USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1930-1931 > Part 3
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Harold G. Roberts, Chairman; Harold A. C. Bumpus,
Mansfield S. O'Brien, George A. Parks, Jr., Allen D. Russell, William H. Pridham, Henry O. Davis, Henry W. Royal, J. Henry Shaw, William J. Berg, David A. Cappannari, William J. Sharkey, Lyman C. Tripp.
Attested : Elmer R. Harlow, Secretary.
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SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, JULY 19, 1930
FRANK C. SMITH, Moderator
Article Two :
To see if the Town will direct its Selectmen to prepare a division of the Town into voting precincts, thereby pro- viding for a polling place in the northern section of the Town.
On motion of Harold G. Roberts, Voted : That the Town take no action under this article.
Article Three :
To see if the Town will vote to accept from the Com- monwealth a deed releasing to the Town all right and title in that portion of Water Street lying westerly of a line shown in red on a plan entitled "Proposed Street Line, Pilgrim Memorial Park, Department of Public Works, Scale 1; 500, October, 1929, Acc. 0929." Said line being approximately the present easterly line of the side- walk on the easterly side of Water Street from Town Brook to a point opposite the foot of Brewster Street.
On motion of Harold G. Roberts, Voted: That the matter presented in this article be deferred to the next. annual Town Meeting.
Article Four :
Mr. Harold G. Roberts moved: That the Town adopt the "Through Way" regulation as worded in the printed report of the Advisory and Finance Committee.
Mr. George R. Briggs moved a substitute motion : That action under this article be postponed until the next an- nual Town Meeting. Sixty-seven voting in the affirmative and thirty-four in the negative, the motion was carried. Article Five :
On motion of Harold G. Roberts, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $1,250.00 for the purpose of providing public entertainment at the time of the national convention of the American Legion, to be held in Boston during the current year, and paying expenses
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incidental to such entertainment and advertising costs incurred in connection therewith. This appropriation to be expended under the direction of the Board of Select- men.
Article Six :
Mr. Harold G. Roberts moved : That the Town take no action under this article.
Mr. Elmer L. Berg moved a substitute motion: That the Town appropriate the sum of three hundred sixty dollars for furnishing suitable quarters for the Alexander Scammell Post No. 1822 V. F. W.
Mr. Jeremiah J. Lahey moved: That action under this article be indefinitely postponed, and the motion was car- ried.
Article Seven :
On motion of Harold G. Roberts, Voted: That the Town accept and allow as a town way, that portion of Highland Place lying northwesterly from Vernon Street, as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town, and appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 for construction of said way.
Article Eight :
On motion of Harold G. Roberts, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $800.00 to be used in con- structing a suitable sidewalk on the westerly side of Standish Avenue from the south side of Alden Street to the north side of Samoset Street.
Article Nine :
To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceed- ing four hundred (400) dollars for rebuilding founda- tion and floor and resetting fixtures in the public sanitary on the Town Hall lot on Water Street.
On motion of Harold G. Roberts, Voted : That the Town take no action under this article.
Article Ten :
On motion of Harold G. Roberts, Voted : That the Town appropriate the sum of $400.00 for maintenance of Public Sanitaries.
Article Eleven :
On motion of Harold G. Roberts, Voted : That the Town appropriate the sum of $900.00 for the Miscellaneous Ac- count.
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Article Twelve:
On motion of Harold G. Roberts, Voted : That the Town appropriate the sum of $152.04 to pay bill of the Plym- outh Lumber Company contracted by the Park Depart- ment in 1928.
Article Thirteen :
On motion of Harold G. Roberts, Voted : That the Town rescind such part of the vote passed March 22, 1930, un- der Article 45 of the warrant, as concerns the Spooner Street School Lot.
Article Fourteen :
To see if the Town will vote that the title to the Spoon- er Street School lot shall revert and be conveyed free of charge to the Plymouth Cordage Company, from whom it was received as a gift in 1893.
On motion of Harold G. Roberts, Voted: That the town take no action under Article fourteen.
Article Fifteen :
Mr. Harold G. Roberts moved : That the Town ap- propriate the sum of $1,000.00 to be used for cutting and clearing off brush along the roads, or other work, as a measure for the relief of unemployment during the next winter.
