USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1925 > Part 2
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Forest Warden Department
750.00
Board of Health
Salaries
350.00
Transportation
150.00
Agents
100.00
Agents' Transportation
200.00
Aid
1,625.00
Maintenance
200.00
Meat Inspector Salary
600.00
Milk Inspector
350.00
V'oted to adjourn the meeting at this point from 12 noon to 12.50 P. M.
School Department
Administration 3,900.00
It was explained by the School Committee that this would include the Expense of the School Committee, Attendance Officers, School Census, Supt. Office and Supt. Salary.
Instruction 65,000.00
It was explained that Instruction would cover the Teachers' Salaries, Books and Supplies.
Operation and Maintenance 18,200.00
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It was explained that his would cover Janitors' Salaries, Janitors' Supplies, Fuel, Water, Light, Power, Repairs and other Expense.
Auxiliary Agencies 11,300.00
It was explained that this would cover Transportation of Scholars, Transportation of School Nurse, Salary of School Nurse, School Nurse Supplies and Salaries of School Physicians.
New Equipment 1,500.00
Libraries
Adams Library 2,000.00
North Chelmsford Library 1,200.00
Cemeteries
Salaries of Commissioners 105.00
Forefathers' Cemetery 700.00
It was voted that $350.00 of the Forefathers' Cemetery appro- priation is to be used to install water in the cemetery, the money to be expended by the Cemetery Commissioners.
Hart Pond Cemetery 100.00
Pine Ridge Cemetery . . 500.00
Riverside Cemetery 400.00
West Chelmsford Cemetery 300.00
New Cemetery on West-North Road 2,500.00
Assessors
Salaries 1,200.00
Other Expense 125.00
Transportation 100.00
Under Article 3. Voted that the Town authorize the Selectmen to act as its agent in any suit or suits which may arise requiring in their judgment the action of such agent and to employ counsel therefor.
Under Article 4. Voted that the Treasurer be and he hereby is authorized and empowered to borrow money with the approval of the Selectmen from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the finan- cial year beginning January 1, 1925, and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the revenue of such financial year.
Under Article 5. Voted that the Town appropriate from money already in the hands of the Treasury the sum of $4440.76 to pay unpaid bills for the year 1919 to 1924 inclusive.
Under Article 6. Voted that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen to contract with the Lowell Electric Light Corporation to install new eighty candle power hydrogen gas filled lamps in place of the present forty candle power lamps at an increased price of one dollar per light per year, and raise and appropriate a sufficient sum to meet the expense thereof.
Under Article 7. Voted to authorize the Selectmen to contract with the Lowell Electric Light Corporation at the then prevailing price per light for the following additional lights and raise and appropriate a suf-
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ficient sum of money to meet the expense thereof viz: Ten lights on Richardson Road; one light on Newfield Street midway between Mansur and Adams Streets; two lights on Sherman Street; one light at the Cor- ner of Glenn Ave. and Chelmsford Street; five lights on Maple Road; six lights on Chestnut Hill Road; five lights on Pine Hill Road; twelve lights on Elm Road; three lights on Old Westford Road; three lights on Sprague Ave .; two lights on Stedman Street; four lights on Dalton Road; one light on Westford Street near Dalton Road; three lights on Moore Street; five lights on Smith Street; two lights on Park Road; ten lights on Old Westford Road; nine lights on Westford Road; four lights on Hunt Road; one light on Harvard Street.
Under Article 8. Voted to dismiss this article.
Under Article 9. Voted that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $2856.00 and that the Town Treasurer be and he hereby is author- ized and empowered to borrow a sum of money not exceeding $4444.00 at a rate of interest not exceeding 6% per annum payable semi-annually and to issue therefor four promissory notes each in the same principal som, payable at the expiration of one, two, three and four years from the date thereof, each note to be signed by the Treasurer and counter- signed by a majority of the Board of Selectmen and that the proceeds be used to purchase two new trucks for the use of the Highway Depart- ment and that the Selectmen are authorized to turn in two old trucks belonging to the Town as part payment thereof. 273 voted in the affirm- ative. 3 voted in the negative.
Under Article 10. Voted that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $100.00 to reimburse James R. Gookin for expenses incurred in defending himself in two actions brought against him, one by Joseph Robitaille and the other by Delina Levesque, in connection with an automobile accident at North Chelmsford.
