USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1900-1902 > Part 50
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Voted. To take up articles in warrant as printed except articles 15, 17, 27, 5 and 16.
Voted. That the amount of appropriations now made and the amount of each appropriation voted be announced to the meeting.
Art. 2. To act upon the reports of town officers as published. Voted. To accept and lay on the table.
Art. 3. To choose all town officers not required to be chosen by ballot.
Voted. That a committee of five be appointed to bring in a list of officers not chosen by ballot.
Chair appointed E. K. Bowser, S. W. Lufkin, J. Mahoney, W. E. Cowdrey, C. Donovan.
James A. Hickey resigned from finance committee.
Art. 4. To see if the town will authorize its treasurer to hire money to pay all demands in anticipation of taxes.
Voted. To so authorize.
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Art. 5. To raise such sums of money as may be necessary to defray town charges for the ensuing year, and make appro- priations for the same.
Voted. That the sum of $3000 be appropriated to pay for hydrants, standpipes, and fountains at the rate of $25 each.
On motion Articles 15, 17 and 27 were next taken up.
Art. 15. To see what action the town will take in relation to renewing its contract with the Wakefield Water Company for hydrant service.
Art. 17. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of four hundred dollars for street watering, or what they will do about it.
Art. 27. To see if the town will apply by petition to the Su- preme Judicial Court, to have the water rate fixed for hydrants, street fountains and stand pipes for watering cart, or what they will do about it.
Voted. That the selectmen be and are hereby fully authorized, empowered and directed to confer forthwith, with the Wakefield Water Company, and ascertain if the company will agree to furnish for the coming year the town water for the extinguishment of fires through the hydrants of said com- pany at the rate of $25 per hydrant per year; and also furnish water for stand pipes for street watering and street fountains at the same rate of $25 each per year, and that the town raise and appropriate $3,300 therefor: that if the water company will not agree so to do as aforesaid on or before the 28th day of March, 1901, that the water rate committee, assisted by the board of selectmen, be and are hereby fully authorized, empowered and directed to apply by petition to the Supreme Judicial Court under and by virtue of Chapter 488 of the Acts of 1898, and all additions and amendments thereto, or by any other means now avail- able, asking to have the rates fixed at a reasonable sum, in accordance with the methods aforesaid. And said commit- tee is hereby fully authorized, empowered and directed to employ competent counsel, and incur all necessary expense in properly presenting the matter to the court.
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The following amounts were voted :
Schools : General, . $37,750.00
Contingent,
2,700.00
Books and supplies, . 2,600.00
Business course,
1,250.00
Highway Department $8,000, with balance of Street Railway Tax now in hands of Treasurer.
Concrete Work, $1,300
Edgestones, .
400
Poor Department,
7,000 with receipts.
Voted. To adjourn to March 18, 1901, at 7.30 p. m.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, MARCH 18, 1901.
Article 3 was taken up and W. E. Cowdrey, on behalf of the committee appointed to nominate officers not elected by ballot, reported and the report was accepted as follows :
Field Drivers-G. E. Donald, G. F. Harrington, G. K. Walton, O. G. Sanborn, J. E. Hopkins, W. F. Shedd and A. Glass.
Measurers of Wood-G. W. Killorin, H. H. Oliver, C. Talbot, J. G. Morrill, E. E. Lee, G. E. Donald, A. L. Mansfield, J. F. Mansfield, W. M. Ward, J. C. Kalaher, W. C. Crocker and T. E. Toomey.
Measurers of Lumber-A. T. Locke, J. A. Sederquest, H. B. Parker, J. B. Foster, E. I. Purrington, R. Howard, W. A. Pres- cott and J. C. Kalaher.
Weighers of Coal and Merchandise-C. E. White, E. H. Brown, H. A. Simonds, J. Toomey, W. C. Crocker, J. C. W. Walton, J. C. Kalaher, J. E. Toomey, A. A. Mansfield, C. A. Cheney, J. M. Perley, A. L. Mansfield, N. E. Cutler.
Finance Committee for Three Years-Dr. J. H. Kimball, G. H. Stowell, M. T. Lane, J. W. S. Brown, Clinton H. Stearns : E. P. McDonnell for two years.
