USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1900-1902 > Part 32
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committee : G. H. Sweetser, E. I. Purrington, W. E. Eaton, S. K. Hamilton, S. W. Lufkin, E. W. Eaton, F. H. Atwood, E. W. White, G. W. Killorin, Henry Davis, Arthur Greenough, H. H. Savage, G. W. Kimball, J. E. Perkins, E. C. Miller, C. S. Young, D. C. Wright, D. M. Houston, Darius Hadley and J. D. Schurman. The committee's duties, as outlined, will be as fol- lows : To appraise all taxable property in Wakefield ; and to submit the same to the assessors from time to time ; file a full and final report with the town clerk two weeks prior to the date of the next annual town meeting ; fill such vacancies as may occur ; authorized to hire a clerk at a salary not exceeding $50, the same to be paid from the miscellaneous fund.
On motion the report was laid on the table until the next meeting.
Adjourned for one week.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, APRIL 9, 1900.
On motion article 5 was taken up and after brief discussion $60 additional was appropriated to regulate the fire engineers' salaries as follows : Chief engineer, $70 ; clerk, $50 ; third mem- ber, $40; total, $160.
CEMETERY REPORT.
Article 21, relative to the Lowell street cemetery, was taken up and Capt. Geo. M. Tompson, on behalf of the committee, read the report, showing that the $100 offered as a prize for best plans was awarded to a New York civil engineer, A. L. Bowman. The plans are in three sections and are complete. Among other items it was estimated that it would cost $6700 to put 700 lots in readiness for use. The committee's unexpended balance was $93.27. The committee recommended that three persons be chosen to care for the cemetery, sell lots, etc. On motion the report was accepted.
Article 69, relative to the Weary case, was taken up. Chair- man Stout of the board of selectmen stated that the town coun- sel had urged a settlement, and Mr. Stout moved that the selectmen be authorized to settle.
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Voted. That three referees be appointed, one by the selectmen, one the Wearys and the other by the two appointed, and that a set- tlement be agreed upon.
Article 73, relative to the selling of supplies by town officials to the town, was taken up. Moved that the board of officers be instructed to carry out the intention of the article. Motion lost.
Acting under article 18 it was voted to adopt the committee's report.
On motion of Harry Foster article 3 was taken up and the following officers, not chosen by ballot, were elected :
Field Drivers-G. E. Donald, G. F. Hanwright, G. K. Wal- ton, O. G. Sanborn, J. E. Hopkins, W. F. Shedd and A. Glass.
Measurers of Wood-G. W. Killorin, H. N. Oliver, C. Tal- bot, J. G. Morrill, E. E. Lee, G. E. Donald, A. L. Mansfield and W. M. Ward.
Measurers of Lumber-A. T. Locke, J. A. Sederquest, H. B. Parker, J. B. Foster, E. I. Purrington and Roger Howard.
Weighers of Coal and Merchandise-C. E. White, C. H. Brown, H. A. Simonds, B. W. Foster, J. C. W. Walton, J. C. Kelliher, T. E. Toomey, A. I. Mansfield, John Toomey, A. A. Mansfield, C. A. Cheney, J. M. Perley and N. E. Cutler.
Mr. Foster then recommended the following Finance Com- mittee :- T. J. Skinner, E. E. Lee, E. J. Gihon, G. E. Smith, A. G. Walton, J. L. Gooch, F. H. Atwood, Thomas Hickey, J. A. Sale, T. E. Dwyer, S. T. Parker, D. M. Houston, T. G. O'Connell, F. A. Clapp and C. E. Learned.
Voted. 101 to 56 to reject the committee's report, thus doing away with any Finance Committee, as further action was indefinitely postponed.
Art. 70. Relative to the appointment of a day officer, was taken up. Moved to indefinitely postpone the subject, and it was so voted by a vote of 127 to 21.
Art. 75. To accept provisions of Chapter 548, Section 335, Acts of 1898, relating to election of selectmen and assessors, was next in order. Moved to accept the provisions. Moved to indefinitely postpone the subject, and it was so voted.
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Art. 74. To instruct the selectmen to purchase all coal for the va- rious departments, was advocated by Mr. Killorin. On motion the Municipal Light Plant was excluded, but otherwise the arti- cle as outlined was carried.
Mr. Dean, in behalf of the committee appointed to investigate the claim of Alice E. Lake, reported in favor of referring the subject to the selectmen with power to settle.