Mr. Philip Jackson moved: That a committee consist- ing of Herbert W. Bartlett of the Welfare Commission, Ira C. Ward, Oscar H. Tracy, LeBaron Briggs, Jr., Charles M. Doten and Roger S. Kellen be hereby ap- pointed and requested to make a thorough investigation of the unemployment situation in the Town of Plymouth, reporting their findings and measures of relief through work upon the streets or other ways at their earliest con- venience at a special Town Meeting and the motion was carried.
Article Sixteen :
Mr. Harold G. Roberts moved: That the Board of Se- lectmen be authorized to lease the land known as the "Sheep Pasture Land" at Parting Ways and lying part- ly in the Town of Kingston and partly in the Town of Plymouth, containing ninety-four acres more or less, on such terms as they deem advisable.
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Mr. Harrison F. Goddard moved: That action under this article be indefinitely postponed, and the motion was carried.
On motion of George B. Howland, Voted: That the sum of $4,502.04 be raised and assessed upon the polls and estates of the Inhabitants of the Town of Plymouth and upon the estates of the non-residents, to defray the expenses of the Town for the ensuing year.
On motion of George B. Howland, Voted : To adjourn.
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REPORT OF ADVISORY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
ON THE WARRANT FOR SPECIAL TOWN MEETING JULY 19, 1930
The Advisory and Finance Committee has considered all of the articles in the warrant for this town meeting, in accordance with the Town By-Law, has heard the peti- tioners and others interested, and makes its report to the 1 voters as follows :-
Article 2. To see if the Town will direct its Selectmen to prepare a division of the town into voting precincts, thereby providing for a polling place in the northern sec- tion of the town. (By petition.)
The Committee recommends that the Town take no ac- tion under Article 2.
Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to accept from the Commonwealth a deed releasing to the Town all right and title in that portion of Water Street lying westerly of a line shown in red on a plan entitled "Proposed Street Line, Pilgrim Memorial Park, Department of Public Works, Scale 1:500, October, 1929, Acc. 0929." Said line being approximately the present easterly line of the side- walk on the easterly side of Water Street from Town Brook to a point opposite the foot of Brewster Street.
The Committee recommends that the matter be deferred to the next Annual Town Meeting.
Article 4. To see what action the Town will take in regard to adoption of "Through Way" regulations for traffic on Court, Main and Sandwich Streets, between the Plymouth-Kingston town line and Jabez Corner, and Samoset Street between Court Street and the new west- erly way.
The Committee recommends that the Town adopt the following regulation :-
Stop Before Entering Through Street.
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The following streets and parts of streets are hereby declared to constitute through streets for the purpose of this section :
Court, Main and Sandwich Streets, between the Plymouth-Kingston town line and Jabez Corner.
Samoset Street between Court Street and the new west- erly way.
Every operator of a vehicle, street car or other con- veyance traveling upon any street intersecting any through street above designated, shall bring such vehicle, street car or conveyance to a full stop at the place where such street meets the prolongation of the nearest prop- erty line of such street, subject, however, to the direction of any traffic control sign or signal or any police officer at such intersection.
The operator of any vehicle who has come to a full stop as required above, upon entering the through street, as well as operators of vehicles on such through streets, shall be subject to the usual right of way rule prescribed by law and applicable to vehicles at intersections.
The Board of Selectmen is hereby authorized and re- quired to place and maintain or cause to be placed and maintained on each and every street intersecting a through street designated above, and at or near the property line of the through street, appropriate signs upon the street, and in addition thereto may place and maintain any appropriate devices or marks in the road- way, such signs, devices or marks to bear the word "STOP" and to be located in such position and to be provided with letters of a size to be clearly legible from a distance of at least 100 feet along the street intersecting the through street.
All such signs shall be illuminated at night or so placed as to be illuminated by street lights or by the headlights of approaching motor vehicles.
Article 5. To see if the Town will appropriate, in ac- cordance with chapter 67 of the Acts of 1930, the sum of twelve hundred and fifty (1,250) dollars for providing public entertainment at the time of the national conven- tion of the American Legion, to be held in Boston during the current year, and paying expenses incidental to such entertainment and advertising costs incurred in connec-
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tion therewith. This appropriation to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen. (By petition.)
