USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1921-1925 > Part 4
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of the big items that went into the building of this piece of road. It will cost about $500.00 more to finish to the bridge. For the total cost of this work to date see Town Accountant's Report.
Thanking you for your many courtesies, and your splendid co- operation,
Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM H. KINGSLEY, Supt. of Streets.
REPORT OF SPECIAL ROAD COMMITTEE
Alfred W. Davis, Anson C. Piper,
Albert H. Perkins, George E. Greenough,
W. Stuart Allen,
J. Sidney White,
Waldo E. Whitcomb, Charles F. Edney, Albert P. Durkee.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of Acton :
Gentlemen-In accordance with the instructions of the special committee of nine on roads, I am sending you this copy of their recommendations.
Resolved-That the special committee appointed to work under Articles 20, 24, 45 and 46 of town warrant dated February 19, 1921, having carefully inspected the four pieces of road in question, do re- commend that these roads be repaired or constructed as follows : Windsor avenue: Estimated 1,200 feet, 15-foot wide; $1,200 for gravel; $400 for oil $1,600.00
School street: Estimated 500 feet, 12-foot wide; $300 for gravel 300.00
Prospect street : 2,000 feet, 8-foot wide; $1,200 for gravel; $300 for oil 1,500.00
Cemetery road : 500 feet penetration, 15-foot wide; $1,125 for stone; $300 for gravel; $470 for tarvia 1,895.00
600 feet top surfacing: $563 for stone; $560, apshalt or tarvia ; $100 gravel 1,223.00
700 feet penetration, 15-foot wide : $1,575 for stone; $420 for gravel; $658 for tarvia or asphalt 2,653.00
Total $9,171.00
These figures were arrived at with the assistance of Mr. G. E. Greenough and if you consider that they are reasonable we would suggest that the work be given to Mr. Greenough at a maximum of these figures. The money in excess of $6,000 to be taken from the general fund raised for road repairs.
The following prices were given us by Mr. G. E. Greenough : Teams (double), $8.00 per day; men, 40c per hour; $2.75 per ton for crushed stone, delivered on job ; $1.00 per ton for spreading, rolling and finishing. This day labor does not include insurance, use of tools or money. Tarvia or asphalt figured at 25c per gallon, 21/4 gallons to the square yard. Crushed rock figured 60 tons to 100 lineal-foot road, 15-foot wide.
If the selectmen do not see their way clear to carry out these re-
PROPOSED BY-LAWS
OF THE
TOWN OF ACTON
RATED
ONI
1735
ACTON.
PROPOSED BY-LAWS OF THE TOWN OF ACTON SUBMITTED BY THE COMMITTEE
ARTICLE I
TOWN MEETINGS
Section 1. A town meeting shall, unless a different time or method is prescribed by law, be called by posting an attested copy of the warrant, calling the same, at the town house, at the town clerk's office, at the post-office, and at six other public places in the town at the discretion of the officer serving the warrant, seven days, at least, before the day appointed for said meeting, and by publication in a newspaper, if any be published in the town; but if an emergency arises which, in the judgment of the selectmen, renders it necessary to call a meeting upon shorter notice, it may be called by posting attested copies of the warrant in sixteen additional public places in the town, and by publication in some newspaper, or newspapers, published in the town, if practicable, three days, at least, before the day appointed for said meeting.
ARTICLE II
GOVERNMENT OF TOWN MEETINGS
Section 1. The moderator, while occupying the chair, shall not second any motion nor participate in any discussion before the meet- ing.
Section 2. No vote shall be reconsidered except upon notice for that purpose by one who voted with the majority thereon, given within one hour after such vote was taken, at the same, or succeeding session; but if the voter who gives such notice shall not afterward make such motion, a motion to reconsider may be made by any other voter who voted with the majority.
Section 3. No article in the warrant shall be again taken into consideration after having been disposed of unless ordered by a vote of two thirds of the voters present and voting.
Section 4. No voter shall speak more than twice upon any ques- tion without first obtaining leave of the meeting, except to correct an error or make an explanation, nor until all others who have not spoken ,upon the question, and desire so to do, shall have been given an oppor- tunity therefor.
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Section 5. All motions shall be reduced to writing before being submitted to the meeting, if required by the moderator.