Article 5 was taken up on motion and the vote whereby $2100 was appropriated for the police department, was rescinded and $1650 voted instead, the town having decided not to put on an extra police officer.
W. F. Bowman asked the moderator's ruling as to the legality of making further appropriations. Mr. O'Connell cited the opinion of the town counsel relative to the Finance Committee and gave as his opinion that nothing further could be done.
On motion of Mr. Darius Hadley, $25 was appropriated for the moderator's services, with the thanks of the town.
The meeting was dissolved at 9.35 o'clock.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, APRIL 23, 1900.
Town Clerk Hartshorne called to order and acting under Article I, Thomas G. O'Connell was chosen moderator. The reading of the warrant was dispensed with.
Art. 2. To see if the town will accept the provisions of Chapter 1 72 of the Acts of the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the year 1900, entitled "An act to provide for the addition of a portion of the town of Wakefield to the North Metropolitan Sewerage System."
N. E. Cutler, for the sewerage committee, moved that the town accept the provisions of Chapter 172 of the Acts of 1900 as noted in the article.
Voted. To have the act read. The moderator read the act.
Voted. To adjourn for one week.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, APRIL 30, 1900.
The first business before the meeting was on the motion of N. E. -
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Cutler, made at the meeting of Monday evening, April 23, that the town accept the provisions of Chapter 172 of the Acts of 1900 -- "An Act to provide for the addition of a portion of the town of Wakefield to the North Metropolitan Sewerage System."
Voted. To accept the Act.
Motion to reconsider lost.
E. H. Hadley offered a resolution to the effect that the com- mittee on cemetery pay A. V. B. Norris the balance of the $200 appropriated for plans and specifications for the new cemetery.
Voted. To accept and adopt as the sense of the meeting.
Voted. To take up Art. 4.
Art. 4. To see if the town will rescind all action under Articles 15 and 16 of the town warrant of November 13, 1899, whereby it was voted January 16, 1900, to build a brick engine house, on the old lot, corner Crescent and Mechanic streets, and also its action under Art. 72 of the warrant of March 5, 1900, making an appriation of $5,000.
Voted. To divide the articles into its two parts.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone action under first part of this article.
Voted. To rescind appropriation of $5,000 under second part.
Voted. To adjourn for one week.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, MAY 7, 1900.
Voted. To take up Article 24.
Art. 24. To see if the town will refer the claim of Waldo March for destruction of drain on West Chestnut street to referees, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To lay on table.
Voted. To take up Articles 6 and 7.
Art. 6. To see if the town will suspend, during the term of the present town meeting, all town by-laws or rules so called, rela- ting to a Finance Committee, so that Articles calling for an ap- propriation of money be taken up originally in town meeting, without any hearing, report, recommendation or action whatso- ever, of a Finance Committee, or what the town will do about it.
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Art. 7. To see if the town will draw up and amend the by-laws and rules of the town, or what the town will do about it.
Voted. To adopt Article 6.
Voted. To lay Article 7 on the table.
Voted. To take up articles in their order.
Art. 3. To see what action the town will take in regard to the ap- pointment of a Finance Committee.
No action taken.
The resignations of the Valuation Committee read and accepted. Art. 5. To see if the town will purchase a lot and erect a brick fire engine house in accordance with the recommendations in the committee's report of December 18, last, or what action they will take in the matter.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 8. To see if the town will raise and appropriate three hundred dollars for watering the public streets, and provide that the Board of Assessors shall assess upon the estates abutting on the streets so watered such portion of the cost of such watering, as the town may deem proper, or what they will do about it.
Voted. To refer to a committee of three to report at adjourned meeting.
Chair appointed Chas. A. Dean, E. W. Eaton and Michael Low.
Art. 9. Relating to the purchase of a watering cart, referred to same committee.
Voted. To adjourn for one week.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, MAY 14, 1900.
On motion, Article 8, relative to watering the streets, was taken up. Mr. Dean, as a member of the committee appointed at the last meeting to take the matter under consideration, reported for the committee. He said that Stoneham had only one cart, costing $340, and this was used to water about three miles of streets ; that would be the basis we should go by. In Melrose there are a number of standpipes. The cost of four standpipes would be about $400.
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Mr. Dean moved that $500 be appropriated, and that the assessors assess that amount on the abuttors of the property for street water- ing purposes ; and that the work be done under the direction of the selectmen and highway surveyor.
On motion, the report of the committee was accepted and the recommendations of the committee were adopted.
