USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1940 > Part 4
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ARTICLE 19.
Voted: That the sum of $300.00 be appropriated from the income of the Water Department, for the salaries of the Water Commissioners.
ARTICLE 20.
Voted: That the Town place under the exclusive control of the Water Department two parcels now held by the Town on tax title fore- closure proceedings and described as follows:
1. A lot formerly owned by Dennis Crowley and Michael Shea, des- ignated as P'lot No. 1 on Plan No. 2054 on file in the Assessors' Office; and 2. A parcel formerly owned by J. L. Emery and shown as Plots No. 1 and No. 2, Lots No. 314 and No. 315 on Plan No. 1053 on file in the Assessors' Office.
Mr. Ira Young moved: That the Water Department reimburse the Town for the unpaid taxes, cost and interest accrued. Carried-9:54.
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ARTICLE 21.
Voted: That the sum of $300.00 be appropriated from the revenues of the Electric Light Department for salaries of the Electric Light Com- missioners for the year 1940.
ARTICLE 22.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $12,000.00 for Street Lighting.
ARTICLE 23.
Voted: That there be included in the Tax Levy for electricity used for street lighting the sum of $12,000.00 as appropriated under Article 22 of this Warrant for the 1940 Annual Town Meeting, and that said sum together with the income from sales of electricity to private consumers, or from current supplied to Municipal Buildings or for Municipal Power, and from sale of appliances and jobbing during the current fiscal year, be appropriated for the use of the Municipal Light Plant, the whole- to be expended under the direction and control of the Municipal Light Board, for repairs, renewals, new construction, and operating expenses of the plant for the present fiscal year, as defined in Section 57 of Chap- ter 164 of the General Laws, and that, if said income shall exceed the expenses for the fiscal year, such excess shall be transferred to the Con- struction Fund of said plant and appropriated and used for such addi- tions to the plant as may thereafter be authorized by the Municipal Light Board. Carried-10:01.
ARTICLE 2.
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Mr. Cavanaugh offered the following resolution: That the Electric Light Department cease selling appliances and doing jobbing. Not car- ried.
ARTICLE 23.
Voted: That the motion made by Mr. Foley under the Water De- partment, include the Electric Light Department also. Carried 10:04.,
ARTICLE 2.
Mr. Messenger offered the following Resolution:
Whereas the Town Meeting of the year 1938 instructed 'the Committee considering the feasibility of a Controller's Department for the Town of Braintree to apply to the legislature for a permissive act; and Whereas, the voters of the Town by a vote of 2484 in the affirmative and 1185 in the negative approved the Committee under Referendum No. 3 on the 1938 ballot;
Therefore, Be it Resolved That this Limited Town Meeting of 1940 instructs our Representative in the General Court to act with the Com- mittee to secure the passage of House Rule No. 299 as it may or may not be amended or otherwise changed to eliminate certain legal techni- calities which are said to exist that now prevent passage, which bill has been referred to the next session of the Legislature;
Be it Further Resolved That this Limited Town Meeting especially requests such a permissive act of the State Legislature since it con- siders it a matter of Home Rule to accept or reject such a department;
Be it Further Resolved That the Town Clerk is requested to mail copies of this Resolution to the Senator of the District; to the permanent presiding officers of the State Senate and House of Representatives; to the Chairman of the Committee on Towns; and to the Governor of the Commonwealth .- Not carried 10:06.
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ARTICLE 24.
Mr. Palmer moved: To place under the exclusive control of the Electric Light Department, a parcel of land now held by the Town under tax title foreclosure proceedings and shown as Plots 60 and 61 on Plan No. 1028 on file in the Assessors' Office, containing approximately 12,- 500 square feet of land
Mr. Messenger moved: That Article 24 be laid on the table. Car- ried-10:20.
ARTICLE 23.
Mr. Morrison moved: That the standardized purchase order form as adopted by vote of the Town in 1939 under Article 75 be used for the purchase of all materials and supplies which apply agains tthis appropria- tion and that the Board of Selectmen refuse to approve any voucher which does not check with the standardized purchase order .- Carried.