Section 6. No vote fixing the time of closing a ballot shall be reconsidered after such ballot shall have commenced; but the time for closing such ballot may be extended without reconsideration.
Section 7. When a question is under debate, motions may be re- ceived to fix time of adjournment, to adjourn, to lay on the table, the previous question, to postpone to a certain time, to commit, to amend, and to postpone indefinitely, which several motions shall have prece- dence in the order in which they are herein enumerated, and the sec- ond, third, and fourth shall be decided without debate. All motions shall be seconded, but any motion may be withdrawn by the mover if no objection is made.
Section 8. Articles in the warrant shall be acted upon in their order, unless otherwise directed by a majority vote of the town meet- ing.
Section 9. The duties of the moderator and the conduct of the meeting, not specially provided for by law nor by the foregoing rules, shall be determined by the rules of parliamentary law contained in Cushing's Manual, so far as they are adapted to town meetings.
Section 10. A vote to receive the report of a committee shall place the report before the meeting, but shall not discharge the com- mittee. A vote to accept or to adopt a report of a committee with or without amendment shall discharge the committee, and any recom- mendations contained in such report shall become the action of the town.
ARTICLE III TOWN AFFAIRS
Section 1. The financial year shall begin with the first day of January in each year, and end with the thirty-first day of December following.
Section 2. The annual town meeting shall be held on the first Monday of March.
Section 3. During the interval between the first day of January in each year and the time of making the next annual appropriations the selectmen, the commissioners of public works, the school commit- tee, the board of health, the trustees of the public library, and the en- gineers of the fire department, in order to meet the liabilities of their several departments incurred in the carrying on of the work entrusted to them, shall have authority to make expenditures and payments from the treasury from any available funds therein, and the same shall be charged against the next annual appropriations; but such expenditures and liabilities, incurred for any purpose, shall not exceed one sixth of
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the entire amount appropriated for that purpose in the previous year.
Section 4. All town officers, except the auditor, shall deliver to the selectmen their annual report prior to the fifteenth day of January in each year. The board of selectmen shall deliver its annual report to the auditor on or before the fifteenth day of January in each year. The auditor shall deliver to the selectmen his annual report on or be- fore the first day of February in each year. The selectmen shall cause these reports, together with a list of town officers and other matter usually published, to be printed and placed in the hands of the town clerk, ready for distribution, ten days, at least, before the annual meet- ing in March. They shall cause the by-laws of the town to be printed in the annual report once in five years.
Section 5. The reports of the several boards of town officers shall contain a schedule of all property in their charge at the end of the year, with the valuation thereof, and an estimate of the amount re- quired for the ensuing year.
Section 6. The assessors shall once in five years, beginning in 1916, and every fifth year thereafter cause to be printed a schedule of the valuation of property and a list of the names of the taxpayers of the town, to be delivered to the town clerk for distribution on or before the first day of October of the year in which said valuation shall have been taken.
Section 7. The selectmen, commissioners of public works, and the town treasurer shall have full authority as agents of the town to appear and defend suits brought against it, to appear in proceedings before any tribunal, and to adjust by compromise suits or other claims against the town, unless it is otherwise ordered by a vote of the town.
Section 8. No town officer and no salaried employee of the town, nor any agent of any such officer or employee, shall sell mate- rials or supplies to the town without the permission of the board of selectmen expressed in a vote which shall appear on their records with the reasons therefor.
Section 9. No town officer and no salaried employee of the town, nor any agent of any such officer or employee, shall receive any compensation or commission for work done by him for the town ex- cept his official salary and fees allowed by law without the permission of the selectmen expressed in a vote which shall appear on their records with the reasons therefor.
ARTICLE IV
FINANCE COMMITTEE
· Section 1. There shall be a finance committee of five (5) citi- zens of the town, other than town officers, elected at the annual town meeting of 1921; two for a term of two (2) years, two for a term of three (3) years and one for a term of one (1) year, the terms of said
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members to expire on the first day of April 1923, 1924 and 1922. An- nually thereafter there shall be elected a member to serve for three (3) years from said date. Said committee shall have full powers to choose its own officers. Any member of said committee being elected to any other town office shall cease to be a member of the finance com- mittee.
