USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1908-1910 > Part 2
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Art. 35. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sufficient sum to reimburse John Toomey, Judson Hunt and Warren H. Godfrey, for payment of. taxes, caused by an error in assessment, or what they will do about it. Voted. $70.29.
Art. 36. To hear and act upon the reports of committees appointed at the last annual town meeting.
Report of progress by committee on Public Works accepted.
Report of committee on purchase of new steam fire engine accepted and placed on file.
Report of committee on new heater for Greenwood Hose House accepted and placed on file.
Art. 37. To see if the town will adopt the following by-law, or what they will do about it: "No member of any department shall draw more than one salary from the town in his said department."
Voted. Subject-matter of article.
Art. 33. To see if the town will accept a strip of land at the corner of Byron and Albion streets, providing a free and clear deed can be had from Miss A. L. Sterling.
Voted. That town accept above offer and a vote of thanks extended to donor.
Art. 39. To see if the town will accept the provisions of Section 37, Chapter 19, of the Revised Laws, relating to Civil Service.
Voted. That town accept said provisions limiting the appli- cation to the police force.
Art. 16.
Voted. That town reconsider former vote making the amount $2,000.
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Art. 40. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a suffi- cient sum of money to establish and maintain a public urinal in the centre of the town, or what they will do about it.
Voted. Indefinite postponement.
Art. 20.
Voted. To take up article 20.
Voted. To reconsider vote making a special appropriation, and to have work done from regular highway appropria- tion.
Voted. To adjourn until next Monday night at 7.30 o'clock.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, APRIL 13, 1908. Samuel K. Hamilton presented the following resolution :
Resolved,-That the people of Wakefield in public town meeting assembled, hereby express their profound sym- pathy with the people of their neighboring city of Chelsea in the devastating misfortune which has over- taken them, and that the Selectmen of the town are hereby requested to take such measures as may seem to them desirable to render its most speedy and effective aid to the homeless and stricken ones of that city.
Voted. That the resolution be adopted.
Art. 41. To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to purchase all the coal for the town, with the exception of that used by the municipal light plant, under one bid or contract, or what they will do about it.
The Selectmen were authorized to purchase all coal used by the town under one contract, except that used by the light plant.
Art. 42. To hear and act upon the report of the committee appointed under article 21 of the fall meeting, in relation
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to permission to" Congregation Mishkan Tefila to bury on its land at Lakeside.
Permission was granted the Congregation Mishkan Tefila to bury its dead on its land at Lakeside, as per report of committee.
Art. 43. To see if the town will vote to consolidate the sewer department with the water department, abolish the board of Sewer Commissioners and petition the Gen- eral Court for the passage of laws to carry the foregoing into effect, or what the town will do in reference thereto.
Voted. To consolidate the two departments, and that legis- lature be petitioned for the passage of laws to carry same into effect.
Art. 25. Committee appointed under this article presented a partial report of their investigation and report accepted as a report of progress.
Art. 7. Committee appointed under this article presented their report.
Voted. That compensation of enginemen for the year ensu- ing be fixed at $50 for the Centre district, and $35 for the outside districts.
Voted. To adjourn this meeting for two weeks from tonight at 7.30 o'clock.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, APRIL 27, 1908.
Art. 44. To see if the town will approve the regulations made by the Board of Cemetery Commissioners.
Rules and regulations of the Cemetery Commissioners adopted after being amended to the effect that contracts shall not be let to the commissioners, and that the commissioners shall not be paid for work performed in connection with the cemetery.
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Art. II.
Voted. $738.73 as per report of committee.
Voted. To take up Article 2.
