USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1938 > Part 2
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On motion of John D. Brewer, Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 8.
Article Nine:
To see if the Town will hereby vote to authorize the Honorable Board of Selectmen for the Town of Plymouth, in the event of the Town receiving a loan for so-called Filter Beds, to acquire in the name of the Town by pur- chase or otherwise such land as may be necessary for said Filter Beds, Pipe Lines, Pumping Station, etc. and to make necessary payments from said loan.
(By Petition)
On motion of John D. Brewer, Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 9.
Article Ten :
To see if the Town will vote to adopt the following By-Law:
The annual tax rate shall not be more than $28.00 per thousand and the head of each Department of the Town
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shall submit a budget at Town Meetings in an amount which will make possible a tax rate not to exceed $28.00 a thousand, based upon the estimated valuation and an- ticipated receipts. (By Petition)
Mr. John D. Brewer moved: That the Town take no action under Article 10. 311 voting in the affirmative and 146 in the negative, the motion was carried.
Article Eleven :
Mr. John D. Brewer moved: That the Town take no action under Article 11.
Mr. Irving L. Pratt made a substitute motion: To see if the town will adopt a by-law that shall read as fol- lows: No married woman excepting those now on tenure shall be employed in any capacity in any department in the town of Plymouth. This by-law shall not apply to a married woman legally separated or divorced from a husband, or to one whose husband is unable to support her by reason of physical or mental incapacity. Any unmarried women employee of the town shall upon be- coming married give notice of resignation. 211 voting in the affirmative and 189 in the negative, by show of hands, the motion was carried.
Mr. Brewer's motion as amended by Mr. Pratt, was then put before the meeting and lost.
On motion of Mr. James A. White, Voted : To adjourn.
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REPORT OF ADVISORY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE ON THE ARTICLES IN THE TOWN WARRANT
MARCH 26, 1938
Warrant
$946,650.11
Reductions recommended
39,532.32
Appropriations recommended
$907,117.79
Estimated receipts
288,682.77
$618,435.02
State Tax
27,200.00
County Tax
39,457.52
To be raised by taxation
$685,092.54
On Valuation of $21,000,000. equal to $32.60 per thousand.
The Town budget and special articles in the 1938 warrant ask for a total appropriation of $946,650.11. After careful consideration of each item we recommend to the Town a net reduction of $39,532.32, making a re- vised appropriation of $907,117.79. This will result in a tax rate of about $32.60 per thousand on a valuation of $21,000,000.
Included in this figure are 1937 overdrafts of $29,575 .- 07, equal to $1.40 per thousand. If this amount is taken from the 1938 figure and added to the 1937 rate of $29.60 we get the following comparison :
Estimated 1938 rate $32.60 1937 rate $29.60
Less overdraft 1.40 Plus overdraft 1.40
$31.20 $31.00
or an increase of .20 per thousand or about $4,000. in the estimated amount to be raised by taxation for 1938 opera-
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tion as compared to the actual amount raised last year, plus overdraft.
The 1938 rate would be increased by about $1.90 were it not for an increase of $21,000 in the Estimated Re- ceipts and a decrease of $18,400 in the State and County Tax.
Expenditures recommended under Article Five this year, excluding 1937 overdrafts are $40,000 more than last year with the overdrafts added. The principal in- creases are :
Snow and Ice Removal
$10,000.00
Public Welfare
6,396.00
Old Age Assistance
6,645.00
School Department .
10,113.00
Largely increase in salaries voted
at last annual meeting.
Contributory Retirement Act
11,400.00
This is a new expense voted for on
the ballot at the last State election.
It is the opinion of the Committee that the appropria- tions recommended represent the minimum figure at which the Town can carry on efficiently, while maintain- ing the present wage scales. The costs for relief, pen- sions, and so forth appear to be with us permanently, and if Federal aid is withdrawn may increase substan- tially.
While $32.60 is a much higher tax rate than we have had in Plymouth in recent years it is not out of line with the average rate other towns in Massachusetts have to pay.
The Committee recommends the following appropria- tions :
Article 5. To make the necessary appropriations to defray the expenses of the Town, and for other purposes, and to raise such sums of money as the Town shall deem expedient.
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Recommended
By
Departments
By Committee
Selectmen's Dept.
$3,920.00
$3,900.00
Accounting Dept.
3,260.00
3,200.00
Treasury Dept.
3,120.80
3,120.00
Treasury Dept., 1937 Overdraft
84.31
84.31
Tax Collector's Dept.
5,000.00
5,000.00
Assessors' Dept.