Section 2. It shall be the duty of this committee to consider all matters of business included within the articles of any warrant for a town meeting hereafter issued, and it shall be the duty of the select- men after drawing a town warrant to transmit immediately a copy of the same to the chairman and the secretary of the finance committee, and the committee shall, after due consideration of the subject matter in said articles, report thereon, in print, or otherwise, such informa- tion, and recommendations as it shall deem best. All recommenda- tions of the committee made to the town shall be recommendations of the entire committee. The finance committee shall have authority at any time to investigate the books, accounts, and management of any department of the town, and to employ such expert and other assis- tance as it may deem advisable for that purpose, and the books and accounts of all the departments and officers of the town shall be open to the inspection of the committee and of any person employed by it. It may appoint sub-committees, and delegate to them such of its pow- ers as it deems expedient.
Section 3. The various town officers, boards, and committees charged with the expenditure of the town's money are directed annu- ally to prepare detailed estimates of the amounts necessary to carry on the town's business entrusted to them for the ensuing year, with ex- planatory statements as to any changes from the amount appropriated for the same purpose in the preceding year. They shall also prepare estimates of any income which may be received by the town during the ensuing year in connection with the town's business or property in their care. The selectmen shall include in their estimates the salaries of all officers elected directly by the town, and all other items not otherwise provided for, and the salaries of all other persons shall be included in the estimates of the officers, boards, or committees ap- pointing them. The treasurer shall include in his estimates the amount required for the payment of interest on the town debt, and for the payment of such portions of the town debt as may become due during the succeeding year. Said estimates and explanations shall be filed with the secretary of the finance committee on or before the fif- teenth day of January, and he shall forthwith compile the same in tabulated form, and add thereto two columns, one giving the amounts appropriated, and the other the amounts expended in the preceding year, and shall furnish a copy to each member of the finance commit- tee. Said committee shall at once consider the estimates and add an- other column giving the amounts which in their opinion should be appropriated for the ensuing year, and shall add thereto such explan- ations and suggestions in relation to the proposed appropriations as.
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they may deem expedient. The document shall be completed and returned to the selectmen in time to enable them to have it printed and distributed with the warrants for the annual town meeting, which they are hereby directed to do.
Section 4. Any board, standing committee, or officer of the town, or any person or persons intending to ask an appropriation at any meeting of the town, other than the regular annual appropria- tions, shall file a written notice in the office of the selectmen of such intention, at least fourteen days before such meeting, stating the object and the sum of the appropriation intended to be asked. The selectmen shall thereupon record such notice and inform the secretary of the fi- nance committee thereof. It shall thereupon be the duty of the fi- nance committee to examine into the subject, and be prepared to in- form the town thereon, and a statement of the proposition shall be printed and circulated with the warrant for the meeting, provided, however, that an appropriation may be asked, without such notice, at any meeting of the town, but, in the absence of such previous no- tice, the subject shall not be acted upon except at an adjournment of said meeting, or at another meeting, not less than one week later in either case; and during said interim the finance committee shall cause a printed notice of the sum and object of said proposed appropriation, with its recommendation in relation thereto, to be posted in seven public places at least three days before such adjourned or other meet- ing.
ARTICLE V
COLLECTION OF TAXES
Section 1. In addition to the books required by law the collect- or shall provide, at the expense of the town, tax notices, bills, and partial-payment receipts in the form hereinafter referred to. The bills and partial-payment receipts shall be printed in book form, and the stubs therein, with the accompanying bill or receipt, shall be num- bered consecutively.
Section 2. The following forms shall be used :
Poll Tax Notice. No.
Mr.
Address .
The amount of your Poll Tax in the Town of Acton, Mass., for the year 19 .... is $2.00
(
(SEAL) )
V
Delivery of this notice is a demand for payment, and all single Poll Taxes must be paid within fourteen days thereafter. This notice is not to be receipted by the Collector, who will deliver a regular tax bill, duly receipted, using for that purpose only the printed blanks provided for that use.
Collector.
Acton, Mass.
19
6
Poll Tax Bill
19
No ..
Mr. .
Poll Tax No.
19
Poll Tax, Interest, Costs,
Preserve this Receipt.
Residence The amount of your Poll Tax in the
Town of Acton, Mass., for the year .... is $2.00
Interest,
Costs,
.
(SEAL) · Received payment, Collector. Acton, Mass., .19.
