USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1921-1925 > Part 21
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Article 39. To see if the town will vote to appoint a committee to draw up a code of by-laws governing the town and to report at a subsequent meeting.
Article 40. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $600.00 to paint the interior of the Memorial library, or act anything thereon.
Article 41. To see if the town will vote to grant the selectmen the power of disposing of the old watering trough in South Acton, or act anything thereon.
Article 42. To see if the town will vote to instruct the select- men to move the fountain in the square at South Acton over the site of the old watering trough if satisfactory agreement can be made with the water commissioners, and raise and appropriate a sum of money not to exceed $150.00 to cover cost of same, or act anything thereon.
Article 43. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $600.00, the same being part of the amount returned to the town under the provisions of Chapter 480, of the Acts of 1924 (an act pro- viding for the return to the cities and towns of certain surplus funds collected to provide suitable recognition of those residents of Mass- achusetts who served in the army and navy of the United States during the war with Germany), for the purpose of placing a suitable foundation, base, bronze plate and otherwise re-conditioning the Spanish war memorial, or act anything thereon.
Article 44. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $300.00, the same being part of the amount returned to the town
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under the provisions of Chapter 480, of the Acts of 1924, for the pur- pose of placing a raised triangular memorial plot in the square at South Acton conforming with the lines of the street; and place a metal light post with light, using underground wiring, or act anything thereon.
Article 45. To see if the town will vote to renew the electric lighting contract with the American Woolen Company and instruct the selectmen to sign the same, or act anything thereon.
Article 46. To see if the town will vote to install street lights and extend its line on Parker road in South Acton from the residence of John E. Berglind to the Concord road, or School street.
Article 47. To see if the town will instruct the selectmen to contract for additional street lighting in the business section of West Acton and appropriate a sum of money therefor.
Article 48. To see if the town will vote to extend the street lights from the residence of Alonzo Joy on Willow street in West Acton to the residence of L. W. Sylvester.
Article 49. To see if the town will vote to extend the street lights from Crooker's corner on Massachusetts avenue to a point 1300 feet east of the corner.
Article 50. To see if the town will vote to extend the street lights on Arlington street in West Acton from Elm street to the residence of James N. Berry.
Article 51. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 for the purpose of installing a heating plant and making certain repairs on the fire house in West Acton, or act anything thereon.
Article 52. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,650.00 for the purchase of a Fordson tractor and Wehr grader to be used by the road department for road work and clearing the roads of snow, or act anything thereon.
Hereof fail not and make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon to the town clerk at or before the first time of meeting as aforesaid.
Given under our hands at Acton, this sixteenth day of February, 1925.
Signed,
MURRAY BROWN, HARRY B. MORSE, ALBERT R. JENKS, Selectmen of Acton.
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REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN
To the Citizens of the Town of Acton :
We hereby submit to you for your approval the reports of the various departments of the town for the year ending December 31, 1924.
The re-building of Main street was continued for a distance of 5,000 feet, at a cost of $30,078.90. There remains approximately 8,451 feet more to be built to complete this work, the county and state each paying a-third of the cost. It is for the voters to say as to how much of this road they desire to build this coming year.
The Greenough Construction Company was given the work of re- building River and High streets in South Acton; 3,800 feet of stone road was built on River street, and 1,200 feet on High street; at a cost of $11,550.93. River street was built sixteen feet wide, and High street twelve feet wide.
The town was obliged to spend $859.58 for the repair of bridges on River street, as they were found to be unsafe, and it would not have been wise to have built the new construction over them without having had them repaired; this amount also included some extras, such as culverts, which were not included in the estimate given for this work.
There is a considerable amount of fencing, and many feet of new guard rails to be erected, which should be attended to this coming year; as in many places the old guard rails have rotted away, leaving the roadways unsafe.
The fire shed in East Acton on the property of Mrs. W. C. Rob- bins was sold at auction, and we recommend the sale of the one in North Acton, as with the recent purchase by the town of new motor fire apparatus it does not seem necessary to maintain these buildings. We recommend that repairs and improvements be made on the fire- houses in West and South Acton, and that a new house be con- structed in Acton Center for the new piece of apparatus, which has been housed through the kindness of Mr. Spencer H. Taylor in his private garage, without any charge to the town.