7,000.00
7,000.00
Law Department
1,500.00
1,500.00
Law Dept., 1937 Overdraft
915.26
915.26
Town Clerk's Dept.
1,608.50
1,600.00
Engineering Dept.
900.00
900.00
Planning Board
200.00
150.00
Election and Registration
1,900.00
1,900.00
Maintenance of Town House
3,000.00
3,000.00
New Furniture for Town House
500.00
500.00
Maintenance of Town Hall
7,000.00
6,500.00
Police Department
39,885.00
37,365.00
Fire Department.
46,470.22
46,470.00
Fire Department, 1937 Overdraft
3,207.45
3,207.45
Inspection of Buildings
300.00
300.00
Sealing Weights and Measures
2,935.00
1,850.00
Moth Suppression
6,000.00
6,000.00
Tree Warden's Dept.
3,000.00
3,000.00
Forest Warden's Dept.
2,500.00
2,500.00
Forest Warden's Dept., 1937 Over- draft
3,053.02
3,053.02
Inland Fisheries
300.00
300.00
Plymouth County Hospital Main- tenance
11,213.95
11,213.95
Health Department
18,311.00
20,800.00
Piggery Maint. and Garbage Dis- posal
8,195.85
8,175.00
Piggery Maint. and Garbage Dis- posal, for 1937, Overdraft
107.49
107.49
Inspector of Animals
400.00
400.00
Public Sanitaries
2,600.00
2,600.00
Sewers
4,000.00
4,000.00
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Recommended
By Departments
By Committee
Street Cleaning
5,000.00
5,000.00
Roads and Bridges
42,000.00
42,000.00
Highway Dept. to replace truck
850.00
850.00
Hard-Surfacing Streets
4,500.00
4,500.00
Highway Construction and Re- construction
25,335.00
21,000.00
Gurnet Bridge Tax
2,229.13
2,229.13
Sidewalks
6,000.00
6,000.00
Granolithic Sidewalks and Curbing Snow and Ice Removal
12,000.00
12,000.00
Street Sprinkling
1,000.00
1,000.00
Street Lighting
20,000.00
20,000.00
Traffic Lights
300.00
300.00
Harbor Master
150.00
150.00
Public Welfare, including Mothers' Aid
89,853.95
89,854.00
Public Welfare, including Mothers'
Aid, for 1937 Overdraft
13,382.87
13,382.87
Old Age Assistance
65,000.00
65,000.00
Old Age Assistance, 1937 Over- draft
8,354.03
8,354.03
Soldiers' Benefits
10,000.00
9,000.00
School Department
242,600.00
240,000.00
School Dept. for travel outside of State
60.00
Park Department
10,011.00
10,000.00
Pensions for Town Laborers
3,015.64
3,015.64
Pensions for Town Laborers, for 1937 Overdraft
470.64
470.64
Contributory Retirement System
(Chapter 318 Acts of 1936,
amended by Chapter 336 Acts of 1937)
11,400.00
11,400.00
Insurance of Town Property
4,625.00
4,625.00
Sexton
200.00
200.00
Miscellaneous Account
3,200.00
3,200.00
Water Dept. Maintenance
26,000.00
25,000.00
3,000.00
1,500.00
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Recommended
By
Departments
By Committee
Water Dept. Construction
9,000.00
6,000.00
Town Wharf Maintenance
900.00
900.00
Town Forest Maintenance
1,500.00
900.00
Oak Grove and Vine Hills Ceme-
teries
10,000.00
10,000.00
O. G. and V. H. Cem., for Hard-
Surfacing Avenues
500.00
500.00
Burial Hill Cemetery
1,500.00
1,500.00
Chiltonville, Manomet, Cedarville
and South Pond Cemeteries
800.00
800.00
Chiltonville Cemetery Extension
200.00
200.00
Town Debt and Interest
53,550.00
53,550.00
Total of Article 5 $880,875.11 $864,992.79
Art. 6. Plymouth Public Library $8,850.00
$8,850.00
Art. 7. Manomet Public Library 750.00
750.00
Art. 8. County Aid to Agricul- ture
150.00
150.00
Art. 9.
Mosquito Control
500.00
500.00
Art. 10. Rifle Range Expenses
325.00
325.00
Art. 11. Memorial Day
400.00
400.00
Art. 12.
Armistice Day
250.00
250.00
Art. 13. Bonfires, Independence Day (Petition)
100.00
50.00
Art. 14.
July Fourth
500.00
500.00
Art. 15.
