USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1931 > Part 3
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Under Article 5-The Committee reported and it was voted that the Treasurer is hereby directed to pay the fol- lowing sums from the income of the Charles Thayer Fund :
$450 to the Park Commissioners of the Town of Brain- tree.
$500 to a committee composed of the Chairman of the Finance Committee and the Superintendent of the Plain Street Cemetery to continue the wall already begun.
$400 to a committee consisting of Charles S. Marshall and Otis B. Oakman to be expended for the care of the Old Cemetery on Dyer Hill. Carried 7.52
Under Article 5-
The Committee reported and it was voted that $500 be expended by the Park Commissioners of the Town of Braintree for Park purposes, in addition to their regular appropriation ; the above amount not to be taken from the tax levy, but from the annual bequest from the N. E. Hollis Estate when the same shall be received. Carried 7.53.
Under Article 5-The Committee reported and it was voted that the sum of $2.50 be expended by the Superin- tendent of the Plain Street Cemetery from the Julia A. Minchin Fund when received.
Electric Light Department
Article 15. Voted-That there be appropriated from the income of the Electric Light Department the sum of $18,856.05 for Depreciation Fund and the sum of $309,- 820 together with the unexpended balance of $3,669.33 of the year 1930 for operating expenses, renewals, repairs and new construction. Carried 7.55.
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Water Department
Article 16. Voted-That there be appropriated the sum of $10,400 for bonds and interest and $79,550 for the maintenance and operation of the Water Supply System, laying and relaying of Water Mains, the same to be taken from the surplus of the water revenues of the Depart- ment for the year 1931. Carried.
Article 17. Voted-That the sum of $20,000 plus ledge work be appropriated and taken from the revenue of the Water Department, provided that the Common- wealth or one or more political sub-divisions thereof, authorize by legislative enactment or otherwise the relo- cation and reconstruction of said Granite Street from Five Corners to the Quincy Line during the year 1931 and commence said construction during that year.
Carried-7.56.
Municipal Indebtedness
Article 18. Voted-To raise and appropriate $139,835 for the payments due on Municipal Indebtedness, and for the payment of Interest on Town Debt, and on loans in anticipation of revenue, as follows :
Town Hall $ 2,000.00
Norfolk County Hospital 1,000.00
Hollis School
3,000.00
Thomas A. Watson School.
4,000.00
Noah Torrey School Addition
10,000.00
High School 23,000.00
Penniman School 7,000.00
Abraham Lincoln School Addition 6,000.00
Braintree Highlands School. 8,000.00
Highways (Washington and Union) 17,000.00
Central Fire and Police Station 8,000.00
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Interest as follows :
Schools 27,490.00
Town Hall 120.00
Highways (Washington and Union) 1,360.00
Norfolk County Hospital. 225.00
Central Fire and Police Station. 4,640.00
Anticipation of Revenue. 17,000.00
Article 19. Voted to raise and appropriate for the expenses of the Planning Board in the preparation of a comprehensive town plan, and for the general expenses of the Planning Board the sum of $575. Carried 8.08. .
Article 20. On motion of Mr. Cain-Voted that this matter be referred to the next Annual Town Meeting and that three additional members to the Zoning Committee be appointed by the Moderator, one from each Precinct, in order to make the committee more widely represented. Carried 8.10.
Article 21. Mr. Anderson moved that $200 be raised by taxation and the reappropriation of $197.34 for the expenses of the Zoning Committee. Not carried-8.15.
Mr. Justice moved the reconsideration of Article 21. There being 306 in the affirmative and 303 in the nega- tive, the motion was lost.
Education
Article 22. Laid on the table.
Articles 23, 24, 25, 26, 27. Laid on the table.
Article 28. Mr. Anderson moved indefinite postpone- ment. Not carried.
Mr. Templeton moved that the Town of Braintree in- struct the School Committee to employ school teachers
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that are residents of the Town or whose parents are residents of the Town, upon completion of a Normal School or College Course with the required credits for a teacher, and where a vacancy exists said teachers will be given preference. Carried 8.58.
The Moderator called attention to the fact that Friday, March 20, 1931, would be the 88th birthday of our former highly esteemed Town Clerk, Henry A. Monk. The Moderator invited Mr. Monk to a seat on the platform and the meeting manifested their appreciation of his long and faithful service and wished him many happy returns of the day by rising. He was greeted with great applause. Mr. Monk responded with a few timely remarks.