Whereas, - The increase in the expenditures of the town of Wakefield and the rise in the rate of taxation without a corresponding increase in the amount of its taxable property have brought us into so serious a finan- cial condition that an effort must be made to find the cause and suggest the remedy for so intolerable a state of affairs, therefore it is moved that the town appoint a committee consisting of thirty persons hereinafter named, to examine the report of the town officers as presented to this meeting, to make such suggestions to the town as may decrease its annual expenditures and lighten the burdens of taxation and to suggest plans for a more in- telligible, comprehensive and uniform system of reports of town officers, suggest such plans for the future man- agement of our municipal affairs as it deems advisable, to make a report at the town meeting in November, which shall be a report of progress, and to make a final report at the next annual meeting of the town; that the committee have power to supply all vacancies in its membership; that all the officers of the town are re- quested to afford the committee all the information and assistance in their power; that the town counsel is requested to give the committee such advice in legal matters as may be needed; that the Selectmen be directed to furnish a suitable room for the use of the committee ; that the committee consists of the following named persons : Arthur L. Wiley, Charles E. Montague, Hugh Connell, William E. Arnold, J. H. Kimball, George M. Poland, Frank J. Henkel, Waldo E. Cow- drey, Junius Beebe, Arthur G. Walton, Charles N. Winship, Walter F. Perkins, Richard S. Stout, Arthur L. Evans, Edwin C. Miller, Joseph M. Skulley, Henry H. Savage, Michael Low, Frank E. Cox, Albert W. Flint, Andrew D. Fuller, Theodore Eaton, Elroy N.
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Heath, Curtis L. Sopher, Roscoe F. Jones, Nathaniel E. Cutler, C. Winsor Whitten, Darius Hadley, George L. Wakefield, John J. Butler.
Voted. To add S. K. Hamilton's name to list.
Art. 5.
Voted. To reduce appropriation for Light Plant to $14,000.
Art. 36. Report of committee accepted and placed on file.
Art. 45. To see what action the town will take, if any, in relation to the collection of taxes.
Voted. That the Tax Collector be and hereby is authorized to collect all poll taxes in the year in which said taxes are assessed.
Art. 29. Committee appointed under this article present report which it was voted to accept.
Art. 46. To see if the town will accept the provisions of Chapter 346, Acts of 1902, entitled, an act to provide that moderators of town meetings may be elected for terms of one year.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 47. To see if the town will vote to install an arc light on Preston street, Bellevue Park, or what they will do about it.
Voted. Subject-matter of article.
A vote of thanks was extended to the moderator and the Finance Committee.
Voted. To dissolve the meeting.
TOWN MEETING, SEPT. 21, 1908.
Art. 1. To choose a moderator by ballot, to preside at said meeting.
Thomas G. O'Connell was elected moderator.
27
Art. 2. To hear and act on the report of the committee appointed under article 25 of the last town warrant in reference to the Municipal Light Plant.
Report was presented, accepted as a report of progress and placed on file.
Art. 3. To see if the town will authorize and instruct the Municipal Light Board to reconstruct and renew the electric lighting system of the town, and to install new and improved street lamps, switchboards and trans- formers.
Voted. "The Municipal Light Board be and hereby is authorized and instructed to reconstruct and renew the lighting system of the town in the manner recommended in the report of the committee presented under article 2. To wit : by reducing the number of arc street lights to 50, more or less, and by installing in place of the arc lamps discarded, and in place of all ordinary 25 c. p. in- candescent lamps now in use, approximately 400 c. p. Tungsten lamps of the most improved type, and by installing a new switch-board with automatic regulators and a transformer, all as recommended in said report." Amended "that all reference of the kind of arc lamps recommended by the committee be stricken out."
Art. 4. To see if the town will authorize and instruct the Municipal Light Board to appropriate for the payment of the cost of renewals and reconstructions authorized under article 3, so much of the depreciation fund now on hand as may be available for said purpose, and to see if the town will issue its note or notes for a sufficient amount to complete the payment of the cost of said renewals and reconstructions, said note or notes to be for such time, not exceeding six months, as the Town Treasurer may find expedient, and to be paid from future appropriations by the town for depreciation purposes, subject to the approval of the State Board of the Gas and Electric Light Commissioners.
