USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1933 > Part 11
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BR
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1640
TO
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Printed by Order of the Town
REPORT OF THE TOWN ENGINEER
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :
I herewith respectfully submit the fourth annual report of the Engineering Department for the year ending December 31, 1933.
This department was without the services of a clerk from April to August due to curtailed appropria- tions. This made it very difficult for the Engineer to be in the office and do the necessary field work. A clerk is important as there should be someone in the office at all times. We had an opportunity to correct this, however, and have had a clerk since August 1, thereby giving the Engineer more time to do outside work. -
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
During the past year this department has been called upon to furnish lines and grades for the fol- lowing :
CURBING
Sterling St .- north side-from Weymouth line 600' west.
Allen Street-south side-from Quincy Ave. 950' west.
SIDEWALKS
Independence Ave .- west side-from Cen-
258
ter St. 1200' north.
Washington St .- eas side-from Peach St. to Standish Ave.
Washington St .- east side-Holbrook Line. Elmwood Avenue-south side-from Tre- mont St. to Sumner Ave.
DRAINS
Elmwood Park-from No. 22-250' west.
Walnut Street-from West St. 80' north.
Judson Street-from Oak St. 500' west.
C. W. A. PROJECTS
Lines and grades were furnished for the follow- ing C. W. A. Projects :
Hollis Field-Tennis Courts.
Watson Park-Sea Wall-560'.
Smelt Brook-Line for retaining wall.
Argyle Road-from Trefton Drive to Gordon Rd ..
Pearl Street-from Crawford Rd. to Liberty St.
West Street-from Blue Hill River Rd. to Ran- dolph Line.
Several plans for present C. W. A. Projects, to- gether with plans for proposed projects, were fur- nished by the Engineering Department for various departments.
ELECTRIC LIGHT DEPARTMENT
At the request of the Light Department we have staked out locations for 102 poles to be set or reset by them.
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We also made a plan of pole locations on Lake- side Drive from Granite Street to Sunset Road and a portion of Sunnyside Avenue.
WATER DEPARTMENT
We have made plans at the request of the Water Department showing ties to water gates and checking property lines.
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
This department was called upon to stake out fence lines at the Monatiquot and Penniman Schools and check the north property line of the Highland School for the School Department.
PARK DEPARTMENT
At the request of the members of the Park De- partment we have given lines and grades for tennis courts. The fence line for the south line of Hollis Field was also furnished.
GENERAL
This department during the past year has located and tied in 630 stone bounds from old layouts made ten to forty years ago and have been put on the work- ing plans. These bounds can be reproduced very easily. A record of these is also kept in our field books. This represents about 30% of the old plans that should be checked.
Of the 630 stone bounds located and tied in, 66 have been set or reset on the following streets :
Abbott Street 3
Academy Street 8
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A
Arborway Drive 1
Ardmore Street 2
Arthur Street 6
Ash Street 1
Atherton Street
4
Audubon Avenue
2
Beechwood Road 9
Bellevue Road
4
Bickford Road
4
Bowditch Street 3
Charles Street 2
Cleveland Avenue 2
Columbian Street
2
Commercial Street
2
Ellsworth Street
1
Hayward Street 1
Middle Street 2
Spruce Street
1
Talbot Road 2
Townsend Avenue
2
West Street
2
We have had numerous requests for house num- bers and have given them our prompt attention.
This department has been called upon several times in the past year for street lines and grades where there are walks, drives and retaining walls be- ing built.
ASSESSORS
All deeds and land divisions that have been re- corded have been checked and sub-divisions made on all plans accordingly ..
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We are now locating and measuring all new buildings and plotting them on working plans, trac -- ings and assessors' prints.
There are approximately 130 new buildings to be- located and put on plans and about 15 to be taken off" that have been torn down. When this work is finished". the plans will be up to date.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Appropriation $5,588.27
Expended
Balance-
Salaries
$ .60
Town Engineer
$2,269.95
Clerk
494.32
Labor
2,823.40
Expenses
1,150.00
1,084.39
65.61
$6,738.27
$6,672.06
$ 66.21
.
