USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1882-1886 > Part 46
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The report was accepted by the town. At a later hour this Committee made a report which was accepted and adopted as follows :
AUDITORS.
John M. Cate, Waldo E. Cowdrey, Willis S. Mason,
TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Otis V. Waterman, Junius Beebe,
Jos. M. Skully,
C. W. Eaton,
John R. Mansfield, Geo. H. Teague,
W. F. Young,
Wm. N. Tyler, Cyrus Wakefield,
S. O. Richardson,
S. K. Hamilton, T. L. Whelan,
Thomas Winship, R. H. Mitchell, Chas. A. Dean.
WEIGHERS OF COAL AND MERCHANDISE.
M. C. Evans, A. W. Chapman,
Geo. W. Aborn,
Arthur E. Payson,
Everett W. Eaton, Denis Greany,
Geo. K. Gilman, Albert A. Mansfield.
MEASURERS OF WOOD.
Denis Greany, Chas. Gorham,
Henry N. Oliver,
Willard Knight, C. B. Bowman, M. C. Evans, A. J. Hutchinson,
Austin L. Mansfield, Levi B. Eaton,
Albert A. Mansfield, Everett W. Eaton.
SURVEYORS OF LUMBER.
C. F. Bickford,
E. I. Purrington, David Perkins,
Roger Howard,
C. W. Trow, George H. Teague, Luther G. Cate.
Edward Eaton,
George H. Wiley,
FIELD DRIVERS.
George E. Donald, J. T. B. Hall, Thomas Gould, H. L. Day, B. F. Shedd,
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A list of names for Appropriation Committee was reported, but the point of order was made by W. N. Tyler, and sustained by the Moderator, that they were not town officers, and this part of the report was laid upon the table.
At 1 o'clock p. M., according to previous vote, the next article of the warrant was taken up. .
ART. 6. To see if the town will authorize their Treasurer to hire money to pay all demands in anticipation of taxes.
VOTED. That the Treasurer be authorized, with the appro- val of the Selectmen, to hire money in anticipation of the taxes of the current year ; and to issue notes of the town therefor ; and all debts so incurred shall be paid from said taxes.
ART. 7. To raise and appropriate money for the payment of town debt and interest.
VOTED. That the town raise and appropriate the sum of $3200 for the payment of interest on the loans of town ; and that the Treasurer be authorized to use any surplus of receipts received from various sources other than loans and taxes for the payment of town debt.
ART. 8. To raise and appropriate money for Schools. A motion to raise $16,500 was lost.
VOTED. To raise and appropriate $15,000 for regular school expenses.
VOTED. To raise $1,300 for school contingent fund.
VOTED. To raise $1,200 for school text books and supplies.
ART. 9. To raise and appropriate money for the Support of the Poor.
VOTED. $5,000 and income of town farm.
ART. 10. To raise and appropriate money for the Repairs of High- ways and Bridges, and determine how it shall be expended.
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VOTED. To raise and appropriate $5,000. The question of how it should be expended was laid on the table.
ART. 11. To raise and appropriate money for the Fire Department.
VOTED. To raise and appropriate $2,000.
ART. 12. To raise and appropriate money for the Public Library.
VOTED. $300 and dog tax.
ART. 13. To raise and appropriate money for the Public Reading Room.
VOTED. $175.
ART. 14. To raise and appropriate money for the salaries of Town Officers.
VOTED. $2,875, to be expended as follows : Selectmen, $400, Assessors, $400 ; Tax Collector, $400 ; Over- seers of Poor, $250; School Committee, $250 ; Road Commissioners, $200; Treasurer, $200; Au- ditors, $100; Registrars, $100, Clerk, $100; Fire Engineers, $75 ; Board of Health, $50 ; Constables and Police, $350.
ART. 15. To raise and appropriate money for the care of street lamps and cost of lighting.
VOTED. To raise and appropriate $1,400.
ART. 16. To raise and appropriate money for Town House expenses. VOTED. $1,700.
ART. 17. To raise and appropriate money for Miscellaneous expenses.
VOTED. $3,000.
ART. 18. To raise and appropriate the sum of three thousand dol- lars to pay the annual rental of hydrants, as per contract with Wakefield Water Company.
VOTED. $3,000, and that this sum be withheld until the Water Company put the streets in good condition, according to contract.
ART. 19. To see what method the town will adopt for the collection of taxes for the year ensuing.