SEWER DEPARTMENT
ARTICLE 25.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the following sums of money for the purposes of the Sewer Department, to be expended by the Board of Sewer Commissioners:
Salary of Superintendent. $ 3,000.00
Maintenance 6,700.00
House Connections. 7,500.00
Pumping Station
9,600.00
Voted: That there be raised and appropriated the sum of $545.00, which sum, together with the proceeds of a turn in sale of the present sewer department automobile. which sale is hereby authorized, shall be used for the purchase of a new Sewer Department automobile.
Voted: That there be appropriated for the Sewer Department's share of materials, trucking, and other necessary expenss in connection with W.P.A. activities or other special aid projects in conjunction with State or Federal Government the sum of $20,000.00.
$ 47,345.00
To be raised as follows:
From Sewer Receipts reserved for
Appropriation- 3,145.29
From Tax. Levy 44,199.71
$ 47,345.00
ARTICLE 26.
Voted: That the sum of $300.00 be raised and appropriated for sal- aries of the Board of Sewer Commissioners. Carried-10:39.
Mr. Foley moved: That motion made by Mr. Foley under the Water Department apply to both Articles 25 and 26 .- Carried.
ARTICLE 27.
Voted: That Article 27 be laid on the table.
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PARK DEPARTMENT
ARTICLE 28.
Moved: Article 28 be laid on the table .- Not carried .- 10:44.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the following sums of money for the general uses of the Board of Park Commissioners:
Precinct one and two. $ 800.00
Precinct three and four 800.00
Precinct five and six
300.00
Organized Play
700.00
$ 2,600.00
Mr. Folsom moved: That we adjourned at eleven o'clock. Carried. Notice served of desire to reconsider Article 28.
Mr. Larkin moved: Reconsideration of the vote of the Town under Article 28 at this time .- Carried.
Mr. Cavanaugh moved: That we adjourn until 7:45 P.M. Monday, March 25, 1940 .- Carried 10:46 P.M.
A true copy, Attest:
ERNEST C. WOODSUM, Town Clerk.
Braintree, Mass., March 25, 1940.
The adjourned Annual Town Meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Wm. F. Rogers, at 7:53 P.M. There were 191 Town Meeting Members present.
All Town Meeting Members present were duly sworn into office by the Town Clerk, Ernest C. Woodsum.
Mr. Palmer moved: That the reading of the records of the last session be waived. So voted.
Notice was served for reconsideration of Articles 22 and 23.
Notice was served for reconsideration of Articles 18, 23, 25 and 26 as far as they refer to the motion made by Mr. Foley.
ARTICLE 28.
Inasmuch as the Chair neglected to count the vote for reconsidera- tion on Article 28, which required a two-thirds vote, the Chair ruled "No Vote.'
ARTICLE 29.
Voted: That the Board of Park Commissioners be instructed to designate a portion of Watson Park, not exceeding 67,000 square feet in area, on which area the Braintree Yacht Club shall be authorized to con- struct, maintain and operate a building or buildings and landings for its own use as a Yacht Club, so long as it shall also construct and maintain adjacent thereto a landing open to the public, with access to said Park .- Carried 7:57.
ARTICLE 28.
Mr. Harkins moved: The reconsideration of Article 28.
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The Moderator appointed the following to serve as tellers: Messrs. Lambert, Canavan, Wade, Jenkins, Bond, Ewart, Taylor and Gates.
There being 61 in the affirmative and 95 in the negative, the motion to reconsider Article 28 was lost .- 8:02.
CEMETERIES
ARTICLE 30.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the following sums of money for the improvement of the Cemetery the present year :
Superintendence and Labor $ 400.00
Expenses
280.00 $ 680.00
Voted: The additional appropriation of $4.00 the same to be taken from the income of the Julia Minchin Trust Fund, for care of lot.
Voted: The additional appropriation of $3.00 the same to be taken trom the income of the Joseph S. Miller Trust Fund, for care of lot.
ARTICLE 31.
Voted: That the Town accept the Charles C. Hill Trust Fund of $100.00, the income to be used for the care of Lot No. 70 in Plain Street Cemetery.
SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES
UNDER ARTICLE 2.