General Tax Notice. Enclose Stamp for return receipt. No.
Mr.
Residence (No. and Street)
The amount of your Tax in the town of Acton, Mass. for the year. is as follows:
( (
(SEAL) ) ) (Year) (
)
Personal Estate,
Real Estate,
Total, $. . . .
This notice must not be receipted by the Collector, who will deliver the original Tax Bill, duly receipted, or in case of partial payments will issue separate receipts therefor, using for that purpose only the official blanks provided for that use. Poll Taxes must be paid in one payment, and not less than 25 per cent of other taxes may be paid at any one time prior to February 1st, 'next succeeding the assessment.
per $1,000.00
When partial payments are made, the taxpayer should see that the payment is endorsed on the back of the Tax Bill.
Article 5. Section 3 of the By-Laws of the Town of Acton. All taxes assessed on Real Estate or Personal Estate shall be due on October 1st., in the year in which they are. assessed, and no discount shall be allowed on such taxes. All single Poll Taxes shall be paid within fourteen days after demand. All taxes remaining unpaid after February 1st next succeeding their assessment shall be levied and collected according to law, unless such taxes shall be abated or sus- pended by the Assessors.
By vote of the Town passed March. on all taxes unpaid after October 1st. . interest at the rate of six per cent per annum shall be charged until paid.
I shall be at the Town House (insert dates) for the pur- pose of receiving taxes.
Collector (Insert Location of Collector's Office)
Delivery of this Notice is a Demand for Payment
Rate of Taxation, $
) Poll Tax, $2.00
7
General Tax Bill
No
19.
Poll Tax Personal Estate Tax Real Estate Tax
The amount of your tax in the Town of Acton, Mass., for the year. .is as follows:
Poll Tax .$2.00
Personal Estate Real Estate Total
)
Interest
(SEAL) Costs Received Payment, Collector
Acton, Mass., 19 .
Partial Payment
Receipt No.
Date Endorsed on Tax Bill No.
Partial Payment Receipt. No .. . .
Received of
the sum
sof Dollars ($ ...... ) on account
of Tax for the year .... Endorsed on Tax Bill No. )
(SEAL) Collector.
)
Acton, Mass.
Preserve this Receipt.
See that this payment is en- dorsed on the back of the Tax Bill by the Collector. Receipts must be filled up and signed with ink.
Section 3. All taxes assessed on real or personal estate shall be due on October 1st in the year in which they are assessed, and no dis- count shall be allowed on such taxes. All taxes remaining unpaid after February first, next succeeding their assessment, shall be levied and collected according to law unless abated or suspended by the as- sessors with the assent of finance committee.
ARTICLE VI
RECORDS
Section 1. The town clerk shall record in full in a book kept for the purpose all written contracts, deeds and other instruments to which the town is a party except such instruments as may by law be recorded in the Registry of Deeds; and it shall be the duty of ' any board or officer executing or receiving such written contract, or other instrument, to deliver the same forthwith to the town clerk for the purpose of record. It shall be the duty of the town clerk to see that all conveyances of real estate to the town are properly recorded in the Registry of Deeds.
Interest Costs Total Partial Payments
Preserve this Receipt. (
General Tax Bill. 19 . No. Rate of taxation, $ per thousand. Mr. Residence
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Section 2. The town clerk shall keep a file of all town reports, reports of all committees chosen by the town, and all original docu- ments relating to the affairs of the town which may come into his possession.
ARTICLE VII DEALERS IN JUNK
Section 1. The selectmen may license suitable persons to be dealers in and keepers of shops for the purchase, sale, or barter of junk, old metals, or second-hand articles, in the town. They may also license suitable persons as junk collectors, to collect, by purchase or otherwise, junk, old metals, and second-hand articles from place to place in the town; and they may provide that such collectors shall display badges upon their persons or upon their vehicles, or upon both, when engaged in collecting, transporting, or dealing in junk, old met- als, or second-hand articles; and may prescribe the design thereof. They may also provide that such shops and all articles of merchan- dise therein, and any place, vehicle, or receptacle used for the collec- tion, or keeping of the articles aforesaid, may be examined at all times by the selectmen, or by any person by them authorized thereto.
