USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts for the year ending 1944 > Part 16
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Wires appointed for the Town of Plymouth and report at the next annual town meeting, and the motion was car- ried.
Mr. Engstrom's motion, as amended, was put before the meeting and carried.
Article Thirty:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 30.
Article Thirty-one:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 31.
Article Thirty-two:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the sum of $2,500.00 be raised and appropriated to meet the Town's share of the cost of Chapter 90 Highway Mainten- ance, and that, in addition, the sum of $5,000.00 be trans- ferred from unappropriated available funds in the Town Treasury to meet the State's and County's shares of the cost of the work, all reimbursements from the State and County to be restored, upon their receipt, to unappropri- ated available funds in the Town Treasury.
Article Thirty-three:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of seven thousand (7,000) dol- lars to be used for the purchase of a new Bucket Loader and snow removal attachment for the Highway Depart- ment.
Article Thirty-four:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of nineteen hundred and fifty (1,950) dollars to be used for the purchase of a rebuilt compressor for the Highway Department.
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Article Thirty-five:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $2,500.00 for the purpose of continuing the survey and Assessors' Plans, to be ex- pended under the direction of the Assessors.
Article Thirty-six:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $150.00 under Article 36. This to be used, under the direction of the Board of Health, for driving test wells and the making of a general survey of the project set forth in this article. Article Thirty-seven:
Mr. Walder J. Engstrom moved: That the Town take no action under Article 37.
Mr. Henry Walton moved a substitute motion: That the sum of $1,750.00 be appropriated for the purpose of repairing the building at the rear of the Central Fire Station, and the motion was carried.
Mr. Engstrom's motion, as amended, was put before the meeting and carried.
Article Thirty-eight:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $1,800.00 for the purchase and equipping of two (2) U. S. Army vehicles for the Forest Fire Department.
Article Thirty-nine:
Mr. Walter Haskell moved: That a comprehensive plan of the layout and improvement of the Standish Avenue Playground be made and the sum of $200.00 appropriated therefor, to be expended under the direction of the Park Commissioners.
Mr. James T. Frazier moved to amend the motion by
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adding the $5,000.00 requested in Article 39, but the motion was lost.
Mr. Haskell's motion was then put before the meeting and carried.
Article Forty:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $2,500.00 to replace the sea- wall at the Nelson Street Playground, said money to be expended by the Board of Park Commissioners. Article Forty-one:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town authorize the Water Commissioners to employ con- sulting engineers to make a survey of the water system and that an appropriation of the sum of three thousand (3,000) dollars be made therefor.
Article Forty-two:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town authorize the Water Commissioners to purchase from John J. McCarthy a parcel of land at Little South Pond as described in Article 42 and that an appropriation of the sum of fifteen hundred (1,500) dollars be made therefor. Said McCarthy to remove the buildings stand- ing on said premises and to retain the title therete. This was a unanimous vote.
Article Forty-three:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, it was unanimously voted: That the Town authorize the Water Commission- ers to purchase from George T. Paraschos and Lillian F. Paraschos parcels of land at Little South Pond as des- cribed in Article 43 and that an appropriation of the sum of twenty-six hundred (2,600) dollars be made therefor. Article Forty-four:
Mr. Walder J. Engstrom moved: That the Town take no action under Article 44.
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Dr. E. Harold Donovan moved to amend by substitut- ing: That the Town authorize the School Committee to purchase from Luigi P. Cortelli a certain parcel of vacant land lying southwesterly from Standish Avenue and northwesterly from Cherry Street, bounded and described as follows: Beginning at the westerly corner of land of the Town of Plymouth; thence running by land formerly of Pederzani, now of the Town of Plymouth, south 68° 59' 30" west, 323.22 feet to land of Harold Anti; thence turning and running by said Anti land south 32° 28' east, 158.37 feet to land of Guy Lodi et al; thence turning and running by land of said Guy Lodi et al and by land of others, north 58° 02' 10" east 317.17 feet to said other land of the Town of Plymouth; thence turning and running by said land of the Town of Plymouth north 32° 08' west, 98.96 feet to the point of beginning; containing .94 acres; and appropriate therefor the sum of $700.00, and the mo- tion was carried unanimously.
Mr. Engstrom's motion, as amended, was put before the meeting and carried.
Article Forty-five:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 45.
Article Forty-six:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom; Voted: That the Town authorize the Committee appointed under Article 72 of the warrant for the annual town meeting of March 23, 1940, to employ an architect and heating engineer to prepare plans and specifications for the use of the Com- mittee in its study of the need of and value to the Town of a vocational school and appropriate the sum of one thousand (1,000) dollars therefor.