Mr. Palmer submitted a report of Progress by the School Survey Committee and asked that the Committee be continued.
ARTICLE 32.
Voted: That the following sums of money be appropriated for the support of the Public Schools the present year:
Salaries $271,825.00
Text Books and Supplies 19,000.00
Expenses 46,600.00
$337,425.00
Mr. Walter Morrison moved: That the standardized purchase order form as adopted by vote of the Town in 1939 under Article No. 75 be used for the purchase of all materials, textbooks and supplies which apply against this appropriation, and that the Board of Selectmen refuse to approve any voucher for payment which does not check with the stan- dardized purchase order. Carried-8:32.
ARTICLE 33.
Voted: No action under Article 33 .- Carried 8:49.
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ARTICLE 34.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the following sums of money for the Public Library and present year:
Salaries
Janitors
$ 8,500.00 625.00
Expenses
6,650.00
$ 15,775.00
To be raised as follows:
From the Tax Levy $ 13,648.83
From the Dog Tax. 2,126.17
$ 15,775.00
SOLDIERS' BENEFITS
ARTICLE 35.
Mr. Cavanaugh moved: That the sum of $23,300.00 be appropriated under this Article and that the six items be reduced proportionately. Not a vote-9:09.
Voted: That the followings sums of money be raised and appropri- ated for Soldiers' Relief, State Aid and Military Aid, the present year:
Soldiers' Relief
Salary-Agent $ 1,560.00
Office Expense 200.00
Automobile Expenses 240.00
Aid to Recipients.
19,000.00
$ 21,000.00
State Aid and Burials
1,300.00
Military Aid.
1,500.00
$ 23,800.00
ARTICLE 36.
Voted: That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the Observance of Memorial Day, as usual. Carried-9:15.
PUBLIC WELFARE
ARTICLE 37.
Voted: That the following sums of money be raised and appropri- ated for the Public Welfare Department, including Aid for Dependent Children, and Adequate Assistance to Certain Aged Persons under the provisions of Chapter 118A, Acts of 1931:
Welfare Department Administration:
Salaries, Board of Welfare
To be allocated $190.68 to each member $ 572.04
Salary, Administrator
2,380.00
Salaries of two Investigators
2,392.00
Clerk 900.00
Clerical Expense. 452.00
Bookkeeper 1,526.00
Office Expenses and Supplies. . 323.00
Automobile Expense and Repairs
840.00
$ 9,385.04
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Voted: That there be raised and appropriated the sum of $500.00, which sun, together with the proceeds of a turn in sale of the present Wel- fare Department automobile, which sale is hereby authorized, shall be used for the purchase of a new Welfare Department automobile. Carried-9:16.
Temporary Aid
$ 90,000.00
Aid to Dependent Children
Aid to Dependent Children Administration
Salaries, Board of Welfare. $ 27.96
To be allocated $9.32 to each member
Salary Administrator. 120.00
Salaries of two Investigators
104.00
Clerk 36.00
Clerical Expense 16.00
Bookkeeper
34.00
Office Expenses and Supplies.
77.00
Automobile Expense and Repairs.
60.00
474.96
Aid to Dependent Children
21,000.00
Infirmary
Salary-Superintendent and Matron. $ 1,500.00
Labor
900.00
Expenses
4,635.00
$ 7,035.00
Old Age Assistance
Salary of Supervisor. $ 1,560.00
Clerk
936.00
Clerical Expense.
400.00
Office Expense
230.00
Automobile Expense
200.00
Assistance to Recipients
73,700.00
$ 77,026.00
HIGHWAYS
ARTICLE 38.
Voted: That the Town raise and appropriate the following sums of money for the support of the Highway Department, including labor, re- pairs and building sidewalks, stone roads and removal of snow, repairs to highways, town ways and bridges; oiling and tarring of streets; pur- chase of equipment for said department; and collection of rubbish:
Salary of Superintendent 3,000.00
Mr. Palmer moved: That the sum of $52,000.00 be appropriated for General Maintenance-Labor, repairs to highways, Town ways and bridges, repairs to sidewalks and other maintenance, not including new onstruction.