Article 5 was taken up and extra appropriations were made as follows: Gas and electric extension, $1000, with permission to
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borrow from income, if necessary; police dept., $1800; fire dept., $6256.87 ; forest fire wards, $400; park dept., $500.
Moved that the salary of assessors be $900. Amended, by adding that the assessors release their statutory right of $2.50 per day. The amendment and motion was accepted.
·Appropriations for town officers were made as follows: Clerk, $200; selectmen, $600; assessors, $900; treasurer, $400; collec- tor, $500; overseers, $300; highway surveyor, $900; board of health, $100; engineers, $160; auditors, $215; municipal light board, $250; registrars, $215; fire wards, $75; town solicitor, $500; milk inspector, $150.
Other appropriations : Miscellaneous expenses, $5500; public library, $500 and dog tax; reading room, $200; town house ex- penses, $2000; printing, advertising and stationary, $1200; state aid, $2700; soldiers' relief, $3500; military aid, $875; Spanish war aid, $100; insurance premiums, $2,217.88; Rich- ardson Light Guard, $600.
Art. 6. To see what method the town will adopt for the collection of taxes for the ensuing year.
Voted. That all taxes be due Oct. 1, 1901, and that interest
be charged on unpaid taxes at the rate of 5 per cent. after that date.
Art. 7. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for concrete work.
Laid on the table.
Art. 8. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for edgestones, and the setting thereof, where the abutters pay one-half cost of the same.
Voted. That abutters pay one-half of sum expended under this article.
Art. 9. To see if the town will authorize the selectmen to appoint a night watch and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what action it will take thereon.
Voted. $1800.
Art. 10. To determine the compensation of enginemen for the year ensuing.
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Engineer Cade recommended $35 for men in the centre and $20 for Greenwood men. Amended that Greenwood men receive $25. The amendment was carried. Motion to reconsider· lost.
Art. 11. To see if the town will raise and appropriate two hundred and fifty dollars for the purpose of Memorial Day. Voted. $250.
Art. 12. To see if the town will raise and appropriate twenty- five dollars for the use of the fish committee for the present year.
Voted. $25.
Art. 13. To choose a tree warden for the year ensuing. Rufus Kendrick was elected.
Art. 14. To see if the town will grant the free use of the town hall to the grand army bazaar committee for six nights, beginning May 6, 1901. Recommended by the committee.
Voted.
Art. 16. To see if the town will authorize its selectmen to appoint a town solicitor, or what they will do about it.
Voted. That the selectmen be authorized as indicated.
Art. 18. To see if the town will raise and appropriate thirty dollars to purchase ice for the drinking fountain on Main street, or what they will do about it.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 19. To see if the town will vote to purchase and install another dynamo. all necessary poles, wires, etc., together with such are lamps as may be necessary for the better light- ing of the streets, and raise and appropriate four thousand dollars for the same, or what they will do about it.
Art. 20. To see if the town will instruct the municipal light board to discontinue such of the oil lights as the Board may consider desirable, or what they will do about it.
Indefinitely postponed.
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Art. 21. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of two thousand dollars to build a fire proof vault in the town hall building.
Referred to a committee of three, J. A. Meloney, J. W. Gooch and C. F. Hartshorne, to report at an adjourned meeting.
Adjourned at 10 o'clock until next Monday evening at 7.30.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING MARCH 25, 1901.
On the recommendation of the finance committee $17,500 was appropriated for interest on the town's outstanding liabilities.
Art. 22. To see if the town will authorize the school committee to continue the evening school next fall and winter, and raise and appropriate money therefor.
Voted. $800 on recommendation of the finance committee.
Art. 23. To see if the town will appoint an inspector of wires. Voted. To lay on table.
Art. 24. To see how much money the town will raise and appropriate for laying out, development and improvement of the new public cemetery on Lowell street, or what action shall be taken in reference thereto.
Voted. To lay on table until cemetery committee is heard from. Art. 25. To determine the compensation of the board of sewer commissioners in accordance with Section 13, Chapter 377, Acts of the year 1900.
Voted. $1000.
Art. 26. To see if the town will appoint a committee to revise the rules and by-laws of the town, and report the same to the town for consideration and adoption, or what they will do about it.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
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Art. 28. To see if the town will repair the concrete sidewalk on the north side of Bryant street, and raise and appropriate a sum of money for the same.