Under Article 5, Mr. Magaldi moved that a committee of one, consisting of the Town Clerk, be appointed to transmit to the Board of Selectmen the following:
1. Whereas: The Selectmen, jointly and/or severally have issued orders to the Police Department regulating the working hours of police officers, instructing that automobile traps be established, and shifting officers from one assignment to another, in such a manner as to impair the efficiency and morale of the said Police Department, and it is the sense and request of this meeting that this practise be discontinued, and the Board of Selectmen are hereby ordered so to do;
2. Whereas: The Selectmen jointly and/or severally are hereby ordered to refrain from assuming direct charge and control of the Police Department;
3. Whereas: The Selectmen, jointly and/or severally are hereby directed and ordered to restrict themselves to making and formulating suitable regulations governing the Police Department in accordance with the procedure followed at the Annual Town Meeting in 1926, at which it
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was voted to appoint a committee to prepare a suitable set of rules and regulations for the government of the Police Department;
4. Resolved: That the Chief of Police is hereby in- structed and ordered to assume full control of the Police Department as is provided in Section 97 of Chapter 41 of the General Laws which specifically provide that "The Chief of Police shall be in immediate control of the police officers who shall obey his orders." Carried 9.07.
Miscellaneous
Article 29. Voted to raise and appropriate $3,600 for Miscellaneous Expenses. Carried 9.09.
Article 30. Voted to raise and appropriate $2,500 for insurance under the Employees' Compensation Act. Car- ried.
Article 31. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $4,673.40 to pay premiums of insurance policies on fire and liability. Carried 9.10.
Article 32. No appropriation.
Article 33. Voted to raise and appropriate $500 to assist Post 87, G. A. R .; Braintree Post 86, American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, No. 1702, in defraying expenses of Memorial Day, as follows :
Post 87, G. A. R. $ 200.00
Post 86, American Legion 200.00
Veterans of Foreign Wars, No. 1702. 100.00
Motion carried.
Article 34. Mr. McNab moved that the sum of $500 be raised and appropriated to be expended by a committee of the American Legion for the celebration on the Fourth of July. Not carried 9.15.
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Article 35. Moved that there be raised and appro- priated for land damages on Hawthorne Road the sum of $750 and for land damages on Hayward Street the sum of $2,829, and that the Selectmen be and hereby are in- structed to apply to the County Commissioners prior to October 1, 1931, for an extension of the time within which the Town may proceed with the relocation and con- struction of Hayward Street in accordance with the lay- out of the County Commissioners. Carried 9.16.
Moved that there be raised and appropriated the sum of $145.05 to be paid to Henry D. Higgins for land dam- ages on account of the widening of Washington Street. Carried 9.30.
Article 36. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,725, as recommended by the Town Counsel, for the full settlement of various suits now pending against the Town of Braintree. Carried.
Article 37. Mr. Richards moved that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $7,900 for a house to house collection of ashes and refuse. Not carried 9.39. Voted no appropriation.
Article 38. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $180 to reimburse the members of the Board of Assessors for expenses incurred by them during the year 1930 in providing necessary transportation for the proper dis- charge of their duties as Assessors of Braintree. Car- ried 9.40.
Article 39. Voted to amend Article 1 of the By-Laws by adding a new section to said Article, said new section to read as follows: "Section 7. In all Primaries, unless otherwise provided by law, the polls shall be opened not later than six o'clock in the morning, and shall close not
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earlier than two o'clock in the afternoon." Unanimously carried 9.43.
Article 40. No appropriation.
Article 41. Voted NOT to accept the provisions of Section 56, Chapter 399 of the Acts of 1930, in respect to the licensing of Open Air Parking Spaces.
Article 42. No appropriation.
Article 43. Voted to raise and appropriate $10,000 in accordance with Chapter 40, Section 6, of the General Laws, as a Reserve Fund.
Article 44. Voted that the sum of $14,000 voted under Article 11 for Old Age Assistance be taken from the E. & D. Fund. Carried 9.45.
Article 45. Voted to raise and appropriate for the support of the Highway Department, including labor, repairs to highways, Town Ways, and Bridges; also for repairs and building sidewalks, stone roads, and removal of snow, oiling of streets, purchase of equipment for said department :
General Maintenance .$46,992.50 ($44,544.50 from Tax Levy-$2,448 from E. & D. Fund)
Including : Repairs and maintenance of equipment, in- cluding Flashlights, Street Cleaning, Tarvia, Drains and Catch Basins, Guard Rails and Fences, Street Signs, Quincy Avenue Bridge.
Under Article 5 Mr. Fitzgerald moved that the Moder- ator appoint a committee of seven to prepare a plan for the conduct of the Town's business embodying the so- called Town Manager form of Municipal Government,
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said plan to be submitted for such further action as the Town may see fit to take at the next Annual Town Meet- ing. Carried 9.49.
