USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts for the year ending 1936 > Part 18
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Mr. Drew's motion, as amended by Mr. Miller, was put before the meeting and carried.
Mr. Ralph L. Drew moved: That article 19 be taken up at this time, and the motion was carried.
Article Nineteen :
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the follow- ing increase in salaries of elected Town Officers equal to the reductions made in 1932, be voted, effective April 1, 1937; Town Treasurer one hundred fifty-six (156) dollars, Assessors each one hundred sixty (160) dollars, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen one hundred twenty (120) dollars.
Article Six:
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of eighty-eight hundred fifty (8,850) dollars, including the Dog Tax of $1,779.12, in aid of the Plymouth Public Library.
Article Seven :
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of seven hundred fifty (750) dol- lars in aid of the Manomet Public Library.
Article Eight:
Mr. Ralph L. Drew moved: That the Town appropriate the sum of one hundred (100) dollars for the use of the Plymouth County Trustees for County Aid to Agricul- ture, and choose a Town Director.
Mr. James S. A. Valler moved to amend Mr. Drew's motion by substituting: That the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars (150) dollars be appropriated as the share of Plymouth for the use of the Plymouth County
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Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture, and the motion was carried.
Mr. Drew's motion, as amended, was then put before the meeting and carried.
On motion of Herbert K. Bartlett, Voted: That James S. A. Valler be chosen Town Director to County Aid to Agriculture.
Article Nine :
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of five hundred (500) dollars for the purpose of maintaining, during the ensuing year, the mosquito control works as estimated and certified to by the State Reclamation Board.
Article Ten :
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of one hundred seventy-five (175) dollars for Rifle Range Expenses.
Article Eleven :
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of four hundred (400) dollars for the observance of Memorial Day.
Article Twelve:
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of two hundred fifty (250) dollars for observance of Armistice Day.
Article Thirteen:
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of fifty (50) dollars for two public bonfires in celebration of Independence Day.
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Article Fourteen :
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of five hundred (500) dollars for observance of July Fourth to be expended by the Board of Selectmen.
Article Fifteen:
Mr. Ralph L. Drew moved: That the Town appropri- ate the sum of fifteen hundred (1,500) dollars to employ a District Nurse.
Mr. Philip Jackson moved to substitute: That said nurse be of Plymouth birth, but the motion was lost.
Mr. Drew's motion was then put before the meeting and carried.
Article Sixteen :
Mr. Ralph L. Drew moved: That the Town take no action under Article 16.
Mr. Adrian P. Whiting moved a substitute motion : That the Town appropriate the sum of $150.00 for pur- chase of additional land in the Town Forest, but the motion was lost.
The motion of Mr. Drew was put before the meeting and carried.
Article Seventeen :
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of eighteen hundred (1,800) dollars for the cultivation, propagation and protection of shell- fish, to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Article Eighteen:
Mr. Ralph L. Drew moved: That the Town appropri- ate the sum of six hundred (600) dollars for compensa-
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tion and expenses of the Dog Officer. Three hundred fifty-one voting in the affirmative and one hundred thirty- seven voting in the negative, the motion was carried.
Article Twenty :
To see if the Town will vote to elect a Moderator an- nually on the official ballot as provided in section 14 of Chapter 39 of the General Laws.
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 20.
Article Twenty-one:
Mr. Ralph L. Drew moved: That the Town take no action under Article 21.
Mr. Philip Jackson moved to amend the motion of Mr. Drew by substituting the following motion: That the Town establish a Planning Board under the provisions of Chapter 41, Section 81A of the General Laws (Chapter 211 of the Acts of 1936) : that the said Board have a membership of eight, that one member be elected for a term of one year, one for two years, one for three years, two for four years, and three for five years, and that thereafter all be elected for terms of five years, that elec- tions to said Board be made by means of the official ballot ; and that the powers and duties of the Park Commis- sioners be vested in said Board so established, but the motion was lost.
Mr. Drew's motion was put before the meeting and carried.
Article Twenty-two:
To see if the Town will vest the powers and duties of the Park Commissioners in the Planning Board. (By Petition).
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 22.
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Article Twenty-three :
Mr. Ralph L. Drew moved: That the Town appropria- ate the sum of fourteen thousand five hundred (14,500) dollars for the purchase of a ladder truck for the Fire Department, but the motion was lost.