Voted. $50 from concrete fund.
Art. 29. To see if the town will instruct the selectmen to pur- chase all the coal used by the various departments of the town, except that used by the municipal light plant, under one bid and contract.
Voted to so instruct.
Voted. To take up Art. 16.
Motion to reconsider vote already passed laid on table.
Art. 30. To see if the town will place a fire alarm box on Oak street, on the electric light pole near Melrose avenue, and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what they will do about it.
Moved that the matter be referred back to the finance committee and the town so voted.
Art. 31. To see if the town will authorize the road commis- sioner not to pay more than one dollar and one-half per day for single horse and cart, and three dollars per day for two horses and a cart, or what they will do about it.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 32. To see if the town will vote to paint the Greenwood hose house and raise and appropriate sixty dollars for that purpose, or what they will do about it.
Voted. $40 from miscellaneous account.
Art. 33. To see if the town will vote to repair the concrete sidewalks on Pine street, Pitman avenue, Madison avenue, and Greenwood avenue in Greenwood, and raise and appro- priate five hundred dollars for the same, or what they will do about it.
The finance committee recommended $50 for each street, the said sum of $200 to be taken from the regular concrete appropriation.
It was so voted.
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Art. 34. To see if the town will vote to put electric lights in the Greenwood hose house, and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what they will do about it.
Voted. $200 from fire department account.
Art. 35. To see if the town will vote to place an arc light at or near the corner of Pine street and Pitman avenue, and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what they will do about it.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 36. To see if the town will vote to place a fire alarm tap- per in the house of Alexander Glass, Greenwood, and in- struct the municipal light board to attend to the same, or what they will do about it.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 37. To see if the town will vote to change the name of Edmands place, so called, in Greenwood, to Edmands square, or what they will do about it.
Voted. To refer to selectmen.
Art. 38. To see if the town will vote to build a bridge across the tracks of the Boston & Maine R. R., from a point oppo- site Cooper street to Myrtle avenue, and raise and appropri- ate money therefor, or what they will do about it.
Voted. To refer to selectmen to report at adjourned meeting.
Voted. To adjourn to April 1, 1901, at 7.30 p. m.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, APRIL 1, 1901.
Voted. To take up Article 30.
Art. 30. To see if the town will place a fire alarm box on Oak street, on the electric light pole near Melrose avenue, and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what they will do about it.
Voted. To appropriate $85, the work to be done by the muni- cipal light board, and the box to be located by the fire engineers.
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Art. 39. To see if the town will vote five hundred dollars to construct a sidewalk along Greenwood street from Spring street to the Boston & Maine crossing, or what they will do about it.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 40. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars to repair the sidewalk on the northerly side of Richardson street, or what they will do about it.
Voted. $150 to be taken from the regular highway appro- priation.
Voted. To take Article 2 from the table.
Voted. That the highway surveyor is instructed to publish in the coming annual and subsequent reports the amount of money paid to each individual, the rate paid per day, and the number of days' work done.
Art. 41. To see if the town will rescind the vote passed at a town meeting held Aug. 26, 1895, whereby the town voted to accept the provisions of Chapter 374 of the Legislative Acts of the year 1895, entitled, "An act to authorize towns to place the administration of their highways under a single highway surveyor," or what they will do about it. Voted. To so rescind.
Art. 42. To see if the town will authorize aud empower the selectmen to employ a suitable man to fill the office of su- perintendent of streets, and raise and appropriate a suitable sum of money for that purpose.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone action.
Art. 43. To see if the town will accept White avenue from Main street to Pleasant street, as laid out and recommended by the selectmen Nov. 10, 1898.
R. S. Stout moved that the town adopt the selectmen's report made in 1898, favorable to the proposed laying out. There were no land damages claimed, and there would be no expense to the town. The street is in first class condi- tion. Abutters are taxed heavily, and he believed that it was a well-built street.
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Voted. To accept the report, which carried with it an appro- priation of $25 to build a drain.
Art. 44. To see if the town will place a hydrant near the entrance of Thomas Martin's estate, and raise and appropri- ate money therefor, or what they will do about it.