Article 45. (Continued.) SNOW REMOVAL: Voted to raise and appropriate $15,820.61 (which includes $820.61-1930 overdraft).
The Moderator question the legality of the appropria- tion.
New Equipment :
Replacement of 31/2 Ton Truck. $ 5,500.00 Portable Compressor and Truck-No appropriation.
Replacement of 11/2 Ton Truck. 1,500.00
Replacement of Steam Shovel.
8,500.00
(To be taken from E. & D. Fund.)
Moved that the Selectmen be authorized to dispose of the old Steam Shovel in connection with the purchase of the new one. Carried 9.53.
Mr. Bryant moved that all items referring to the con- struction of sidewalks be indefinitely postponed. So voted 9.55.
Reconsideration of the vote on the construction of side- walks. Not carried 9.56.
Resurfacing :
Pearl Street, from Washington Street to R. R.
Tracks, including sidewalk, 675 feet ... .$ 6,631.25
Hollingsworth Avenue, south side, from Frank-
lin Street to Academy Street, 1,150 feet .... 2,207.00 Elm Street, from Braintree Depot to Middle Street, 1,700 feet, including sidwalk and tree-indefinite postponement. Carried 10.03.
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Willow Street, from Front Street, 375 feet- No appropriation.
Edgemont Road, from Quincy Avenue to point of acceptance, 14,000 feet.
Mr. Faulkner moved that this item be referred back to the Finance Committee. So voted.
Liberty Street, from Union Street to Stetson Street, 800 feet. No appropriation.
Hawthorn Road, intersection at Washington Street, and removing tree (including re- moval of tree and pole) $ 475.00
Adams Street, intersection at Commercial Street, removing hydrant, pole, tree and re- surfacing 825.00
Reconstruction and Relocation :
Hayward Street, from Commercial Street to North Bowditch Street, 1,700 feet. No ap- propriation.
Hancock Street, from Thayer Avenue to Plain Street. No appropriation.
Washington Street, from West Street to Hollis Avenue, 1,060 feet. No appropriation.
Washington Street, from Sherbrooke Avenue to West Street, 850 feet. No appropriation.
Holbrook Avenue, from Washington Street to French Avenue, plus land damages. No ap- propriation. 10.08.
Drainage:
West Street, near Ellsmore Terrace, to Quincy Reservoir .$ 1,160.00
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Cedar Street, from Elm Street to Haven Road,
660 feet 1,000.00
Article 46. Voted to transfer and appropriate the sum of $4,382.22 to repair, resurface, widen, drain and rebuild LIBERTY STREET, in addition to any sums of money appropriated under Article 2 of the Special Town Meeting of December 29, 1930, to help in providing work for the unemployed of the Town of Braintree, and being the unexpended balances of the following appropriations of the year 1930 :
Braintree Highlands School Site Road $ 33.65
Academy Street, sidewalk 10.72
Frederick Road, sidewalk 191.84
Tremont Street, sidewalk. 207.67
Washington Street, square. 36.72
Washington Street, Church to Whitman's Block
20.75
Storrs Avenue, sidewalk. 30.63
Cedar Street, sidwalk. 99.10
Quincy Avenue, sidewalk (Norfolk Square) 35.16
Quincy Avenue, sidewalk
52.05
Liberty Street, sidewalk.
44.36
Bellevue Road, sidewalk. .30
Washington Street, sidewalk (School to Church)
13.78
Washington Street, sidewalk (Wynot Road to Monatiquot School) 38.43
Charles Street, sidewalk.
8.51
Hollingsworth Boulevard
126.89
Pearl Street
18.84
Hawthorn Road
64.36
Cedar and Washington Intersection 27.15
Union Street 1.50
Commercial Street, Adams to Union Street. . .
99.33
Commercial Street, Union to Shaw Street. 22.57
Washington Street, drainage.
15.93
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Dewey Avenue, betterments.
45.23
Burroughs Road Extension, betterments 17.68
Bellevue Avenue 3.40
Five Corners, signal lights
500.00
Committee on Zoning
197.34
Committee on Fire and Police Station
300.00
Liberty Street
128.96
Washington Street, Thayer Avenue to Fred- erick Road
306.12
Frederick Road, sidewalk
1,683.25
$ 4,382.22
Notice served of desire to reconsider vote of the Town under Article 34.
Motion to reconsider Article 34. Not carried.
Article 47. Voted to raise and appropriate for Street Lighting, $15,193.92
Article 48. Voted to appropriate and transfer from the unexpended balance of Article 48 of the Annual Town Meeting of 1930 the sum of $900 for the purpose of pur- chasing and installing Traffic Signals Lights. Carried 10.20.