I wish at this time to extend my appreciation for- the co-operation I have received from the Selectmen: and all Town Departments.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN J. DRINKWATER,
Town Engineer ..
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REPORT OF SEWER COMMISSIONERS -
To the Citizens of the Town of Braintree :
We respectfully submit our report for the year ending December 31, 1933. During the past year the Commission lost a valued member in the death of Mr. William D. Aitken who died on November 28. For many years Mr. Aitken has taken an active part in Town affairs. His last public service as a member of the Sewer Commission was invaluable to the Town and his loss is felt keenly. Mr. C. Frederick Tarbox has been appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Aitken.
NEW SEWERS CONSTRUCTED
The following sewer construction work was un- dertaken and completed during the year.
6 inch
.08 miles
8 inch
3.28 miles
12 inch
.03 miles
24 inch
.03 miles
27 inch
.11 miles
30 & 36 inch
.05 miles -
Total 1933 Construction
3.58 miles
Previous Construction
9.95 miles
Total constructed to date
13.53 miles
Hand labor was used wherever possible on all construction work. During most of the construction period about 200 men were employed all of whom were residents of the Town. Supplies and materials
263
were purchased from local dealers and merchants whenever possible. Certain equipment required for the proper execution of the work was hired at con- tract rates secured through competitive bidding. Con- siderable equipment was obtained from the Highway Department including trucks, steam roller, a trench pump and miscellaneous items. Most of the gravel . used for underdrains and resurfacing was taken from the Town gravel pit at a cost substantially less than could have been obtained elsewhere.
A $10,000 Civil Works Project was started on December 4 giving employment to about 60 men. This project provides for the construction of 1,400 feet of 8 inch sewer and will cost the Town about $3,000, the balance being paid out of the allotment made to the Town by the State Civil Works Administration.
Plans of all sewers constructed thus far are on file at the office of the Sewer Commission at the Town Hall and may be seen during office hours.
PROPOSED FEDERAL PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT
An application was prepared and approved by a Special Town Meeting for $150,000 of lateral sewer construction to be carried on under the Federal Pub- lic Works Administration. The application was ap- proved by the State Board and has been sent to Wash- ington. It is estimated that this project would provide work for more than 200 men for a period of about 9 months.
CONNECTION WITH SOUTH METROPOLITAN SYSTEM
The Metropolitan pumping station which was built to serve the Braintree-Weymouth district was
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completed and put into operation late in November, 1933. The Town received official notification and authority to discharge sewage into the South Metro- politan System December 1st. The completion of the Metropolitan pumping station makes available for use all sewers constructed in the Town.
SEWER ASSESSMENTS & HOUSE CONNECTIONS
At the Special Town Meeting held November 27 it was voted that the Town should pay 40% of the cost of its sewage system, and that the remaining 60% would be assessed against properties abutting upon sewered streets at the rate of $1.00 per linear foot of frontage and $0.01 per square foot of area for a depth of 100 feet.
House connections will be made by the Sewer Department following the filing of an application by the property owner on a form provided by the Sewer Commission. The entire cost of such connection shall be borne by the applicant. In accordance with Section 12 of Chapter 17 of the Acts of 1930 there has been adopted and published a set of rules and regulations for house sewer connections. A copy of these may be obtained at the office of the Sewer Commission.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
The financial condition of the construction ac- count is shown by the following statement : Construction balance on hand
Dec. 31, 1932 $ 4,135.23
Appropriation 100,000.00
Total
$104,135.23
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DISBURSEMENTS
Old Contracts $ 3,839.87
1933 Construction
Labor 64,118.24
Materials 14,662,62
Equipment Purchased 1,980.85
Equipment Rented
5,307.99
Engineering
7,067.25
Total
$ 96,976.82-
Construction balance on hand Dec. 31, 1933 $ 7,158.41.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
1938 Construction
Tabor Compensation
In-
surance $ 1,760.62
Materials
1,145.04
Equipment Purchased 228.98
Equipment Rented
280.11
Engineering
691.02
Total
$
4,105.77
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
1933 Construction
Braintree Water Depart- ment $ 540.11
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CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT
Total construction appropria-
tion
$550,210.00
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Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1933
7,158.41
Total £ construction
expendi-
tures
$543,051.59
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES S. MARSHALL, Chairman SAMUEL M. ELLSWORTH C. FREDERICK TARBOX
Sewer Commissioners.
