Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1954, Part 6

Author:
Publication date: 1954
Publisher: Town of Plymouth
Number of Pages: 348


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Voted: That the Town raise and appropriate or trans- fer from available funds the sum of $2,750 for repairs to the roof of the Memorial Building.


Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from Parking Meter Receipts, a sum of money for acquiring by purchase or by taking by eminent domain, a parcel of land on the northeasterly side of School Street and being portions of Lots Nos. 38,


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39, 40, 43, 44, 45 and 46 of Plat 19 of the Assessors' Plans for off-street parking purposes.


Recommend no action.


Planning Board does not approve.


Voted: 92 in the affirmative and 41 in the negative that the Town take no action under Article 6.


Article 7. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate or transfer from Parking Meter Receipts, the sum of Twenty-four Thousand and Fifty Dollars ($24,050) for the construction of an off-street parking area on the northeasterly side of School Street; to be expended under the jurisdiction of the Board of Selectmen.


Recommend no action.


Mr. Eugene S. Holton moved that the Town take no action under Article 7.


Mr. Howard Barnes moved to amend the motion of Mr. Eugene S. Holton by referring the question of off- street parking to the Planning Board and the motion as amended was carried.


Article 8. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from Parking Meter Receipts, the sum of Seven Thousand, Three Hundred Dollars ($7,300) for the purpose of hard-surfacing the parking lot in the rear of the Memorial Building.


Recommend an appropriation of $7,300 from Park- ing Meter Receipts.


Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 8.


Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from Parking Meter Receipts, the sum of Six Hundred and Thirty Dollars ($630) for the purchase of new parking meters and repair parts.


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Recommend an appropriation of $630 from Park- ing Meter Receipts.


Voted: That the Town raise and appropriate or trans- fer from Parking Meter Receipts the sum of Six Hundred and Thirty Dollars ($630) for the purchase of new parking meters and repair parts.


Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the purpose of acquiring by purchase or by taking by eminent domain a parcel of land on the south- easterly side of Beaver Dam Road and having a frontage thereon of approximately 1200 feet and on the northeast- erly side of Island Pond Road, measuring thereon approxi- mately 700 feet; said parcel of land to be used for a modi- fied land fill non-fire dump under the jurisdiction and con- trol of the Public Health Division of the Commission of Public Safety; said land being owned or reputed to be owned by Mary T. Sampson et al.


No recommendation.


Special committee appointed to report to the Town on Manomet dump site and costs.


Mr. Charles C. Lynch moved that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire by purchase or to take by eminent domain a parcel of land for purposes of a modified, sanitary, land-filled dump; said parcel of land to be under the jurisdiction of the Public Health Division of the Commission of Public Safety and being bound and described as follows:


Beginning at a point at the northeast junction of Beaver Dam Road and Island Pond Road, so called, and running northeasterly for a distance of 1200' (twelve hun- dred feet) and thence turning and running (at 140° mag- netic) southeasterly 700' (seven hundred feet) to a point for a corner, thence turning and running (at 220° mag- netic) southwesterly 1200' (twelve hundred feet) to Island


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Pond Road, so called, thence turning and running by Island Pond Road so called, northwesterly 700' (seven hundred feet) to the point of beginning. All of said measurements being more or less. Said land containing 17 acres more or less and being land of persons unknown; and to appropriate the sum of $200 (two hundred dollars) .


This motion was put before the meeting and taken by a show of hands, 126 in the affirmative and 1 in the negative, and the motion was carried.


Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds the sum of $7,500 for the purpose of surveying, grading, fencing, erecting a caretaker's shed, supplying water and other- wise preparing a parcel of land at the junction of Beaver Dam and Island Pond Roads for a modified land fill non- fire dump in accordance with the recommendations of the special Town Committee.


See Article 10.


Mr. Charles C. Lynch moved that the Town vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds the sum of Seventy-five Hundred Dollars ($7,500) for the purpose of surveying, grading, fencing, erecting a caretakers shed, supplying water and otherwise prepar- ing a parcel of land at the junction of Beaver Dam Road and Island Pond Road, so called, for a modified land fill non-fire dump in accordance with the recommendations of the special Town Committee.


Mr. Frankland W. L. Miles moved to amend the mo- tion of Mr. Lynch by adding the following words: "That the special Town Committee be empowered to construct the Beaver Dam Road Dump and turn same over to the Town when completed and ready for operation."


The motion as amended by Mr. Miles was put before the meeting and taken by a show of hands, 65 in the af-


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firmative and 58 in the negative, and the motion was car- ried.


Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds the sum of $600 for the purpose of maintaining and operating as a modified land fill non-fire dump, a parcel of land at the junction of Beaver Dam Road and Island Pond Road for the balance of the year 1954.


See Article 10.


Voted: That the Town raise and appropriate or trans- fer from available funds the sum of Six Hundred Dollars ($600) for the purpose of maintaining and operating as a modified land fill non-fire dump, a parcel of land at the junction of Beaver Dam Road and Island Pond Road, so called.


Article 13. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds, a sum of money for the purpose of acquiring by purchase or by taking by eminent domain a parcel of land for use for dumping purposes; said parcel of land to be under the jurisdiction of the Public Health Division of the Com- mission of Public Safety and located off the westerly side of Bartlett Road, Manomet, and being a portion of prem- ises of United Cape Cod Cranberry Company and of George W. Murray, together with a right of way 40 feet in width from said Bartlett Road to said parcel.


See Article 10.


Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 13.


Article 14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds, a sum of money to be expended by the Public Safety Commission for the purpose of surveying, grading, fencing, supplying water, erecting a caretaker's shed and otherwise preparing a parcel of land off the westerly side of Bartlett Road for


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dumping purposes, together with the necessary right of way thereto.


See Article 10.


Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 14.


Article 15. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds the sum of Four Hundred and Eighty Dollars ($480) for the purpose of hiring an employee to fill a part-time position made vacant by reason of retirement in the Commission of Pub- lic Safety.


Recommend no action.


Mr. Eugene S. Holton moved that the Town take no action under Article 15.


Mr. Frankland W. L. Miles moved to amend the mo- tion of Mr. Eugene S. Holton as follows: That the Town vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds the sum of Four Hundred and Eighty Dollars ($480) for the purpose of hiring an employee to fill a part-time position made vacant by reason of retirement in the Com- mission of Public Safety.


The motion as amended by Mr. Miles was put before the meeting and taken by a show of hands, 66 in the af- firmative and 43 in the negative, and the motion as amend- ed was carried.


Article 16. To see if the Town will vote to transfer the Nook Farm property, now under the jurisdiction of the Board of Selectmen, to the Park Department for park purposes.


Recommend favorable action.


Voted: That the Town transfer the Nook Farm prop- erty, now under the jurisdiction of the Board of Select- men, to the Park Department, to be continued to be used


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for playground purposes and to be known as the Avery Memorial Playground.


Article 17. To see if the Town will vote to transfer the Cleft Rock property in the Pine Hills section of Plym- outh, now under the jurisdiction of the Board of Select- men, to the Park Department for park purposes.


Recommend favorable action.


Voted: That the Town transfer the Cleft Rock prop- erty in the Pine Hills section of Plymouth, now under the jurisdiction of the Board of Selectmen, to the Park De- partment as a parking and picnic area.


Article 18. To see if the Town will vote to transfer to E & D the sum of Five Thousand, Five Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($5,550) appropriated at the March 1951 Town Meeting for Beach Park improvements.


Recommend favorable action.


Voted: That the Town transfer to Excess and Defi- ciency the sum of Five Thousand, Five Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($5,550) appropriated at the March 1951 Town Meeting for Beach Park Improvements.


Article 19. To see if the Town will eliminate the condition contained in a deed given by the said Town to the Plymouth Post 40, American Legion, Inc., said deed dated the thirty-first of August, 1951 and recorded with Plymouth County Registry of Deeds, Book 2175, Page 393, being a deed of the premises known as the Cold Spring School and bounded and described as follows:


"Beginning on said street at the northeasterly corner of land formerly of Ruth J. Thomas, thence south 761/2 deg. west 249 feet to land of Joan Thomas, formerly; thence north 121/2 deg. west to land formerly of E. W. Whitten, 100 feet;


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thence north 761/2 deg. east 249 feet to said Court Street; thence southerly by said street 100 feet to the point of beginning."


The condition in said deed being the following:


"This conveyance is made upon the express con- dition that should the building on said premises cease to be used for Legion quarters by the grant- ee, then the land and buildings will revert to the Town of Plymouth."


and grant to the said Plymouth Post 40, American Legion, Inc., in fee the above described premises for the sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000). By Petition


Recommend favorable action.


Voted: That the Town eliminate the condition in the deed given to Plymouth Post 40, American Legion, Inc., dated August 31, 1951, "that should the building on said premises cease to be used for Legion quarters by the grantee, then the land and buildings will revert to the Town of Plymouth," and grant said premises in fee to the grantee for the sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000) .


Total Appropriations, $60,050.00.


On motion of Herbert K. Bartlett, voted to adjourn at 9:55 p.m.