Motion of Mr. Fitzgerald to adjourn. Not carried. 10.25.
Article 49. Motion to refer to the next Annual Town Meeting. Carried 10.25.
Article 50. Motion to refer to the next Annual Town Meeting. Carried.
Article 51. Motion to refer to the next Annual Town Meeting. Carried 10.31.
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Article 52. Motion to refer to the next Annual Town Meeting. Carried.
Article 53. Motion to refer to the next Annual Town Meeting. Carried.
Article 54. Motion to refer to the next Annual Town Meeting. Carried.
Article 55. Voted to accept as a Town Way, as laid out by the Selectmen, the following streets and raise and appropriate a sum of money for the improvement of said way, to be expended under the provisions of law author- izing the assessment of betterments, or otherwise:
Haven Road, 340 feet from Cedar Street, effective when construction has been completed and approved by the Board of Survey.
Totnes Road, 276 feet from Middle Street.
Strathmore Road, 238 feet from Middle Street.
Kew Road.
Ellsmore Terrace, effective when construction has been completed and approved by the Board of Survey.
Colby Road, effective when construction has been com- pleted and approved by Board of Survey.
Article 56. Indefinite postponement. Motion to reconsider Article 56. Not carried.
Motion to reconsider Article 49. Not carried.
Motion to reconsider Article 50. Not carried.
Motion to reconsider Article 51. Not carried.
Motion to reconsider Article 52. Not carried.
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Motion to reconsider Article 53. Not carried. Motion to reconsider Article 54. Not carried.
Motion to adjourn until 7.45 P. M. on Monday, March 23, 1931. Carried 10.45.
A true copy. Attest:
ERNEST C. WOODSUM, Town Clerk.
March 23, 1931.
The adjourned Town Meeting was called to order at 7.50 P. M. by Moderator Rogers. Voters checked. .
Mr. Anderson moved that the reading of the records of the last meeting be omitted. Carried.
Under Article 5. The Committee on the Fire and Police Station reported. Voted that the sum of $2,353.75 be raised and appropriated, said sum to be expended by the Building Committee for the Central Fire and Police Station in conjunction with the Superintendent of Streets and the Town Engineer for the installation of cement work on Union Street between the northerly line of the building site of said station and the street line, including the gutter and for resurfacing of the right of way on the easterly side of said station to the rear of said lot. Car- ried 7.54.
Under Article 45. Mr. Anderson moved that there be raised and appropriated $8,250 for the resurfacing of Edgemont Road from Quincy Avenue for a distance of 1,210 feet. Carried 8.00.
The Special Town Meeting was called to order at 8.00 P. M., running concurrently with the adjournment of the Annual Town Meeting.
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The Warrant for the Special Town Meeting was read by the Town Clerk. .
Under Article 1 of the Special Town Meeting, Mr. An- derson moved indefinite postponement. Carried 8.30.
Special Town Meeting adjourned 8.30 P. M.
The adjournment of the Annual Town Meeting then in session.
Mr. Anderson moved to take Article 24 from the table. So voted.
Mr. Anderson moved: That the Town, through its Board of Selectmen, purchase or take by eminent domain for school purposes all, or such part as they deem neces- sary, of a lot of land of not less than eleven acres, situated in East Braintree, between Allen Street and Adolph Road, so-called, and running east from Commercial Street to land now or formerly owned by one Ellen L. Dike, said land being owned by one Nelson and one Allen, and that the sum of FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS be raised and appropriated for that purpose, said sum to be expended so far as necessary under the direction of the Selectmen to pay for said purchase or taking.
Mr. Arnold moved that Article 24 be laid on the table until the next Annual Town Meeting. Not carried 8.45.
Mr. Vinton moved to amend the motion by eliminating the word "purchase" and inserting-That the Selectmen be instructed to take this land by eminent domain and pay only the assessed value for it. Not carried 8.58.
Mr. Anderson moved to amend his motion by striking out the words: "or such part as they deem necessary." Not carried 9.04.
The original motion as made by Mr. Anderson was then
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voted. There being 284 in the affirmative and 249 in the negative, the motion requiring a two-thirds vote was lost. 9.10.
Mr. Anderson moved to take Article 26 from the table. Carried.
Under Article 26-Voted to raise and appropriate $8,500 for the purpose of making certain alterations and additions to the Penniman School, whereby two additional classrooms may be secured. Carried 9.12.