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Voted. That Municipal Light Board be authorized and instructed to expend for the payment of the change and renewals authorized under article 3 :
For lights, fixtures and incidentals . $2,000 One switch-board with automatic regulators 3,500
Said sum of $5,500 be taken from the present accumulated depreciation fund, so far as said fund may be available for the purpose, and the balance of said cost to be ob- tained from the proceeds of the town's note or notes, said notes to be payable from the amount to be appro- priated for depreciation purposes in 1909, according to the provision of Chapter 486 of the Acts of 1908, and the Town Treasurer is hereby authorized to issue the town's note or notes to an amount sufficient to pay for the bal- ance of said cost, for a time not exceeding 6 months, according to the provisions of Chapter 486 of Acts 1908.
STATE ELECTION AND TOWN MEETING, NOVEMBER 3, 1908.
PRECINCT ONE.
Polls were opened at 6 o'clock a. m., and the following election officers were sworn in by Town Clerk Charles F. Hartshorne : -
WARDEN-S. A. Dearborn.
CLERK-J. Fred Parker.
INSPECTORS AND TELLERS-C. O. Anderson, J. D. Alden, Edward B. Kelly, H. A. Simonds, E. S. Jacob, M. T. Lane, A. Leon Cutler, J. M. Cate, W. H. Sullivan, C. O. Bayrd, Frank B. Jordan, A. G. Abbott, Clifford Mortimer, Wm. Logan, T. Keady.
PRECINCT TWO.
Polls were opened at 6 o'clock a. m., and the following officers were sworn in by Warden W. G. Eaton :
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CLERK-Roy D. Jones.
INSPECTORS-Frank Evans, A. S. Hill.
TELLERS-Richard L. Pittman, A. D. Baxter, James W. Findlay.
Polls closed at 4.30 p. m., and the following result of the election was read.
The complete vote of the town, revised and corrected, is given herewith by precincts.
PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT.
Precincts. Totals.
II
Bryan and Kern, Dem. .
I 595
44
639
Chafin and Watkins, Prohib.
9
3
12
Debs and Hanford, Soc.
44
4
48
Gillhaus and Munro, Soc. Lab.
5
O
5
Hisgen and Graves, Ind. Lea.
104
20
124
Taft and Sherman, Repub. .
IO12
219
I231
GOVERNOR.
James F. Carey, Soc.
5I
9
60
Eben S. Draper, Repub.
864
187
IO51
Walter J. Hoar, Soc. Lab.
7
I
8
William N. Osgood, Ind. Lea.
15I
30
18I
James H. Vahey, Dem.
636
45
681
Willard O. Wylie, Prohib.
18
5
23
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR.
Charles J. Barton, Dem.
535
43
578
Joao Claudino, Soc. Lab.
IO
O
IO
Louis A. Frothingham, Repub.
923
204
II27
John Hall, Jr., Soc.
47
7
54
Robert J. McCartney, Ind. Lea.
I22
16
I38
Frank N. Rand, Prohib.
o
I7
4 21
.
.
·
.
.
30
SECRETARY.
James F. Aylward, Dem.
440
20
460
Herbert B. Griffin, Prohib.
18
5
23
George Nelson, Soc. Lab.
IO
I
William M. Olin, Repub,
896
205
IIOI
Squire E. Putney, Soc.
46
4
50
John F. Williams, Ind. Lea.
IO2
18
120
TREASURER.
Chas. D. Butterworth, Ind. Lea.
· IO5
18
123
Arthur B. Chapin, Repub.
887
204
1091
Henry C. Hess, Soc. Lab.
9
I
IO
Charles C. Hitchcock, Soc.
44
4
48
Edward Kendall, Prohib.
20
3
23
Erwin H. Kennedy, Dem.
416
19
43
AUDITOR.
Frank Bohmbach, Soc. Lab.
7
I
8
John E. Dempsey, Ind. Lea.
97
I5
II2
George G. Hall, Soc.
50
4
54
Wilbur D. Moon, Prohib.
28
5
33
Henry E. Turner, Repub.
870
202
1072
Simeon Vigor, Dem.
376
18
394
ATTORNEY-GENERAL.