The finance committee recommended that the hydrant be located as asked for and the cost taken from the miscel- laneous expense account. It was so voted.
Art. 45. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred dollars, to be expended by the tree warden, for the care of public shade trees, or what they will do about it. Rufus Kendrick and others.
Voted. $100 on recommendation of. the finance committee.
Art. 46. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars to install a system of fire protection in the town hall, consisting of a two-inch stand pipe running from cellar to attic with valves on each floor.
The finance committee recommended indefinite postpone- ment, because the amount asked for was not even sufficient to bring the water into the building. It was so voted.
Art. 16. To see if the town will authorize its selectmen to ap- point a town solicitor, or what they will do about it.
Voted. To take from table.
Voted. To reconsider action taken at previous meeting.
Voted. That the selectmen be authorized to employ counsel to prosecute, defend and advise in all legal matters pertaining to the town's interest for the coming year. Motion to reconsider lost.
Art. 47. To see if the town will ratify the action of the board of selectmen in paying to the assessors of the town the sum of fifty dollars for services in assessing tax for street water- ing purposes in the year 1900, and also their action in paying to the collector of taxes the sum of fifty dollars for collecting the tax assessed for street watering purposes, in said year, or what they will do about it.
Voted. To adjourn to April 8, 1901.
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ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, APRIL 8, 1901.
Acting under Article 47.
Article 47 was first taken up.
Art. 47. To see if the town will ratify the action of the board of selectmen in paying to the assessors of the town the sum of fifty dollars for services in assessing tax for street water- ing purposes in the year 1900, and also their action in paying to the collector of taxes the sum of fifty dollars for collecting the tax assessed for street watering purposes in said year, or what they will do about it.
Voted. Not to ratify the action of the selectmen in paying the $100.
Art. 48. To see what action the town will take toward filling up the Centre pond.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone action.
Art. 49. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate to fill up the Centre pond.
The finance committee reported that no facts or figures had been submitted, and consequently there was no report to submit.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone action.
Art. 50. To see if the town will make provisions for the collec- tion and disposition of offal, and raise and appropriate money therefor.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone action. /
Art. 51. To see if the town will build a sidewalk on the westerly side of Morrison road to the Stoneham line, and raise and appropriate one hundred dollars therefor, or what they will do about it.
Voted. On recommendation of the finance committee that $50 be appropriated, and that it be taken from the regular high- way appropriation.
Art. 52. To hear and act on the report of the school committee in relation to a new school building in the Junction district.
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Chairman G. H. S. Driver of the school committee made a report heartily concurring in the recommendations made by a previous committee on the same subject, that it was not desirable to repair the present Junction school building. The report recommended that the selectmen purchase, or take by right of eminent domain, land on the north west corner of Nahant and Traverse streets, sufficient in size for the purpose; that the town erect on this lot an eight-room brick school house in accordance with the plans made by Harland A. Perkins; and that $30,000 be raised and appro- priated to purchase said land and erect said building, and that the town treasurer be authorized to issue notes of the town therefor ; $1,000 to be paid in each year from 1902 to 1906, $1,500 in each year from 1907 to 1916, and $2,000 in each year from 1917 to 1931. The report further rec- ommended that a committee of five be appointed to attend to the whole matter and have charge of the construction of said building. The report was signed by all members of the committee.
Voted. That the report be accepted.
On motion, article was tabled until the two following articles had been considered.
Art. 53. To see if the town will purchase a lot for a new school house in the Junction district, and raise and appro- priate money therefor. Recommended by school com- mittee.
The finance committee, through Mr. Henkel, reported that as no facts, figures or plans had been submitted to them regarding the building there was nothing to report on this head. Regarding the lot suggested the committee were not favorably impressed. There is a serious ledge on the Traverse street side, which would cost $2 per square yard to cut away. Then the rear of the lot falls off and is a bog, and would require piles to be driven and a bank wall 20 feet high to be built. It would cost 48 cents a square yard to fill. The opinion of the committee is that it would prove an expensive lot to handle. It would be difficult to find a less fitted lot.
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Voted. To lay on table until after Article 54 had been acted on. Art. 54. To see if the town will erect a brick school building in the Junction district, raise and appropriate money therefor, and authorize the treasurer to issue notes or bonds of the town for that purpose.