District Nurse
1,500.00
1,500.00
Art. 16. Shellfish Protection and Propagation
1,650.00
1,650.00
Art. 17. Dog Officer
600.00
600.00
Art. 18. Federal Furnace Road (Chapter 90)
2,500.00
2,500.00
Art. 19. Taylor Avenue Exten- sion (Chapter 90)
2,500.00
2,500.00
Art. 20. Reconstruction on Sam- oset St.
15,000.00
. .
1
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Art. 21. New Grader for High- way Department 2,500.00 2,500.00
Art. 22. Property Damages, Man- omet Point Road, De- cree No. 887 300.00
300.00
Art. 24. New Sprayer for Park Dept.
1,000.00
· ....
Art. 25. Promotion of Baseball (Petition)
250.00
...
Art. 27. Dredging at Fish Wharf
1,000.00
·
Art. 28. Public Entertainment at Convention of United Spanish War Veterans
1,500.00
1,500.00
Art. 31. Purchase of Grace A. Pope Property for School Purposes
3,750.00
. . . .
Art. 37. For Payments to Widow of Herbert R. Benton and Parents of James H. Devitt
1,200.00
1,200.00
Art. 38. New Truck for Forest Warden's Dept.
2,500.00
. . . . . .
Art. 39. Fire Department, for New Ladder Truck
14,500.00
14,500.00
Art. 40. Property Damages for Relocation of the South- erly Line of Water St.
300.00
300.00
Art. 41. Acquiring Titles on Ex- tension of Castle Street
100.00
100.00
Art. 42. Acquiring Titles on Ac- ceptance of Clark Street
100.00
100.00
Art. 43. Acquiring Titles on Ex- tension o f Manomet
Avenue
100.00
. .... .
Art. 44. Advertising Town's Re- sources
1,100.00
1,100.00
Total of Special Articles
$65,775.00
$42,125.00
Total of Article 5
880,875.11
864,992.79
Total of Warrant
$946,650.11
$907,117.79
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Article 6. To take such action as the Town shall see fit in aid of the Plymouth Public Library.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of $8,850.00 including the Dog Tax for 1937 amounting to $1,923.25.
Article 7. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding seven hundred and fifty (750) dollars in aid of the Manomet Public Library.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of $750.00.
Article 8. To see what amount the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the use of the Plymouth County Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture and to choose a Town Director, as provided in Sections 41 and 45 of Revised Chapter 128 of the General Laws, and act there- on.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of $150.00 and the choosing of a Town Director.
Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of five hundred (500) dollars for the purpose of maintaining, during the ensuing year, the mosquito control works constructed in the Town of Plymouth, as estimated and certified to by the State Reclamation Board in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 112, Acts of 1931.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of $500.00.
Article 10. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of three hundred and twenty-five (325) dollars for Rifle Range Expenses.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of $325.00.
Article 11. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding four hundred (400) dollars for the Observance of Memorial Day.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of $400.00.
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Article 12. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding two hundred and fifty (250) dollars for Observance of Armistice Day.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of $250.00.
Article 13. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of one hundred (100) dollars to be expended by the Selectmen for one or more Public Bonfires in Celebration of Independence Day. (By Petition.)
The Committee recommends the appropriation of $50.00.
Article 14. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of five hundred (500) dollars for Observance of July Fourth, said money to be expended by the Board of Se- lectmen.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of $500.00.
Article 15. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of fifteen hundred (1,500) dollars to employ a Dis- trict Nurse.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of $1,500.00.
Article 16. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding sixteen hundred and fifty (1,650) dollars for the cultivation, propagation and protection of shell- fish, to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of $1,650.00.
Article 17. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding six hundred (600) dollars for compensa- tion and expenses of the Dog Officer required by Chapter 320 of the Acts of 1934.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of $600.00.
Article 18. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding twenty-five hundred (2,500) dollars
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to be used in construction on the Federal Furnace Road to Carver, in conjunction with the State Department of Public Works and the Plymouth County Commissioners.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of $2,500.00 to be used in construction on the Federal Fur- nace Road to Carver, in conjunction with the State De- partment of Public Works and the Plymouth County Commissioners.
Article 19. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding twenty-five hundred (2,500) dollars to be used in construction on Taylor Avenue Extension be- tween White Horse Beach and Manomet Point Road, in conjunction with the State Department of Public Works and the Plymouth County Commissioners.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of $2,500.00 to be used in construction on Taylor Avenue Extension between White Horse Beach and the Manomet Point Road, in conjunction with the State Department of Public Works and the Plymouth County Commission- ers.