Article Forty-seven:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town authorize the School Committee to replace the
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boilers in the Mt. Pleasant School and install heating equipment in connection therewith, and that an appro- priation of the sum of nine thousand (9,000) dollars be made therefor.
Article Forty-eight:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town vote to discontinue that portion of South Meadow Road which lies between the Carver line and a point 4776.10 feet easterly thereof if and when the Navy De- partment of the United States Government advises the Town that it has acquired for the enlargement of its airport all the land on either side of that portion of said road to be discontinued.
Article Forty-nine:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of one thousand (1,000) dol- lars, from the proceeds from the sale of cemetery lots and graves, to be expended by the Cemetery Commis- sioners for the improvement and embellishment of Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemetery and the addition to Vine Hills Cemetery.
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REPORT OF Advisory and Finance Committee
on the ARTICLES IN THE TOWN WARRANT
March 24, 1945
Your Committee presents herewith its report and recom- mendations on the articles in the warrant for the annual town meeting.
The departmental requests this year, for salaries and expenses combined, total $998,753.25, a net increase of $41,462.12 over the total amount requested last year.
The Committee is recommending a total appropriation of $975,800.87 as listed under Article 6, which in the opinion of the Committee is sufficient to maintain operating efficiency in the various departments, to allow for unusual cost in- creases due to hurricane damage and snow removal, and to allow for usual step rate increases in several of the depart- ments. The total recommended also allows for an increase of $2,924 in the assessment for the Plymouth County Hospital, and increases in the Old Age Assistance and Aid to De- pendent Children budgets because of higher costs per case due to various factors. We understand that the increase of $1250 in Street Lighting will restore our street lights to full power.
On the special articles, $171,947 is the total amount re- quested, an increase of $58,031 over the total requested under special articles last year. The special appropriations recom- mended by the Committee total $148,360. This amount in- cludes under Article 7, a cost of living bonus to those Town Employees receiving up to and including $1800 per year, and under Article 27, an additional purchase of U. S. War Bonds, which will bring the total amount owned by the Town to $130,000. Of the total amount of special appropria- tions recommended by the Committee, $70,981.40 would be covered by transfers from other funds than the tax levy.
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Under Article 26, the Committee feels, because of un- expended appropriation balances returned to Excess and Deficiency Account last year and because of the excess of actual receipts from all sources over estimated receipts for the same period, that an appropriation of $40,000 again this year to reduce the tax levy is justified. Even with this amount, an increase in the tax rate is expected, although figures on the state and county tax, which are necessary for an estimate, have not yet been obtained by the Committee.
The Committee recognizes, however, that a regular prac- tice of such transfers, is not a sound fiscal policy, and that the Excess and Deficiency Account should be kept at a high level during the war time years, in anticipation of future needs. As of January 1, 1945, this account had a balance of $308,745.69, a net gain of $172,857.56 over the three year period from January 1, 1942. When we consider that the only municipal indebtedness of the town is a balance of $85,000 due on the New High School loan, we feel that the town is in a favorable position to meet some of the problems of the post war years.
Article 5. To see what action the Town will take with regard to fixing the salaries of elected town officers.
Recommended that the salaries of the following elected town officers remain fixed as they now are, viz:
Chairman of Selectmen $ 726.00
Other Selectmen (each) 363.00
Chairman of Assessors 2,371.60
Other Assessors (each)
Town Clerk 1,936.00
Town Treasurer 1,980.00
1,980.00
Collector of Taxes 2,970.00
Chairman of Board of Public Welfare .. 50.00
Together with any "bonus" that may be voted under another Article.
Article 6. 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 ex- pedient.
Recommended by Departments Salaries Other Expenses Personal Services $4,875.60
Recommended by Committee Salaries Personal Services $4,875.60
Other Expenses $800.00
Selectmen's Dept.
$ 800.00
Accounting Dept.
3,720.00
400.00
3,720.00
400.00
Treasury Dept.
3,260.74
780.00
3,260.74
780.00
Tax Collector's Dept.
4,543.00
1,396.75
4,543.00
1,396.75
Assessors' Dept.
7,536.35
300.00
7,536.35
300.00
Law Department
1,500.00
100.00
1,500.00
100.00
Town Clerk's Dept.
3,260.74
177.50
3,260.74
177.50
Engineering Dept.