Section 2. Every keeper of a shop for the purchase, sale or bar- ter of junk, old metals, or second-hand articles, within the limits of the town, shall keep a book, in which shall be written, at the time of every purchase of any such article, a description thereof, the name, age and residence of the person from whom, and the day and hour when, such purchase was made; such book'shall at all times be open to the inspection of the selectmen and of any person by them author- ized to make such inspection; every keeper of such shop shall put in a suitable and conspicuous place on his shop a sign having his name and occupation legibly inscribed thereon in large letters; such shop, and all articles of merchandise therein, may be at all times examined by the selectmen, or by any person by them authorized to make such examination; and no keeper of such shop and no junk collector shall, directly or indirectly, either purchase or receive by way of barter or exchange any of the articles aforesaid of a minor or apprentice, know- ing or having reason to believe him to be such ; and no article purchased or received by such shopkeeper shall be sold until at least thirty days from the date of its purchase or receipt have elapsed. Such shops shall be closed between the hours of 6 P. M. and 7 A. M., and no keeper thereof and no junk collector shall purchase any of the articles aforesaid during such hours.
Section 3. Notice of an application for a license under this ar- ticle shall be published in a newspaper published in said town at least three days before the granting of such license. Said notice shall give the date when such application will be heard, and any person may ap- pear to favor or to oppose the granting of such license. All adver- tising charges shall be paid by the applicant.
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ARTICLE VIII CEMETERIES
Section 1. The annual meeting of the Commissioners shall be held in April, on or before the 15th day of said month, when a Chair- man and a Clerk shall be elected by ballot, to serve during the muni- cipal year, or until their successors are chosen.
Section 2. There shall also be chosen at said meeting a Super- intendent of each cemetery in the town to serve for the year, unless sooner removed by a majority vote of the Board.
Section 3. The annual and special meetings shall be held when called by the Chairman or by the Clerk upon request of a majority of the Board.
Section 4. Sales of lots shall in each case be consummated by the payment therefor and by the execution and delivery of the following deed ; and no lot shall be considered sold or any rights gained therein, until delivery of such deed.
KNOW ALL MEN By These Presents, That the Town of Ac- ton, in the County of Middlesex, and Commonwealth of Massachu- setts, in consideration of . dollars, paid by .
the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, does hereby grant, bargain, sell and convey to the said .
heirs and assigns, the exclusive right of burial of the dead in one lot of land in. . Cemetery, in said Town of Acton, situ- ated . and numbered . . on the plan of said Cemetery, which is in the possession of the Board of Commis- sioners having the care and management thereof, and may be inspected by the said grantee, his heirs and assigns at all reasonable times.
To Have and to Hold the aforesaid premises unto the said ....
heirs and assigns forever ; but subject to the restrictions, limitations and conditions, and with the privileges following, viz .:
First, The grades of all lots shall be established and corner bounds placed by the Commissioners.
Second, That the said lot shall not be used for any other purpose . than as a burial place for the dead; and that no trees within the lot or border shall be cut down or destroyed without the consent of the said Commissioners.
Third, That if any trees or shrubs in said lot shall become in any way dertimental to the adjacent lots, avenues or paths, or dangerous or inconvenient, it shall be the duty of the said commissioners for the time being to enter into said lot and remove said trees or shrubs, or such parts thereof, as are thus detrimental, dangerous or inconvenient.
Fourth, That if any monument or effigy, cenotaph, or other structure whatever, or any inscription be placed in or upon said lot, which shall be determined by a majority of the said Commissioners
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for the time being, to be offensive or improper, the said Commission- ers, or a majority of them, shall have the right, and it shall be their duty to enter upon the said lot and remove said offensive or improper object or objects.
Fifth, That no tomb shall be constructed within the bounds of the Cemetery except by permission of the Commissioners and in such manner as they shall approve; and no proprietor shall suffer the re- mains of any person to be deposited within the bounds of his lot for hire.
Sixth, That said lot shall be indivisible; and upon the death of the grantee, the devisee of said lot or the heir at law shall be entitled to all the privileges of the original grantee, and if there be more than one devisee or heir at law they shall within nine months from such death designate in writing to the Secretary of the Board of Commis- sioners which of said devisees or heirs at law shall represent the lot, and on their failure so to designate, the Board of Commissioners shall enter of record which of said devisees or heirs at law shall represent the lot while such failure continues.
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