267
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Tax Collector
OF THE
TOWN OF BRAINTREE
FROM
December 31, '32 to December 31, '33
F . BRAI
NMOL
ATED
TREE
..
1640.
TS
MASSACHUSET
Printed by Order of the Town
TAX COLLECTOR'S REPORT
1930 Personal
Outstanding January 1, 1933
$543.12
Collections to January 1, 1934 $18.36
Abatements to January 1, 1934 . 524.76
$543.12
$543.12
1930 Polls
.
Outstanding January 1, 1933
$10.00
Collections to January 1, 1934 $2.00
Abatements to January 1, 1934 8.00
$10.00
$10.00
1930 Excise
Outstanding January 1, 1933
$507.36
Collections to January 1, 1934 $60.04
Abatements to January 1, 1934 447.32
$507.36
$507.36
1931 Real Estate, Personal, Moth, Betterments and Accrued Interest
Outstanding January 1, 1933 $13,113.50
Collections to January 1, 1934 $8,871.47
Abatements to January 1, 1934 84.35
Outstanding January 1, 1934 . 4,157.68
$13, 113.50 $13,113.50
Since January 1, 1934 an abatement to the amount of $3,326.40 has been granted.
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1931 Polls
Outstanding January 1, 1933
$156.00
Collections to January 1, 1934 $32.00
Outstanding January 1, 1934 . 124.00
$156.00
$156.00
1931 Old Age Assistance Tax
Outstanding January 1, 1933
$67.00
Collections to January 1, 1934 $1.00
State refunds to January 1, 1934 38.00
Outstanding January 1, 1934. 28.00
$67.00 $67.00
1931 Excise
Outstanding January 1, 1933
$1,819.13
Collections to January 1, 1934 $185.00
Abatements to January 1, 1934 630.08
Outstanding January 1, 1934. . 1,004.05
$1,819.13
$1,819.13
1932 Real Estate, Personal, Moth Betterments and Accrued Interest
Outstanding January 1, 1933 $393,872.03
Collections to January 1, 1934.291,664.02
Abatements to January 1, 1934 23,883.53 *Outstanding January 1, 1934 . 78,324.48
393,872.03 393,872.03
*Town tax titles are included in the above amount.
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1932 Polls
Outstanding January 1, 1933
$1,360.00
Additional commitment of polls 78.00
$1,438.00
Collections to January 1, 1934 $454.00
Abatements to January 1, 1934 248.00
Outstanding January 1, 1934. 736.00
$1,438.00
$1,438.00
1932 Old Age Assistance Tax
Outstanding January 1, 1933
$614.00
Additional commitment 40.00
$654.00
Collections to January 1, 1934
$191.00
State refunds to Jan. 1, 1934. . 152.00
Outstanding January 1, 1934. 311.00
$654.00
$654.00
1932 Excise
Outstanding Jaunary 1, 1933
$6,543.09
Additional commitments 349.83
$6,892.92 .
Collections to January 1, 1934 $3,713.73
Abatements to January 1, 1934 78.04 .