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Town Clerk's Receipts for 1954


Issuing Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates


$290.00


Voters' Certificates


11.00


Marriage Intentions


316.00


Recording Mortgages


1,210.25


Recording Pole Locations


199.50


Cemetery Transfers


3.00


Misc.


6.00


$2,035.75


Births Recorded 1954


Residents born in Plymouth 230


Residents born outside of Plymouth


23


Non-Residents born in Plymouth 204


Total


457


Marriages Recorded 1954


Residents married in Plymouth 101


Residents married outside of Plymouth


50


Non-residents married in Plymouth 15


166


Deaths Recorded 1954


Residents died in Plymouth 160


Residents died out of Town


47


Non-Residents died in Plymouth


57


Non-Residents died out of Town


but buried in Plymouth 17


281


Listings 1958


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STATE AUDIT


To the Board of Selectmen Mr. James T. Frazier, Chairman Plymouth, Massachusetts


Gentlemen:


I submit herewith my report of an audit of the books and accounts of the Town of Plymouth for the period from August 23, 1953 to November 20, 1954, made in ac- cordance with the provisions of Chapter 44, General Laws. This is in the form of a report made to me by Mr. William Schwartz, Assistant Director of Accounts.


Very truly yours,


HERMAN B. DINE, Director of Accounts.


Mr. Herman B. Dine Director of Accounts Department of Corporations and Taxation


State House, Boston


Sir:


As directed by you, I have made an audit of the books and accounts of the Town of Plymouth for the period from August 23, 1953, the date of the previous audit, to November 20, 1954, the following report being submitted thereon:


The records of financial transactions of the several departments receiving or disbursing money for the Town, or committing bills for collection, were examined, checked, and verified by comparison with the records of the town accountant.


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The books and accounts in the office of the town ac- countant were examined and checked in detail. The gen- eral and appropriation ledger accounts were analyzed and proved, the receipts and payments as recorded were checked with the town treasurer's books, the appropria- tions and loan authorizations were compared with the town clerk's records of town meetings, and the transfers from the reserve fund were verified with the amounts authorized by the finance committee. A trial balance was taken off, and a balance sheet, which is appended to this report, was prepared showing the financial condition of the Town on November 20, 1954.


The books and accounts of the town treasurer were examined and checked in detail. The recorded receipts were analyzed and compared with the records in the sev- eral departments in which money was collected for the Town, with other sources from which money was paid into the town treasury, and with the town accountant's books, while the payments were checked with the select- men's warrants authorizing the disbursement of Town funds and with the town accountant's records. The cash book footings were verified, and the cash balance on November 20, 1954 was proved by actual count of the cash in the office, by reconciliation of the bank balances with statements furnished by the banks of deposit, and by verification of the deposits in transit.


The recorded payments on account of maturing debt and interest were proved with the amounts falling due and with the cancelled securities and coupons on file.


The records of employees' payroll deductions on ac- count of Federal taxes were examined and checked. The deductions were added and the payments to the Director of Internal Revenue were verified.


The savings bank books and securities representing the investment of the trust and investment funds were


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examined and listed. The bequests were verified, the income was proved, and the expenditures and transfers to the Town were compared with the vouchers on file and with the town accountant's books.


The savings bank books and securities representing the investments of the contributory retirement funds were examined and listed. The recorded receipts and dis- bursements were checked with the records of the retire- ment board, the income was proved, and the cash balance on November 20, 1954 was verified.


The records of tax titles and tax possessions held by the Town were examined and checked in detail. The amounts transferred to the tax title account were com- pared with the collector's books, the foreclosures were verified, and the recorded redemptions and sales were checked with the treasurer's cash book. The tax titles and tax possessions on hand November 20, 1954 were listed, reconciled with the town accountant's ledger, and checked with the records at the Registry of Deeds.


The records of receipts for parking meter fees were examined, the recorded collections being added and checked with the treasurer's recorded receipts.


The books and accounts of the tax collector were ex- amined and checked. The Town and district taxes and motor vehicle and trailer excise outstanding at the time of the previous examination, as well as all subsequent commitment lists, were audited and proved with the assessors' warrants issued for their collection. The re- corded payments to the Town and district treasurers were verified, the recorded abatements were checked with the assessors' records, and the outstanding accounts were listed and reconciled with the controlling ledger accounts.


The records of departmental and water accounts receivable were examined and checked. The commit-


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ments were proved, the payments to the treasurer were compared with the treasurer's cash book, the abatements were checked with the records in the departments author- ized to grant such credits and the outstanding accounts were listed and proved.