Under Article 11. Voted to instruct the Selectmen to appoint two regular Police Officers for duty in the Town.
Under Article 12. Voted that the sum of $3000.00 be expended from the appropriation of $5000.00 made under the budget for "Police" for salaries of two regular officers.
Under Article 13. Voted to dismiss this article.
Under Article 14. The Committee appointed under Article 8 of the Warrant for a special Town Meeting held on Monday, May 19, 1924, for the purpose among other things of obtaining tentative plans and speci- fications for a new grammar school building at the Centre Village and also for remodelling the present school building at the Centre Village and to report the cost of a new school building and a site therefor and . the estimated cost of remodelling the present school building and pro- curing additional land adjoining for playground purposes, made the following report :
The purpose of this Committee appointed for a new grade school at the Centre Village was to consider all possibilities of remodeling the old school and in event of adverse report, to choose a site, have plans prepared and come before this meeting with a full description of work performed and with plans, costs and recommendations as to the new school, this Committee employed the services of an architect and en- gineer to look over the old school building and to make a report which will be given to you later. The next step this Committee took was to look for a site for a new school building and after looking at several sites decided on a lot on the Lowell Road and Wilson Street, this lot contains about three and one-half acres. After the Committee had agreed on this site they ordered the architect and engineer to draw
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plans for a twelve-room school building, including an assembly hall, and when the plans were completed they called on several citizens, the School Committee, Selectmen, and Finance Committee, for a conference to consider the plans, after this meeting the Committee met and unani- mously accepted the plans. To find out the cost of this building was a problem indeed, as th's Committee could not authorize any contract, the contractors would not give an accurate bid, nevertheless our architect and engineer were able to obtain an estimate fron three reputable contractors so as to give this Committee something to work on. The Committee then wished to see if it was possible to get accurate figures and the architect and engineer were called in to see if it was possible and at this time we asked to have another set of plans made of a twelve-room school building without an assembly hall, which was done. The Committee then instructed the architect to send out to various contractors for bids with the understanding that there was noth- ing certain as to the school being built until after our Annual Town Meeting and a Committee appointed to build the same if it was so voted. This Committee has spent considerable time on this project and have done everything in its power to keep the cost down as you will see after the other members have explained other matters in detail. This portion of the report was submitted by Charles H. Clough, Chair- man.
Mr. M. Edward Riney then read a report submitted to this Committee in regards to remodelling the present grade school building as prepared by the architect and engineer and in part they recommended that the old building be discontinued and a new building be erected, this report is on file in the Office of the Town Clerk.
The last part of this report was presented by Mr. Thomas H. Varnum, stating what the Committee had done and what they recom- mended for school purposes in the Centre Village, this report is also on file in the Office of the Town Clerk.
It was voted to accept this report and place the same on file.
Under Article 15. On an original motion made by Mr. C. H. Clough, that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $10.000.00 and that the Town Treasurer be and he hereby is authoried to borrow the further sum of $30,000.00 at a rate of interest not exceeding six per cent per annum payable semi-annually, and to issue therefor fifteen promissory notes each in the same principal sum of $2000.00 payable at the expira- tion of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 years from the date thereof each note to be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned ยท by a majority of the Board of Selectmen and finally to borrow a balance of $100,000.00 pursuant to the provisions of a Special Act of the Legis- lature entitled, An Act Authorizing the Town of Chelmsford to borrow money for School purposes approved by the Governor, February 3, 1925, and to issue therefor fifteen promissory notes each in the same principal sum, payable at the expiration of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 years from the date thereof, and to bear on their face the words: Chelmsford School Loan, Act of 1925, and that the proceeds from the amounts so raised and borrowed, namely, the sum of $140,000.00 be used for the purpose of acquiring land, for a new grammar school build- ing at the Centre Village and constructing such building and equipping, furnishing and also grading the land.