Henry M. Dean, Prohib.
22
7
29
Elliot C. Harding, Soc. Lab.
7
O
7
Dana Malone, Repub.
858
196
IO54
John McCarty, Soc.
44
5
49
Richard J. Talbot, Ind. Lea.
107
18
125
John Alden Thayer, Dem.
448
27
475
CONGRESSMAN, 7TH DISTRICT.
George Brickett, Dem. .
.
472
27
499
Clarence L. McIver, Ind. Lea.
·
108
21
129
Ernest W. Roberts, Repub. .
. 975
215
1190
*
,
.
.
·
.
.
31
SENATOR, 6TH DISTRICT.
John J. Butler, Dem.
702
49
751
J. Howell Crosby, Repub.
886
185
IO7I
Blanks .
286
73
359
COUNCILLOR, 6TH DISTRICT.
Harry H. Hill, Ind. Lea.
I28
24
152
Seward W. Jones, Repub.
855
188
1043
William J. Mccluskey, Dem.
. 416
16
432
REPRESENTATIVE.
Josiah S. Bonney, Repub.
922
158
1080
Charles A. Dean, Dem.
900
140
1040
Blanks .
52
9
61
COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
Edward Gallagher, Dem.
449
I6
465
Levi S. Gould, Repub.
870
198
IO68
Charles F. Walcott, Ind. Lea.
I36
I8
I54
COUNTY COMMISSIONER. (To fill vacancy. )
George R. Duren, Dem.
. 422
19
441
Andrew W. Jones, Ind. Lea.
. I33
2I
I54
Charles F. Richardson, Repub.
. 893
195
1058
REGISTER OF PROBATE AND INSOLVENCY.
John F. Holland, Dem.
. 407
I5
422
William E. Rogers, Repub. .
981
203
II84
Roswell C. Ross, Ind. Lea.
.
100
12
II2
ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER. (To fill vacancy. )
James F. McCarthy, Jr., Dem.
464
19
483
Alfred W. Parnell, Ind. Lea.
·
129
17
I46
Frank A. Patch, Repub.
.
,
· 847
189
1036
.
·
32
TOWN MEETING NOVEMBER 9, 1908.
Article 1. To choose a moderator, by ballot, to preside at said meeting.
Thomas G. O'Connell was elected moderator.
· Art. 2. To see if the town will raise and appropriate $3,347.02 for the suppression of the gipsy and brown tail moths, it being the liability of the town for the year of 1909.
Voted. $3,347.02.
Art. 3. To see if the town will vote special compensation to town counsel for services in the suit against the American Surety company.
Voted. Compensation not to exceed $1,000.
Art. 4. To raise and appropriate the sum of $50.70 for re- pairs on the town hall, this being additional to the amount appropriated at the last annual meeting.
Voted. $50.70.
Art. 5. To see if the town will make an additional appro- priation for the Police Department, and raise and appro- priate money therefor.
Voted. $150.
Voted. To take up article 12 with article 6.
Art. 6. To see if the town will raise and appropriate an additional sum for the Highway Department, or what they will do about it.
Art. 12. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of $400 to build a sidewalk on the west side of Gould street, from Byron street to Highland avenue, or what they will do about it.
Voted. $400 to build sidewalk on west side of Gould street, and recommended that Supt. of Streets be instructed to cut down the bushes which obstruct a view of the street.
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Voted. For Highway Department $1,300, a sum not exceed- ing $700 of this amount for a new wooden bridge at Linden street.
Art. 7. To see if the town will raise and appropriate an additional sum of money for the Poor Department.
Voted. $2,500.
Art. 8. To see if the town will make an additional appro- priation for the Municipal Light Plant, and raise and appropriate money therefor.
Voted. $50 for fire alarm.
Voted. That the Town Treasurer be authorized to borrow and advance a sum not exceeding $5,000, same to be reimbursed from Municipal Light Plant receipts.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, NOV. 16, 1908.