We also recommend the placing of guide-posts or street signs on the more important roads of the town.
Acting under Article 16, the selectmen appointed the following committee to consider the advisability of the town establishing a town forest : Edgar H. Hall, Frank H. Holden, Fred L. Burke, Alan B. Frost, Glen C. Gould.
Respectfully submitted,
MURRAY BROWN, HARRY B. MORSE, ALBERT R. JENKS.
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TOWN CLERK'S REPORT
Abstract of the Proceedings of the Annual Meeting, March 10, 1924
The meeting was called to order by the moderator, Allen Brooks Parker.
Article 1. To choose all necessary town officers and committees, and fix salaries of all town officers.
Chose I. Warren Flagg, trustee of the Goodnow fund for three years.
Chose Edgar H. Hall, trustee of the fireman's relief fund for three years.
Chose Waldo E. Whitcomb, trustee of the Elizabeth White fund for three years.
Voted : To fix the salary of the tax collector at five-eighths of one percent of the amount collected.
Voted: That the salary of the chairman of the selectmen be one hundred dollars per annum and the other members fifty dollars each per annum.
Voted: That the salary of the treasurer be three hundred dollars per annum.
Voted: That the salary of the assessors be as follows: The chairman, one hundred and twenty-five dollars per annum; the clerk, one hundred dollars, and the other member, seventy-five dollars.
Voted: That the salary of the moderator be ten dollars per meeting.
Voted: That the salary of the overseers of the poor be as fol- lows: The chairman, seventy-five dollars, and the other members, forty dollars each per annum.
Voted: That the salary of the town accountant be three hundred dollars per annum.
Voted: That the selectmen be instructed to fix the salary of all other town officers.
Artiele 2. To see if the town will vote to accept the several reports of the town officers.
Voted : To accept the reports of the several town officers.
Article 3. To hear and act upon the reports of any committees chosen at any previous meeting that have not already reported.
James B. Tuttle reported for the committee appointed to investi- gate the matter of providing suitable accommodations for the town records.
On motion of Edgar H. Hall, it was
Voted: That there be appropriated the sum of seventy-five hundred (7500) dollars for the building of an addition on the rear of the present town house, in accordance with the general plan presented by the committee chosen at the annual town meeting in 1923, and to meet the said appropriation there be raised in the tax
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levy of 1924, the sum of $1500.00, and that the treasurer, with the approval of the selectmen, be authorized to borrow the sum of $6,000.00 and to issue bonds or notes therefor, payable in accordance with Section 19, Chapter 44, General Laws, so the whole loan shall be paid in not more than four years, and that a committee be chosen to build such addition, consisting of the chairman of the board of selectmen, chairman of the finance committee, president of the Acton. Agricultural association, master of the Acton Grange, and three. ladies, one from each precinct, to be appointed by the moderator ; 81 voted in the affirmative; eight voted in the negative. The mod- erator appointed : Charlotte Conant, Precinct 1; Lulu L. Clark, Pre- cinct 2; Helen A. Knowlton, Precinct 3, members of the committee.
The following letter was read by James B. Tuttle :
"Mr. Moderator-In connection with the report just made and in particular that part of it which recommends an addition to the rear of this town hall, I address you as the present representative of the town of Acton, myself speaking as the official voice of the Acton Agricultural association.
"The Acton Agricultural association appreciates the privileges: that have been granted to the association by the town and the very courteous treatment received at the hands of the town officers.
"This association is seven years old, and, in that time, it has become an institution within the town, each year it being of greater benefit to the town and its members. The association hopes to con- tinue this work with greater scope in its particular field of work.