The Committee recommends that the Town appro- priate the sum of $1,250.00 for the purpose of providing public entertainment at the time of the national conven- tion of the American Legion, to be held in Boston during the current year, and paying expenses incidental to such entertainment and advertising costs incurred in connec- tion therewith. This appropriation to be expended un- der the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to furnish suit- able quarters for the Alexander Scammell Post No. 1822 Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, under chapter 40, section 9, of the General Laws of Massachu- setts, and appropriate the sum of four hundred (400) dollars to cover the cost of said quarters.
The Committee recommends that the Town take no action under Article 6.
Article 7. To see if the Town will accept and allow as a town way that portion of Highland Place lying north- westerly from Vernon Street, as laid out by the Select- men and reported to the Town, and appropriate a sum not exceeding one thousand (1,000) dollars for construction of said way. (By petition.)
The Committee recommends that the Town accept and allow as a town way that portion of Highland Place lying northwesterly from Vernon Street, as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town, and appropriate the sum of one thousand (1,000) dollars for construction of said way.
Article 8. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of eight hundred (800) dollars to be used in constructing a suitable sidewalk on the westerly side of Standish Ave- nue from the south side of Alden Street to the north side of Samoset Street.
The Committee recommends that the Town appropriate the sum of eight hundred (800) dollars to be used in con- structing a suitable sidewalk on the westerly side of Standish Avenue from the south side of Alden Street to the north side of Samoset Street.
Article 9. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding four hundred (400) dollars for rebuilding
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foundation and floor and resetting fixtures in the public sanitary on the Town hall lot on Water Street.
The Committee recommends that the Town take no ac- tion under Article 9.
Article 10. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding four hundred (400) dollars for mainten- ance of public sanitaries.
The Committee recommends that the Town appropriate the sum of four hundred (400) dollars for maintenance of public sanitaries.
Article 11. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding nine hundred (900) dollars for the miscel- laneous account.
The Committee recommends that the Town appropriate the sum of nine hundred (900) dollars for the miscellan- eous account.
Article 12. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of one hundred, fifty-two and 4-100 (152.04) dollars to pay a bill of the Plymouth Lumber Company contracted by the Park Department in 1928.
The Committee recommends that the Town appro- priate the sum of $152.04 to pay the bill of the Plymouth Lumber Company contracted by the Park Department in 1928.
Article 13. To see if the Town will rescind such part of the vote passed March 22, 1930, under Article 45 of the warrant, as concerns the Spooner Street School lot. (By request.)
The Committee recommends that the Town rescind such part of the vote passed March 22, 1930, under Arti- cle 45 of the warrant, as concerns the Spooner Street School lot.
Article 14. To see if the Town will vote that the title to the Spooner Street School lot shall revert and be con- veyed free of charge to the Plymouth Cordage Company. from whom it was received as a gift in 1893. (By re- quest.)
The Committee recommends that the Town take no action under Article 14.
Article 15. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding one thousand (1,000) dollars to be used for cutting and clearing off brush along the roads, or other
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work, as a measure for relief of unemployment during the next winter.
The Committee recommends that the Town appropriate the sum of one thousand (1,000) dollars to be used for cutting and clearing off brush along the roads, or other work, as a measure for relief of unemployment during the next winter.
Article 16. To see if the Town will vote to sell or lease the land known as the "Sheep Pasture land" at Parting Ways and lying partly in the Town of Kingston and part- ly in the Town of Plymouth, containing ninety-four acres more or less, and will authorize the Board of Selectmen to execute a deed or lease of said land on such terms as they deem advisable. (By request.)
The Committee recommends that the Board of Select- men be authorized to lease the land described in Article 16 on such terms as they deem advisable.
Respectfully submitted, ADVISORY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
Harold G. Roberts, Chairman ; William J. Berg, David A. Cappannari, Morton Collingwood, William M. Doug- lass, Knowlton B. Holmes, Louis D. Maynard, Henry W. Royal, William J. Sharkey, J. Henry Shaw, Lyman C. Tripp, James A. White.
Attested : Elmer R. Harlow, Secretary.
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SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, OCT. 11, 1930
FRANK C. SMITH, Moderator
Article Two :
On motion of William T. Eldridge, Voted: That the report of the committee be accepted.