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VOTED. That the same method be adopted as last year ; and that the same discount be allowed on poll and property taxes.
ART. 20. To see if the town will authorize their Collector of Taxes, for the year ensuing, to use all means for the collection of taxes, which a Town Treasurer, when appointed Collector, may use.
VOTED. That the Collector of Taxes be so authorized.
ART. 21. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of eighteen hundred and twenty-five dollars, to meet the pay- ment of Insurance Policies on Public Buildings, expiring during the year 1886-7.
VOTED. To refer to a committee of three composed of Geo. W. Aborn, John Moran and S. O. Richardson, to report at an adjournment of this meeting.
ART. 22. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars, to be expended in concrete work, under the direction of the Road Commissioners.
VOTED. That the subject matter of this article, together with Articles 72, 73, 74 and 75 be referred to a committee of three, composed of Thos. Hickey, Wm. N. Tyler and Everett Hart, to report at an adjournment of this meeting.
ART. 23. To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to provide a Night Watch, and will appropriate money for the pay- ment thereof.
VOTED. To raise $1,800, and that the Selectmen advertise for proposals for three men, to be paid $600 apiece.
ART. 24. To determine the compensation of Enginemen for the year ensuing.
VOTED. To pay each man $15 and poll tax.
ART. 25. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of two hundred dollars for purposes of "Memorial Day," to be expended under the direction of H. M. Warren Post 12, G. A. R.
VOTED. $200, as asked.
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ART. 26. To hear and act upon the report of the Selectmen, with reference to a method of supplying information as to times and places of meeting of the several boards of town officers.
The Secretary of the Board read a report recom- mending the posting of suitable bulletins at the Town House, Post Office, Depots and other public places.
VOTED. To accept and adopt the report.
ART. 27. To see what action the town will take for having the stream from the South Reading Branch Railroad to Farm Street, freed from the waste matter and obstructions that now cause it to stand and stagnate ; and also for opening a wa- ter-way from the bridge under Lake street to the 'stream at the bridge under Railroad Street ; and for making an appropriation to meet the expense in the matter.
The Secretary of the Board of Selectmen, to which Board this subject was referred by a town meeting on Sept. 21, 1885, read an exhaustive report show- ing that the impeding of the natural water course caused the trouble by flowage, and quoting the ac- tion prescribed in the Public Statutes to remedy such trouble.
VOTED. To accept the report.
VOTED. To refer the subject matter of this article, together with articles 33, 71, 81 and 82 to the Board of Health, with power to act, and to report at an ad- journment of this meeting.
Under Article 82, which refers to the drainage of Saugus River and the Smith's Pond branch of that stream, it was
VOTED. To raise $300 for improving said drainage, and to let the work to the lowest responsible bidder.
ART. 28. To see if the town will raise and appropriate, and author- ize the payment of the sum of one hundred and fitteen
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dollars, (or the exact sum of personal expenses,) incurred by two members of the Board of Selectmen in connection with the Night Watch investigation, or what action the town will take in the matter.
Motion to raise the sum asked in this article was lost. Yes, 78; No, 101. A motion to reconsider was also lost.
ART. 29. To see what action the town will adopt with reference to the removal from Main Street of the pile of rocks known as the " Rockery."
VOTED. To indefinitely postpone action.
ART. 30. To see if the town will authorize the Trustees of the Beebe Town Library to prepare a new catalogue of the Beebe 'Town Library, to be sold to purchasers at cost price ; and raise and appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars therefor ; or what it will do about it.
VOTED. $490 for a new catalogue, to be sold at cost, and the money returned to the Town Treasury ; and that the work be let out to the lowest bidder.
ART. 31. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of two hundred dollars ($200) for the purpose of building and repairing sidewalks in Greenwood.
VOTED. $200, the work to be under charge of the Road Commissioners, and let to the lowest responsible bidder.
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ART. 32. To see if the town will construct a sidewalk on the east . side of Main Street, from land of Lucia M. Jones south- erly to Salem Street, and will raise and appropriate the sum of fifty dollars for that purpose.
VOTED. $50 as called for by this article.
ART. 34. To see if the town will choose a committee of three, and in- struct them to sell the Steam Fire Engine at the best price attainable ; said sale to be made within six months after the passage of this article.
VOTED. To indefinitely postpone action.
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ART. 35. To see if the town will instruct its Selectmen to cause to be removed the obstruction placed, by the Wakefield Wa- ter Company, under the bridge where the natural stream . crosses Main Street, north of Sweetser Street; or what action shall be taken thereon.