An amendment was made to the original motion as follows: That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 and that the Town Treasurer be and he hereby is authorized to borrow the further sum of $30,000.00 at a rate of interest not exceeding six per cent per annum
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payable semi-annually, and to issue therefor fifteen promissory notes each in the principal sum of $2000.00, payable at the expiration of 1, 2. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 years from the date thereof, each note to be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by a majority of the Board of Selectmen, and finally to borrow a balance of $100,000.00 pursuant to the provisions of a Special Act of the Legislature entitled "An Act authorizing the Town of Chelmsford to Borrow Money for School purposes" approved by the Governor, February 3, 1925, and to issue therefor fifteen promissory notes, each in the same principal sum payable at the expiration of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 years from the date thereof, and to bear on the face the words: Chelmsford School Loan Act of 1925, and that the proceeds from the amounts so raised and borrowed, namely the sum of $140,000.00 be used for the purpose of acquiring land for a new grammar school building, situated on Wilson Street at the Centre Village one lot supposed to be owned by Mrs. M. Elizabeth Avery and another lot supposed to be owned by Mr. George C. Armstrong, the Avery lot to be purchased at the price of $3125.00 and the Armstrong lot to be purchased at the price of $1750.00., or at such other prices within the limitations imposed by statute, as may be approved by the Committee appointed to carry this vote into effect, also to construct such building and equip, furnish and also grade the land of same. The amendment was carried. 275 voted in the affirmative. 1 voted in the negative.
Under Article 16. Voted that the same Committee that was ap- point d as an investigating Committee, namely Charles H. Clough, Thomas Varnum, M. Edward Riney, F. Vincent Kelly and William E. Belleville be and hereby are appointed a Committee for the purpose of building a new grammar school at the Centre Village and procuring the land for a site for such new building and equiping and furnishing the same pursuant to the vote of the Town just passed under Article 15 of the Warrant for this meeting.
Under Article 17. To hear the report and act on the mme of the Committee appointed under Article 36 of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting of the year 1924 for the purpose of investigating and to report their recommendations as to the purchase of land for additional fire house sites. This Committee reported as follows: This Committee visited the different Villages of the Town and found South Chelmsford and East Chelmsford satisfactory as far as fire house sites are con- cerned, West Chelmsford should have a suitable one when a suitable location can be found, this department now houses the apparatus in a private building which is satisfactory for the present. It seemed to the Committee that the North Village and the Centre Village are in need of immeninte attention, the present fire house in the North Village is not located near enough to the center of the village for efficient results from a department made up of volunteers, nor its location satis- factory for quick action in protecting the village, we therefore rec- ommend the purchase of a new site nearer the square.
The apparatus at the Centre Village is now housed in a public garage which is very satisfactory, but may not be available much longer, we were unable to secure a suitable site in the Centre Village and rec- ommend that since the new grammar school is to be built that the present building be used as a fire house. There is an article in the Warrant relative to this which will come up later, this report was pre- sented by Perley W. Kimball for the Committee who consist of Perley W. Kimball, M. Edward Riney and David Bilson. The report was accepted and the Committee discharged.
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Under Article 18. Voted that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $2200.00 with which to purchase land owned by Walter Marinel on Middlesex Street, North Chelmsford to be used for a. fire house site. A hand vote was taken and 102 voted in the affirmative and 100 voted in the negative.
Under Article 19. Voted that a Committee consisting of Arnold C. Perham, John E. Hogan and Loren J. Ellinwood be and hereby are appointed to purchase the land under the vote taken under Article 1S of this meeting.
Under Article 20. Voted to dismiss this article.
Under Article 21. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the purpose of grading the Park so-called at the Westlands acquired by gift from Walter Perham and through seizure by eminent domain, the work to be done by the Park Dept.
Under Article 22. Voted that the sum of $50.00 be raised and appro- priated for the purpose of erecting a tablet to mark the memory of George R. Quessy at the George R. Quessy School at West Chelmsford.
Under Article 23. On a motion made by Mr. P. S. Ward that the Town Counsel be elected by Official Ballot and that the same be a registered voted in the Town of Chelmsford, also a member of the Massachusetts bar, Mr. Gabriel Audoin offered an amendment to Mr. Ward's motion that the Selectmen be instructed to appoint a Town Counsel, the same to be a registered voter in the Town of Chelmsford and a member of the Massachusettes bar. Town Clerk Harold C. Petter- son offered an amendment to the amendment, that the Selectmen be instructed to appoint a Town Counsel, the same to be a registered voter in the Town of Chelmsford, a member of the Massachusetts bar and must have at least five years' experience in the practice of law. After considerable arguments the amendment to the amendment was carried. A hand vote was taken and the motion was lost. 110 voted in the negative. 107 voted in the affirmative.