Under Article 9, which relates to the purchase of the watering cart, Mr. Dean moved that the town appropriate $325 for the pur- chase of a water cart, and that the selectmen carry out the instruc- tions of the town.
Voted. To do so.
Art. 10. 'To see if the town will purchase a suitable piece of fire apparatus, purchase land and erect a building for same in the west district, and raise and appropriate money for same, or what they will do about it.
Referred to a committee of three, to report at a future meeting.
Chair appointed W. B. Daniel, W. E. Cade, Thos. Hickey.
Art. II. To see if the town will enlarge or remodel the High School building and appropriate money therefor, or what it will do about it.
Voted. That the town enlarge the High School building, and that $15,000 be appropriated for that purpose ; that the town treas- urer issue bonds or notes payable $1,000 annually from 1901 to 1915, inclusive, and that a committee of five be appointed by the moderator to make all necessary arrangements.
Committee appointed J. A. Hickey, J. L. Gooch, Eden K. Bowser, U. G. Wheeler and G. W. Killorin.
Art. 12. Relative to authorizing the superintendent of schools to devote one-half day a week to Lynnfield schools, was taken up. Voted. To refer to school committee to act.
On motion, Article 13, to appropriate $500 to macadamize Pleasant street from Lawrence to Salem streets was taken up.
Voted. 'That $250 be appropriated by the town and $250 be taken from the appropriation for highways.
Voted. To adjourn for one week.
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ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, MAY 21, 1900.
Art. 14. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of three hundred dollars to repair the roadbed and sidewalks on Emer- ald street, or what it will do about it.
Voted. That the subject matter of the article be referred to the highway surveyor with instructions to make proper repairs on the roadbed and sidewalks on Emerald street, the expense to be taken from the regular highway appropriation.
Art. 15. To see if the town will appropriate a sufficient sum of money to purchase a hose wagon, and equip the same, to be located in Montrose, provided the Montrose Improvement So- ciety furnish a building, or room for same, satisfactory to the board of fire engineers and selectmen, at a nominal rent as may be agreed upon, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 16. To see if the town will instruct the engineers to provide a suitable place for the Montrose Engine company to store its apparatus and holds its meetings, and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for the same, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 17. To see if the town will appropriate one thousand dollars to macadamize Mechanic street, also to grade sidewalks, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 18. To see if the town will appropriate two thousand dollars to build sidewalk and rebuild roadbed on Nahant street, accord- ing to order of County Commissioners or what it will do about it. Voted. That the subject matter of the article be referred to the highway department with instructions to put the street in proper condition.
Art 19. To see if the town will appropriate five hundred dollars to macadamize Franklin street and repair sidewalk, or what it will do about it.
Voted. That the matter be referred to the highway department and that the cost be taken from the regular highway appropri- ation.
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Art. 20. To see if the town will appropriate money for the erection of a new brick school house for the accommodation of eight grades, on the sight now occupied by the Franklin School on Franklin street, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To refer to a committee of five to report to the town at a future town meeting.
Chair appointed G. H. S. Driver, Thos. E. Dwyer, A. D. Jenkins, Thos. Hickey and F. O. Clark.
Voted. To disolve this meeting.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, JUNE 25, 1900.
The meeting was called to order by Town Clerk Hartshorne, and upon motion the reading of the warrant was dispensed with. On motion one vote was cast for Thomas G. O'Connell, who was elected moderator.
Article 1. To choose a moderator, by ballot to preside at said meeting.
Voted. To take up the articles in their order.
Art. 2. To see if the town will accept an act of the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the year 1900 en- titled " An act to authorize the town of Wakefield to construct a system of sewerage," the same being chapter 377 of the public acts of said year.
Voted. To accept the report.
Art. 3. To see if the town will authorize its sewer commissioners, to be hereafter elected, to procure plans for a system of sewerage for the town and make application to the State Board of Health for its approval thereof in accordance with section 17 of said act.
Laid on the table.
Art. 4. To see if the town will authorize and instruct its board of sewer commissioners, to be hereafter elected, to lay out, con- struct, maintain and operate a system or systems of main drains and common sewers for a part or for the whole of its territory and such connections and other works as may be required for a system of sewage disposal for the town in accordance with said
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act, and also to determine for what part of the territory of said town said system or systems of main drains and common sewers shall be constructed.
Voted. To so instruct.