Article Twenty-four:
Mr. Ralph L. Drew moved: That the Town appropria- ate the sum of eighteen hundred (1,800) dollars for the purchase of a new grader for the Highway Department, but the motion was lost.
Article Twenty-five:
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of two thousand (2,000) dollars for Hard-Surfacing on the Old Sandwich Road.
Article Twenty-six :
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of twenty-five hundred (2,500) dol- lars for improvement of River Street, including hard- surfacing.
Article Twenty-seven :
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of twenty-five hundred (2,500) dol- lars to be used, with the balance of the Town's appro- priation of previous years, in construction on the Federal Furnace Road to Carver, in conjunction with the State Department of Public Works and the Plymouth County Commissioners.
Article Twenty-eight:
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of thirteen hundred (1,300) dollars for a new fence around the South Street Playground.
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Article Twenty-nine:
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town vote that the playground on Summer Street at Newfield Street be called the Samuel W. Holmes Playground in honor of the last surviving member of Collingwood Post No. 76, Grand Army of the Republic.
Article Thirty :
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That all town property be insured and that the Board of Selectmen are hereby authorized and directed to make the necessary arrangements to put this vote into effect.
Article Thirty-one :
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of thirty-two hundred (3,200) dol- lars and authorize a tranfer from the School Department appropriation of the sum of one thousand eighty (1,080) dollars and a transfer from the Town Hall Maintenance appropriation of the sum of nine hundred twenty (920) dollars to this new appropriation to be used for payment of premiums for insurance of all town property.
Article Thirty-two:
To see if the Town will authorize the Board of Health to lease at a rental of fifty (50) dollars per annum, and upon such other terms and conditions as they shall de- termine, a parcel of land on the southerly side of Sam- oset Street for the purpose of a town dump, the term of said lease not to exceed ten (10) years.
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 32.
Article Thirty-three:
Mr. Ralph L. Drew moved: That the Town accept and allow as a town way Stafford Street, from the end of
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the present laid out way on Stafford Street, southwester- ly, to land of Jennie E. Chandler, as laid out by the Se- lectmen and reported to the Town, and make an appro- priation of the sum of one hundred (100) dollars for land or property damages and expense of acquiring titles.
Four hundred thirty-two voting in the affirmative and two in the negative, the necessary two-thirds having voted in the affirmative, the motion was carried.
Article Thirty-four :
Mr. Ralph L. Drew moved: That the Town accept and allow as a town way Birch Avenue, from Stafford Street northwesterly to Newfield Street, as laid out by the Se- lectmen and reported to the Town, and make an appro- priation of the sum of one hundred (100) dollars for land or property damages and expenses of acquiring titles.
Four hundred twenty-one voting in the affirmative and two in the negative, the necessary two-thirds having voted in the affirmative, the motion was carried.
Article Thirty-five:
To see if the Town will acquire by purchase for school purposes, the land known as the Grace A. Pope property, lying on the southwesterly side of Union Street and ad- joining other land of the Town of Plymouth, and make an appropriation not exceeding four thousand five (4,500) dollars therefor.
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 35.
Article Thirty-six :
Mr. Ralph L. Drew moved: That the Town take no action under Article 36.
Mr. E. Harold Donovan moved to amend Mr. Drew's motion by substituting the following: That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of Fifteen Thousand Five
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Hundred Dollars ($15,500) to install a central heating plant and to revise the heating system in the Cornish and Burton Schools, the said appropriation to be spent under the direction of the School Committee, and the motion was carried.
The motion of Mr. Drew, as amended by Mr. Donovan, was put before the meeting and carried.
Article Thirty-seven :
On motion of James A. White, Voted : That the report of the Committee on Representative Town Government be accepted as read and placed on file.
Mr. Edward R. Belcher moved : That the Board of Selectmen be instructed to petition the General Court for a Special Act establishing in the Town of Plymouth a form of Representative Town Government with limited town meetings and to appoint a Committee for the pur- pose of preparing such Act, which Act shall provide for its submission to the Town for acceptance at a future meeting.
Mr. Michael J. Bagnell moved: That the vote be taken by ballot, but the motion was lost.
Two hundred nine voting in the affirmative and three hundred forty-three voting in the negative, the motion was lost.
Article Thirty-eight:
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted : That a com- mittee of five be appointed by the Moderator to study and investigate the advantages and disadvantages of the Town Manager plan for the Town of Plymouth, and report at the next annual town meeting.