Art. 9. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a suffi- cient sum for the use of the Forest Ward Department, or what they will do about it.
Voted. $150.
Art. 10. To see if the town will raise and appropriate an additional sum of money for the Fire Department, or what they will do about it.
Voted. $600.
Art. II. To see what action, if any, the town will take regarding the further working of the horses used by the Fire Department on snow plow work.
Voted. That the horses be used on this work.
Art. 13. To see if the town will authorize the Overseers of the Poor to engage a town physician by the year, or what they will do about it.
Article rejected.
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Art. 8.
- Voted. To take up article 8, and it was voted to amend the previous vote on this article to raise and appropriate.
Art. 14. To see if the town will vote to install a fire alarm box at or near the corner of Madison and Warren avenues, and raise and appropriate a sufficient sum therefor.
Voted. That subject-matter of article be referred to the Board of Fire Engineers, to report at next annual meet- ing.
Art. 15. To see if the town will vote to install an electric light at the corner of Pine street and Warren avenue.
Voted. To refer subject-matter of article to Municipal Light Commissioners, and that the Highway Department be instructed to protect the unprotected embankment.
Art. 16. To see if the town will repeal Section I of Article 3 of the present town by-laws, in lieu thereof adopt the following by-law : "The financial year shall begin with the first day of January, 1909, and on the first day of January in each year thereafter, and end with the last day of December following," or what they will do about it.
Voted. To lay on table until article 31 is disposed of.
Art. 17. To hear and act on the report of progress of the committee of 31 appointed at the last town meeting, or what they will do about it.
S. K. Hamilton, chairman of committee, presented a voluminous report of progress of the committee. Owing to lateness of hour adjourned to week from this evening at 7.30 o'clock.
35
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, NOV. 23, 1908. Art. 17.
Voted. That the report of committee of 31, of progress, be accepted and adopted.
Voted. That each section of the committee report be taken up separately.
Section 1. That the date of ending the fiscal year of the town be changed from Jan. 31st to Dec. 31st, this change to begin on the 31st day of December, 1909.
Voted. That recommendation be adopted.
Sec. 2. That the reports of all the departments in the annual town reports shall be in the hands of the Board of Auditors not later than January 20 of each year after 1908, under penalty of being excluded from the annual town report.
Voted. To adopt recommendation.
Sec. 3. That the financial report of all the depart- ments regarding receipts and expenditures, with the exception of that of the Treasurer, appear in detail under the report of the Auditor.
Voted. To adopt recommendation.
Sec. 4. That the publishing of minor reports of appointees under the various boards be dispensed with. Voted. To adopt recommendation.
Sec. 5. A general condensation of all departments as far as possible.
Voted. To adopt recommendation.
Sec. 6. That an entire revaluation of the taxable property of the town be made and completed before the assessment for 1909 is made.
Voted. That recommendation be adopted.
Sec. 7. That all money for street and sidewalk work be included in the general highway appropriation.
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Voted. That recommendation be accepted.
Sec. 8. That in the interest of economy all extension work be done by contract, and in the interest and behalf of the town the Superintendent of Streets bid upon each contract.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Voted. To adjourn this meeting until next Monday evening at 7.30 o'clock.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, NOV. 30, 1908.
Art. 18. To hear a report of the Board of Selectmen laying out a town way in the Greenwood district known as Grafton street, running easterly from Main street to and across a way known as Howard street, see if the town will vote to accept and allow said laying out.
Voted. To accept and adopt report.
Art. 19. To see if the town will accept, without any expense either directly or indirectly to the town, from one hun- dred of the townspeople, a bronze memorial tablet to the memory of the late Cornelius Sweetser, a benefactor to the town, and grant a location for the same on the public grounds of the town; also appoint a committee to select a location for the same.
Voted. That town accept subject-matter of article and W. V. Taylor, C. H. Howe, J. Fred Parker, S. A. Lenfest and H. A. Perkins were appointed a committee to select a location for same.
Art. 20. To hear and act upon a report of the committee appointed relative to the town's appropriating a lot in Forest Glade cemetery for deceased Spanish War vet- erans, or what they will do about it.