Verification of the correctness of the outstanding tax, excise, departmental, and water accounts was obtained by mailing notices to a number of persons whose names ap- peared on the books as owing money to the Town, the replies received thereto indicating that the accounts, as listed, are correct.


The financial records of the town clerk were exam- ined and checked in detail. The recorded receipts on account of licenses, permits, recording fees, and miscel- laneous charges were examined and checked, while the payments to the treasurer were verified by comparison with the treasurer's recorded receipts.


The records of dog licenses issued on behalf of the County and of sporting licenses issued for the State were examined and checked with the duplicates and stubs on file, and the payments to the State and the town treasurer were verified.


The surety bonds of the officials required by law to furnish them were examined and founded to be in proper form.


The records of licenses and permits issued by the selectmen and the police and health departments were examined and checked, the receipts being compared with the treasurer's cash book.


The records of the sealer of weights and measures, as well as of all other departments collecting money for the Town or committing bills for collection were examined and checked.


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There are appended to this report, in addition to the balance sheet, tables showing reconciliations of the treas- urer's and collector's cash, summaries of the tax, excise, tax title. tax possession, departmental, and water accounts, as well as schedules showing the condition and transac- tions of the trust, investment, and retirement funds.


While engaged in making the audit cooperation was received from all the Town officials, for which, on behalf of my assistants and for myself, I wish to express appreciation.


Respectfully submitted,


WILLIAM SCHWARTZ, Assistant Director of Accounts.


TOWN OF PLYMOUTH Balance Sheet - November 20, 1954 GENERAL ACCOUNTS


Assets


Liabilities and Reserves


Cash:


Revenue,


$777,939.21


$5,632.50


Non-Revenue,


187,020.46


Overpayments - To be Refunded:


Accounts Receivable:


Taxes:


Levy of 1952:


Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise:


Personal Property,


$49.20


Real Estate,


307.99


Levy of 1953:


Agency :


Personal Property,


954.28


County - Dog Licenses, $869.60


Real Estate,


7,644.07


County - Sale of Dogs, 6.00


Levy of 1954:


Excess - Sale Lands of Low Value, 152.39


Poll,


48.00


1,027.99


Personal Property,


9,525.89


Real Estate,


122,295.47


Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise:


Levy of 1953,


$251.90


Alice Spooner Public Welfare, 18.75


Levy of 1954,


13,522.89


Investment, 273.00


316.75


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Tailings - Unclaimed Checks, Trust and Investment Funds Income: Ellen Stoddard Donnelly Public Welfare, $25.00


47.31


140,824.90


13,774.79


Payroll Deductions:


Federal Taxes,


$964,959.67


Taxes:


Levy of 1954 : Real Estate, $53.11


Levy of 1954,


18.65


71.76


Tax Titles and Possessions:


Tax Titles,


$6,185.76


Tax Possessions,


1,744.77


7,930.53


Departmental:


Tax Collector - Bankruptcy Claim,


$362.48


Police,


45.00


Health,


999.00


General Relief,


20,781.03


Aid to Dependent Children,


9,686.82


Old Age Assistance -


Cities and Towns,


2,514.83


Veterans' Services - State,


2,674.74


Veterans' Services - Cities and Towns,


159.00


Non-Revenue:


School,


1,943.64


Town Wharf Rentals,


1,895.00


Municipal Airport,


164.89


Cold Spring School Addition, 118,690.34


Cemetery,


473.34


Water Construction, 67,024.18


41,699.77


Recoveries - Old Age Assistance, 5,556.81


Federal Grants: Aid to Dependent Children: Administration, $171.40


Old Age Assistance: Assistance, 5,430.54


Vocational Education:


George-Barden Fund, 702.00


Revolving Funds:


6,303.94


School Lunch,


$10,196.95


School Athletics, 1,591.23


11,788.18


Appropriation Balances:


Revenue, $523,938.25


Manomet Elementary School Construction, 1,305.94


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710,958.71


Water:


Liens Added to Taxes:


Levy of 1953,


$93.77


Levy of 1954, 234.68


County Hospital Assessment, 4,172.61


4,187.23


Sale of Real Estate Fund, 12,700.00


Labor and Material 1953,


81.00


Labor and Material 1954, 252.00


Statutory Fees 1954, 15.00


8,893.27


Reserve Fund - Overlay Surplus,


18,460.14


Aid to Highways:


State,


$23,090.45


County,


12,045.23


Levy of 1954, 4,265.12


35,135.68


Unprovided For or Overdrawn Accounts:


Hurricane Damage - Section 31,


Chapter 44, General Laws,


15,219.92


Oak Grove and Vine Hill


Tax Title and Possession, 7,930.53


Cemeteries - Expenses,


Departmental, 41,699.77


Water, 8,893.27


Underestimate 1954:


County Tax,


2,049.61


Surplus Revenue,


Overlay Deficit:


Levy of 1952,


279.24


$1,232,438.51


$1,232,438.51


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Revenue 1955 - Appropriation Voted August 16, 1954,


200.00


Aid to Highway, 35,135.68


107,415.39 259,646.74


Overestimates 1954: State Assessment: Parks and Reservations, $14.62


Rates 1953, 1,868.81


Rates 1954, 6,348.01


2,117.59 Sale of Cemetery Lots Fund, Receipts Reserved for Appropriation: Parking Meter Fees, 73,344.00


Overlays Reserved for Abatements: Levy of 1953, $8,598.35


12,863.47


Revenue Reserved Until Collected: Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise, $13,756.14


1,471.13


DEBT ACCOUNTS


Net Funded or Fixed Debt: Inside Debt Limit: General, Outside Debt Limit: Public Service Enterprise,


$745,000.00


272,000.00


Serial Loans: Inside Debt Limit: General: School, $640,000.00 Remodeling Town Office Building, 105,000.00


$745,000.00


Outside Debt Limit: Public Service Enterprise: Water, 272,000.00


$1,017,000.00


$1,017,000.00 -86-


TRUST AND INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS


Trust and Investment Funds: Cash, Savings Deposits and Securities :


In Custody of Town Treasurer, In Custody of Trustees:


$229,345.12


State Treasurer, $200.00


Brockton Savings Bank, 1,000.00


Plymouth Five Cents


Savings Bank, 73,209.82


74,409.82


In Custody of Town Treasurer: Welfare Funds:


Julia P. Robinson Poor, $308.31


Francis LeBaron Poor, 1,717.54


Charles Holmes Poor, 643.02


John Murdock Poor and School, 748.37


Ellen Stoddard Donnelly Public Welfare, 2,509.71


Alice Spooner Public Welfare,


1,882.24


Library Fund:


$7,809.19


Marcia E. Jackson Gates,


2,025.15


Park Funds: Nathaniel Morton, $2,050.31


Uncle Thomas Jackson, 816.05


2,866.36


Inland Fisheries Committee Fund: Philip Jackson, 1,022.58


Cemetery Funds :


Warren Burial Hill, $1,155.06


Annie Furlong Perpetual Care


(St. Joseph's Cemetery), 137.49


Cemetery Perpetual Care, 154,799.20


156,091.75


Investment Funds :


Investment,


$7,102.64


Post-War 1,179.81


Stabilization,


51,247.64


59,530.09


229,345.12


In Custody of Trustees: State Treasurer: Phoebe R. Clifford Cemetery, $200.00


Brockton Savings Bank: Cemetery Perpetual Care, 1,000.00


Plymouth Five Cents Savings Bank: Cemetery Perpetual Care, 73,209.82


74,409.82


$303,754.94


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$303,754.94


CONTRIBUTORY RETIREMENT SYSTEM ACCOUNTS


Contributory Retirement System: Cash, Savings Deposits and Securities, $244,662.47


Contributory Retirement System Funds:


Annuity Savings, $185,863.05


Annuity Savings for Military Service Credits,


2,555.64


Annuity Reserve,


20,571.80


Pension,


29,538.04


Expense


845.81


Undistributed Income,


5,288.13


$244,662.47


$244,662.47


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ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


Town Accountant


OF THE


Town of Plymouth


1020.


SS


CI


FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31


1954


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FORTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TOWN ACCOUNTANT


For the Year Ending December 31, 1954


To the Board of Selectmen Town of Plymouth


Gentlemen:


I submit herewith report of the financial transactions of the Town of Plymouth for the year ending December 31, 1954.


The cash balance at the close of the year was $741,- 561.82, representing $575,104.50 revenue cash and $166,- 457.32 non-revenue for school and water construction projects not yet completed.


The Excess and Deficiency Account of $442,120.11 is $59,930.63 less than a year ago, Free Cash dropping from $395,272.60 a year ago to $332,006.51, reflecting almost ex- actly the amount of $59,220 appropriated from E. & D. at the special Town Meeting in August. Transfers from this fund at the annual Town Meeting should not exceed $125,000 to reduce the tax rate and $25,000 for the Sta- bilization Fund.


Overdrafts authorized on account of Hurricanes Carol and Edna amounted to $14,502.32 and $2,424.45 respective- ly at the end of the year. Reimbursement of $10,384.33 has since been received from the State, with more due. All of the hurricane work has not yet been completed and the difference between the expenditures and the reim- bursements will have to be appropriated by the Town.




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