Under Article 24. Voted that the Town appoint a Committee to investigate the matter of insuring all Town buildings against fire, such committee to report at any special meeting after July 1st, 1925 and that the Moderator appoint such Committee. The Moderaor appointed the following named committee: J. Clark Osterhout, Thomas H. Varnum and Willis L. MacComb.
Under Article 25. Voted that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $3500.00 as an Insurance Sinking Fund and an additional sum of $50.00 for a bond for the Treasurer of the Insurance Fund Commis- sioner.
Under Article 26. Voted that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $300.00 with which to meet its proportionate share of the ex- pense for counsel and otherwise of being represented at the hearings now pending before the Board of Public Utilities relative to the increase of telephone rates, such money to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen.
Under Article 27. On a motion made by Selectman Rigby, that the Town authorize the Selectmen to sell the "Sand Bank" so-called on the north side of the Groton Road in North Chelmsford for $500.00, Mr. Belleville offered an amendment to the motion that the Town author- ize the Selectmen nand that the Selectmen are hereby authorized to sell at such price as they may think for the best interests of the Town and in behalf of the Town convey a certain lot of land situated in the Northerly part of Chelmsford on the Groton Road commonly known as the "Sand Bank." Mr. Rigby withdrew his motion, and Mr. Belleville's motion was carried.
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Under Article 28. Voted that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $405.00 with which to purchase two additional beacons as part of the equipment of the Highway Department.
Under Article 29. Voted that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $750.00 for the following purpose, to construct a retaining wall
at the Princeton Street School Playground at the North Village as fol- lows: Beginning at the southerly end of the present wall on Gay Street, and continuing for a distance of about 69 feet, thence westerly for a distance of about 55 feet and also grade the said school playgrounds, the work to be done by the Supt. of Streets under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee.
Under Articles 30 and 31. Voted to dismiss these articles.
Under Article 32. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $2500.00 for the purpose orf grading the ground at the East Chelmsford Grammar School. furnishing the same with a suitable cement walk and other cement work, and enclosing the lot with a fence, the money to be ex- pended by the School Committee and the Board of Selectmen, the work to be done by the Supt. of Streets.
Under Article 33. Voted to dismiss this article.
Under Article 34. Voted to accept Coolidge Street as laid out by the Selectmen on Jan. 15, 1925 and shown by their report duly filed in the Office of the Town Clerk.
Under Article 35. Voted to accept Harding Street as laid out by the Selectmen and shown on their report duly filed in the Office of the Town Clerk.
Under Article 36. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $1000.00 for the purpose of improving the Fire Alarm System and extending the same.
Under Article 37. Voted that the Town purchase an additional Chemical Truck for the Fire Dept. to be located at East Chelmford and authorize the Board of Fire Engineers to turn in the present Chemical Truck belonging to the Town now located there, as part payment for such new truck, and that the Town raise and appropriatee the sum of $3250.00 with which to pay the balance of the purchase price.
Under Article 38. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $400.00 and elect a Director at this meeting, the money to be expended by and this Director to serve in co-operation with the County Agricultural Trus- tees of the Middlesex County Bureau of Agriculture and Home Eco- nomics under the provisions of Sections 40 to 45, Chapter 128, General Laws of Massachusetts. Perley W. Kimball was elected Director.
Under Article 39. Voted to dismiss this article.
Under Article 40. Voted to appoint Edward B. Russell, Warren Wright, Frederick A. Snow, Arthur W. Trubey and Harry L. Parkhurst, as a Committee to report at the next Annual Town Meeting, relative to the Town Forest Act so-called, as provided in Acts of 1913, Chapter 564, entitled "An Act Relative to Public Domain."
Under Article 41. Voted that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $575.00 for State Aid.
Under Article 42. Voted that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $2000.00 to be used as a Reserve Fund at the discretion of the Finance Committee as provided in General Laws Chapter 40, Section 6.
On n motion made by Town Clerk Harold C. Petterson it was voted that the sum of $25,000.00 be appropriated from Excess and Deficiency to apply towards appropriations made in 1925.
Voted that the meeting be dissolved at 6.15 P. M.
WALTER PERHAM, Moderator.