Mr. Philip Jackson moved : That the Town appropriate to the Forest Warden's Department $6,500.00, at least $5,000.00 of this money to be spent for labor in construc- ing so-called fire stops, and $500.00 to the Park Depart- ment to be spent for labor in preparing a Parking Place for automobiles near the Bath House at the Head of Plym- outh Beach, but the motion was lost.
Mr. Oscar H. Tracy moved a substitute motion: That the Town appropriate the following amounts for the fol- lowing Departments for the aid of the unemployed in Plymouth.
Park Dept.,
$2,500.00
School Dept.,
1,000.00
Highway Dept.,
3,000.00
Tree Warden Dept.,
3,000.00
Administration and Investigator, 500.00
Total,
$10,000.00
and that a Committee of five members composed of James Swanton, Allen Loft, James White, William Burgess and Thomas F. Ryan be appointed to accept application for the position of Investigator and appoint same. Said In- vestigator to report at intervals to this committee, but the motion was lost.
Mr. Philip Jackson moved: That the appropriations recommended by the Committee under this article be taken separately, but the motion was lost.
Mr. William T. Eldridge moved: That the Town ap- propriate for the purpose of carrying out the Commit- tee's recommendations, from money in the Treasury not
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otherwise appropriated, the sum of fifteen thousand (15,000) dollars apportioned substantially as follows:
Forest Warden's Dept., $7,000.00
Tree Warden's Dept., 2,000.00
Highway Dept., 5,000.00
Public Welfare Dept. for Supervision, In-
vestigation and Bookkeeping, 1,000.00
Mr. Herbert W. Bartlett moved to amend by striking out the words for supervision, investigation and book- keeping, and the motion was carried.
The motion of Mr. Eldridge, as amended, was put be- fore the meeting and carried.
Article Three:
On motion of Harold G. Roberts, Voted: That the Town appropriate from money in the Treasury not other- wise appropriated, the sum of one hundred and fifty (150) dollars for the Selectmen's Department.
Article Four :
On motion of Harold G. Roberts, Voted : That the Town appropriate from money in the Treasury not other- wise appropriated the sum of eleven thousand (11,000) dollars for the Forest Warden's Department.
Article Five :
On motion of Harold G. Roberts, Voted: That the Town appropriate from money in the Treasury not other- wise appropriated the sum of five thousand (5,000) dol- lars for Roads and Bridges.
Article Six :
On motion of Harold G. Roberts, Voted: That the Town appropriate from money in the Treasury not other- wise appropriated the sum of twelve thousand (12,000) dollars for the Public Welfare Department.
Article Seven :
On motion of Harold G. Roberts, Voted: That the Town appropriate from money in the Treasury not other- wise appropriated the sum of four hundred forty-two and 32/100 (442.32) dollars for the Public Welfare De- partment for payment of 1929 bills.
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Article Eight :
On motion of Harold G. Roberts, Voted: That the Town appropriate from money in the Treasury not other- wise appropriated the sum of two thousand (2,000) dol- lars for Soldiers' Relief.
Article Nine :
On motion of Harold G. Roberts, Voted: That the Town appropriate from money in the Treasury not other- wise appropriated the sum of three hundred and fifty (350) dollars for Pensions for Town Laborers.
On motion of George B. Howland, Voted : To adjourn.
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REPORT OF ADVISORY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
ON THE WARRANT FOR SPECIAL TOWN MEETING OCTOBER 11, 1930
Article 2. To hear the report of the Committee on Unemployment and act thereon, and to see if the Town will appropriate for the purpose of carrying out the Com- mittee's recommendations, from money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of fifteen thousand (15,000) dollars apportioned substantially as follows:
To the Forest Warden's Department, $7,000.00
To the Tree Warden's Department, 2,000.00
To the Highway Department, 5,000.00
To the Public Welfare Department, for supervision, investigation and bookkeeping, 1,000.00
The By-law under which the Advisory and Finance Committee acts reads, in part, as follows :
It shall be the duty of the Advisory and Finance Com- mittee to consider all matters proposed to be acted on at all town meetings, except such matters as may have been especially referred to the Committee appointed for that purpose ;-
The subject matter of Article 2 having been placed in the hands of a special committee by vote passed at the town meeting held July 19, the Advisory and Finance Committee has not considered it and makes no recom- mendation thereon.