Outstanding January 1, 1934 3,101.15
$6,892.92
$6,892.92
1933 Real Estate, Personal, Moth Betterments and Accrued Interest
Commitments, $765,942.93 - $1,153.50 . . $767,096.43
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Collections to January 1, 1934 . 450,313.40 Abatements to January 1, 1934 2,467.84 *Outstanding January 1, 1934.314,315.19
767,096.43 767,096.43
1933 Polls
Commitments-$9,878 and $104.00
$9,982.00
Collections to January 1, 1934 $8,234.00
Abatements to January 1, 1934 174.00
Outstanding January 1, 1934. . 1,574.00
$9,982.00
$9,982.00
1933 Old Age Assistance Tax
Commitments-$4,939 and $52 $4,991.00
Collections to January 1, 1934 $4,147.00
Outstanding January 1, 1934. . 844.00
$4,991.00
$4,991.00
1933 Excise
"Commitments- $22,445.11, $1,825.49
$3,738.05, $1,652.42 and $693.15 $30,354.22
Collections to January 1, 1934 . $23,429.37 Abatements to January 1, 1934 1,457.24 Outstanding January 1, 1934. . 5,467.61
$30,354.22 $30,354.22
** Town tax titles are included in the above amount.
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REPORT OF THE BRAINTREE INFIRMARY
February 14, 1934.
To the Honorable Braintree Board of Selectmen.
Town Hall.
South Braintree, Mass.
Gentelmen :
I hereby submit the report of the Braintree In- firmary for the yyear ending December 31, 1933.
Number of Inmates January 1, 1933 13.
Number admitted during 1933 7
Number cared for during 1933 20
Discharged to other institutions 4
Discharged to State Infirmary 0.
Discharged to relatives 0
Discharged to care for self 3
Died 1
Number of Inmates at Infirmary Dec. 31, 1933 12
Respectfully submitted,
MRS. L. N. GOLDEN.
274
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Planning Board
OF THE
TOWN OF BRAINTREE
FROM
December 31, '32 to December 31, '33
BR
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INCORPORATE
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1640
T
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Printed by Order of the Town
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
The Planning Board presents its report for the year 1933.
There was one change in the personnel of the Board during the year. Shortly after the Annual Town Meeting, Mr. George N. Watson was succeeded, as. the Town Engineer member of the Board, by Mr. John J. Drinkwater Jr. The Planning Board desires to ex- press its appreciation of the valuable assistance of Mr. Watson in the activities of your Board, particu- larly with reference to directing the work of the men engaged on the topographic surveys made in several sections of the town and for many helpful suggestions. on various occasions.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
In its report for the year 1932, the Planning- Board emphasized the importance of carrying out the second stage of the Comprehensive Town Plan and suggested the preparation of that part of the plan in the near future. Your Board feels that the need of such a Plan is becoming more urgent each year and serious consideration should be given to its comple- tion at the earliest possible moment. Our town will undoubtedly experience a rapid growth during the next decade, with the new sewer in operation and im- proved train service at Braintree, and it is vitally im- portant that the development of the town shall pro- ceed in accordance wih a definite pre-arranged plan.
276
TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEYS
During the first five months of the year, the . Board continued to have the benefit of the services of three surveyors employed by the Emergency Plan- . ning and Research Bureau of Boston. These men com- pleted the topographic surveys and plans which were . not quite finished in the preceding year and in addi -- tion made the following surveys and plans in 1933.
LOCATION OF BROOKS
(with topography for width of 200 ft.)
1. Brook from Hollis Avenue (source) across Storrs : Avenue and Common Street to Old Colony R. R. Branch line Culvert.
2. Brook from Quincy Reservoir (source) across : Walnut Avenue to Brook from Hollis Avenue to . Common Street ..
3. Brook from Fallon's Lower Pond (source) across : Granite Street to Quincy Reservoir.
4. Location of Fallon's Lower and Upper Ponds in- cluding connecting brook and inlet brook for . about 400 ft. West.
5. Brook from Shaw Street culvert to concrete cul -. vert under Quincy Avenue.
6. Location of Wood Road (Purgatory Road) (with topography for 200 ft.)
7. Fallon's Upper Pond to Blue Hill River Road.
8. Topographic Survey of proposed road connecting . Washington Street near Storr's Square to Granite. Street (partly completed).