Under Article 5-Mr. Lakin moved that the Moderator appoint a committee of three and that they be given an appropriation of $100 therefor to see if they can secure an option and report at the next Annual Town Meeting on the land discussed in East Braintree, under Article 24, and to report the price and the amount of land they can secure. Not carried.
Mr. E. A. Smith moved to take Article 23 from the table. Carried.
Under Article 23-Mr. Smith moved-That a commit- tee of three from North Braintree be named as a Site Committee to present site proposals for a school in Pre- cinct 2, to be voted on at the next Annual Town Meeting. Carried 9.17.
Appropriations to be raised by Taxation .. . $819,355.22 Appropriations not in Tax Levy 482,172.94
Total Appropriations. $1,301,528.16 Motion to adjourn at 9.20. Carried.
A true copy. Attest :
ERNEST C. WOODSUM, Town Clerk.
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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 inhab- itants of the Town of Braintree, qualified to vote in Town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall, in said Braintree.
On Monday, the twentieth day of July, 1931, at seven . forty-five o'clock in the evening, to act on the following articles, namely :
Article 1. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to sell the POLICE CELLS located in the basement of the Town Hall, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 2. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for a pension for JOHN STEVENS, a former employee of the Braintree Electric Light Station.
Article 3. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the PUBLIC WEL- FARE DEPARTMENT for the remainder of the year.
Article 4. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the HIGHWAY AND STREET DEPARTMENT for the remainder of the year, and authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow all or any part of said sums, in accordance with the provisions of law, authorizing the Town to borrow for such purposes, or take any action relative thereto.
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Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $348.75 to carry on the work of the Zoning Committee.
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 147 of the General Laws pertain- ing to BOXING, including Sections 32 to 47.
You are directed to serve this warrant by posting true and attested copies thereof in three public places in each voting precinct in said Town of Braintree ten days at least before said twentieth day of July, 1931, and by pub- lishing the same once each week for two successive weeks in the Braintree Observer, first publication to be at least eight days before said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk before said meeting.
Given under our hands at Braintree, this sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and thirty-one.
EDWARD AVERY, HARRY H. BOUSQUET, HORACE T. CAHILL, Selectmen of Braintree.
A true copy. Attest :
JOHN J. HEANEY, Constable of Braintree.
Braintree, Mass., July 9th, 1931.
Pursuant to the foregoing warrant, I hereby notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Braintree, qualified
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as expressed therein, to meet at the time and place men- tioned, for the purposes therein mentioned.
JOHN J. HEANEY, Constable of Braintree.
Braintree, Mass., July 10th, 1931.
Pursuant to the foregoing warrant, I have notified and warned the inhabitants of the Town of Braintree, quali- fied as expressed therein, to meet at the time and place mentioned, for the purposes therein mentioned.
JOHN J. HEANEY, Constable of Braintree.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
July 20, 1931.
A Special Town Meeting was called to order at 7.50 P. M. by Moderator William F. Rogers. Voters checked.
Due to the fact that all voters had a copy of the War- rant, the reading of same was waived by the Moderator. Article 1. On motion of Mr. Anderson, voted that the Town authorize the Selectmen to sell the Police Cells located in the basement of the Town Hall. 7.52 P. M.
Article 2. On motion of Mr. Anderson, voted that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $500 for a pension for John Stevens, a former employee of the Braintree Electric Light Station. 7.58 P. M.
Article 3. On motion of Mr. Anderson, voted that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $7,500 for the Public Welfare Department for the remainder of the year.
Mr. James E. Folsom offered the following resolution : Resolved, That these citizens, duly representing our whole Town, should rise and stand in respectful meditation upon
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the lives of three of Braintree's most useful men who have passed to the great beyond since our last Town Meeting. Seldom, if ever, has each precinct lost a man of such sterling worth within so short a period.
William Allen of precinct three had reached and passed the allotted time. Although scarcely known to our younger generation, he figured largely in Town affairs in years gone by, and never lost his interest in Braintree, serving faithfully on the Board of Registrars up to the time of his death.
Herbert A. Bryant of precinct two and Paul Monaghan of precinct one have stood before us all on many occasions and counseled us wisely according to the dictates of con- science and their own sound judgment; both served well on many and various committees and both always bore clean hands and pure hearts.
The citizens present then stood in respectful medita- tion.
Article 4. Mr. Fitzgerald moved indefinite postpone- ment on all items under Article 4.
There being 128 in the affirmative and 309 in the nega- tive, the motion was not carried.
Mr. Fitzgerald then moved that under Article 4 all items be then taken up separately. So voted 9.26.
Moved that the sum of $12,792 be raised and appro- priated for paying of permanent men in highway depart- ment for the remainder of the year. Carried 9.29.
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