Article 20. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding fifteen thousand (15,000) dollars for Re- construction on Samoset Street.
The Committee recommends that no action be taken under this article. We have recommended that the sum of $1,500.00 be expended, under Article 5, in the appro- priation for Construction and Reconstruction of High- ways, for resurfacing that part of this way which has been disturbed by relaying of water main, and for gen- eral improvement.
Article 21. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding twenty-five hundred (2,500) dollars for the purchase of a new grader for the Highway Depart- ment.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of $2,500.00 for the purchase of this equipment.
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Article 22. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of three hundred (300) dollars for property dam- ages on the Manomet Point Road, as ordered by Decree No. 887 of the Plymouth County Commissioners.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of $300.00.
Article 23. To see if the Town will elect a Committee to consist of five members, one member preferably to be a direct descendant from the Donor of Morton Park to the Town of Plymouth, to make a study of present con- ditions in said Morton Park, also plans whereby the Park can be so developed as to become a greater asset to the Town, nearer self supporting, through the opening of parts of said Park to campers through rental of properly restricted camp sites, and through construction by the Town of so-called log cabins for rental, etc., and to re- port their findings and suggestions to the Town at their earliest convenience, but not later than the next annual town meeting: Said Committee to be appointed by the Moderator of this town meeting. (By Petition.)
The Committee recommends that the Town take no ac- tion under Article 23.
Article 24. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of one thousand (1,000) dollars for the purchase of a new sprayer for use in Morton Park and Elder Brews- ter Garden.
The Committee recommends that the Town take no action under Article 24.
Article 25. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of two hundred and fifty (250) dollars for promo- tion of baseball, under the provisions of Section 14 of Chapter 45 of the General Laws. (By Petition.)
The Committee recommends that the Town take no action under Article 25.
Article 26. To see if the Town will authorize its Board of Health to lease, in the name and on behalf of the Town, from the Plymouth County Commissioners,
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the land and buildings owned by the County of Plymouth and now being leased by the Town for the purposes of a piggery, said lease to be for a term of five years at an annual rental not to exceed five hundred (500) dollars and to be upon such other terms and conditions as said Board of Health shall require.
The Committee recommends that the Town authorize its Board of Health to lease, in the name and on behalf of the Town, from the Plymouth County Commissioners the land and buildings owned by the County of Plymouth and now being leased by the Town for the purposes of a piggery, said lease to be for a term of five years at an annual rental not to exceed five hundred (500) dollars and to be upon such other terms and conditions as said Board of Health shall require.
Article 27. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of one thousand (1,000) dollars to be expended for dredging at the Town's fish wharf.
The Committee recommends that the Town take no ac- tion under Article 27 as we believe the appropriation asked for to be insufficient to effect any permanent im- provement.
Article 28. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of fifteen hundred (1,500) dollars to be used for pro- viding proper facilities for public entertainment at the time of the State Convention of the United Spanish War Veterans, to be held in Plymouth during the current year, and of paying expenses incidental to such entertainment. Money so appropriated shall be expended under the direc- tion of the Board of Selectmen. (By Petition.)
The Committee recommends the appropriation of $1,500.00. The necessary enabling Act has been passed by the General Court and precedent has been established by action of the Town in appropriating money for like purposes in connection with conventions of other veter- ans' organizations.
Article 29. To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Section 49 of Chapter 31 of the General
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Laws, and acts amendatory thereto, providing for plac- ing the Chief of Police under Civil Service.
(By Petition.)
The Committee recommends that the Town accept the provisions of Section 49 of Chapter 31 of the General Laws, and Acts amendatory thereto, thereby placing the Chief of Police under Civil Service.
Article 30. To see what action the Town will take re- garding the following buildings and land, formerly used for public school purposes, which the School Committee has notified the Board of Selectmen are no longer to be so used : Alden Street School House and part of the lot, Cliff Street School House and lot, Cedarville School House and lot.
These properties have been abandoned by the School Department, and are now in the hands of the Board of Selectmen. The Committee recommends that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen to sell or lease any or all of the properties or to make such disposition of them, at such time and in such way as said Board deems ad- visable.
Article 31. To see if the Town will acquire by pur- chase for school purposes, the land known as the Grace A. Pope property lying on the southwesterly side of Union Street and adjoining other land of the Town of Plymouth, and make an appropriation not exceeding three thousand seven hundred and fifty (3,750) dollars therefor.
The Committee recommends that the Town take no action under Article 31.