Voted. That the Board of Cemetery Commissioners set apart for the interment of veterans of the Spanish War, such a lot or lots, in Forest Glade cemetery, as said
37
board in conjunction with a committee of Corporal Chas. F. Parker Camp No. 39, Spanish War Veterans, shall select.
Section 9. That no extensive building of macadam streets be undertaken until the method of construction and maintenance is more definitely determined under the present use to which they are subjected, viz., high speed motor cars and heavy traffic, that the repair of present macadam be made when necessary, in accord- ance with the plans and methods of the State Highway Commission.
Voted. That recommendation be adopted.
Sec. 10. That in the repair of gravel streets more careful attention be given to the selection of material, to drainage, to crowning the streets and to adequate gutters. Voted. To adopt recommendation.
Sec. II. That section 3 of article 6 of the town by-laws be amended by adding thereto, "Any excava- tion that shall be made in the streets by any person or department of the town shall be refilled and restored to the satisfaction of the Superintendent of Streets, and on all occasion of opening streets the various departments of the town shall endeavor to act in harmony as far as possible."
Voted. To adopt recommendation.
Sec. 12. That in the interest of safety and economy more attention be given to the construction and mainten- ance of sidewalks.
Voted. To adopt recommendation.
Sec. 13. That some central place for the storage of tools and equipments be provided, as the present way of doing is expensive and unsatisfactory.
Voted. To amend that a committee of five be appointed to consider same and report at next March meeting.
The Board of Selectmen and Michael Low were ap- pointed.
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Sec. 14. That careful attention be given to the preserva- tion of shade trees, particularly with reference to dam- age from wires and gas leakage.
Voted. To adopt recommendation.
Sec. 15. That in the highway department and all others where it is possible, the employees receive their pay from other person than the one who keeps the time and makes out the pay roll.
Amended to strike out words "and make out the pay roll.
Voted. As amended.
Section 16. Your committee further recommend that it be required by the town to complete its final report on or before the Ist day of February, 1909, and file the same with the Board of Selectmen, and that said board be directed to publish such number of copies thereof, and distribute the same as they may deem advisable, on or before the 15th day of February, 1909.
Amended to strike out word "thereof," substituting words "of their recommendation."
Voted. As amended.
Art. 21. To see if the town will authorize its treasurer, with the approval of its Selectmen, to hire a sum of money sufficient to meet the appropriations made at this meet- ing, on a term not exceeding one year, and to issue the notes of the town therefor.
Voted. That the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be authorized to hire the sum of $13,547.27, for a term not exceeding one year, to meet the appropria- tions made at this meeting, and to issue the notes of the town therefor.
Resolved. That the Board of Assessors be and hereby are instructed not to publish the list of estates and their valuation, as voted at the annual meeting.
Voted. To dissolve the meeting.
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
-
TO THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF WAKEFIELD :
The Board of Selectmen respectfully submit their annual report for the municipal year ending January 31, 1909, together with the reports of the several departments and committees under their control and supervision.
The board organized March 5, 1908, with the election of Arthur L. Wiley, chairman, J. Fred Parker, secretary, and the appointment of Charles E. Walton, clerk.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
Street Department
John Flanley.
Fire Department
Cornelius Donovan.
Police Department
Edward E. Lee.
Military
J. Fred Parker.
Town Hall .
Arthur L. Wiley.
Signing checks
Messrs. Flanley, Lee and Parker.
APPOINTMENTS.
Town Counsel
M. E. S. Clemons.
Supt. of Streets .
D. C. Greany.
Supt. of Moth Depart.
W. W. Whittridge.
Chief of Police
H. G. Brockbank.
W. E. Cade,
Fire Engineers
E. S. Jacob,
F. F. Anderson.
Forest Warden
S. T. Parker.
Night Watch
L. S. Tainter.
Day Patrolman and Lockup
S E. F. Poland,
Keeper
J. A. McFadden.
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