277
As Explained in our report of last year this work was obtained by the Board at practically no expense to the Town. The work came to an end about June 1st, due to lack of funds available at the Emergency Planning and Research Bureau with which to keep the men employed. Your Board has a deep sense of gratitude to the Bureau for the services of three to four surveyors for a period of more than a year. The results of their work have been very satisfactory and the plans prepared by them, which constitute a per- manent record of their work, will eventually be of great value to the town.
RECOMMENDATIONS
(a) COMPREHENSIVE TOWN PLAN
The Planning Board, realizing the continued need of economy in the annual appropriations of the town, has not requested an appropriation to continue work on the comprehensive town plan, the first stage of which was completed in 1931, as it does not feel that town funds should be made available this year for that purpose.
Your Board, however, wishes to again emphasize the importance of completing this plan as soon as pos- sible and it recommends that the money necessary be made available as soon as possible.
(b) CIVIC CENTRE
The further development of a civic centre in the vicinity of the Town Hall has been urged by the Plan- ning Board for several years. It was recommended that land be acquired on the east side of Washington Street opposite the Town Hall for extending the civic
278
1
centre. The Board still feels that acquisition of this : property is very desirable and that its cost would be returned to the town in the increased valuation of" the property in the immediate vicinity of this devel- opment. Already a portion of the land originally pro -.. posed for the extension of the civic centre has been taken for residential purposes. In the opinion of the Planning Board this property can still be obtained at a very reasonable cost and we recommend that further" consideration be given to its purchase in the near- future.
(c) STORR'S SQUARE-GRANITE STREET HIGHWAY SURVEY
The need of a direct highway from Washington: Street in the vicinity of Storr's Square and westerly to Quincy Reservoir and along the north side of the reservoir to Granite Street has been recognized by the . Board for some time. The property west of Washing -. ton Street is likely to develop rapidly at the first sign of a recovery in building construction. At the present time no apparent attempt has been made by the vari- ous owners of property between Washington Street. and Granite street to sub-divide the various properties in a way which would give a direct highway between: these two main arteries ..
The engineers furnished by the Emergency Plan- ning and Research Bureau during the past year under- took surveys to be used as a basis for determining the. most desirable location for a through highway from the vicinity of Storr's Square to Granite Street. This. work was done under the direction of the Town Engineer .. The topography has been obtained from
2.7.9
«Granite Street to the Quincy Reservoir and sufficient information with regard to the location of houses and various other features which might influence the loca- tion of a through highway for that portion of the route have been secured. This survey should be com- pleted when an appropriation for that purpose can be made available, so that the best location for a high- way may be determined.
(d) HAZARDOUS INTERSECTIONS
A number of hazardous intersections have been considered by the Board and the following are pointed out with the hope that the Town Highway Depart- ment will consider the advisability of eliminating as many as possible durnig the next year or that they be included as CWA projects.
1. The junction on Liberty Street of Middle and Pearl Streets.
2. The corner at the bottom of Mill Lane, East Brain- tree, where the entrance to the bridge is obscured by Old Colony R. R. barn.
3. The dangerous condition existing at Capen's Bridge coming south on Washington Street.
4. The hazard at corner of Allen Street swinging left to the north into Quincy Avenue. The street entrance is too narrow and should be widened.
5. The bridge over the New Haven Railroad at Braintree Highlands is too narrow and curves at the east and west entrances are too abroupt.
6. There is a bad corner at Allen and Commercial Street going east from Allen Street into Commer- cial Street.
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The Board recommends that surveys be made, plans provided, and estimates prepared for correcting these hazardous locations.
(e) PROPOSED PLAYGROUND
During the year a suggestion was made to the- Board that the Town acquire the land along the Monatiquot River, north of Union Street for play- ground purposes, said land to be filled in under the direction of the Board of Health. This is mostly swamp land and if a strip of land 200 ft. wide on each side of the river could be procured it would form the nucleus upon which a parkway could later be de -. veloped.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Your Planning Board desires in this report to ex- . press its appreciation of the fine spirit of co-operation which its ex officio member, Mr. John J. Drinkwater . Jr., Town Engineer, has shown in all dealings with it. He also placed the facilities of his office at the dis- posal . of your Planning Board, to be used by them as a regular meeting place, and to file records and plans.