860.00
175.00
860.00
175.00
Planning Board
200.00
1,800.00
200.00
1,800.00
Election and Registration
1,738.13
1,114.56
1,638.13
1,114.56
Town House Maintenance
1,076.00
1,405.00
1,076.00
1,405.00
Old High School Maintenance (offices)
1,633.50
1,585.00
1,633.50
1,585.00
Town Hall Maintenance
2,656.22
3,290.00
2,656.22
3,290.00
Police Department
37,498.01
5,504.00
37,498.01
5,504.00
Fire Department
50,541.81
8,240.00
50,541.81
8,240.00
Inspection of Buildings
171.60
25.00
171.60
25.00
Sealing of Weights and Measures
1,610.00
700.00
1,520.00
700.00
Moth Suppression
1,694.00
4,306.00
1,694.00
4,306.00
Tree Warden's Dept.
822.80
4,177.20
822.80
4,177.20
Forest Warden's Dept.
1,000.00
2,295.00
1,000.00
2,295.00
Forest Fire Payrolls
1,800.00
1,800.00
Inland Fisheries
300.00
300.00
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1
Recommended by Departments Salaries Personal Services
Other Expenses
Recommended by Committee
Salaries Personal Services
Other Expenses
Plymouth County Hospital Maintenance
17,311.52
17,311.52
Health Department
6,582.80
13,281.00
6,582.80
12,781.00
Garbage Collection
534.82
9,600.80
534.82
9,600.80
Public Sanitaries
2,239.00
355.00
2,239.00
355.00
Sewers
4,500.00
4,500.00
Street Cleaning
5,000.00
5,000.00
Roads and Bridges
7,045.17
37,000.00
7,045.17
37,000.00
Highway Construction and Reconstruction
7,000.00
7,000.00
Hard-Surfacing Streets
5,000.00
5,000.00
Sidewalks
5,000.00
5,000.00
Granolithic Sidewalks and Curbing
3,000.00
3,000.00
Snow and Ice Removal
15,000.00
15,000.00
Street Sprinkling
1,500.00
1,500.00
Street Lighting
19,250.00
19,250.00
Traffic Lights
300.00
300.00
Harbor Master
543.40
543.40
Public Welfare Dept.
10,532.62
40,690.00
10,532.62
39,290.00
Aid to Dependent Children
34,795.16
34,795.16
Old Age Assistance
3,785.22
140,390.00
3,785.22
130,924.00
Soldiers' Benefits
2,664.04
9,500.00
472.16
9,500.00
School Department
233,200.00
54,700.00
228,500.00
51,275.00
School Dept. Military Fund
307.33
307.33
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Recommended by Departments Salaries Other Expenses Personal Services
Recommended by Committee Salaries Other Personal Services
Expenses
School Lunch
2,650.00
3,700.00
2,650.00
3,700.00
Park Department
6,270.00
8,930.00
6,270.00
7,930.00
Pensions for Town Laborers
1,456.00
Insurance of Town Property
4,000.00
4,000.00
Contributory Retirement System:
Pension Fund
24,718.26
24,718.26
Military Fund
329.44
329.44
Expense Fund
450.00
450.00
Sexton
242.00
242.00
Miscellaneous Account
520.00
4,100.00
520.00
4,100.00
State Census 1945
414.00
35.00
414.00
35.00
Water Department Maintenance
17,000.00
25,555.00
17,000.00
25,555.00
Water Department Construction
2,000.00
2,000.00
Town Wharf Maintenance
150.00
150.00
Town Forest Maintenance
500.00
500.00
Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemetery
3,006.16
11,000.00
2,926.66
11,000.00
Burial Hill Cemetery
3,250.00
3,250.00
Chiltonville, Manomet, Cedarville and
South Pond Cemeteries
2,000.00
2,000.00
Town Debt and Interest
15,000.00
15,000.00
Totals
$430,991.06
$567,762.19
$423,829.68
$551,971.19
Total of Article 6
998,753.25
975,800.87
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1,456.00
SPECIAL APPROPRIATION ARTICLES
Requested
Recommende
7. Bonus for Town Employees
$30,000.00
$20,000.0
8. Plymouth Public Library
9,800.00
9,800.0
9. Loring Library
3,560.00
3,560.0
10. Manomet Library
1,000.00
1,000.0
11. Memorial Day
400.00
400.0
12. July Fourth
600.00
600.0
13. Armistice Day
300.00
300.0
14. District Nurses
2,500.00
2,500.0
15. County Aid to Agriculture
150.00
150.0
19. Dog Officer
600.00
600.0
22. Rehabilitation Committee
5,000.00
3,500.0
24. Honor Roll Committee
250.00
250.0
25. War Price and Rationing Board
500.00
500.0
27. War Bond Investment
48,500.00
48,500.0
28. Reserve Account
15,000.00
15,000.0
29. Wire Inspector
30. Costs Incurred by A. Provinzano
87.00
31. Weekly Pension to A. Provinzano
7,500.00
7,500.0
33. Bucket Loader for Highway Dept.
7,000.00
7,000.0
34. Compressor for Highway Dept.
1,950.00
1,950.0
35. Assessors' Plans
2,500.00
2,500.0
36. Public Dump, Water, Housing, Equipment, etc.
4,000.00
150.0
37. Repairing Building in rear of Fire Station
1,750.00
38. Purchase and Equipping two (2) U. S. Army Vehicles for Forest Warden's Dept.
1,800.00
1,800.0
39. Cement Wall, Back Stop and Bleach- ers at Standish Ave. Playground
5,000.00
200.0
40. Sea Wall at Nelson St. Playground
2,500.00
2,500.0
41. Survey of Water System
3,000.00
3,000.0
42. Purchase of McCarthy Land, Little South Pond
1,500.00
1,500.0
43. Purchase of Paraschos Land, Little South Pond
2,600.00
2,600.0
44. Purchase of Cortelli Land for Schools
700.00
45. Purchase of Cappannari Land for Schools
900.00
47. Replacing Boilers and installing
Heating Equipment in Mt. Pleas- ant School
9,000.00
9,000.0
49. Improvement of Cemeteries (From the Proceeds from Sales of Lots)
1,000.00
1,000.0
Total of Special Articles
$171,947.00
$148,360.0
Less:
From other funds than taxes
*70,981.40
70,981.4
Amount of Special Articles from Taxes . . Add:
$100,965.60
$ 77,378.6
Total of Article. 6
998,753.25
975,800.8
Total Appropriations from Tax Levy
$1,099,718.85
$1,053,179.4
Less : Special Reduction, Art. 26.
40,000.00
40,000.0
$1,059,718.85
$1,013,179.4
*From Excess and Deficiency $53,500.00 From Reserve Overlay 15,000.00
From Dog Tax, from County 1,481.40
From Sales of Cemetery Lots 1,000.00
$70,981.40
32. Chapter 90 Highway Maintenance.
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Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to pay a bonus to Town employees for the year 1945, the sum not to exceed one hundred (100) dollars per person and make an appropria- tion therefor.
Recommended that the Town appropriate the sum of $20,000.00 to be used for a "Bonus," to be paid in December, at the rate of 10% of annual compensation, in no case to exceed $100.00, to be paid to each permanent employee, part or full time, receiving not over $1,800.00; each temporary em- ployee working less than a full year and who works at least two months, to receive 10% of the total amount paid, not to exceed a rate of $8.00 per month. In no case shall more than one bonus be paid to any individual.
Article 8. To take such action as the Town shall see fit in aid of the Plymouth Public Library.
Recommended appropriation of $9,800.00, including the dog tax of $1,481.40.
Article 9. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of three thousand, five hundred and sixty (3,560) dollars, to be expended by the Plymouth Public Library for the Loring Library.
Recommended appropriation of $3,560.00.
Article 10. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding one thousand (1000) dollars in aid of the Manomet Public Library.
Recommended appropriation of $1,000.00.
Article 11. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding four hundred (400) dollars for the Observance of Memorial Day, said appropriation to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Recommended appropriation of $400.00.
Article 12. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of six hundred (600) dollars for the annual observance of July 4th and that the sum of one hundred and fifty (150) dollars of that amount be expended in said observance for the sponsoring of children's sports, the whole to be expended under the direction of the Plymouth Board of Selectmen.
(By petition of Col. Willard C. Butler Post No. 23 U. A. V.) Recommended appropriation of $600.00.
Article 13. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding three hundred (300) dollars for the Observance of Armistice Day, said appropriation to be spent under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
(By request of American Legion Post No. 40) Recommended appropriation of $300.00.
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Article 14. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of twenty-five hundred (2500) dollars for the employment of one or more district nurses, said appropriation to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Recommended appropriation of $2,500.00 to be expended as specified in the article.
Article 15. To see what amount the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the use of the Plymouth County Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture and to choose a Town Director, as provided in Section 41 and 45, Revised Chapter 128 of the General Laws, and act thereon.
Recommended appropriation of $150.00 and that a Town Director be chosen.