"Indirectly, the plan of an addition to the town hall, came to the attention of the association. It was the concensus of opinion within the association, that rather than it should be the aim of the association to some day own grounds of its own where some thous -- ands of dollars were invested, and only used once a year, that it was preferable that the Acton Agricultural association continue to use the town grounds when it did not interfere in town affairs, and so perhaps, be able to turn some of the money they would otherwise" invest in permanent property, to the benefit of those grounds they used. It seemed that it was now time to commence to show some appreciation of the benefits the association has received. In order- that this might be accomplished, the following vote was unanimously passed by the association, namely : 'That the Acton Agricultural association appropriate one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) to the town of Acton, provided the town votes to build an addition onto the rear of the town hall, and provided suitable arrangements can be made for the accommodation of the Acton Agricultural association.'
"It is the belief of the association that should this arrangement succeed, the association can, from time to time, be of numerical: benefit to the town as regards the property they have the privilege of using, and hopes that the plan referred to may prevail. Yours respectfully, Acton Agricultural Association, W. Stuart Allen, president."
It was voted that the generous offer of the Acton Agricultural association be accepted, with thanks.
James B. Tuttle reported for the committee on a war memorial ..
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Voted: That the sum of two thousand (2,000) dollars be appro- priated for a war memorial.
Voted: That the committee be continued, and that they be authorized to erect a memorial in substantial conformity to the plans submitted in their report.
Article 4. To see what sums of money the town will raise by taxation and appropriate to defray the necessary and usual expenses of the several departments of the town.
Under this article and other articles in the warrant the follow- ing sums were appropriated :
General government $3,500.00
Treasurer's and collector's bonds
225.00
Building and grounds, including fire-houses
1,000.00
Police department 800.00
Enforcement of the liquor law
395.64 750.00
Fire department-New hose
100.00
Hydrant service
2,819.00
Forest fires
200.00
Health and sanitation
500.00 500.00
Moth department
Shade trees (tree warden's department)
Highways-General repairs
Highways-Snow removal
500.00
Sidewalks-Snow removal
200.00
Highways-Re-building High and River streets
11,550.00
Highways-Re-building Central street
2,000.00
Highways-Re-building Main street
Street lighting
Military aid
Schools, not including flush closets
Middlesex County Extension Service
Memorial day
Employers' liability insurance
225.00
Memorial library-Current expenses
600.00 200.00
Memorial library-Purchase of books
Cemeteries
1,000.00
Loans and interest
Enlarging town hall
10,000.00 7,500.00 10,000.00
Fire equipment
2,000.00
Reserve fund
1,200.00
Unclassified
500.00
Electric light committee
250.00
$129,003.29
Highways-Cutting brush
1,088.65 400.00 10,000.00 400.00
Fire department-Maintenance
Town nurse
10,000.00 4,850.00 100.00 43,000.00 350.00 300.00
Memorial tablets
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Voted : To raise by taxation in 1924, the following sums : For repairs on High, River, Central and Main streets .. $4,770.00
Enlarging town hall 1,500.00
Fire equipment 2,000.00
Moth work 1,088.65
Demonstration work in agriculture 350.00
Town charges
70,000.00
$79,708.65
Voted : To borrow the following sums of money for the follow- ing purposes :
Re-building High, River, Central and Main streets $18,780.00
Enlarging town hall 6,000.00
Fire equipment 8,000.00
$32,780.00
Article 5. To see what sum of money the town will raise for the observance of Memorial day.
Voted: To appropriate the sum of $300.00.
Voted: That the moderator be instructed to appoint a com- mittee to take in charge the expenditure of this appropriation and direct the ceremonies of the observance of Memorial day.
The moderator appointed the following committee : Lowell Cram, Theron Lowden, George L. Towne, Charlotte Conant, Frank R. Knowlton.
Article 6. To see what action the town will take in regard to the collection of taxes.
Voted : That all taxes, other than poll, shall be payable not later than October 15, 1924, and on all taxes remaining unpaid after November 1, 1924, interest shall be charged at the rate of six percent per annum from October 15, 1924, until such taxes are paid.
Article 7. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for the maintenance of the fire department, or vote anything thereon.
Voted : To appropriate $750.00.
Article 8. To see if the town will pay for fighting brush fires and fix price thereon.