VOTED. To instruct the Selectmen as requested in this article.
ART. 36. To see if the town will grant to the Woman's Christian Temperance Union the free use of the Town Hall on two evenings during the year.
VOTED. To grant free use of hall as requested.
ART. 37. To see if the town will choose a committee to report on the feasibility of having the Town Hall settees improved with rattan seats, or some other material more pliant than the present narrow, hard-wood seats; with the cost of making such a change, and such other information, sug- gestions and recommendations as said committee see fit to make, or what it will do about it.
VOTED. To indefinitely postpone action.
ART. 38. To see if the town will appoint a committee to report a new and revised list of Rules and Orders, for adoption by the town, to be observed in all of its meetings ; or what they will do in relation thereto.
VOTED. To indefinitely postpone action.
ART. 39. To see if the town will adopt a price per hour for the pay of policemen, when on duty, and require that the number of hours of service of each man and the price per hour, be given in the police annual report, or what they will do about it.
VOTED. To refer to the Selectmen.
ART. 40. To see if the town will instruct the Road Commissioners, in their annual reports, to make a detailed statement of all persons to whom money is paid, out of the appropriation for highways, either for purchases or for labor, and give separately the amount paid for the use of horses ; and also give the name of each street worked upon and the amount of expense incurred on each street ; or what it will do about it.
VOTED. That the Road Commissioner's be so instructed.
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ART. 41. To see if the town will take any action for having the Lowry Hydrant, now located near the Brick Block, remov- ed further south, away from that building ; or what they will do about it.
VOTED. That this article, together with articles 42, 43, 47, 48, 49, 54, 55, 56, 57 and 76, be referred to Jas. II. Carter, Wm. K. Perkins and John M. Cate a Committee to report at an adjournment of this meeting.
At this time (6.15 p. M.) the polls were closed in accordance with previous vote, and the considera- tion of the remaining articles of the warrant was adjourned to 7 o'clock. At that hour the Modera- tor called the meeting to order, but action was post- poned till 7.45.
ART. 44. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of three thousand dollars for Park Improvements ; or what they will do about it.
VOTED. $300 to keep the Park in condition and make im- provements.
ART. 45. To hear and act upon the report of the Committee, on removal of Engine House.
D. H. Darling reported for the Committee, recom- mending the purchase of a lot of land on Albion St., for $3,600, and the erection of an engine house thereon to cost $12,000:
VOTED. To accept the report.
ART. 46. To see if the town will adopt the recommendation of Com- mittee on Engine House, raise and appropriate money for the purpose of purchasing land, and erecting thereon a new Engine House ; or what they will do about it.
A motion to raise $3,600 for the purchase of land on Albion St., was lost by an overwhelming vote. No further action taken.
ART. 50. To see if the town will authorize and direct the Board of
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Selectmen, to advertise and contract for a Janitor of the Town Hall building, who shall have charge of all the rooms and perform all duties pertaining to, and in accordance with the rules and regulations of each of the departments located therein ; or what it will do about it.
VOTED. That the Selectmen advertise for proposals for the Janitorship of the Town House, and that all work be done under their direction.
ART. 51. To see if the town will cause the road-bed on Elm street, to be widened ten feet, from the estate of the late James Eustis, to the residence of Thomas Y. West, and raise and appropriate money therefor.
A motion to raise $300 for the purpose proposed in this article was rejected. No further action taken.
ART. 52. To see if the town will accept of gravel free of charge, for the purpose of widening the road-bed on Elm street, and for making or repairing sidewalks within the limits of the West District, during the current municipal year.
VOTED. To indefinitely postpone action.
ART. 53. To see if the town will determine that, on and after May Ist, 1886, eight hours shall constitute a legal day's work on all Town Works ; or what they will do about it.
Motion to indefinitely postpone was lost. Yes, 93 ; No, 198.
VOTED. That the subject matter of this article be adopted by the town ; and that eight hours shall constitute a legal day's work on all town works, on and after May 1, 1886.
ART. 58. To see if the town will grant the free use of the Town Hall to H. M. Warren Post 12, G. A. R., for April 29th, and for two additional evenings to be determined, for the pur- pose of holding entertainments for the benefit of Charity fund of said Post ; or what action they will take thereon.
VOTED. To grant the free use of the Hall as requested.
ART. 59. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of
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seven hundred dollars, to be expended in fitting the base- ment of the Town Hall building for a Banquet Hall ; or what they will do about it.