Acknowledgment also should be expressed in this . report of the consideration shown by the Emergency Planning and Research Bureau of Boston in making available to the Town the services of three to four surveyors not regularly employed, but paid by the Bu- reau out of funds subscribed for this purpose. As stated in your Planning Board's 1932 Annual Report, the plan of operation was such as to be non-interfering with employees working regularly on public work. Up . to the time of their termination in the early summer, .
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-their work was a continuation of that as outlined in the Board's 1932 Annual Report, and in connection with the future development of your Town should prove invaluable. The survey work done and topo- graphic plans as completed represent more than a year's work for the engineers thus employed, and we know that this activity was mutually satisfactory to all parties involved.
INVITATION
Your Planning Board would not consider its Re- port complete unless it included an invitation to any and all interested citizens to submit suggestions and ·constructive criticisms to its Chairman or any of its members. Items concerning street, park and future planned development may all be included. Naturally all of our residents are interested in the general good appearance of their Town, and the impression that it may make on visitors and prospective new residents. Let the Town reflect your active interest and best sug- . gestions.
Furthermore, careful Town planning, which con- · cerns future development and growth as well as pres- ent problems, permits the application of economical business methods in the completion of approved pro- jects. If our homes with their small areas and con- : struction must be planned, how much greater the ne- cessity for planning your town with its thousands of homes and miles of streets, together with its public : grounds and buildings.
282
Kindly co-operate and communicate with Mr .. Joseph W. Parker or Mr. Archie T. Morrison.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH W. PARKER, Chairman J. CALEB JUSTICE, Secretary JOHN F. CLINTON SAMUEL M. ELLSWORTH ARCHIE T. MORRISON JOHN J. DRINKWATER Jr, Town Engineer“
283
ZONING COMMITTEE REPORT FOR THE
YEAR 1933
Your Zoning Committee has not found it possible to complete its work on the proposed Zoning Map and By-Law so as to place it before the Town for vote in March 1934. It therefore asks the Town to accept "the Committee's report of progress and to continue "the Zoning Committee carrying over last year's ap- propriation in order to complete the proposed Zoning By-Law for submission to the Annual Town Meeting -in March 1935.
Respectfully submitted,
KENNETH G. BLODGETT, Chairman J. CALEB JUSTICE, Secretary
284
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Highway Department OF THE
TOWN OF BRAINTREE
FROM
December 31, '32 to December 31, '33
BRA
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Printed by Order of the Town
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Braintree :
Gentlemen :
I have the Honor and Pleasure of submitting to you my report for the year 1933.
286
Braintree Highway Department EXPENDITURES 1933
Labor
Hauling
Total
Appropriation
Unexpended Balance
Salary of Superintendent
2,975.00
2,975.00
PERMANENT MEN:
General: Maintenance:
2,896.33
$1,591.54
$4,487.87
Patching
1,410.56
811.71
2,222.27
Tarvia & Sanding
1,696.58
1,247.62
2,944.20
Street Cleaning
481.61
618.86
1,100.47
Drains & Catch basins
529.09
326.76
855.85
Quincy Ave. Bridge
7.21
10.20
17.41
Repairs to Bridges
35.84
26.83
62.67
Repairs to Equipment
1,220.03
123.30
1,343.33
Street Signs
39.44
32.81
72.25
Fences & Guard rails
35.77
12.68
48.45
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EXPENDITURES (Continued)
Snow Removal
1,541.90
948.99
2,490.89
Special :
Sidewalks
171.69
171.49
343.18
Total Permanent Men
$10,066.05
$5,922.79 $15,988.84
$15,988.84
Labor
Hauling
Supplies
Total
Appropriation
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