Art. 5. To see if the town will issue its bonds for the purpose of paying the necessary expenses and liabilities incurred under the act of the General Court of Massachusetts for the year 1900 entitled " An act to authorize the town of Wakefield to con- struct a system of sewerage," said act being chapter 377 of the acts of said year ; determine the amount of bonds to be issued thereof, the time when payable, the rate of interest thereon and such other terms and conditions as may be necessary, and authorize its treasurer and selectmen to sign and countersign, execute and dispose of the same in the name and on behalf of the town.
Art. 6. To see if the town will vote to provide for the payment of its bonds issued by the vote passed under article 5 of this war- rant in such annual payments as will extinguish the same within the time prescribed in said act, or what they will do about it.
Art. 7. To see if the town will establish a sinking fund under the provisions of section 9 of chapter 29 of the Public Statutes of Massachusetts and all laws amendatory thereof or in addition thereto to provide for the payment at maturity of the bonds issued by the town to pay for the laying out, construction, main- tenance and operation of a system or systems of main drains and common sewers under chapter 377 of the acts of 1900.
On motion these articles were referred to the sewerage com- mittee, town counsel and town treasurer to report at a future meeting. An amendment offered, adding the selectmen, was also carried.
Art. 8. To see if the town will vote to choose by ballot three com- missioners of sinking funds, of whose terms of office, one shall expire at the annual meeting for the year 1901, one at the annual meeting for 1902, and one at the annual meeting for the year 1903.
Art. 9. To see if the town will vote to choose by ballot three sewer commissioners, of whose terms of office one shall expire at the annual meeting for the year 1901, one at the annual meeting
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for the year 1902, and one at the annual meeting for the year 1903.
Laid on the table.
Art. 10. To see if the town will purchase a watering cart, appro- priate a sufficient sum of money for purchase of said cart, and paying the running expenses of same, or what it will do about it. Indefinitely postponed.
Art. II. To see if the town will adopt sections one, two and three of chapter 104 of the Public Statutes, regarding inspection of buildings, draw up ordinances or by-laws, prescribe limits for applications of said ordinances or by-laws, or what it will do about it.
Referred to former committee.
Art. 12. To see if the town will vote to place a hydrant on the cor- ner of Pine street and Pitman avenue, and instruct the select- men to contract with the Wakefield Water Company for the same, or what they will do about it.
Indefinitely postponed.
Art. 13. To hear and act upon the report of the selectmen in re- lation to the case of Weary against the town.
Mr. Stout stated that Mrs. Weary had refused to settle by referee. The article was referred to the selectmen to settle with the best of their ability.
Art. 14. To see if the town will appropriate $150 to pay the estate of A. W. Russell for land damage on Nahant street, or what it will do about it.
Indefinitely postponed.
Art. 15. To see if the town will appropriate two thousand dollars to rebuild roadbed and sidewalks on Nahant street, as ordered by the county commissioners.
Referred to selectmen to have inserted in the next warrant.
Art. 16. To see if the town will direct the selectmen to have suit brought against the Wakefield Water Company to recover such damages as the town suffered in the so called Atherton case, referred to in town report for 1898, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To refer to a committee of three to carry out the intention of the article.
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Chair appointed Darius Hadley, B. A. Osgood and Wm. H. Butler.
Voted. To dissolve this meeting.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, JULY 23, 1900.
The special election of sewer commissioners took place. The voting was in progress from 6 o'clock a. m. until 6.30 p. m. After the reading of the warrant by Town Clerk C. F. Harts- horne, Fred S. Hartshorne was sworn in as warden; J. Fred Parker, clerk ; and inspectors and tellers as follows: C. O. Anderson, W. J. Mansfield, E. S. Jacob, S. T. Parker, A. L. Wiley, H. A. Simonds, James Coughlin, E. P. McDonnell, A. S. Johnston, C. E. Walton, W. A. Thrush and W. C. Skulley.
At 6.30 o'clock the polls were closed. The result of the ballot was read at about 7 o'clock as follows :
FOR ONE YEAR.
William F. Bowman, .
36
*William B. Daniel,
.
413
Michael Low,
330
Scattering, .
I
Blanks,
70
FOR TWO YEARS.
John M. Cate,
180
Thomas Hickey,
I35
*William H. Lee,
480
Scattering,
2
Blanks,
53
FOR THREE YEARS.
Nathaniel E. Cutler, .
403
*George M. Tompson,
413
Scattering,
I
Blanks,
33
*Elected.
1
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SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, JULY 30, 1900.
Art. I. To choose a moderator, by ballot, to preside at said meet- ing.
Thos. G. O'Connell was elected moderator.