VOTED. To indefinitely postpone action.
ART. 60. To see if the town will cause a street lamp to be placed at the corner of Sweetser and School Streets, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
VOTED. To refer this article, together with articles 61, 62, 63, 64, 80 and 83, relating to street lamps, to a committee composed of A. W. Brownell, H. H. Savage and John Winship, to report at an adjourn- ment of this meeting.
ART. 65. To see if the town will grant the free use of the Town Hall to Litchman Assembly Knights of Labor, for six free public lectures on the Labor Question, during the winter months of 1886-7.
VOTED. To grant the free use of the Hall as requested.
ART. 66. To see if the town will abolish the tax of twenty-five cents for fishing permits.
VOTED. To abolish the tax.
ART. 67. To see if the town will complete the sidewalk on the west- erly side of Vernon Street, from Pleasant to Salem Street, and raise and appropriate money for the same ; or what they will do about it.
VOTED. $250 for that purpose. 1 ART. 68. To hear and act upon the report of the Road Commission- ers, for the laying out of a town way from Lake to Albion, Street, over an open way known as Oak Street.
The Road Commissioners made a report in favor of this new town way.
VOTED. To accept and adopt the report.
VOTED. $900 to build said new town way.
ART. 69. To hear and act upon the report of the Road Commission- ers to widen Pleasant Street on the easterly side, begin- ning at a point on land of Stephen Lufkin, thence running southerly to private way leading easterly from Pleasant St.
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The Road Commissioners made a report recom- mending the widening of Pleasant Street, as shown in this article.
VOTED. To accept and adopt the report and appropriate $220 to do the work.
ART. 70. To see if the town will surrender its lease of Lake Quan- napowitt ; or what they will do about it.
A motion to surrender the lease was rejected. No further action taken.
ART. 77. To hear and act upon the report of the Road Commission- ers for the laying out of a new town way from Greenwood Street to Myrtle Avenue, over a passage way leading from Greenwood Street, the same being a continuation from Brown Street.
The Road Commissioners made a report in favor of this new town way.
VOTED. To accept and adopt the report and appropriate $350 to build the street.
ART. 78. To hear and act upon the report of the Road Commission- ers for the laying out of a new town way from Oak Street to Green Street, over land of Alexander Glass and private way, called Prospect Street, in Greenwood.
The Road Commissioners reported in favor of build- ing this new town way.
VOTED. To accept and adopt the report and appropriate $100 to build the street.
ART. 79. To see if the town will vote to enter into contract with the Wakefield Water Company for three fire hydrants, two to be placed on Main Street and one on Oak Street, Green- wood ; and choose a committee to execute the same, and to take any further action which the town may deem expe-" dient in relation thereto.
A motion to carry out the provisions of this article was rejected. No further action.
VOTED. To adjourn to Monday, April 12th, at 7.30 P. M.
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ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, APRIL 12, 1886.
The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, S. K. Hamilton, who announced that Robert Pote Wait, David H. Darling and Rufus Kendrick. declined to serve as Park Commissioners, and that Chas. A. Place declined to serve on the Board of Health.
The Moderator also announced that a petition had been received asking for a recount of the ballots cast for Road Commissioner.
VOTED. That the ballots be re-counted by the same counters, in the presence of the Moderator, representing Mr. Oliver, and Michael Low representing Mr. Kirby.
VOTED. To accept the resignations of the Board of Park Commissioners and of Charles A. Place.
VOTED. To take up Article 4 of the Warrant.
VOTED. To proceed to elect three Park Commissioners and a member of the Board of Health. By vote of the meeting the Moderator appointed John M. Cate, Otis V. Waterman and F. D. Somers, a Committee to nominate candidates for the above offices. After some declinations the Committee reported the fol- lowing :
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FOR PARK COMMISSIONERS.
George H. Maddock, Junius Beebe, R. H. Mitchell,
FOR MEMBER OF BOARD OF HEALTH. Joseph D. Mansfield.
VOTED. To instruct the Town Clerk to cast one ballot for the above-named, which he did, and they were declared elected.
The Committee to which were referred Article 22 and the following articles :
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ART. 72. To see if the town will instruct its Road Commissioners to put down concrete upon the sidewalks of streets where it is necessary, and assess one-half of the expense upon abutters in case said abutters do not pay voluntarily ; or what they will do about it.