Article Thirty-Nine :
Mr. Ralph L. Drew moved: That the Town accept the provisions of Section 49 of Chapter 31 of the Gen-
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eral Laws, and Acts amendatory thereto, providing for placing the office of Chief of Police under the Civil Serv- ice, but the motion was lost.
Article Forty :
To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of General Laws, Chapter 31 section 47, thereby placing under Civil Service all of the employees of the Town of Plymouth. (By Petition) .
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 40.
Article Forty-one :
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of five hundred (500) dollars for the observance and celebration of Old Home Day, on September 6, 1937. Said money to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Article Forty-Two: ,
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of five hundred (500) dollars for public, out-door band concerts. Said money to be ex- pended by the Board of Selectmen.
Article Forty-three :
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of eleven hundred (1,100) dollars to be expended under the direction of the Board of Se- lectmen under the provisions of Section 6A of Chapter 40 of the General Laws for the purpose of advertising the Town's resources, advantages and attractions, if and when an equal amount shall have been raised by pub- lic subscription or by donation and paid into the Town Treasury, on or before July 1, 1937, to be expended for like purpose.
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Article Forty-four :
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of nine thousand (9,000) dollars for the Water Department, to be expended in making changes at the Pumping Station.
Article Forty-five :
Mr. Ralph L. Drew moved : That the Town accept and allow as a town way Cherry Street from the end of the 1912 layout, in a southwesterly direction, to Nicks Rock Road, as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town, and make an appropriation of one hundred fifty (150) dollars for land or property damages and expenses of acquiring titles.
Three hundred sixty-nine voting in the affirmative and one in the negative, the necessary two-third having voted in the affirmative, the motion was carried.
Article Forty-six :
Mr. Ralph L. Drew moved: That the Town take no action under Article 46.
Mr. James A. White moved to amend Mr. Drew's mo- tion: That the Town accept and allow as a town way Savery Avenue, from the present laid out way on Sav- ery Avenue, westerly to land of Charles L. Savery, as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town and that the sum of $100.00 be appropriated for land or property damages and expense of acquiring titles, and the motion was carried.
Mr. Drew's motion, as amended by Mr. White, was then put before the meeting and unanimously carried.
Article Forty-seven :
To see if the Town will vote to amend the By-Law re- lating to quorum at town meetings, by substituting the word "two" for the word "four," so that the By-Law shall read as follows :
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The number of voters necessary to constitute a quor- um at town meetings shall be two hundred provided that a number less than a quorum may from time to time ad- journ the same. This By-Law shall not apply to such parts of meetings as are devoted exclusively to the elec- tion of officers.
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 47.
Article Forty-eight :
To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of twelve hundred (1,200) dollars for reconstruction and im- provement of the traffic light system.
On motion of Ralph L. Drew, Voted : That the Town take no action under Article 48.
Article Forty-nine :
Mr. Ralph L. Drew moved: That the Town authorize the transfer of the sum of fourteen hundred (1,400) dollars from the Reserve from Overlayings of Taxes to the Reserve Account in the hands of the Advisory and Finance Committee.
Mr. James A. White moved to amend Mr. Drew's mo- tion : That the sum of thirty-six hundred (3,600) dollars be appropriated by the Town and fourteen hundred (1,400) dollars be transferred from the Reserve from Overlayings of Taxes to the Reserve Account in the hands of the Advisory and Finance Committee. Two hundred fifteen voting in the affirmative and thirty in the negative, the motion was carried.
Mr. Drew's motion, as amended by Mr. White, was then put before the meeting and carried.
On motion of James A. White, Voted: To adjourn.
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REPORT OF ADVISORY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE ON THE ARTICLES IN THE TOWN WARRANT
MARCH 27, 1937
The budget submitted for the consideration of the Ad- visory and Finance Committee this year by the various departments amounted to $888,916 included in which was a request for the restoration of the 10% voluntary pay re- duction accepted in 1932 on the recommendation of the Finance Committee, and by the vote of the town affecting the salaries of certain officers whose salary is fixed by vote of the town.
This request for restoration of salaries has been given careful consideration and we are of the opinion that a part at least of this cut should be restored this year. Liv- ing costs have increased, earnings and business is in gen- eral better. In 1932 on the recommendation of the Fi- nance Committee the employees of the town accepted a voluntary reduction in pay for the year 1932 (which has been continued since that time) in order to do their part during the worst part of the depression period to assist in reducing town expenditures. We believe that conditions are improved and that a restoration of a portion of this cut should now be made. In the appropriations recom- mended for the various departments we have provided for the restoration of 50% of pay cut accepted by town employees and under Article 19 of this year's warrant have recommended a similar restoration to those officers whose salaries are fixed by vote of the town.