Voted : To appropriate $200.00.
Voted: That the forest warden be instructed to fix the price for fighting forest fires.
Article 9. To see what action the town will take toward the suppression of the elm leaf beetle and brown tail and gypsy moth.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $1,088.55.
Article 10. To see if the town will authorize the treasurer, with the approval of the selectmen, to borrow money from time to time, in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1924, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year ; any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the revenue of said financial year.
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Voted: That the town treasurer, with the approval of the selectmen, be and is hereby authorized to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1924, and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year; any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the revenue of said financial year.
Article 11. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to insure the employes of the town, or act anything thereon.
Voted: To appropriate the sum of $225.00.
Article 12. To see what amount of money the town will raise and appropriate for the payments of premiums on treasurer's and collector's bonds, or act anything thereon.
Voted : To appropriate $225.00.
Article 13. To see if the town will vote to discontinue the use of the reservoir opposite the Cider Mill in South Acton as a water supply, or do or act anything thereon.
Voted: To discontinue the use of said reservoir as a water supply.
Article 14. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $400.00, or some other amount, and elect a director ; the money to be expended by, and the director to serve in cooperation with the county agricultural trustees of the Middlesex County Exten- sion Service in agriculture and home economics, under provisions of Section 40 to 45, Chapter 128, laws of Massachusetts.
A motion to appropriate $400.00 did not prevail.
Voted: To take up Article 15 for joint consideration with Article 14.
Article 15. To see if the town will vote to reimburse the Mid- dlesex County Extension Service the $40.00 paid for a special motor necessary to give educational motion pictures in the town of Acton.
Voted: To raise and appropriate $350.00 for the purposes stated in Articles 14 and 15.
Article 16. To see if the town will vote to authorize the select- men to appoint a committee to report at the next annual meeting on whether the town should establish a town forest, or act anything thercon.
Voted: That the selectmen appoint a committee to consider the matter and report at the next annual town meeting.
Article 17. To see if the town will vote to borrow the sum of $10,000.00 by issuing notes, to continue re-building Main street (Lowell road) from Maynard line to the State road leading to Little- ton, provided a like sum is allotted the town by the state department of public works and a similar sum by the county of Middlesex, or act anything thereon.
Voted: To take up for joint consideration all articles relating to highways, including Articles 18, 19, 20, 21, 26, 28, 29, and 43.
Voted: That there be appropriated the sum of $23,550.00 for the purpose of re-building roads in the town as asked for in Articles 17, 18, 19, and 20 of the present warrant, of which sum, $10,000.00 is for the continuation of work on Main street, provided a like sum is.
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allotted the town by the state department of public works and a like sum by the county of Middlesex; $2,000.00 for re-building Central street in West Acton, starting at the Boxboro line, provided a like sum is allotted the town by the state and a like sum by the county of Middlesex, and $11,550.00 for macadamizing River and High streets in South Acton, and that to meet said appropriation there be raised in the tax levy the present year the sum of $4,770.00, and that the treasurer, with the approval of the selectmen, be authorized to bor- row the sum of $18,780.00 and to issue bonds or notes therefor, pay- able in accordance with Section 19, Chapter 44, General Laws; so the whole loan shall be paid in not more than four years and that the selectmen shall carry out the instructions of this motion the present year.
The moderator declared the motion passed by more than a two-thirds vote.
Voted: That the selectmen be instructed to repair the roads described in Articles 21, 26, 28, and 29, under the appropriation for general repairs, so far as possible.
Article 18. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,000.00, provided a like amount is provided by the state and by the county for the purpose of re-building Central street in West Acton, starting at the Boxboro line, or act anything thereon.
See action under Article 17.
Article 19. To see if the town will appropriate and raise a suf- ficient sum of money to macadamize a portion of High street in South Acton, approximately 1400 feet, beginning at Main street, and extending to a point on the brow of the hill, or act anything thereon.
See action under Article 17.
Article 20. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sum of money for repairing and reconstructing such portion of River street as may seem necessary, or act anything thereon.