Moved that $30,000 be raised and appropriated, the treas- urer to issue town notes, payable $1,500 each year for 20 years, beginning with 1902.
Referred to the finance committee to report next Mon- day night:
Art. 55. To see if the town will authorize its selectmen to ap- point three police officers for regular duty, for the ensuing year, and raise and appropriate money for the same, or what they will do about it.
Voted. As recommended by the finance committee, to indefi- nitely postpone action.
Art. 56. To see if the town will vote to have a hydrant placed on Elm street near Elm square, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
The finance committee recommended indefinite postpone- ment as there was already a hydrant on the spot. It was so voted.
Art. 57. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of three hundred dollars to regrade Elm square, or what they will do about it.
Voted. On recommendation of the finance committee that $300 be appropriated to be taken from the regular highway ap- propriation.
Voted. That when the meeting adjourns it be for one week.
Art. 58. To hear and to act upon the report of the committee instructed to report price of land and building and fire apparatus needed for the west district, appointed under article 4 of the town warrant, dated Nov. 12, 1900.
Thomas Hickey for the committee reported in favor of the erection of an engine house and the purchase of a com- bination hose and chemical engine. The estimate of cost is:
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engine $1500, land 500, building $6500, horses, harnesses, etc., $500, heating $1000, a total of $10,000. The commit- tee recognized the sentiment that prevails against any further large expenditures and did not care to make any recommendations urging action this year.
Voted. To accept the report.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone action until the annual meeting of 1902.
Art. 59. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money for the proper observance of July 4, 1901, or what they will do about it.
Voted. To raise and appropriate $200.
On motion the town voted that a committee of five be appointed to spend the $200.
At 10 o'clock the meeting adjourned for one week.
Under Art. 59 Chair appointed W. A. Cutter, C. N. Win- ship, H. M. Goodwin, W. P. Shepard, and Michael Low.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING APRIL 15, 1901.
Art. 60. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money for repairing the curbing, sidewalks and yard of the Lincoln School building.
Recommended by school committee.
Voted. An appropriation of $140 on concrete, edgestones and bank walls to be taken from the regular appropriations for this work, and a further sum of $250 for concrete work in the yard to be taken from the school contingent fund.
Art. 61. To see if the town will provide additional school accommodations in the Junction district by enlarging the present building and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what they will do about it.
Voted. To lay article on the table until after article 54 had been disposed of.
Art. 62. To see if the town will vote to purchase a two-horse hose wagon, as recommended by the Board of Fire Engin-
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eers, and equip the same, raise and approriate money for same, or what they will do about it.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
On motion article 54 was then taken up.
Art. 54. To see if the town will erect a brick school building in the Junction district, raise and appropriate money therefor, and authorize the treasurer to issue notes or bonds of the town for that purpose.
Voted. To divide the article.
Voted. That the town build an eight room brick school house in the Junction district.
Voted. To take article 53 from the table in connection with article 54.
Dr. Kimball spoke of the difficulty arising from the fact that no price was placed upon the land, so that it would be necessary to take it by right of eminent domain.
Voted. That the report of the finance committee be accepted.
Voted. That the selectmen be authorized and empowered to purchase the lot situated on the northwest corner of Nahant and Traverse streets, and such portion of the adjoining lot owned by one Mckay as they may deem necessary, or to obtain either of such lots or the necessary portion of the same by right of eminent domain.
On motion of town treasurer Skinner it was further voted : That the town raise and appropriate the sum of $30,000 for the purchase of land and the erection of a school house thereon in the Junction district so called, as voted by the town under articles 53 and 54 of the warrant, and that the town treasurer be authorized, with the approval of the selectmen, to hire the sum of $30,000 and to issue the notes or bonds of the town therefor, the same to be made payable in sums of $1500, shall be included in the tax levy of each year, beginning with the year 1902. Yes 219, no 16.
Moved that a committee of seven be appointed including one member of the school committee. This motion was voted.
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Chair appointed E. A. Carlisle, J. W. Kernan, A. H. Thayer, J. O'Connell, Geo. E. Smith, Thos. E. Dwyer, and Ernest Heywood.
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