Mr. Foley offered the following amendment: That the General Maintenance appropriation of the Highway Department be increased the sum of four hundred dollars ($400.00) to be carried on the Accountant's records as Special Maintenance, payments or charges to this account to be restricted to labor, such labor to be performed by tax-payers, certi- fied to the Selectmen as eligible for special work assignment by reason of unpaid tax obligations. The duration or term of such work assignment
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shall be limited by the Selectmen to the nearest number of days necessary to discharge such tax obligations, payment for labor to be at the rate of fifty cents (50c) per hour, and only the excess of earnings over tax obli- gations shall be directly payable to the assignee.
ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTIFICATION
Re: Poll Taxes
Taxpayers must have been unemployed or without income from any source for a period of three months dating from the date of the notice of assessment of the current year.
Re: Real Estate Taxes
Taxpayer must give information as requested by the Collector, who shall submit the facts pertaining to the request to a Committee to be appointed by the Moderator, consisting of three Real Estate Taxpayers. This commitee shall approve or disapprove the Collector's right to certify the Taxpayer's name to the Selectmen or Commissioners.
Taxpayers must have legal domicile on property taxed.
Taxpayer must have 25% equity in property, using as a basis the assessed value per the current assessment.
Taxpayer must be able to finance the payment in money of one-half of such tax, and such payment must be in the hands of the Collector prior to certification.
Holdings of property other than those attached to a domicile by legal recordings are not to be considered.
Taxpayer must have been unemployed or without income from any source for such period of time as the Committee may deem reasonable.
Taxpayer's performance while previously employed must evidence a reasonable effort to discharge his obligation, as may be determined by the Committee .- Carried 9:44.
The original motion, as amended:
General Maintenance
$ 52,400.00
New Construction $6,963.00, said sum to be allocated approximately as follows*
Union Street Drainage. $ 1,781.00
Hollis Avenue Sidewalk-380 Ft .. 720.00
Union Street Drainage at Town Barn. 339.50
Liberty Street Sidewalk-1160 ft .. . 1,080.00
Commercial Street Sidewalk-from
Playground to Elm St., West Side. 1,116.00
Elm Street Sidewalk-from Commercial Street to R.R. tracks. 681.50
Commercial Street-Penn's Hill. 1,245.00
$ 6,963.00
New Equipment
One New Heavy Duty Truck. .$ 4,500.00
Voted: That there be raised and appropriated the sum of $875.00, which sum, together with the proceeds of a turn-in sale of the present
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11/2 ton truck, which sale is hereby authorized, shall be used for the purchase of a new 11/2 ton truck .- Carried 9:57.
Voted: That there be raised and appropriated the sum of $500.00, which sum, together with the proceeds of a turn-in sale of the present Superintendent's car, which sale is hereby authorized, shall be used for the purchase of a new Superintendent's car.
Snow Removal Sand Sanding. $ 15,000.00
Collection of Rubbish
Voted: That there be raised and appropriated the sum of $2,800.00 for the collection, transportation, and disposal of rubbish and refuse from the private residences in the Town of Braintree. Collections to be made by the Highway Department .- Carried 9:59.
Chapter 90 Maintenance. $
1,000.00
Voted: That there be appropriated for the Highway Department's share of materials, trucking, and other necessary expenses in connection with W.P.A. Activities or other special aid projects in conjunction with State or Federal Government the sum of. $ 18,000.00
Mr. Foley moved: Reconsideration of the vote of the Town on his motion under Articles 18-23-25-26 .- Carried 10:00.
Voted: To rescind the vote on motion made by Mr. Foley under Articles 18-23-25 and 26. Carried 10:02.
Voted: That Article 24 be taken from the table .- Carried 10:04. ARTICLE 24.
Voted: To place under the exclusive control of the Electric Light Department, a parcel of land now held by the Town under tax title fore- closure proceedings and shown as Plots 60 and 61 on Plan No. 1028 on file in the Assessors' Office, containing approximately 12,500 square feet of land .- Carried 10:14.
ARTICLE 39.