Article 3. To see if the Town will appropriate from money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated a sum not exceeding one hundred and fifty (150) dollars for the Selectmen's Department.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of the sum of $150.00.
Article 4. To see if the Town will appropriate from money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated a sum not exceeding eleven thousand (11,000) dollars for the Forest Warden's Department.
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The Committee recommends the appropriation of the sum of $11,000.00.
Article 5. To see if the Town will appropriate from money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated a sum not exceeding five thousand (5,000) dollars for Roads and Bridges.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of the sum of $5,000.00
Article 6. To see if the Town will appropriate from money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated a sum not exceeding twelve thousand (12,000) dollars for the Public Welfare Department.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of the sum of $12,000.00.
Article 7. To see if the Town will appropriate from money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated the sum of four hundred, forty-two and 32/100 (442.32) dol- lars for the Public Welfare Department for payment of 1929 bills.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of the sum of $442.32.
Article 8. To see if the Town will appropriate from money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated a sum not exceeding two thousand (2,000) dollars for Soldiers' Benefits.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of the sum of $2,000.00.
Article 9. To see if the Town will appropriate from money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated a sum not exceeding three hundred and fifty (350) dollars for Pensions for Town Laborers.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of the sum of $350.00.
Respectfully submitted, ADVISORY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, TOWN OF PLYMOUTH.
Harold G. Roberts, Chairman; Morton Collingwood,
Henry O. Davis, William M. Douglass, Knowlton B. Holmes, Henry W. Royal, J. Henry Shaw, William J. Sharkey, Lyman C. Tripp, James A. White.
Attested : Elmer R. Harlow, Secretary.
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
The Administration of the affairs of the Town, none too easy under normal conditions, has been much com- plicated this past year by the unfortunate financial de- pression. Unemployment has been all too common. Many people who ordinarily are self-supporting have found themselves unable to secure work, and their mod- est savings, if any, have been used up to provide even the bare necessities of life. Add to these the large number who depend on their day's pay (none too large at the best) for their subsistence, and the problem of feeding these has assumed tremendous proportions. It must be admitted by every one that in our town and in these times, we cannot allow people to go without food and shelter. The best method of solving this situation may be open to debate. Whatever is done is largely a matter of experiment, and while the method adopted by us is open to criticism, still we have been unable to find any better way of handling the situation. We have so far kept the people from actual suffering. If there is any better way we are very willing to adopt it, but no one seems to come forward with any better plan.
In view of the unusual expense involved by this de- pression, it will be necessary for the voters to keep a very careful watch on expenditures this year. It would be folly to cripple the Departments in their work to main- tain the present condition. But new projects involving large sums of money should be closely scanned, and nothing undertaken that can be deferred to better times. It is not good business to pare too closely, as work un- dertaken now will go a long way in relieving the situa- tion, and to force any more people to join the ranks of the unemployed will only aggravate things and make the measures adopted for the relief more and more difficult of effect.
There are several articles calling for large appropria- tions to be in the coming warrant. These should be very carefully considered, and only those passed as will give not only work for the present but increased value to the
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Town in the future. Some of these may well be deferred until better times. It has been difficult for many people to pay their 1929 and 1930 taxes, and to increase this difficulty will be to spell disaster.
The activities of the Town's Departments have followed the usual lines. The streets and sidewalks have received their regular repairs and additions, and we flatter our- selves are in good comparative condition.
A number of lights have been added as the need ap- peared to the system of Street Lighting. The only limit to this is the amount of money that the Town feels may be wisely expended taking into consideration the other Departments of the Town. In a number of cases larger lamps have been substituted for the ordinary 40 candle power with satisfactory results.
Following a vote of the Town at the last March Meet- ing, a pretimed Traffic Signal has been installed at the junction of Main Street and Town Square. This has proved to be a success, and following out the same plan, it is proposed to put another one at the intersection of Court and Samoset Streets. It is not deemed advisable to add more signals between these points, as we do not want a motorist who passes the Samoset Street inter- section to feel that he must maintain a certain speed through the Main Street of the town. These Signals are so arranged that in case of emergency they can be operat- ed by an Officer standing at the Control Box at the curb and varying the time of the light change to suit the flow of traffic.
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