Article 16. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to sell, after first giving notice of the time and place, by posting such notice of sale in some convenient and public place in the Town fourteen (14) days at least before the sale, property taken by the Town under tax title pro- cedure, provided that the Selectmen or whomsoever they may authorize to hold such public auction may reject any bid which they deem inadequate or take any action relative thereto.
Recommended that the Town so vote.
Article 17. To see if the Town will authorize the Select- men to control, regulate or prohibit the taking of eels, and any or all kinds of shellfish and sea worms within the borders of the Town of Plymouth and such other authority as is provided in Section 52 of Chapter 130 of the General Laws, as inserted therein by Chapter 598 of the Acts of 1941, or take any action in relation thereto.
Recommended that the Town vote to so authorize the Board of Selectmen.
Article 18. To see if the Town will authorize the Select- men to relinquish control of Holmes Field, Summer Street, and place in the hands of the Park Department for use as a playground.
Recommended that the Town vote to authorize the Selectmen to relinquish control of Holmes Field, Summer Street, and place in the hands of the Park Department for use as a Play- ground.
Article 19. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding six hundred (600) dollars for compensation and expenses of the Dog Officer required by Chapter 320 of the Acts of 1934.
Recommended appropriation of $600.00.
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Article 20. To see if the Town will vote to accept thirty- five (35) cemetery perpetual care funds, amounting to six thousand nine hundred (6,900) dollars received and de- posited in the Plymouth Savings Bank in the year 1944 in accordance with the usual votes of the Cemetery Commis- sioners and Selectmen, and listed as New Funds in the town report.
Recommended that the Town so vote.
Article 21. To see what action the Town will take re- garding the buildings and land known as the Knapp School- house and lot; also portable school building on same lot, no longer needed for school purposes.
Recommended that the Town vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to sell these buildings and the land.
Article 22. To see what action the Town will take towards appointing a rehabilitation committee for returning war veterans, and make the necessary appropriation therefor. (By petition of Reubin M. Winokur et al)
Recommended that the Moderator appoint a committee of ten, to be known as the Plymouth Veterans' Advisory Com- mittee, and that the sum of $3,500.00 be appropriated, to be used and expended by said Committee for a paid executive secretary, for necessary clerical assistance, for necessary office expenses, or for any other expenses which may be necessary for the proper functioning of the Committee. Said Committee to organize and function as it considers in the best interests of the Town and the returning Servicemen.
Article 23. To see if the town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 31, General Laws, as applicable to the labor service, or take any action relative thereto.
Recommended that the Town take no action under Article 23.
Action under this article is as serious a matter as anything contained in the warrant. Its consideration de- served very much more time than this Committee had at its disposal for concentration on any one question.
We feel obliged to caution the voters against any hasty vote to put our entire labor personnel under Civil Service Law (Chapter 31) and the voluminous Rules and Regulations made thereunder and which are, in effect, a part (the greater part) of the law subject to the same severe penalty clause.
These regulations are irksome even in our Police and Fire Departments, whose members, respectively, are all in one line of duty and under one head. To put our laborers under Civil Service, with its laws, classification require- ments, present regulations, and such regulations as may be promulgated, means the compliance therewith by the heads of eight or ten of our departments, and a sub'- stantial increase in the complexity of department opera- tions as well as a further step in relinquishing control of town affairs.
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Article 24. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of two hundred and fifty (250) dollars for the pur- pose of continuing the work of the Honor Roll committee, said appropriation to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Recommended appropriation of $250.00.
Article 25. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of five hundred (500) dollars for the Plymouth War Price and Rationing Board No. 249, said appropriation to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Recommended appropriation of $500.00.
Article 26. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from money in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the sum of forty thousand (40,000) dollars to reduce the tax rate of the current year.
Recommended that the Town vote to authorize the As- sessors to use this amount ($40,000.00) to reduce the tax levy of the current year.
Article 27. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from money in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the sum of forty-eight thousand, five hundred (48,500) dollars to be invested in U. S. War Bonds.
Recommended that the Town appropriate from money in the Town treasury not otherwise appropriated (from the Excess and Deficiency Account), the sum of $48,500.00 to be invested in U. S. War Bonds, under the provisions of Chapter 5 of the Acts of 1943.
Note. The sum of $1,500.00 received from interest on bonds purchased under previous appropriation will be invested in accordance with the provisions of the law, in addition to above sum, which will, if voted, increase the Town's investment $50,000.00 bringing the total to $130,000.00.
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