HAROLD C. PETTERSON, Town Clerk.
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ELECTION OF OFFICERS
At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Chelmsford qualified to vote in Town affairs, held at the six precincts in the Town of Chelmsford on February 2, 1925, pursuant to Warrant the following persons received the number of votes set against their respective names for Town Officers:
For Moderator ---
Pre. 1 Pre. 2 Pre. 3 Pre. 4 Pre. 5 Pre. 6
Walter Perham*
520
404
86
116
59
185
Total 1370
For Selectman-
Robert W. Barris*
384
233
70
84
46
64
881
Eliphalet G. Brown ..
105
318
28
78
10
81
620
Frank A. P. Coburn .. 117
51
16
2
12
84
282
John R. Wiggins
2
33
0
16
1
0
52
Overseer of Poor-
Robert W. Barris*
354
219
62
73
43
62
813
Eliphalet G. Brown ..
103
284
27
78
12
78
582
Frank A. P. Coburn
. . 122
57
18
5
12
80
294
John R. Wiggins
3
31
0
19
1
2
59
Board of Health-
Abbott L. Emery
192
377
57
21
28
111
786
George A. McNulty *.. 326
231
42
114
33
89
835
Joseph G. Finnegan ..
1
1
0
41
0
0
43
Treasurer and Collector of Taxes-
Ervin W. Sweetser *.. 535
484
94
135
65
193
1511
Assessor-
Herbert W. Sweetser*
533
457
91
131
66
196
1474
Constable-
Donald F. Adams*
527
212
80
81
57
169
1126
Fred I. Vinal
84
454
38
96
12
54
738
School Committeee --
Willis L. MacComb *.
353
335
85
60
33
117
983
Nellie R. Picken
226
329
31
105
34
93
818
Trustees for Adams Library-
Luella H. S. Clark *.. 489
244
46
87
56
155
1077
Lottie L. Snow
359
390
103
83
46
125
1106
Tree Warden-
William Shanks*
16
10
0)
0
2
8
36
Cemetery Commissioner- Ralph P. Adams*
547
364
76
105
63
18)
1335
Insurance Fund Commissioner- Walter Perham*
498
383
80
107
60
173
1301
Park Commissioner-
Walter Merrill*
512
379
72
103
64
172
1307
License Question-
Yes
124
197
24
55
20
53
473
No
356
268
55
67
36
114
896
* Elected.
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WARRANT FOR SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
At Upper Town Hall, Chelmsford Centre, Tuesday Evening, May 5, 1925
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MIDDLESEX, SS.
To Donald F. Adams, a Constable of the Town of Chelmsford. GREETING:
In the name of the Commonwealth aforesaid you are hereby re- quired to notify and warn the legal voters of said Chelmsford to meet in the Upper Town Hall, at Chelmsford Centre, on Tuesday, the fifth day of May next, at 8 o'clock in the evening, then and there to act upon the following articles, viz:
ARTICLE 1. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or borrow a sum not exceeding $7000.00 for the purpose of purchas- ing a triple combination fire truck to be located at the Centre Vil- lage, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 2. In the event of affirmative action under the preceding article, to see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Fire Engineers to sell or turn in the fire truck now located at South Chelmsford as part payment for such new truck and to transfer the truck now located at the Centre Village to the South Village; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 3. To see if the Town will. vote to raise the sum of $12,000.00, or what other sum, for the purpose of continuing con- struction of the Boston Road and the Acton Road and repairing the Riverneck Road, Billerica Road and the Carlisle-Concord Road, two-thirds of the expense to be borne equally by the Commonwealth and the County of Middlesex; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 4. To see if the Town will vote to mise and appropriate the sum of $400.00, or what other sum, as additional salary or com- pensation for the Meat Inspector; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 5. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or appropriate from the balance now in the hands of the Treasurer the sum of $1500.00 or what other sum for the purpose of securing insurance against fire upon the Public Buildings of the Town; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 6. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to contract with the Lowell Electric Light Corp. at the then pre- vailing price per light for two additional lights on Putnam Ave. and will raise and appropriate sufficient money to meet the expense thereof; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or appropriate from the balance now in the hands of the Treasurer the sum of $1600.00 or what other sum for the purpose of meeting or paying unpaid bills; or act in relation thereto.
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