In consideration of this question certain inconsistencies
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were voted in salaries which in our judgment require ad- justment.
Approval of the entire budget submitted (including full restoration of salaries) for our consideration would have resulted in an increase of about $4.50 in the tax rate for 1937. We do not believe additional tax burdens should be placed on the tax payer at this time. The total of the ap- propriations we have recommended this year amount to approximately $806,000 which if approved by the voters in its entirety will result in a tax rate for 1937 of about the same as last year.
In the report of this Committee for 1936 mention was made of the constant decrease in taxable property during the last eight years. A further decrease of a million dol- lars will probably occur this year. The assessed valuation is expected to be approximately $21,000,000. It can be readily seen that unless expenditures remain as at pres- ent on an equal valuation, or the taxable value of prop- erty increases, an increase in tax rate will be necessary in the future.
The Finance Committee recommends that the town give serious consideration to a complete survey and re- valuation of all property by an impartial body working in conjunction with our Board of Assessors.
The cost of town government has been increasing year- ly and the voter should keep in mind that every $21,000 appropriated this year means a dollar on his tax rate based on $21,000,000 valuation.
We have recommended a larger appropriation for the Board of Health this year because the town has not met for a number of years their legitimate obligation on cases sent to Jordan Hospital by the town as previously agreed.
For years our highway appropriations have covered to great extent maintenance and repairs. We believe the ex- penditure of sums sufficient to provide heavier and more
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permanent construction would ultimately result in sav- ings in highway maintenance.
It is quite evident that Welfare, Mothers' Aid, Soldiers' Relief and Old Age Assistance are of more or less per- manent nature and a fixed obligation of the town. With the reduction we have recommended in the budgets of the Welfare Departments, we believe that certain consoli- dations can be affected resulting in savings and that in- creased efficiency will result. It is anticipated that the amount recommended for Welfare and Old Age Assist- ance may be insufficient to meet the necessary payments in these departments but as the law makes provisions for over-drawing, we believe that any overdrafts may be taken from the excess and deficiency account at a future town meeting.
A petition was received by your Committee signed by various individuals with respect to investigation of cer- tain departments. The duties of the Advisory and Fi- nance Committee are specifically covered by certain sec- tions of the By-Laws adopted by the Town, April 2, 1918. These duties require this Committee "To consider all matters proposed to be acted on at all town meetings" and the By-Law further states that the Committee "Shall have authority at any time to investigate the town ac- counts and management."
Since the report of the Committee "Shall be to the Town" all matters mentioned in said petition were in- vestigated in connection with our regular duties as re- ported to the Town.
Your Advisory and Finance Committee recommends the appropriation of the following monies :
Article 5. To make the necessary appropriations to defray the expenses of the Town, and for other purposes, and to raise such sums of money as the Town shall deem expedient.
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Recommended Recommended by Department by Committee
Selectmen's Department
$4,190.00
$4,125.00
Accounting Department
2,675.00
2,587.50
Treasury Department
2,850.00
2,800.00
Tax Collector's Department
5,000.00
5,000.00
Assessors' Department
7,380.00
7,000.00
Law Department
1,500.00
1,000.00
Town Clerk's Department
1,600.00
1,600.00
Engineering Department
760.00
730.00
Planning Board
500.00
250.00
Election and Registration
800.00
800.00
Maintenance of Town House
2,454.00
2,400.00
