIAL TOWN MEETING


Town Hall, Braintree, May 26, 1919.


In accordance with the foregoing warrant the Town met at the place specified. The meeting opened at 7:45 o'clock P. M. by the reading of the warrant by the Town Clerk.


Article 1. By ballot with the use of the check-lists Mr. William F. Rogers was elected Moderator and sworn.


Article 2. Mr. Abercrombie asked for a ruling of the Moderator on the legality of the meeting, the copies of the warrant posted not bearing a sufficiently early date.


The Moderator ruled the meeting legal as the return of the original warrant did bear a sufficiently early date.


Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 for Legal expenses, 59 in the affirmative.


Article 3. Voted to raise and appropriate the following sums of money for the Police Department.


For general expenses . $225.00


For traffic officer, Precinct 3. 100.00


For insurance. 92.25


For Pyrene extinguisher 7.75


52 voting in the affirmative.


Article 4. Voted to raise and appropriate for Conta- gious Diseases the sum of $475.00. 65 voting in the affirma- tive.


Article 5. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,500.00 to celebrate the return of Soldiers and Sailors from the World War. 70 voting in the affirmative.


Article 6. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of' $285.00 for insurance under the Employees' Compensation Act. 64 voting in the affirmative.


Article 7. Indefinitely Postponed.


Article 8. Indefinitely Postponed.


Article 9. Indefinitely Postponed.


Article 10. Relating to fence at Noah Torrey School grounds referred to the Selectmen.


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Article 11. Ruling that vote to rescind former action was not necessary as previous action was illegal.


Article 12. Relating to land on Quincy Avenue:


Voted that the Park Commissioners co-operate with Mr. Horace R. Drinkwater determine what land shall be taken, consult the proprietors as to the price and obtain any other facts they may deem necessary and report to the Town at a Special Town Meeting to be held sometime in September next.


At 10:30 o'clock P. M. meeting adjourned, sine die.


A true record. Attest:


H. A. MONK, Town Clerk.


WARRANT FOR STATE PRIMARIES


Commonwealth of Massachusetts


Norfolk, ss. To either of the Constables of the Town of Braintree, Greeting:


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 Primaries to meet in:




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