See action under Article 17.
Article 21. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sum of money for the repair of Piper street in South Acton, from School street to Duren's corner, or act anything thereon.
See action under Article 17.
Article 22. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of $7,000.00 for the purchase of new fire apparatus, or act any- thing thereon.
Article 22. Voted unanimously : That there be appropriated the sum of ten thousand ($10,000.00) dollars for the purpose of pur- chasing three fire trucks, if found wise, for the fire department and to meet the said appropriation there be raised in the tax levy of 1924 the sum of $2,000.00, and that the treasurer, with the approval of the selectmen, be authorized to borrow the sum of $8,000.00, and to issue bonds or notes therefor, payable in accordance with Section 19, Chapter 44, General Laws, so that the whole loan shall be paid in not more than four years. That the purchase of said trucks and their location in town be left to a committee of nine, consisting of the board of selectmen, the three chief fire engineers and three citizens of Acton, to be appointed by the moderator, one from each precinct.
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The moderator appointed as members of the committee : Precinct 1, J. Sidney White; Precinct 2, Fred L. Burke; Precinct 3, Edgar H. Hall.
Article 23. To see if the town will appoint a committee of five, with authority to investigate the electric lighting situation and report at a subsequent town meeting whether the present contract is the best for the town, and make any recommendation they deem advisable, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $100.00 for necessary expenses.
Voted : That a committee of five be appointed by the moderator and that the sum of $250.00 be appropriated to meet any expenses incurred by said committee.
The moderator appointed the following committee: William Rawitser, chairman; George A. Richardson, Clarence N. Goward, Waldo E. Whitcomb, Arthur W. Emerson.
Article 24. To see what action the town will take in regard to the maintenance of a public health nurse for the ensuing year, or act anything thereon.
Voted : That thirty days from this date the town discontinue the public health nursing service.
Voted : That the automobile used by the town nurse be turned over to the selectmen to be disposed of as they see fit.
Article 25. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for the maintenance of the public health nurse, or act anything thereon.
Voted : To appropriate the sum of $500.00.
Article 26. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,000.00 for the repair of Arlington street in West Acton, beginning at or near Odd Fellows hall, and extending easterly, or do or act anything thereon.
See action under Article 17.
Article 27. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the amount of the dog tax for the support of the public libraries of the town.
Voted : To dismiss the article.
Article 28. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sum of money to repair Maple and Martin streets in South Acton, or act anything thereon.
See action under Article 17.
Article 29. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money sufficient to repair Red Acre Farm road in South Acton from the house of Benjamin Ineson to a point near the residence of Philip Newell, or act anything thereon.
See action under Article 17.
Article 30. To see if the town will vote to change the name of Central square in West Acton to Sidney J. Edwards square, and allow the ex-servicemen to erect a tablet.
Voted: That the name of Central square in West Acton be changed to Sidney J. Edwards square and that the ex-servicemen be permitted to erect a tablet.
Article 31. To see what action the town will take relating to
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Chapter 240, Acts of 1920, viz : "An act to permit under public regu- lations and control, baseball games on the Lord's day."
Voted: That the town accept and adopt Chapter 240, Acts of 1920, viz: "An act to permit under public regulation and control certain sports on the Lord's day."
Article 32. To see if the town will vote to put additional lights in Howard Quimby square, or act anything thereon.
Voted: To take up for joint consideration all articles relating to electric lighting, including Articles 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, and 42.
Voted: That action under the several articles be suspended until the committee appointed to investigate the situation has made its report, but not later than the next annual town meeting.
Article 33. To see if the town will vote to put additional lights in Central square, West Acton, or act anything thereon.
Article 34. To see if the town will vote to install a street light at the bridge on Martin street and one at the inter-section of Stow and Main streets in South Acton.
Article 35. To see if the town will vote to install street lights on Main street from Kelley's corner to the residence of Mrs. Mary F. Coughlin.
Article 36. To see if the town will vote to maintain street lights on Strawberry Hill road, from the State highway to the residence of Alden C. Flagg.
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