Voted: That the sum of $6,000.00 be appropriated to be used with an equal sum appropriated by the Town of Weymouth for the repair and maintenance of the Quincy Avenue Bridge, under the control of the Selectmen of Weymouth and Braintree, in accordance with the provisions of Section 8 , Chapter 315, Acts of 1917. Unanimous vote-10:16.
ARTICLE 40.
Voted: No action under Article 40. Carried-10:16.
ARTICLE 41.
Voted : That this be referred to the Highway Department for a W.P.A. Project, for 360 ft. east from Shaw Street, to be accepted when completed.
ARTICLE 42.
Voted: That this be referred to the Highway Department for a W. P.A. project, from Spencer Street to Vinedale Road, to be accepted when completed.
ARTICLE 43.
Voted: No action under Article 43 .- Carried 10:19.
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ARTICLE 44.
Voted: That this be referred to the Highway Department for a W.P.A. Project, for 250 ft. east from Fountain Street, to be accepted when completed. Carried-10:21.
ARTICLE 45.
Voted: That this be referred to the Highway Department for a W.P.A. Project .- Carried-10:22.
ARTICLE 46.
No action necessary under this Article as it is covered by recom - mendation under Article 42.
ARTICLE 47.
Voted: That this be referred to the Highway Depatment for a W.P.A. Project, to be accepted when completed. Carried-10:23.
ARTICLE 48.
Votd: No action under Article 48 .- Carried-10:25.
ARTICLE 49.
Voted: No action under Article 49 .- Carried 10:26.
ARTICLE 50.
Voted: To accept as and for a Town way, WINDEMERE CIRCLE, so-called, approximately 555 ft. in a westerly and northerly direction from the present joint of acceptance, as laid out by the Selectmen. Carried -- 10:27.
ARTICLE 51.
Voted: To accept as and for a Town way, PARKSIDE AVENUE, so-called, from Walnut Street 850 ft. easterly, as laid out by the Selectmen.
ARTICLE 52.
Voted: No action under Article 52. Carried-10:27.
ARTICLE 53.
Voted: That this be referred to the Highway Department for a W.P.A. Project .- Carried 10:28.
ARTICLE 54.
Moved: That the sum of $100.00 be appropriated for the purchase or taking by eminent domain of the parcel of land described in said Article and that the Selectmen be instructed to make said taking and lay out a way over the same. Not carried-10:45.
ARTICLE 55.
Voted: No action under Article 55.
Mr. Blewett moved: That the Annual Town Meeting adjourn until next Monday night at 7:45 P.M .- Carried 10:46.
A true copy, Attest:
ERNEST C. WOODSUM, Town Clerk.
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Braintree, April 1, 1940
The adjourned Annual Town Meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Wm. F. Rogers, at 7:50 P.M. There were 191 Town Meeting Members present.
Voted: That the reading of the minutes of the last session be dis- pensed with.
MISCELLANEOUS
ARTICLE 56.
Voted: That the Town raise and appropriate the following sum to be expended by the Selectmen to cover the Town's share for materials, trucking, and other necessary expenditures in connection with W.P.A. Activities or other special aid projects in conjunction with State or Fed- eral Government, except as provided in Article 25 and Article 38.
For Miscellaneous Projects and Administration $ 10,000.00
ARTICLE 57.
Voted: That the sum of $2,500.00 be raised and appropriated, in addition to that appropriated under any other article, for Land Damages.
ARTICLE 58.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $1,508.60 for the pay- ment of printing and distribution of the Annual Report of the Town of Braintree for 1939. Carried-7:53.
ARTICLE 60.
Voted: To distribute the income from the Charles Thayer Trust Fund as follows:
For the Dyer Hill Cemetery:
to be expended under the direction of
Otis B. Oakman and Charles S. Marshell. . . .
$ 50.00
Thayer Public Library, for purchase of new books
225.00
Park Department:
Precinct one and two .
$ 75.00
Precinct three and four
75.00
Precinct five and six
75.00
225.00
$ 500.00
ARTICLE 61.
No action necessary under this Article as it is covered under Article 15. ARTICLE 62.