Maintenance of Town Hall
8,040.00
7,900.00
Police Department, 1936 Overdraft
766.43
766.43
Police Department
37,240.44
35,900.00
Fire Department
46,963.25
42,900.00
Inspection of Buildings
300.00
275.00
Sealing of Weights and Measures
2,295.00
1,800.00
Moth Suppression
5,125.00
5,000.00
Tree Warden's Department
3,563.00
3,500.00
Forest Warden's Department
3,000.00
2,500.00
Inland Fisheries
300.00
250.00
Plymouth County Hospital Main- tenance
10,150.56
10,150.56
Health Department
18,417.00
19,500.00
Piggery Maintenance and Garbage Disposal
8,386.77
8,000.00
Inspector of Animals
400.00
380.00
Public Sanitaries
2,883.00
2,600.00
Sewers
4,000.00
4,000.00
Street Cleaning
5,000.00
5,000.00
Roads and Bridges
42,875.00
42,437.50
Hard-Surfacing Streets
4,500.00
4,500.00
Highway Construction and Recon- struction
23,150.00
17,900.00
Highway Department, for Replac- ing Truck
800.00
800.00
Long Pond Road
500.00
500.00
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Recommended Recommended by Department by Committee
Point Road and White Horse
Beach Road
2,500.00
2,500.00
Gurnet Bridge Tax
1,587.81
1,587.81
Sidewalks
6,000.00
6,000.00
Granolithic Sidewalks and Curbing 3,000.00
3,000.00
Snow and Ice Removal
6,000.00
2,000.00
Street Sprinkling
1,000.00
1,000.00
Street Lighting
20,000.00
20,000.00
Traffic Lights
260.00
260.00
Harbor Master
150.00
150.00
Pensions for Town Laborers
1,965.00
1,965.00
Public Welfare Department, In-
cluding Aid to Dependent Chil- dren
87,950.00
70,000.00
Old Age Assistance, 1936 Overdraft
145.05
145.05
Old Age Assistance
60,000.00
50,000.00
Soldiers' Benefits
10,000.00
9,500.00
School Department
231,962.00
225,337.00
Park Department, for
Parks,
Playgrounds and Public Camp- ing Places
10,000.00
9,000.00
Sexton
200.00
200.00
Miscellaneous Account
4,000.00
3,500.00
Water Department Maintenance
26,575.00
26,000.00
Water Department Construction
4,000.00
4,000.00
Town Wharf Maintenance
700.00
700.00
Town Forest Maintenance
1,200.00
900.00
Oak Grove and Vine Hills Ceme- teries
10,132.00
10,000.00
Oak Grove and Vine Hills Ceme-
teries, for Hard-Surfacing Roads
500.00
500.00
Burial Hill Cemetery
1,500.00
1,500.00
Chiltonville, Manomet, Cedarville
and South Pond Cemeteries
800.00
800.00
Town Debt and Interest
54,500.00
54,500.00
Total of Article 5
$804,991.31 $749,896.85
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Recommended Recommended by Department by Committee
Art. 6. Plymouth Public Library 8,850.00
8,850.00
Art. 7. Manomet Public Library
750.00
750.00
Art. 8. Plymouth County Aid to Agriculture
100.00
100.00
Art. 9. Mosquito Control Main- tenance
500.00
500.00
Art. 10.
Rifle Range Expenses
175.00
175.00
Art. 11. Memorial Day
400.00
400.00
Art. 12.
Armistice Day
250.00
250.00
Art. 13. Bonfires on Independ- ent Day
150.00
50.00
Art. 14.
July Fourth
750.00
500.00
Art. 15.
District Nurse
1,500.00
1,500.00
Art. 16. Town Forest, for Addi- tional Land
200.00
.
Art. 17. Shellfish Protection and Propagation
1,800.00
1,800.00
Art. 18.
Dog Officer
600.00
600.00
Art. 23. Fire Department, for New Ladder Truck
14,500.00
14,500.00
Art. 24. Highway Department, for New Grader
1,800.00
1,800.00
Art. 25.
Old Sandwich Road River Street
4,200.00
2,500.00
Art. 27.
Federal Furnace Road
2,500.00
2,500.00
Art. 28. New Fence for South Street Playground
1,350.00
1,300.00
Art. 31.
Insurance on Town
Property
5,200.00
4,300.00
Art. 33.
Stafford Street
100.00
100.00
Art. 34. Birch Avenue
100.00
100.00
Art. 35. School Department, Pur- chase of Land
4,500.00
. . .
Art. 36. School Department, Heat- ing Plant for Cornish and Burton Schools 16,000.00
.
2,000.00
2,000.00
Art. 26.
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Recommended Recommended by Department by Committee
Art. 41. Old Home Day on Sep- tember 6
500.00
500.00
Art. 42. Public Out-door Band Concerts
500.00
500.00
Art. 43. Advertising the Town's Resources
1,100.00
1,100.00
Art. 44. Water Department, for Changes at the Pump- ing Station
9,000.00
9,000.00
Art. 45. Cherry Street to Nick's Rock Road
150.00
150.00
Art. 46. Savery Avenue
100.00
Art. 48. Reconstruction of Traf- fic Lights
1,200.00
Art. 49. Reserve Account
3,600.00
Total
$889,416.31 $805,721.85
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