Article 32. To see whether the Town will amend the By-laws of the Town of Plymouth by inserting therein the following new section, "Actions at law. In all cases not provided for by law the Selectmen shall have full authority, as agents of the Town, to employ counsel, to institute and prosecute suits in the name of the Town, and to appear for and defend suits brought against the Town, and to settle or compromise any claim or suit for
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or against the Town, unless it is otherwise specifically or- dered by vote of the Town."
The Committee recommends that the By-Law as set forth in the article be adopted by the Town.
Article 33. To see if the Town will vote to author- ize the Selectmen to sell, after first giving notice of the time and place of sale by posting such notice of sale in some convenient and public place in the town fourteen days at least before the sale, property taken by the Town under tax title procedure provided that the Selectmen or · whomsoever they may authorize to hold such public auc- tion may reject any bid which they deem inadequate, or take any action relative thereto.
The Committee recommends that the Town act favor- ably under this article. The vote as worded in the arti- cle is advised by the Tax Commissioner to be passed as a standing vote by all towns.
Article 34. To see if the Town, will appropriate from money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated a sum not exceeding fifty thousand (50,000) dollars to be used in connection with any Federal Unemployment Agency, and in the event of the discontinuance of Federal Unem- ployment Relief, for construction, improvements or re- pairs of public works within the town. Said appropria- tion to be subject to transfers only on orders of the Board of Selectmen to the several projects, and for nec- essary local administration.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of $50,000.00, from money in the Town Treasury not other- wise appropriated, to be used for the purposes and in the manner set forth in the article.
Article 35. To see if the Town will vote to accept a tract of land lying on the northerly side of the Nook Road, so-called, as a gift from Mr. Alfred H. Avery, to be improved and maintained by the Town as a Memorial Playground.
The Committee recommends that the Town vote to ac- cept this tract of land, containing three and nine-tenths
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acres, as a gift from Mr. Alfred H. Avery, to be main- tained by the Town as a Memorial Playground, under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Article 36. To see if the Town will authorize the erec- tion of a building on the Water Street end of the Plym- outh Memorial Building lot for the purposes of an infor- mation booth.
The Committee recommends that the Town authorize the erection of a building on the Water Street end of the Plymouth Memorial Building lot for the purposes of an information booth. Said building to be only one story in height and to have a ground area of not more than 500 square feet.
Article 37. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of twelve hundred (1,200) dollars to be used for making monthly payments of fifty dollars to the widow of Herbert R. Benton and the parents of James H. Devitt, said Benton and Devitt having been killed while serving as volunteer firemen in fighting a forest fire in the Town of Plymouth. Authority for such payments is given by Chapter thirteen of the Acts of 1938.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of $1,200.00 to be used for the purposes set forth in the article.
Article 38. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of twenty-five hundred (2,500) dollars for purchase of a new truck for the Forest Fire Warden's Department.
The Committee recommends that the Town take no ac- tion under Article 38.
Article 39. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding fourteen thousand five hundred (14,500) dollars, for the purchase of a ladder truck.
The Committee recommends the appropriation of $14,500.00 for the purchase of this piece of apparatus.
Article 40. To see if the Town will accept and allow the relocation of the southerly line of Water Street, be- tween Emerald Street and Watercure Street, as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town, and appropri-
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ate the sum of three hundred (300) dollars for land and property damages and expense of acquiring titles.
The Committee recommends that the Town accept and allow the relocation of the southerly line of Water Street, from the southerly line of Watercure Street southwester- ly 77.55 feet, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen and reported to the Town, and appropriate the sum of three hundred (300) dollars for land and property damages and expense of acquiring titles.
Article 41. To see if the Town will accept and allow as a town way, Castle Street, easterly, from the end of the laid out way on Castle Street, approximately one hundred and twenty (120) feet, as laid out by the Se- lectmen and reported to the Town, and appropriate the sum of one hundred (100) dollars for land and property damages and expenses of acquiring titles. (By Petition.)
The Committee recommends that the Town accept and allow as a town way, Castle Street, easterly from the end of the laid out way on Castle Street, approximately one hundred and twenty (120) feet, as laid out by the Select- men and reported to the Town, and appropriate the sum of one hundred (100) dollars for land damages and expense of acquiring titles.
Article 42. To see if the Town will accept and allow as a town way, Clark Street from Standish Avenue, south- westerly, approximately two hundred and seventy (270) feet to line of a private way, as laid out by the Select- men and reported to the Town, and appropriate the sum of one hundred (100) dollars for land and property danı- ages and expenses of acquiring titles. (By Petition.)
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