Voted: That the Town renew its lease with Braintree Post No. 36, Department of Massachusetts, the American Legion, of the Legion Building for a term of five years from January 18, 1941, at $1.00 per year, reserving one room for polling purposes. Carried-7:55.
ARTICLE 62.
Mr. Farley offered the following resolution: The Veterans of For- eign Wars Post No. 1702 hereby petition the Town of Braintree to furnish suitable quarters beneficial to our organization as our present
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quarters have been cut up and used by the Welfare and W.P.A. It is impossible to hold a meeting, keep our relics or to run any kind of a time.
We feel that it is only fair that no partiality should be shown to any one organization. We, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, being one of the oldest veterans organizations should have just as much right to privi- leges, the same as any other organization.
There has been quite a lot of money spent on the legion building and as it is understood, was to be a community building. If this is so, we would like to have free use of the building facilities to run our functions.
Carried-7:57.
ARTICLE 63.
Voted: That Article 63 be referred to Committee to Study the By- Laws appointed under Article 2 of the Annual March Town Meeting of 1939. Carried-7:58.
ARTICLE 64.
Voted: No action under Article 64 .- Carried 8:06.
ARTICLE 65.
Voted: No action under Article 65.
ARTICLE 66.
Voted: That as far as practicable, the Town will direct its officials to be present at all town meetings, prepared to answer all questions that Town Meeting members may ask concerning the operation of their de- partments since the last annual meeting. Carried-8:07.
In accordance with the vote of the Town on March 18, 1940, "That the Tree Warden submit a detailed report for the past year and every year hereafter to the next adjourned Town Meeting, money appropriated, money expended and what for"-the Tree Warden submitted the fol- lowing report:
As I stated in my annual report, $300.00 was appropriated for the use of the Tree Department in 1939 of which $187.25 wa's expended as follows : Removing of dangerous trees, limbs and doing surgery on-
President Road. School Street and Staten Road
July 12, 1939
Labor $ 32.00
Trucking 6.00
Washington Street
July 13, 1939
Labor
27.00
Trucking 6.75
Hollis Avenue
August 5, 1939
Labor
4.00
Town Street
Sept. 13, 1939
Labor
19.00
Trucking 6.00
Arborway Drive, Lemoyne Street, Tremont Street
Oct. 9, 1939
Labor
22.00
Trucking
4.00
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Sterling Street, Wellington Street
Oct. 14, 1939
Labor
12.00
Trucking
3.00
Central Street
Oct. 23, 1939
Labor
7.50
Trucking
1.00
Elm Street
Oct. 23, 1939
Labor
25.00
Trucking
3.00
Commercial Street
Dec. 30, 1939
Labor
8.00
Trucking
1.00
$ 187.25
The balance of the 1939 appropriation amounting to $112.75 remained in the Town's Funds in accordance with the Town's move towards economy.
Respectfully submitted,
CLARENCE R. BESTICK, Tree Warden.
ARTICLE 67.
Voted: That Article 67 be referred to the School Committee. Car- ried-8:12.
ARTICLE 68.
Voted: That Artcile 68 be referred to the School Committee. Car- ried-8:14.
ARTICLE 69.
Moved: That Article 69 be referred to the various departments to establish office hours for their departments.
The Moderator appointed the following to serve as tellers: Messrs. Erwin, Little, Ryan, Hall Blewett, White and Mulcahy.
There being 67 in the affirmative and 102 in the negative, the motion was lost.
Mr. Ira Young offered the following Resolution: That the Town include in its By-Laws the following provision:
All Town Offices shall be kept open continuously from 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. on week days and 8:30 A.M. to 12:00 Noon on Saturdays.
Time off for lunch shall be limited to one hour.
Offices having only one indivdual may close from Noon to 1:00 P.M. Carried-8:23.
ARTICLE 70.
Voted: That the Town authorize the Selectmen to sell property, title to which has been acquired by the Town under tax title forclosure procedure, at public auction, provided notice of such auction sale be pub- lished in one or more newspapers published in the Town at least one
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week before the date of said sale, and to authorize the Selectmen to execute deeds conveying said land, except so far as other action has been taken by special vote .- Carried 8:26.
ARTICLE 71.
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