ART. 73. To see if the town will give its Road Commissioners any instruction in relation to putting down concrete sidewalks and assessing one-half of the expense thereof upon the abutters ; or what they will do about it.
ART. 74. To see if the town will instruct its Road Commissioners to put down concrete upon the sidewalks of streets, or any portions thereof, in case the abutters will not agree to pay one-half of the expense ; or what they will do about it.
ART. 75. To see if the town will instruct its Road Commissioners to place edge stones at the junction of Avon and Railroad streets ; or what they will do about it.
then presented a report recommending under Arti- cle 22, that $1,000 be raised to be expended on concrete work under the Road Commissioners, and that the whole be expended ; that not less than one- half of said amount be used for new sidewalks, and the remainder for crosswalks, gutters and repairs ; and that one-half the cost of sidewalks be assessed upon abutters according to the provisions of the Public Statutes accepted by the town April 2, 1883.
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Under Article 72 the Committee reported no action needed.
Under Article 73 the Committee recommended that the Commissioners be instructed to lay concrete sidewalks wherever needed, and assess one-half the cost on abutters.
Article 74. The Committee reported : To indefi- nitely postpone action.
Under Article 75 the Committee recommended to instruct as requested in this article.
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VOTED. To accept and adopt the report.
VOTED. To raise and appropriate $1,000 in accordance with the report.
The Committee to which were referred Article 60 and the following articles :
ART. 61. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to erect and maintain a street lamp, at the corner of Railroad street and Lakeside Avenue ; or what they will do about it.
ART. 62. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for the erection of two lamp-posts and lanterns, on Lake street between Maple street and Broad- way.
ART. 63. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for the erection of a lamp-post and lan- tern, on Main street, between Salem and Lawrence streets.
ART. 64. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for the erection of a lamp-post and lantern, on Railroad street, between Yale ave. and Church street.
ART. 80. To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to place a lamp-post and lantern, to be lighted with gas, at the corner of Main and Bennett streets, and appropriate the sum of twenty dollars for that purpose.
ART. 83. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars for the purpose of placing street lamps at each crossing on Melvin and Bennett Sts. made the following recommendations :
Under Articles 60, 61 and 62 ; That the town erect and maintain lamps as asked in these articles, and raise and appropriate $79 for their erection. Under Articles 63, 64 and 80; That action be in- definitely postponed.
Under Article 83; That the town raise and appro- priate $90 to erect street lamps at five points on Melvin and Bennett Street.
VOTED. To accept and adopt the report of the Committee.
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VOTED. To raise and appropriate $169 in accordance with the report.
The Committee to which were referred Article 41. together with the articles following :
ART. 42. To see if the town will instruct the Engineers of the Fire Department to cause each hydrant to be examined once in every three months, and at once notify the Water Compa- ny to remedy any apparent defect ; or what action it will take in the matter.
ART. 43. To see if the town will request the Engineers of the Fire Department to order the Steamer Engine Company to re- port at fires with their hose-carriage only, and without horses, unless special orders are given to bring their En- gine ; or what they will do about it.
ART. 47. To see if the town will cause a stand-pipe to be put into the Town House for fire protection, and raise and appro- priate the sum of fifty dollars therefor.
ART. 48. To see if the town will purchase fifty additional Johnson Pumps, to be distributed in the same manner and under the same conditions as those purchased in 1883.
ART. 49. To see if the town will instruct the Selectmen to offer a. reward of five hundred dollars, for the detection and con- viction of any party or parties setting fire on any premises other than their own.
ART. 54. To see if the town will instruct the Engineers to disband the East Ward Engine Company.
Apr. 55. To see if the town will instruct the Engineers to sell all its cast off machines and appliances, of whatever nature.
Apr. 56. To see if the town will purchase five Johnson Pumps, with hose couplings and pole attachments, and a supply of 1-2 inch hose for same with couplings, to be carried by the Hook and Ladder Company.
The whole expense not to exceed fifty dollars, and weight not to exceed fifty pounds.
ART. 57. To see if the town will sell, by public auction, the East Ward Engine House ; or what they will do in the matter.
ART. 76. To see if the town will request the Engineers of the Fire
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Department to give, in their annual reports, a list of all the town machines used at each fire, to the intent that the va- rious machines may receive their proper merit ; or what it will do about it.
reported : "Your Committee, after careful consid- eration are unanimously of the opinion and would recommend that cach and every one of the above numbered articles should be indefinitely postponed." VOTED. That the report be accepted and adopted.
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