Art. 2. To determine whether the town will vote to authorize the issue of $15,000 notes or bonds to pay the appropriation of $15,000 voted for the enlargement of the high school building and bonds to the amount of $15,000 to pay the appropriation to the amount of $15,000 for building a new fire station and pur- chasing the land therefor authorized at meeting of the town, held on the 14th May, 1900, and 16th January, 1900, respec- tively, or take any action or pass any vote with respect to the same.
On motion all rules relating to the finance committee were suspended, by a vote of 77 to I.
Voted. To take up Articles in their order.
Chief Engineer W. E. Cade offered the following resolutions :
RESOLVED, that we, the citizens of Wakefield, in town meeting assembled, take this opportunity to express to Chiefs Lynde of Melrose, Nichols of Reading, and Sturtevant of Stoneham and through them to each officer and member of their departments, who responded to our call for aid at the recent fires in this town, our sincere thanks and appreciation for their prompt response and valuable service rendered.
And it is further resolved, that in recognition of such service the Board of Selectmen be and hereby are authorized and re- quested in behalf of the town to make to each department such donation as in their judgment seems proper, the same to be expended from the miscellaneous appropriation.
Mr. Cade briefly outlined the facts and no one opposed the sentiment. There was a question of legality concerning the ex- penditure of money under the resolution, nothing being in the article to that effect. On motion, the section of the article referring to the payment of money was stricken out and the resolution as amended was passed unanimously.
Voted. Under Article 2, that the town so authorize, 148 to o.
Art. 3. To see if the town will rescind the vote passed at a town
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meeting, held June 25th, 1900, under Article 4, of the warrant calling said meeting.
Voted. To rescind.
Art. 4. To see if the town will authorize and instruct its board of sewer commissioners to lay out, construct, maintain and operate a system or systems of main drains and common sewers, for a part or for the whole of its territory and such connections and other works as may be required for a system of sewage disposal, in accordance with chapter 377, of the Public Laws of Massa- chusetts, for the year 1900, and also to determine for what part of the territory of said town, said system or systems of main drains and common sewers, shall be constructed.
Voted. To so authorize.
Art. 5. To see if the town will issue its bonds for the purpose of paying the necessary expenses and liabilities, which may be in- curred by it, under the act of the General Court of Massachu- setts, for the year 1900, entitled "An act to authorize the town of Wakefield to construct a system of sewerage," said act being chapter 377, of the acts of said year; determine the amount and denomination of the bonds to be issued therefor, the time when payable; the rate of interest thereon, and such other terms and conditions as may be necessary, and authorize its treasurer and selectmen to execute and sell the same in the name and on behalf of the town in accordance with said act.
Voted. That the town issue its bonds to the amount of $225,000 for the purpose of paying the necessary expense and liabilities which may be incurred under the vote passed at their meeting under Article 4 of this warrant, the same being authorized by chapter 377 of the Acts of the General Court of Massachusetts, for the year A. D. 1900. That said bonds be of the denomina- tion of $1,000 each, bear date the Ist day of November, A. D., 1900, and be made payable at the Central National Bank in Boston, Mass., annually on Nov. I as follows : $1,000 each year from 1901 to 1905, both inclusive ; $2,000, 1906 to 1910; $5,000, 1911 to 1920 ; $6,000, 1921 to 1930 ; $10,000, 1931 to 1940, with interest thereon until maturity at the rate of 3₺ per cent., per annum, payable on the Ist days of May and Novem- ber in each year after 1900 upon presentation at said bank of
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the respective coupons thereon. That the town treasurer and a majority of the selectmen be hereby authorized to execute said bonds in accordance with the terms of said act and the town treasurer is hereby authorized to sell the same or any part thereof as may be required and dispose of the proceeds in accordance with said act; and the town treasurer is hereby authorized to sign the coupons attached to said bonds by a printed fac simile of his signature.
Voted. Stood 136 to 2.
Art. 6. To see if the town, instead of establishing a sinking fund, will provide for the payment of its bonds issued by the vote passed under Article 5 of this warrant, in such annual payments as will extinguish the same within the time prescribed in said act, or what they will do about it.
Voted. That the town, instead of establishing a sinking fund, pay the bonds authorized by the vote passed under Article 5 of this warrant in such annual payments as are set forth in said vote and which will extinguish said loan within the time prescribed in the act referred to therein and that the town raise and appro. priate such sum of money each year as will pay the bonds ma- turing in said year.
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